Help with Bilstein lift

Hello everyone, I am looking to upgrade the suspension on my first truck, I am new to lifting vehicles and could really use some advice. I drive a 2011 single cab 4x4 Tacoma. I am on a tight college budget so I don't have much to spend. I have done a lot of reading on here and decided that a spacer lift is a bad idea. I want to get Bilstein shocks for both the front and rear suspension. I am hoping to raise the rear a little bit and have the front raised to be level with the rear. What do you guys think I need to do make this happen?

Thank you for any advice,
Graham

 

5100s, and an Add a leaf will get you by. What is your budget?

 

I am trying to stay around 800 if possible. I also don't have access to a lift or my tools because I'm six hours from home up at Florida State so I will have to pay someone to install it. Is there an inexpensive leaf spring you would suggest?

 

You need to be aware that, on Taco’s, often times a budget lift turns out to cost double the original budget due to rusted alignment cams.

 

Toy Tec AALs will run you around 100 dollars, 5100s are around 400-450 depending on where you buy them from. Use the OEM coils and install them to which ever setting. See if there are any TW members in your area that could lend you a hand to get it all installed and save yourself some money.

 

Okay thanks, this truck is my daily driver and it sees a lot of highway driving. I want to keep this truck forever and don't want to mess anything up.To keep my alignment or anything else from messing up is there anything that needs to be done if I am only lifting two inches?

 

If you lift it any amount at all, you need to get an alignment. That’s where the rusted alignment cams enter the picture.

 

Try here. Good prices on what you need and very helpful. I did both my truck and my brothers with 5100's and an AAL.

https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/

 

Sounds like you have done your research and are headed the right direction. Billestins all around, AAL, and an alignment and you'll be in business. We just did the exact same thing to a buddies truck and it rides and drives better then before.

 

Amazon or 4wheelparts will likely be the cheapest for bilstein 5100. 5100 are a nice improvement over stock. I'll 2nd the Add a leaf recommendation as well.

 

Okay if I want my trucks front to be level with rear will I need a rear lift/ another leaf spring? And do I need to drop the diff for only two inches of lift?

 

Hi Graham,
Looking and your budget, Alignment and install this kit from Headstrong Offroad would be a great choice although it would be a few more dollars.
https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p452/HS_Coil/Bilstein_5100_kit.html Add the deaver AAL's and have them assembled. It's under $800. You will not need UCA's. You might be better off getting the 884 springs up front and keep the billy's at 0.
My Bilstein 5100's and my 885's are awesome and they are great off road also. Like Memphis Taco suggested there maybe some Tacoma World guys on here willing to help you with the install to save you cost.
Let us know how you do...

Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road can answer any questions you have. She is awesome!

 

Not being devil's advocate here, but I am... There's a 50/50 chance you'll need to change your needle bearing if you lift: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...differential-bearing-vibration-thread.152173/

I've always been a "do it right the first time, so you don't have to do it again" kinda person... so if you want to do it right the first time...

Just my $.02.

 

You are correct Tacoma 2g, I did mine because I had the TSB in hand and went to the dealer. I did not have an issue but they replaced it.

 

I agree with whatstcp! You need to prepare for worst case scenario if you're setting your budget at $800.

Everyone's truck has different outcomes with lifts. Some have 0 issues. My personal experiences have been 110% dog shit.

I went down the "lift road" and had bad experiences with everything... creaks, vibration, etc., so I took all of it off. I still have a creak front passenger side, after I took everything off. Wasted a couple $100. Your truck can still look good without a lift (although it depends what you'll be using it for). I don't off-road (and sounds of it neither do you). My truck is my daily driver, only needing to drive through a field to fetch my deer! Get some 265 KO2's (trim just a little) and be happy you didn't get a new vibration issue after lifting, saving a little money.

My truck, no lift, for a reference:

 

Paid a shop to install my 5100s on my 05 the first time.
Didnt like the base (stock) setting so I did it myself with basic tools, no spring compressor and no inde front suspension knowledge using this video for reference and bumped em up a notch to the second setting, had it realigned and gtg
Just be sure the alignment cams do not move for the drive to the alignment shop.

Super easy
Dont know why I put it off so long....
You can do it yourself in a few hours np

Rear susp is simple with a couple jack stands and a good jack.

Running 5100s with stock springs/revtek puck lift up front.
5100s/Deaver springs/1" block out back

Never a problem
Yes I cheaped out on a 3" lift but Im on a budget too

Id do the 5100s and a rear aal for what youre after.

Good luck whatever you decide.

https://youtu.be/5E6u7dC7EHg

 

If you are somewhat mechanically inclined you can take a trip down to Harbor Freight and spend a few bucks to get everything you'll need. I would recommend having a local shop install the front springs just to be on the safe side, but I have done it myself in the driveway as well. People make it seem like such a big deal and that you need all the tools in the world, a shop, and a lift, when realistically it's nothing more then replacing a bad set of shocks and struts.

If the truck rides and drives nice right now, and you plan on keeping the truck for a long time then there's no rush to get everything done right this second. Spend a few hundred dollars this month and get some of the parts, wait another few weeks/months and spend a few hundred more. Brake it up over the period of a few months and while you are waiting to get all the parts together look for a few buddies that you can bribe with a 12 pack and a bbq to help you out.

 

I always thought it was too much to mess with and was intimidated to the point those shocks hung out in my garage for months until I saved up enuff cash to have it done.

In reality, the hardest part of the whole front strut project was getting the top pin of the shock back in the hole.

 

Well thanks so much for all the input guys, reading this has me rethinking lifting my Tacoma. I am realizing that it could be a big mistake. I need the truck to last me so I will probably just be buying the rear Bilstein shocks to replace the current leaking, stock ones. I don't do any crazy off-roading just light trail riding and going hunting so I feel that I am better off not messing anything up by trying to make my truck look cool. I just really like the level look but it sounds pretty intimidating and not worth the headache. I really appreciate all your advice and I am thankful that I reached out before jumping into a bad decision.

 

No need for diff drop with 2" lift.