Bilstien 5100 Shocks for front/rear

[limited05]

I am going to be up for new tires relatively soon and am considering lifting my 2005 limited 4runner if I can lift it for a reasonable price. I am wanting to achieve a 265/70/17 (BFG All Terrains) tire/lift combo that is the appropriate lift to tire ratio and also doesn't "rob the ride" too much, all while keeping my spending on these extras to a reasonable level.

However, as I have read through forums on different products and methods to lift your vehicle I have gotten myself a bit confused.

My question is, can you add only Bilstien 5100 Shocks for front/rear and adjust them to lift the front and rear without any other modifications or products required?

If so, this seems like a pretty cheap way to achieve a lift. I have found front/rear shock packages from Bilstein on the internet for around $350. Are there any downsides to lifting your vehicle this way?

Also, would any of you recommend just using the 5100s in the front and adding a block lift in the back with the existing oem shocks to save money?

I am a newbie and apologize if these are obvious questions, thanks for the help and any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Morphyne]

5100s only lift the front but you can get an 1.5 spacer lift for your rear springs on amazon.

 

[Canazes9]

I have used the Bilstein 5100's on a variety of Toyota's and they work pretty well. The 5100's don't lift the rear, just the front. As has been mentioned, spacers can be used in the rear as a cheap way to gain additional lift. There are also spacer lifts for the front, but they are not recommended as the spacers on top of the coil overs prevent the bump stops from contacting on big hits and all of that energy will be transferred to the front struts - often times with destructive results. Spacer lifts in the rear are safe as they are essentially just preloading the coil.

The 5100's provide lift in the front by preloading the front coils. The shocks have 4 positions - 0", 0.85", 1.75" and 2.5". The 5100's can also be used in conjunction w/ longer aftermarket coil springs to achieve similar lift w/o as much preload. Excessive preload tends to make for a rough ride.

It doesn't take any lift to clear 265/70R17's - you can have those installed on factory suspension w/ no problems (may have to trim mud flaps in front - not sure on 4th gen). A lot of people tend to pick a mild leveling lift for your situation. That's just raising the front 0.85" w/ the 5100's, adding the 5100's to the rear with no lift in the rear. This will give you a more aggressive look and significantly improve your on/off road handling. I would not recommend just changing the front shocks - the dampening on the 5100's is noticeable stronger and the rear of your vehicle will feel soft in comparison to the front if you don't change the rear shocks.

HTH

David

 

[limited05]

I have used the Bilstein 5100's on a variety of Toyota's and they work pretty well. The 5100's don't lift the rear, just the front. As has been mentioned, spacers can be used in the rear as a cheap way to gain additional lift. There are also spacer lifts for the front, but they are not recommended as the spacers on top of the coil overs prevent the bump stops from contacting on big hits and all of that energy will be transferred to the front struts - often times with destructive results. Spacer lifts in the rear are safe as they are essentially just preloading the coil.

The 5100's provide lift in the front by preloading the front coils. The shocks have 4 positions - 0", 0.85", 1.75" and 2.5". The 5100's can also be used in conjunction w/ longer aftermarket coil springs to achieve similar lift w/o as much preload. Excessive preload tends to make for a rough ride.

It doesn't take any lift to clear 265/70R17's - you can have those installed on factory suspension w/ no problems (may have to trim mud flaps in front - not sure on 4th gen). A lot of people tend to pick a mild leveling lift for your situation. That's just raising the front 0.85" w/ the 5100's, adding the 5100's to the rear with no lift in the rear. This will give you a more aggressive look and significantly improve your on/off road handling. I would not recommend just changing the front shocks - the dampening on the 5100's is noticeable stronger and the rear of your vehicle will feel soft in comparison to the front if you don't change the rear shocks.

HTH

David

Thanks for that information, very helpful.

I have considered going up to 285/70/17, however, am afraid that will rob the ride a bit too much. Opinions?

