bilstein 5100 installed.. question and thoughts

S

silversx

New member
first i just want to say the 5100s are an amazing upgrade to the stock shocks...

much better handling in corners and braking due to lower body lean.. the nose dive is soooooo much better that now it feels like a normal car even under semi hard braking.. no more boat like floating feeling when cornering either..

i used .85 lift in front and it's just a tiny bit lower than rear when parked.. this way when the car has passengers or stuff in back.. i won't get a reverse rake..

now the question i have is since i wasn't able to stay for the install.. in the box with stock shocks that they returned to me there's a rubber grommet type of thing which apparently is not needed.. i just want to make sure that this is normal to not need this part..

i had it installed at offroad warehouse and they obviously know what they're doing

any one with bilsteins can confirm?
 

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I think that might be the bushing from the bottom of your old shock. Check them to see if one is missing. I'm sure they would've installed the new ones with the Billy ones that are already on the shock. Could be wrong because I've never looked at the OEM bushings.
 
silversx said:
first i just want to say the 5100s are an amazing upgrade to the stock shocks...

much better handling in corners and braking due to lower body lean.. the nose dive is soooooo much better that now it feels like a normal car even under semi hard braking.. no more boat like floating feeling when cornering either..

i used .85 lift in front and it's just a tiny bit lower than rear when parked.. this way when the car has passengers or stuff in back.. i won't get a reverse rake..

now the question i have is since i wasn't able to stay for the install.. in the box with stock shocks that they returned to me there's a rubber grommet type of thing which apparently is not needed.. i just want to make sure that this is normal to not need this part..

i had it installed at offroad warehouse and they obviously know what they're doing

any one with bilsteins can confirm?
Click to expand...
That is the stock bushing that goes on the top between the frame and the nut on your old rear shocks.Each side in the rear should have one.It's upside down from the way it goes in the pic. Your new Billies had their own as they are not all alike.

Usually a shop will put them back on the old shock with the nut to hold it in place for the next person that installs it on their truck.
 
I'm about to pull the trigger on the billstein 5100's but one question I have is when I looked on toytech they said NOTE: Upper bushings and washers are not included from Bilstein in this part number, order separately if needed. so do I need to order these or will I be ok.
 
Sells said:
I'm about to pull the trigger on the billstein 5100's but one question I have is when I looked on toytech they said NOTE: Upper bushings and washers are not included from Bilstein in this part number, order separately if needed. so do I need to order these or will I be ok.
Click to expand...

you are ok.. not sure about toytec's kit as i didn't order from them..

the kit from offroadwarehouse had everything.. select 2010 4runner and it's under ORW recommended section

it's cheaper too
 
Just an update I just ordered a set of billstein 5100's for the front for 182.99 shipped from Down South Motor Sports not sure if thats the best price out there but I'm happy with it, and I guess if your a member of the forum they discount them. The reason I only got the fronts was my garage won't permit me to lift the whole truck so I figured I would save some money for now till I move being that I only have another year and half where I am or until I remove the roof rack.
 
the rear does not get lifted with just the shocks.. only the front

best to go with a full set since you it changes the handling of car
 
Yesterday, I swapped to 5100s (all four) on my 5th Gen Trail and set the front at 1.75; I don't particularly care for the ride, it's a little stiffer than I wanted. After reading posts on this forum and others, I'm contemplating changing the front springs, e.g. OME 884s, FJCs, but, I’m not sure that will eliminate the stiffness; or, perhaps just change the setting to .85 with current OE springs and see what that does. I like the ride height with the current set up, I just don't care for the (too) firm ride. However, from what I understand, which isn't much, it's possible that if I change to another spring I may need to change other suspension parts, UCAs, etc? Any knowledgeable comments to a suspension neophyte will be greatly appreciated.
 
getting my fronts done today but going to .85, seems like the higher you go with them, the stiffier they get but I wouldnt this is would be a great difference. I was torn between the two settings, but all said and done, ill be at about an 1.15 inch lift which is good for me now, maybe in a few years, Ill go up more. I do love the look of 1.75 with 1.5 spacer or coil in rear but Im only doing 275's and not 285's
 
cityblues said:
Yesterday, I swapped to 5100s (all four) on my 5th Gen Trail and set the front at 1.75; I don't particularly care for the ride, it's a little stiffer than I wanted. After reading posts on this forum and others, I'm contemplating changing the front springs, e.g. OME 884s, FJCs, but, I’m not sure that will eliminate the stiffness; or, perhaps just change the setting to .85 with current OE springs and see what that does. I like the ride height with the current set up, I just don't care for the (too) firm ride. However, from what I understand, which isn't much, it's possible that if I change to another spring I may need to change other suspension parts, UCAs, etc? Any knowledgeable comments to a suspension neophyte will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Most of the aftermarket will firm stuff up, because it caters to off-roaders and overlanders.

As far as setting the front to a 1.75 lift with stock springs in the back and no spacers ... aren't you nose-high at that point?

Lastly, if you're running high tire pressures because the handling was floaty before you can come down a few PSI. I know my TE rides pretty harshly when empty and the TerraGrapplers at 35 psi, and I still have stock shocks. Going down 2 psi is a lot of air on tires with this volume, and definitely takes a lot of the annoyance out of the empty truck.
 
Really like to know if adding just the fronts (Bils. 5100) would do the trick in handling, or are all 4 a must have??
 
I'll report tomorrow....pick mine up Tuesday. Getting seat and headlights replaced too. They gave me a Tacoma off road 2012, it has Billy's hd (not 5100), with BFg long terrian, rides rough and bouncy, hope mine will be somewhere in between. It corners well and brakes well.
 
Yeah - HD's have a higher valve rate in the front (stiffer) and the same valving in the rear as compared to 5100's. From what I have read for the 4th gen at least. That taco may have higher spring rates too.
 
So I got mine back today, I drove it back with a trailer so ill have a better perception maybe tomorrow, I figured I would write in detail (new thread) and post some pics because only mike g I have found with good pics but mine is a TE. I didn't find the drive much different. I think it's a little firmer, and alittle less nose dive. The cornering seems better, but not a huge difference all around. It's not very firm as noted above (1.75 setting...mine is .85). The tires look great, nice AT look, nice tread, etc. I can feel the more aggressive tread, a hair louder. They marked up all my rims with the road force balancer:gun5:, now have to figure what the hell to do about that, more on that in a new thread on set up, pics, review of the first one at, etc. I researched like crazy...the truck was level by itself for sure, measuring from rock rails (on true measurement IMO )...so my front is slightly higher but I'll put in a 1" cornfed later. I knew that going in from all the pics I Ckd out. The one thing I confirmed is our brakes suck, Tacoma brakes rock, the seats are better, the nose dive and cornering are better, but the runner drives smoother. I feel I have no brakes after changing rides, giving back the rental...Tacoma. More later....
 
stanleybb50 said:
Yeah - HD's have a higher valve rate in the front (stiffer) and the same valving in the rear as compared to 5100's. From what I have read for the 4th gen at least. That taco may have higher spring rates too.
Click to expand...

I've got a full set of HD's. Ride if a little more bouncy, but not stiff.

Also it pretty much eliminate the dive in and greatly reduce body roll.
 
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