Bilstein 5165 as a rear shock option?

[ShooterMcGavin]

I'm looking into buying some shocks for the rear of my 4Runner. I have LC 8 wraps for springs. What about the Bilstein 5165 shocks? Are they the right length, or how do I figure that out? Are they a good match for the springs I have and the 3-4" lift? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Neil_R]

This is what I would likely recommend: Bilstein 5100 Rear shocks for FJ/4Runner I think it is the longest travel shock that will fit on a 3rd gen. Pretty sure it's what most people use when doing the LC coils.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[revenantdead]

when i installed my 8 wraps i picked up a set of 5150's that matched the landcruiser ride height

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

This is what I would likely recommend: Bilstein 5100 Rear shocks for FJ/4Runner I think it is the longest travel shock that will fit on a 3rd gen. Pretty sure it's what most people use when doing the LC coils.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

I appreciate the input, but I am hesitant to go with those shocks due to the advice on the Toytec website, specifically this part:

These are long travel rear Bilstein 5100 series shocks outfitted to work with your 3rd Gen 4Runner and should only be used with our Toytec Superflex 024RCB coils or long rear lift coil springs.

If NOT used with coil springs at least as long as our 024RCB coils, you will need to hard mount your internal spring bump stops, mount your rear springs to the axle perch, and extend the axle bumps. There is a high possibility of spitting a spring at full droop if you use too short of a coil spring in back.

*The emphasis is mine.

when i installed my 8 wraps i picked up a set of 5150's that matched the landcruiser ride height

That sounds like a good plan, however, if I may play devil's advocate for a moment...
The 4Runner is lighter in the rear than the LC, which accounts for some of the lift that the springs provide in the 4Runner. That would mean there is a little more compression, across the spectrum, when using the LC springs in the LC. In that case, the LC shocks (or shocks designed for the LC) might be a little short when used in the 4Runner? Yes/no?

 

[kolelt]

You will fine with 5100 in back aslong as you run superflex coils or something similar to superflex coils. And YOU NEED EXTENDED BUMP STOPS, and your golden. There's people on here that run the 5100. I'm getting these shocks today in the mail and my superflex in July. I think the key right coils with extended bump stops

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

You will fine with 5100 in back aslong as you run superflex coils or something similar to superflex coils. And YOU NEED EXTENDED BUMP STOPS, and your golden. There's people on here that run the 5100. I'm getting these shocks today in the mail and my superflex in July. I think the key right coils with extended bump stops

I agree with you. I don't have Superflex coils and don't plan on getting them. I am planning on installing LC 8 wraps.

 

[Fishwerks]

You will fine with 5100 in back aslong as you run superflex coils or something similar to superflex coils. And YOU NEED EXTENDED BUMP STOPS, and your golden. There's people on here that run the 5100. I'm getting these shocks today in the mail and my superflex in July. I think the key right coils with extended bump stops

Agree with the above. I run LX 8-wraps and those 5100s with extended bumpstops. No issues thus far.

I don't see you spitting an 8-wrap. An OME 890 or something maybe. But 8-wraps are so long that I don't think you could spit one if you tried.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Oh, Ok. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[snivilous]

That sounds like a good plan, however, if I may play devil's advocate for a moment...
The 4Runner is lighter in the rear than the LC, which accounts for some of the lift that the springs provide in the 4Runner. That would mean there is a little more compression, across the spectrum, when using the LC springs in the LC. In that case, the LC shocks (or shocks designed for the LC) might be a little short when used in the 4Runner? Yes/no?

What do you mean compression across the spectrum? The LC weighs more so the spring would nominally be proportionally more compressed, thus accounting for the lift in the Runner as you said. As far as that affecting shock length, shock length is fairly independent and depends on the engineers. As far as offroad vehicles go you obviously want to stuff as much shock as you can since more shock = more travel = more awesome. The spring length (unless it's too short for how much droop you have, or too long so it bows but that's out of this ball park) doesn't affect the amount of shock you can fit, all that affects that is how much room you have when you are touching the bump stops so you won't ram the shock and explode it. So short answer to your shock question--depends on the room for a shock for the LC assuming the engineers were trying to fit the longest shock possible.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

What do you mean compression across the spectrum? The LC weighs more so the spring would nominally be proportionally more compressed, thus accounting for the lift in the Runner as you said...

You said what I meant, just differently (I think). For every compression of the suspension, the spring will be longer (less compressed) on the 4Runner, because of the lower weight. I assume that would mean that the spring/shock combo on a 4Runner would be operating in a range that is longer than the range used on a LC. Maybe my point is irrelevant Both can bottom-out and both can "top-out". I was thinking that a shock with a longer fully-extended length would be useful for the 4Runner, and it would be less likely to bottom-out the same shock. Maybe I should stop "thinking out loud and then typing it"

Essentially, the bump stops should limit compressed travel (hopefully before the shock bottoms out). What stops the droop travel? Is it just the shock hitting its top-travel? I know some suspension setups use limiter straps. Regarding ours... If my 4Runner rear is suspended from something other than wheels/axle/suspension, so the wheels can fall freely, what stops them at their maximum droop?

 

[snivilous]

You said what I meant, just differently (I think). For every compression of the suspension, the spring will be longer (less compressed) on the 4Runner, because of the lower weight. I assume that would mean that the spring/shock combo on a 4Runner would be operating in a range that is longer than the range used on a LC. Maybe my point is irrelevant Both can bottom-out and both can "top-out". I was thinking that a shock with a longer fully-extended length would be useful for the 4Runner, and it would be less likely to bottom-out the same shock. Maybe I should stop "thinking out loud and then typing it"

Essentially, the bump stops should limit compressed travel (hopefully before the shock bottoms out). What stops the droop travel? Is it just the shock hitting its top-travel? I know some suspension setups use limiter straps. Regarding ours... If my 4Runner rear is suspended from something other than wheels/axle/suspension, so the wheels can fall freely, what stops them at their maximum droop?

It depends on how the suspension is setup. Ideally you don't want the shock to limit the travel, but if you're just crawling slow it shouldn't be too bad if the shock stops the droop (I wouldn't let it limit full bump since then it has to take a lot of weight). As you said, some suspensions just let the shock droop out, others use limit straps (usually in fast applications where you will go violently to full droop as the suspension leaves the ground and repeatedly), and then sometimes the geometry just limits it like the track/panhard bar binding up.

 

[revenantdead]

That sounds like a good plan, however, if I may play devil's advocate for a moment...
The 4Runner is lighter in the rear than the LC, which accounts for some of the lift that the springs provide in the 4Runner. That would mean there is a little more compression, across the spectrum, when using the LC springs in the LC. In that case, the LC shocks (or shocks designed for the LC) might be a little short when used in the 4Runner? Yes/no?

let me rephrase that. 5150's that matched the runner's suspension travel with the 8 wraps. i wrote that last post half asleep. the 5150's are awesome. i did hear rumors that they were discontinued so my next set of rears will be the next upgrade if it's true.