Also, for the short term I think I might try to get the 5100s on the front and a spacer lift on the back. I do not off road terribly often, and will try to upgrade over time.

Also, what would you guys recommend for sizes on rear spacers. For some reason I had in my head a 1.25 spacer lift for 265/70/17 tires and a 1.5 spacer lift for 285/70/17 tires….any opinions on this?


Thanks a lot for all the help!

After today and getting hit with the bill of a 90K mile "premium" service and a tensioner for a pulley, my pocket is still in recovery mode!!

 

[Morphyne]

Bilsteins up front set to 2.5" and rear 1.5" spacer should look pretty good.

 

[Canazes9]

'05

If you put a spacer lift on the rear, I would put a 1 - 1.5" spacer and set the Bilsteins at 1.75" in the front. IMO, higher lift requires better components - preloading the stock coils any more than that will make the ride harsh.

Common fallacy that lift provides tire clearance - truth is that lift has little to no affect on tire rub/clearance. 265/70R17 - no problems. A few choices in 275/70R17's - little to no rubbing. Lots of choices in 285/70R17 - lots of rubbing. Put the bigger tires on a lifted vehicle w/ the correct back space and rubbing will be reduced while riding around on the street - stuff the wheel off road and it will go right back where it would w/o lift and rub like crazy.

Aftermarket UCA's that allow for proper alignment w/ 2.5"+ lift help reduce rubbing. Trimming/adjusting the fender liners helps reduce rubbing. Proper wheel back spacing helps reduce rubbing. Body cab chop mount helps reduce rubbing. Do all those things and you will probably come close to eliminating rubbing (until you really stuff a tire off road).

Lots of people put up w/ a little rubbing on a routine basis. A lot of hardcore off roaders think the trade off is worth it to run the bigger tires and get the slight increase in clearance. Larger tires should not significantly affect the ride. LT tires and their higher required air pressures will decrease ride comfort regardless of size. Larger tires and lift will kill your gas mileage by about 2 mpg (more or less).

My advice is to pick out the specific components you plan on going w/ (front lift/rear lift/UCA's (if applicable)/tires/wheels/etc. and then post in the 4th Gen section. Odds are your specific combination has been run numerous times on your exact make/model 4Runner and you can benefit from the experience of those that have walked the path before you.

HTH

David

 

[limited05]

Bilsteins up front set to 2.5" and rear 1.5" spacer should look pretty good.

Would you suggest 287/70/17 or 265/70/17 with this set up?

 

[Morphyne]

Sorry. Don't know. BUT there is a sticky somewhere that gives you suggested tire sizes depending on lift.

 

[Morphyne]

Check out the fj spring lift thread. lots of combos shown there. Or just the regular lift thread. see for your self and pick what looks right to you.

 

[limited05]

'05

If you put a spacer lift on the rear, I would put a 1 - 1.5" spacer and set the Bilsteins at 1.75" in the front. IMO, higher lift requires better components - preloading the stock coils any more than that will make the ride harsh.

Common fallacy that lift provides tire clearance - truth is that lift has little to no affect on tire rub/clearance. 265/70R17 - no problems. A few choices in 275/70R17's - little to no rubbing. Lots of choices in 285/70R17 - lots of rubbing. Put the bigger tires on a lifted vehicle w/ the correct back space and rubbing will be reduced while riding around on the street - stuff the wheel off road and it will go right back where it would w/o lift and rub like crazy.

Aftermarket UCA's that allow for proper alignment w/ 2.5"+ lift help reduce rubbing. Trimming/adjusting the fender liners helps reduce rubbing. Proper wheel back spacing helps reduce rubbing. Body cab chop mount helps reduce rubbing. Do all those things and you will probably come close to eliminating rubbing (until you really stuff a tire off road).

Lots of people put up w/ a little rubbing on a routine basis. A lot of hardcore off roaders think the trade off is worth it to run the bigger tires and get the slight increase in clearance. Larger tires should not significantly affect the ride. LT tires and their higher required air pressures will decrease ride comfort regardless of size. Larger tires and lift will kill your gas mileage by about 2 mpg (more or less).

