Bilstein 5100 thoughts

[tmangino7]

I replaced stock XREAS.

Installed 5100 with T1 and T12 springs. Installed on front at 0

Feels like stock ride, slightly stiffer which I wanted because stock was too soft and felt bouncy.

Tight on turns, smooth ride, stiffer then stock. What I wanted, I feel like im in an SUV now not a boat.

 

[ktom3001]

Another great thread.

I too am looking at installing 5100's on my 2WD SR5 with 180k miles. I was thinking of starting with just the front at 1.75, but after reading this - i may go with FJ coils on the front and setting at zero. What kind of lift would I be looking at then?

Probably zero lift. Unless the FJ springs are new and yours are really old.
Tacoma springs will get you around 1.25" lift on the zero setting.

 

[Heffernan]

I replaced stock XREAS.

Installed 5100 with T1 and T12 springs. Installed on front at 0

Feels like stock ride, slightly stiffer which I wanted because stock was too soft and felt bouncy.

Tight on turns, smooth ride, stiffer then stock. What I wanted, I feel like im in an SUV now not a boat.

Got any pictures of your truck with the T1 and 12s installed?

 

[tmangino7]

Got any pictures of your truck with the T1 and 12s installed?

sure, i have them posted somewhere else on here too.

I was going back and forth for a week if I wanted to set front shocks to .85 or not and I didn't. I bet it would look fine if you did, but im happy with where it is at.

 

[jrm]

They were topping out using a higher than OE rated spring. Never felt right even with UCAs. Changed to 6112s.

 

[smallies]

Bilsteinlifts.com didn't have Bilsteins so I grabbed 2 emus. Protective packing was non existent so they're damaged. They offered $25 refund or I guess they would prefer paying shipping 2 ways.
Imgur: The magic of the Internet

 

[Monoman2345]

Bilsteinlifts.com didn't have Bilsteins so I grabbed 2 emus. Protective packing was non existent so they're damaged. They offered $25 refund or I guess they would prefer paying shipping 2 ways.
Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Ouch, did you order them from the site or somewhere else? They didn't offer to ship them back for you at all?

 

[BayAreaT4R]

How are you guys liking the 5100?

 

[jrod3030]

After installing the front 5100’s on my 5th ben, I have lights on my dash. abs, brake, 4wd (green flashing), slip assist (driving on level street but downshifts as if I’m downhill), and the steering wheel lights on but turns off when out of park.

Anyone know why this is happening?! And I did undo the abs sensor before installing the shocks and double checked their connection after.

Thanks!

 

[NotaJeep2]

Are the Front 5100's an extended travel compared to the stock shocks on the 4th gen 4Runners? thanks

 

[Blute]

I replaced stock XREAS.

Installed 5100 with T1 and T12 springs. Installed on front at 0

Feels like stock ride, slightly stiffer which I wanted because stock was too soft and felt bouncy.

Tight on turns, smooth ride, stiffer then stock. What I wanted, I feel like im in an SUV now not a boat.

Can you share your hub-fender measurements? Thinking of doing something similar.

 

[truckmike26]

So far, I've noticed little difference over the factory-installed Tokicos. I've got the fronts on the second groove (10 mm) combined with a 1/4" spacer (6.4 mm). So 16.4 x 2.2 = 36 mm front lift and 10 mm OME rings in the rear. Any perceived increase in firmness is likely just because the 5100s are replacing 15-year-old Tokicos. My question is has anyone recently had Bilstein noise issues? Both front factory 4600s were replaced under warranty on my '21 Tacoma because they were making sharp rapping noises. Now I have similar random noises coming from the 4Runner front end after installing the 5100s. Everything's torqued to spec at ride height (I even loosened and re-torqued the upper and lower control arm bolts so the bushings have a new neutral position at the new ride height). No knocking, no clunking, no shaking, tracks arrow-straight at freeway speeds.

 

[OopsIBrokeIt]

So far, I've noticed little difference over the factory-installed Tokicos. I've got the fronts on the second groove (10 mm) combined with a 1/4" spacer (6.4 mm). So 16.4 x 2.2 = 36 mm front lift and 10 mm OME rings in the rear. Any perceived increase in firmness is likely just because the 5100s are replacing 15-year-old Tokicos. My question is has anyone recently had Bilstein noise issues? Both front factory 4600s were replaced under warranty on my '21 Tacoma because they were making sharp rapping noises. Now I have similar random noises coming from the 4Runner front end after installing the 5100s. Everything's torqued to spec at ride height (I even loosened and re-torqued the upper and lower control arm bolts so the bushings have a new neutral position at the new ride height). No knocking, no clunking, no shaking, tracks arrow-straight at freeway speeds.

You're gonna need to do a little more diagnostic work I think. Unfortunately there's a ton of potential sources for clunking up front, especially when angles are changed by a lift.

Check out your end links + sway bar bushings first, they're cheap and easy to swap. Past that you'll wanna either start shaking the hell out of everything and checking for play or see if specific road conditions cause the noise.

Noises that only occur over bumps or at certain speeds or while one side is loaded in a turn can help narrow down what part is the issue here.

 

[Gannz22]

I have them on my F150 so this might not be an issue with a lighter front end and the Fords don't have camber adjustment but the 5100s wore through my strut mounts.

 

[Road_Runner]

About 1 month with new 5100 885 one fronts and 2895 rears ome rear springs with new koyo bearings/hubs, new xj axles with oem boots, total chaos upper arms and moog lower also ininstalled 5th gen calipers off 2014 T4R WITH NEW OEM Rotors/pads. Really like the way it sits abd rides. But I think I will bec upgrading the shocks in next once my money recovers a lil lol

 

[Road_Runner]

I just bought this beast..BTW. this was the ONLY 2009 v8 4wd sport edition For sale in Cali! Possibly in the nation.. these the trail and urban runners are now unicorns. Extremely hard to find.

 

[04SR54me]

Bilstein for SR5

I just noticed this thread and thought I would weigh in. My SR5 has 288k. I put in KYB's about 60k ago and was very unhappy with how crappy the ride was and the fact that the rubber cushion in the top was cracking. I had Bilsteins on the rear and they tended to be a bit stiff, but I liked them. I decided to bite the bullet and put the yellow/blue B6? strut cartridges in the front and replaced the upper mount assembly.
Wow. What a difference it made. the rears were less jouncy and the front came up a smidge. Nice firm ride, feels like I'm riding higher and my family doesn't complain about the crappy ride. Totally happy with other change. handles better as well. So, that's my 2 cents! Got them from Rock Auto.

 

[Bluesky 07]

That sounds like the Bilstein 4600, which is the appropriate choice if you have no added weight up front such as a winch bumper.

 

[Runnin on E]

Read this entire page regarding the drawbacks of running 5100s and stock springs. 4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ

Four years ago AND when you read the first paragraph of that link it says " Created so the same questions don't get asked over and over...."

Dump the German stuff and get the best.....Ozzy:rockon:

 

[4runherpow]

I'll be replacing my 4 year old 5500s (30K) with the coliovers from freedom off-road. They're apparently twin tube in the front and provide 2.5" at the lowest setting. The body is threaded which I don't think is the best for future corrosion and there's no protective sleeve for the strut shaft, but they look nice and came fully assembled with new strut mounts.

Shout out to Christophe at Freedom Off-Road who hooked me up with a good deal on my UCA ball joints that went bad and I picked up these coliovers and rear nitro shocks for a nice deal.

My 5500s have always been too stiff for my taste. I hope the new setup is still compliant and firm but without the jarring stiffness over small bumps and potholes.