Bilstein/OME setup question....Please chime in.

[momo.75]

I called Toytec to ask a couple of questions about a suspension setup. I asked him about running Bilsteins F/R and either OME 884 or 885 springs in the front and Superflex in the rear. The guy told me that Bilstein shocks and OME springs were not compatible?......WTF? I have seen tons of people running them together. Anybody else been told this?

 

[gaterose]

Sounds like that guy must've been a jerk.

I've personally ran OME 885s and Bilstein 5100s up front, I believe riceman is still running my old setup. I can't think of any reason that they wouldn't work in the rear since the shocks are made for 0-2" lift and the 895s lift 2".

Unless of course they won't work because ToyTec wants to make some extra money off of you and they have a better markup on Eibach coils than OME.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Sounds like that guy must've been a jerk.

I've personally ran OME 885s and Bilstein 5100s up front, I believe riceman is still running my old setup. I can't think of any reason that they wouldn't work in the rear since the shocks are made for 0-2" lift and the 895s lift 2".

Unless of course they won't work because ToyTec wants to make some extra money off of you and they have a better markup on Eibach coils than OME.

+1, there's no reason it wouldn't work. I've also ran the 5100's with the OME 885's and no issues. This really surprises me, I've had great experiences with Toytec in the past.

 

[momo.75]

i can't even count all the people have seen running this setup.

It was really odd when he said they weren't compatible. I thought he didn't hear me correctly so i even repeated myself.....:shrug:

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

i can't even count all the people have seen running this setup.

It was really odd when he said they weren't compatible. I thought he didn't hear me correctly so i even repeated myself.....:shrug:

Who'd you speak with? Did they provide any explanation why it would not be compatible? I understand the shocks are valved to work with stock coils, so running with OME's may not be ideal but definitely don't see the problem.

 

[gaterose]

I understand the shocks are valved to work with stock coils, so running with OME's may not be ideal but definitely don't see the problem.

I agree with this. I loved the ride of 5100s with FJ coils but didn't like it at all with 885s and SAW coils.

 

[momo.75]

It was Dylan. There really wasn't any explanation why they wouldn't work. I asked him what he would suggest and he said the Toytec/Eibach springs.....how convenient that their brand would be the ones he suggested. The main thing that bothered me was the lack of willingness to help somebody. I actually felt like i was bothering the guy by calling. I will gladly spend more money with other vendors if i get good customer service.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

It was Dylan. There really wasn't any explanation why they wouldn't work. I asked him what he would suggest and he said the Toytec/Eibach springs.....how convenient that their brand would be the ones he suggested. The main thing that bothered me was the lack of willingness to help somebody. I actually felt like i was bothering the guy by calling. I will gladly spend more money with other vendors if i get good customer service.

Wow...I've never had that type of experience. I don't know that I've dealt with Dylan, but I have dealt with several others and it's always been top notch.

 

[momo.75]

I had always heard it was a good place. I just hate my first experience with them is a bad one.

 

[jdkilroy]

Sigh...

makes me realize how good we had it when Overland was around.

 

[ebg18t]

. The main thing that bothered me was the lack of willingness to help somebody. I actually felt like i was bothering the guy by calling. I will gladly spend more money with other vendors if i get good customer service.

I had the same issue when I called Toytec. They couldn't be bothered to help and refered me to their website. I called another vendor and placed my order the same day. I don't expect the red carpet, but I don't expect to be treated like a burden and not worth their time.

The vendor I used for my LandRover grossed just over $14k in the past 8 months. But I know right now Toytec will get $0 going forward.

 

[steezemcqueen]

I'm sorry if you felt i wasn't being helpful as I definitely did not mean to come off that way.

The reason why Toytec does not recommend it is because both Bilstein and OME say that they will not work together. Yes plenty of people have combined them with success but I do know the valving is different between the two shocks. OME springs are mainly linear rate springs and the 5100's were designed to be used with progressive rate springs. The reason why i recommended the Eibachs was because they were designed specifically for the 5100's and hundreds if not thousands of people on TacomaWorld love the setup.

 

[momo.75]

Dylan, i appreciate your response and explanation.

 

[sn0wrunner]

I've talked with them about this before. Toytec is not allowed to suggest running bilstein shocks with OME coils. There are a few reasons for this. As already stated, the manufacturer says they are not compatible. Therefore if your shock blows it will not be covered under warranty. Toytec is not going to suggest a setup that is going to void your warranty (common business sense). They also say that spring perch sits at different spots on the OME shock compared to the bilstein shock, so the amount of pre-load on the spring is different and the actual lift height you will get is unknown. It's not something they will test to find out either because it is a setup that will void your warranty. They suggested either run OME springs with OME shocks, or run Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs.

With that said, I know there are a lot of people have run them together, and Toytec said that they will physically work together. But they cannot guarantee a lift height, and the shocks will not be under warranty. It's not something they can recommend. So its just a risk that we as buyers have to take if we want to go that route.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

My only issue with that is I'm 99% sure that prior to the Eibach coils becoming more popular, Toytec sold the 5100s with OME coils in a kit. It seems, based on my memory, this only became an "issue" recently, about the time they started promoting the Eibachs..

 

[sn0wrunner]

hmmm. Interesting... How long ago was that?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

hmmm. Interesting... How long ago was that?

Probably 5-6 months. As I said, 99% sure I've seen it but I could be wrong.

 

[ebg18t]

I have both OME and Bilstein dampers right now, The OME sport valving is much firmer than the Bilsteins. I suspect this is for proper control of the OME firmer/heavier loads carrying spring rate. My next damper set will be another set of Fox's.

 

[FRT]

Oh great, and I thought my shopping list for the runner was done. :redbrick:
Now I have to decide between:

They suggested either run OME springs with OME shocks, or run Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs.

Ark and ebg know what I mean lol

 

[ThePMFG]

i'm trying to decide between running the bilstein 5100 coilover/superflex kit from toytec or going with the OME 885/895 set up on my 2004 t4r... i want to order this kit this week, but some advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks!!