My advice is to pick out the specific components you plan on going w/ (front lift/rear lift/UCA's (if applicable)/tires/wheels/etc. and then post in the 4th Gen section. Odds are your specific combination has been run numerous times on your exact make/model 4Runner and you can benefit from the experience of those that have walked the path before you.

HTH

David

Thanks a lot for that, that was extremely.

I am thinking I will try to go with the 265/70, from what you've told me sounds like that would be about perfect.

Last question, do you think you could get away with running 265/70 tires stock with a 2.5" front leveling spacer lift only (such as daystars)?

Again, thanks for the help

 

[Canazes9]

Thanks a lot for that, that was extremely.

I am thinking I will try to go with the 265/70, from what you've told me sounds like that would be about perfect.

Last question, do you think you could get away with running 265/70 tires stock with a 2.5" front leveling spacer lift only (such as daystars)?

Again, thanks for the help

Again, its all about what you want to do to fit bigger tires - trim, body cab mount chop, UCA's you will only experience the slightest rub at full stuff in the harshest off road conditions w/ 285/70R17's.

Don't want to jack with all of that and just slap some tires on and have it work with no rubbing? 265/70R17's.

Yes the tire size will work fine w/ the Daystar spacer lifts. I personally hate spacer lifts for the front. When you stick that 2.5" lift spacer above the coil over you have prevented the factory bump stops from touching even when the wheel is at full stuff. You can (and many people have) damage your shock absorber as shocks were never meant to function as bump stops - that's why you have bump stops to begin with...

A quality lift won't allow you to damage your suspension by using it in a manner the stock suspension could have handled w/o incident. Front spacer lifts suck! Bilstein 5100's are the minimum IMO...


David

 

[flash23]

I know this is kind of an old thread, but I just ordered the Bilstein 5100 front shocks. I currently have no lift on my 4runner. If I set them to 2.5", will the front sit up significantly higher than the rear, or will that level it out? Just looking at my truck, it looks like it'd sit up higher. I found http://www.amazon.com/Daystar-KT091...90267656&sr=8-3&keywords=1.5+spacer+rear+lift these and thought about ordering them for the rear since they're not really expensive, but if I go with just the 5100's up front set at 2.5" for a level, then I don't need the spacers in the rear. I'm sticking with the original shocks in the back, mainly because I'll have to save up for the rear ones.

 

[Canazes9]

I know this is kind of an old thread, but I just ordered the Bilstein 5100 front shocks. I currently have no lift on my 4runner. If I set them to 2.5", will the front sit up significantly higher than the rear, or will that level it out? Just looking at my truck, it looks like it'd sit up higher. I found Amazon.com: Daystar KT09127BK Comfort Ride 1.5" Rear Coil Spring Spacer Kit: Automotive these and thought about ordering them for the rear since they're not really expensive, but if I go with just the 5100's up front set at 2.5" for a level, then I don't need the spacers in the rear. I'm sticking with the original shocks in the back, mainly because I'll have to save up for the rear ones.

The front will sit slightly higher - it will look like it's sitting a lot higher. You need the spacers for the rear if you are going to set the fronts at 2.5". My advice would be to save and buy it all/install all at the same time. Lifting the front and changing to 5100's w/o modifying the rear is going to make it handle weird. The back will be noticeably softer than the rear.

HtH

David

 

[flash23]

The front will sit slightly higher - it will look like it's sitting a lot higher. You need the spacers for the rear if you are going to set the fronts at 2.5". My advice would be to save and buy it all/install all at the same time. Lifting the front and changing to 5100's w/o modifying the rear is going to make it handle weird. The back will be noticeably softer than the rear.

HtH

David

That's what I'll do, then. Thanks for the advice. Amazon has a pretty decent deal for roughly about $150 for the rear shocks, which from what I've seen, isn't terrible.