RockyRider
New member
They look exactly the same to me, but does anyone know if the valving matches?
Are the 5th Gen TRD suspension and Bilstein 6112/5160 the same stock?
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green_manalishi
New member
This article claims the 6112/ 5160 combo were made in conjunction with TRD and are essentially the same. Never seen any confirmation, though.
http://expeditionportal.com/did-bilstein-just-make-the-ultimate-4runner-overland-suspension-system/
Edit: looks like the reservoirs on the 5160's are a good deal shorter than on the TRD Pro? -maybe it's just the angle of the picture.
http://expeditionportal.com/did-bilstein-just-make-the-ultimate-4runner-overland-suspension-system/
Edit: looks like the reservoirs on the 5160's are a good deal shorter than on the TRD Pro? -maybe it's just the angle of the picture.
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RockyRider
New member
Thanks for confirming my suspicion. For roughly $730 bucks we can all have the TRD shocks and struts on our 4runners :dance:
I just assembled my Bilstein 6112 this weekend and I am on a backorder list for the rear 5160 shocks.
I also purchased the Speciality Products Company 25480 Upper Control Arms which have custom a SPC bailjoint that’s a blend between a standard balljoint and uniball. These upper control arms are beefier than the stock units, offer an increase in droop, poly bushings, adjustable caster and camber, and have a sealed greaseable balljoint. They don't look special but they are cheaper than other upper control arms and offer the must features.
I spent a lot of time doing research on the suspension options for my 4runner and I think Bilstein was the right choice. Once I get the full system installed I will report back.
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RockyRider
New member
I don't think that is correct. The photos I have seen of the TRD front coils show the slots for the spring adjustment clips. You have to remove the spring, spring base, and then use a separator tool to set the spring high in one of the 5 clip slots.
:rapture:
green_manalishi
New member
Please do! That's the exact setup I have my eye on. What did you choose for rear shocks?
Edit: Springs. I mean springs.
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green_manalishi
New member
the remote resi on the TRD looks longer though.
you can see on the TRD front coils the adjustable groves for the clip.
i did hear/read somewhere that Toyota was buying up the 6112s and 5160s. The 5160s were on backorder for a while and just started showing up at online and b/m retailers. I just got mine yesterday.
you can see on the TRD front coils the adjustable groves for the clip.
i did hear/read somewhere that Toyota was buying up the 6112s and 5160s. The 5160s were on backorder for a while and just started showing up at online and b/m retailers. I just got mine yesterday.
RockyRider
New member
The ass-end of the truck is already fairly high so I plan on leaving the stock springs in place. I am attempting to raise the front of the truck to level it out with the rear. I don't want to lift the truck any higher than it already is because it won't be able to fit in my garage. I'll take pictures of the install and share them with the board.
I expect to be done within a week or two. I have some rust issues to deal with while I am working on the front suspension. :laser:
carid had them, not sure if they still have them left in stock. they got some in on 5/2 and ordered them that day. they price matched $176 from Shockwarehouse!
i think Total Automotive Perf are getting them in the next few days.
This is my question as well. I'm wondering if I should or should not replace the rear spring with an aftermarket spring with like a 1.5" lift. I was looking at Wheelers T12 Eibach spring. Only slightly stiffer and being made by Eibach, it's a good quality spring. I think the 6112 uses an Eibach spring as well.
RockyRider
New member
I installed my Bilstein 6112s last weekend and set the coil to the second clip which leveled the front of the truck with the stock rear. I have now put 200 miles of driving on both the streets and washed out rippled forest trail roads. I am disappointed to see a decrease in off-road capabilities since installing the new coils do to the lack of adequate damping.
The ride is very very harsh, I get a lot of shock feedback and with none of the awe, at both low and high speeds (45mph). On the rippled washout roads the truck feels more unsettled, probably due to the amount of additional body vibration, then it did when I was riding on the original OEM struts which had 124 thousand miles on them.
The only area of improvement I gained is stability and control during higher speed on-road driving on smooth roads. And it was nice to slightly raise the front of the truck which gave me better visibility and a balanced feel.
My 4runner is now really miserable to drive on anything other than a smooth as glass roads. I am really disappointed with the outcome and I have no idea why others have said good things about these shocks. I have no experience with the Bilstein 5100s, but I viewed the larger 2.5 6112s as an upgrade over the very popular 5100s.
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green_manalishi
New member
Damn! That's really disappointing. Thanks for posting your thoughts.
oh sorry to hear that you are not liking them.
i have nothing else to compare them to as these were my first suspension upgrades from stock... so ANYTHING would be better at that point
I put them on the highest clip (~2.5" lift) and the 5160s in the rear. Streets are awersome. I took them out to local desert a few weeks ago and they performed great. was taking washboard dirt roads, sandy river wash etc nicely.... all at good speeds of 40+ i was hesitant at first but as i gained confidence in the suspension i was more relaxed when driving at the higher speeds. when i slowed down is where it startedto suck... which is expected. they peform better a the higher speeds over the terrain. my friend in the pass seat was super surprised and happy too how nice it rode.
the ride is def stiffer than stock... which i wanted and expected.
RockyRider
New member
Final result - levelled out.
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You're running the exact setup I was hoping to put on my 2006. It's unsettling to hear a negative review when the 5100's get such good reviews. Like you I figured the 6112's would be an upgrade.
Eventually I have to get rid of my XREAS and your post tempers my enthusiasm for the 6112's a bit..
RockyRider
New member
UPDATE - This morning I removed the front sway-bay and now the damping feels excellent. However as expected with the sway-bar removed the truck has a lot of body roll. I have not driven it at highway (65 to 80mph) speeds yet but I image it's going to be pretty unstable.
Sway-bays help keep the body of a vehicle level, which centres the weight, increases control, and to helps minimize the potential of rolling over.
These are the options as I see them.
- Run the truck without a sway-bar. The disadvantage of this is that the truck has a lot of body roll and is not safe to drive at higher speeds.
- Install quick disconnect end-links. When taking the truck off-road I would be able to fairly easily disconnect the fronts to soften the ride.
- Test out a thinner v6 front sway-bar to see if that softens the ride to an acceptable level.
- Try to retrofit the JKS end-links.
I wish someone made a KDSS retrofit kit for our 4th gens.
Sway-bays help keep the body of a vehicle level, which centres the weight, increases control, and to helps minimize the potential of rolling over.
These are the options as I see them.
- Run the truck without a sway-bar. The disadvantage of this is that the truck has a lot of body roll and is not safe to drive at higher speeds.
- Install quick disconnect end-links. When taking the truck off-road I would be able to fairly easily disconnect the fronts to soften the ride.
- Test out a thinner v6 front sway-bar to see if that softens the ride to an acceptable level.
- Try to retrofit the JKS end-links.
I wish someone made a KDSS retrofit kit for our 4th gens.
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