Dumb question? Bily 5100 adj. w/stock springs for lift?

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Lots of Tacoma guys do that who are on a budget. If you are going cheap it's better to do that than getting spacers. It will make the ride harsher and you will be using your already worn coils again. I'd just save the extra $180 and get some Eibach coils to replace the stock coils and you'll be good to go. The 5100 set up does reuse the stock top hats.
 
Lots of Tacoma guys do that who are on a budget. If you are going cheap it's better to do that than getting spacers. It will make the ride harsher and you will be using your already worn coils again. I'd just save the extra $180 and get some Eibach coils to replace the stock coils and you'll be good to go. The 5100 set up does reuse the stock top hats.

The thought is to do this for now with some OME's in the rear for a mild (~2") lift, then I will probably go bigger down the road, maybe 7 wraps with Tundra up front. Will the Tundra's work on the Tacoma bilys or do I have to change hats and perches, etc? I'm trying to be scalable here.
 
Just get the Tundra Adjustable 5100 Fronts now. Run your stock springs, then down the road get the Tundra TRD Springs when your ready to upgrade all around.
Depending on your year the 4th an 5th notches get you into the 21-22" hub to fender range.
Read up on this thread:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...4runner-sr5-highlander-edition-4x4-build.html
It's long but covers this question well.
This is probably the route I will be taking since I won't have any extra weight on the front anytime soon.
 
I personally haven't done it, but the above thread shows it being done with 2000 model year coils, and another gentlemen did with 99's I believe.
 
Yes the stock coils fit the tundra 5100's just fine. I am running them set on the highest perch (5th one I believe). The ride quality to me seems good but my fronts were totally shot prior to putting these on so take that for what it's worth. I got a solid 2.5" lift with mine on those settings. I paired them with a 2.5" spacer in the rear on top of new moog coil springs and he sits even all the way around.
 
Yes the stock coils fit the tundra 5100's just fine. I am running them set on the highest perch (5th one I believe). The ride quality to me seems good but my fronts were totally shot prior to putting these on so take that for what it's worth. I got a solid 2.5" lift with mine on those settings. I paired them with a 2.5" spacer in the rear on top of new moog coil springs and he sits even all the way around.

Mind me asking how long you've run the bilys this way up front? Ie. time frame/miles?
 
Been about a month now and around 800 miles on them with no issues. I was planning on a diff drop but the cv axle angles are fine and the fins on the boots aren't rubbing.

I also installed them on my '01 Sequoia with no issues. In fact, the 4runner makes less noises than the Sequoia does with them. The only thing I had happen on the runner was the rear sway bar end link snapped on the driver's side due to additional flexing but that was due to a rusted top nut.

Installation on them is very straight forward. You will need a good set of spring compressors (O'reily's or Autozone) and at least a 500 ft-lb impact. Take the old shock off, compress springs, put springs on new billy's, put on your bushings top plate etc on, thread top nut on, torque to recommended specs, uncompress springs being careful to note where your bottom spring seats (check out FSM for these). Installation was easy, I used the bottle jack trick where you put it on the upper control arm and jack it down to align the shock and the eyelet so the bolt goes in easily. And torque your remaing nuts to spec. Took a few hours, compressing them is a ***** and if you want to pay someone it will def save you some time. Just don't install the perch backwards, a few over on TundraSolutions did that and it will cause failure quickly.
 
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I have the Rancho RS5158 rear shocks. They only set me back 70 for the pair. I would recommend going the route of the Bilstein 5125's for the rear, they would just cost about $120 more for the pair. I have those on my Sequoia with 2.5" spacers and the ride quality is good. The ranchos on the runner are a little squishy for my taste.
 
I have the Rancho RS5158 rear shocks. They only set me back 70 for the pair. I would recommend going the route of the Bilstein 5125's for the rear, they would just cost about $120 more for the pair. I have those on my Sequoia with 2.5" spacers and the ride quality is good. The ranchos on the runner are a little squishy for my taste.

Wheeler's doesn't list them for runner. Are they the LC shocks?

Toytec has them for :eek: $200...
 
Bilstein 33-187174 2" Lift Rear Shock for Toyota FJ Cruiser

Try this link for cheapest around:

Bilstein 33-187174 2" Lift Rear Shock for Toyota FJ Cruiser : Amazon.com : Automotive

These shocks simply have 2 more inches of travel to them to help accomodate the travel lost by installing a lift in the rear. They will fit the 3rd gen 4runner, FJ Cruiser, and Sequoia. For the 4runner and Sequoia's they are recommended if there is lift in the rear.
 
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The worst part of all of this is the options aren't great. For the rear, the lift options seem to be 1" (99 talls) or super firm, harsh OMEs for ~2-2.5", or FOUR INCHES PLUS with LC 7 wraps...there is very little in the middle there.

IOW if I want to do 2.5" rear lift and maintain stock-ish ride and have spring/shock durability, I'm screwed....
 
Nothing wrong with throwing some spacers back there on a budget. Guys do it all the time and the ride isn't that bad, I would say close to stock. Unless your ride currently floats like a Cadillac, I don't think it would be too harsh a transition.

Of course I've seen guys on this site rant and rave about the OME's but only if paired with a shock that is valved accordingly. The LC wraps give a bit too much lift IMO, but to each his own...
 
Stock / KYB / Tokicos:
11.75-12.75 x 19.75-20.75 range
Stock LC Tokicos 14.5"x23.5"
Bilstein Tundra 5100 13.84"x22.4"
Bilstein 4th Gen / FJ 5100 14.91"x23.5"
Bilstein Tacoma 5100 14.02"x22.94"
Toytec 5125 14.2"x22.5"
(Can't remember if that includes Adapter??)
Nitro N2.0 13.89"x23.04"
 

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