Spacers vs. bilstein 5100 shocks at 2"?

i want to lift my front end 2", debating on getting 2" spacers or bilstein 5100's and adjust to 2". the only reason im second guessing the shocks, is im not sure how stiff of a ride they will be at max height? and compared to spacers? Thanks a ton, if u guys have any experience or opinions

 

Spacers are going to ride like crap and really wear out your springs fairly quickly and your stock shocks as well. The best thing you can do with what your saying is doing the Billy's up front with the stock springs if you don't want to spend too much money. You will be unhappy if you do a spacer lift.

 

x2

 

I'm just about to pull out a spacer lift that the previous owner of my truck installed because of the crappy ass ride. Get the Bilsteins.

 

X3. Spacers are the worst way to lift your truck. Look around the TW threads, and you'll see plenty of guys who bent the lower strut or outright exploded it while wheeling. Billy's are good. I like OME because the spring produces the lift without being preloaded, and the threads on a C/O corrode in my area due to road salt.

 

One piece of information you could give us is what your budget is. If we know how much you want to spend then we can really help you narrow down your options for a lift. I started out only wanting to spend 600-700 on a front and rear lift. I ended up spending 1200 shipped for the Toytec ultimate lift.

 

You pay to play. Kudos to you for installing a reliable lift.

 

It's a great lift I live the way the front is set up. The rear AAL is already sagging from flexing it out twice. I didn't want to drop 400-600 on new leaf packs but I thought the AAL would have held up a bit longer then that. Maybe I should have went with the ICON progressive AAL.

 

If you are just mall-crawling, spacers are fine for a budget lift. If you plan on off-roading it or want to "do it right" then get the 5100's.

Also, when people say "spacers" why does everyone immediately say they ride like crap and wear out springs? My spacers sit on top of the shock/spring assy and the ride is just about the same as stock as far as I can tell. It just wouldnt be ideal for off-road use as I could run the risk of bottoming out the shock now.

 

Spacer lifts do ride like crap it all depends on how rough you like to ride in your truck. I like to improve the ride qualities on road and offroad capabilities and comfort. If your going to spend the money then do it right. After putting spacers on your just going to wear those stock springs and shocks out if they aren't already worn your just speeding up the process adding a spacer lift. Your best bet is to spend the money once on a new set of shocks.

 

I ran a 2.5" spacer on my 96 Tacoma, rode better than stock on the highway. But off road it was terrible when getting any speed. I think it depends on what your spacer is made out of as well. Mine was made out of rubber bushing-like material.

 

It's the least preferred method for performance and reliability.

 

+1
http://www.customtacos.com/tech/index.php?article=137

 

Haha I know this. That's why I recommended new shocks first.

 

The choice is obvious. Spacer lifts are at the bottom of the barrel as far as suspension lift. If it's the cheapest option, it's probably got the cheapest quality. I don't care what anybody says, I had one and it rode like crap.

 

Definitely your cheapest option, and it seems that the general consensus for spacers on 2nd gens is a very rough ride.

You can get a set of front shocks for $189 here.
http://downsouthmotorsports.com/i-135658-toyota-tacoma-front-bilstein-5100-ride-height-adjustable-shocks-05-2013-w-optional-rear-shocks.html

 

Yeah I gotcha I just out that link up for the OP so he can browse around that page and give him all the information he needs to make a decision.

 

Thanks for the input!

 

Plenty of spacer lifts ride fine, the only ones that will feel stiffer are ones you have to pre-load the spring. As a matter of fact I see plenty of people put small spacers on top of the coilover after doing the better new spring/shock lift just to ease the ride.

I say if you got a couple hundred bucks do a spacer and if you have more than get new coils and shocks. Myself and some of the other budget rides I wheel with run spacers and we wheel hard with no issues.

 

Well I have to beg to differ here. I guess depends on what your gonna use it for but I've got 2" he'll bent steel spacers on my 04 prerunner with 265/75/16 BFGs and it rides exactly the same as it did before the spacers. I don't take my rig on jumps and crazy trails but there's plenty of unfinished dirt paths out here in the desert and the I lys pretty stiff but not any stiffer then before. And even then, that's because of those stupid bilstein hd shocks that came with "trd" packeged truck. Oh and I only paid $80 for the spacers from Amazon and big o tires put them on for $90 not counting another $44 for alignment.