Need some help...what setting to set my Bilstein 5100's

[krupnation]

I have a 2005 SR5 V8 4x4 with 95k miles on it. I'm pretty sure it's the stock suspension (truck is still new to me, purchased in Feb of this year) and it's getting soft. I have my FJ coils in the garage and the Billie's will be here on Wed (ordered on eBay from ORW for $350 total w/ shipping). I've been addicted to ARK SWAMP RIDER's thread and spreadsheet on the FJ coil swap and I keep second guessing what setting to put my Billie's at.

So, what would you guys who have done the swap recommend? I want to level out the front end as I can't stand the raked stance right now. I'm thinking about doing the highest setting (1.75) but don't want to end up with what someone on the forum called the "bro" lift, or reverse rake...ARK SWAMP RIDER, I see that you also have a V8 4x4 with the front setting at 1.75. Did you put the airbags in the rear to give it a slight rake? or did you need those for towing?
:cheers:

 

[S p a r k y]

Did you put the airbags in the rear to give it a slight rake? or did you need those for towing?

Ark has the stock air level system, he didnt install anything there. You dont see alot of them.

 

[JD914]

Subscribed. I'm doing the same thing, and have the same question.

I'm considering going with 33's, but I still have a few thousand miles left on my tires (265/70-17) at the moment. I don't want to have too much space over the tires, making the lift look silly while I'm still running my current tires, but I don't want to have to disassemble the front suspension later if I do upgrade.

Will the 1.75 height look silly over the 265/70? Will the 33's fit under the .85? (I'd consider spacers, of course)

 

[OdinWiski]

Went through the same debate before I installed mine with FJ springs. Against the majority of the recommendations of the second setting (0.85), I used the third setting (1.75). Could not be happier that I did not listen to what most people said! 0.85 would've looked there was no lift at the front!

1.75 is not the highest setting by the way. I thought you already made up your mind?

 

[JD914]

Do you have a picture of your lift? And what size tires are you running?

Oh, and I don't mean to thread-jack. I hope this actually helps the OP...

 

[Casper421]

Subscribed. I'm doing the same thing, and have the same question.

I'm considering going with 33's, but I still have a few thousand miles left on my tires (265/70-17) at the moment. I don't want to have too much space over the tires, making the lift look silly while I'm still running my current tires, but I don't want to have to disassemble the front suspension later if I do upgrade.

Will the 1.75 height look silly over the 265/70? Will the 33's fit under the .85? (I'd consider spacers, of course)

33's will fit If you add atleast a DS 2.5/1.5 or Cornfed 3/2 with FJ springs, spidertax and trimming. Save your money and go OME!!

 

[OdinWiski]

Do you have a picture of your lift? And what size tires are you running?

Oh, and I don't mean to thread-jack. I hope this actually helps the OP...

here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/88706-bilstein-5100s-fj-springs-allpro-spacers-done.html

 

[krupnation]

1.75 is not the highest setting by the way. I thought you already made up your mind?

hahahaha, I thought so too until I keep looking at ARK's spreadsheet. Its good data, just not very consistent and I'm just trying to save myself from taking the front suspension apart again to change it to another setting.

If I remember, you have the black runner with the roof rack? I love the look of your rig! I'm def leaning towards 1.75...

 

[OdinWiski]

That's the impression I had in doing all the research as well. I'm not talking about his spreadsheet, just browsing through a lot of threads seeing what people did with theirs and how the results came out on pictures. It just seemed to be very inconsistent, to say the least.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I still think second notch is best with the FJ springs for a leveled look. Why Odin's came out like it did I have no idea. Take measurements to see how much lower the front is versus the rear, then go from there. I'm thinking that Odin's setup must have for some reason had more rake to start with than others, thus needing the extra setup. IMO the settings on the 5100's are more like 0", 1", 2", and 3". The groves are right at 1/2" apart, resulting in the 1" increments. I know I got .5" when I did my FJ springs and 1/2" spacer. I switched to the 5100's on third notch with FJ springs, ended with 2.5" lift.

As mentioned, I have the OEM air system which isn't very common. I adjusted them so that the rear sits about 1.25" higher than stock.

 

[krupnation]

Thanks you guys. I'll take some measurements tomorrow to see how much rake I have in front. I should be able to get everything installed this weekend and will update with pics.

 

[Sonicpilz]

Not to reiterate what everybody else has already said, but DO SOME MEASURING first!! How do you know how much to "level" without knowing what you've got? Then figure out if you want to lift the whole truck or just the front, aka 32" tires or 44" tires. If you just want to level it out and go up say 1 tire size then all you'll have to worry about is lifting the front.

I had a stock 2" rake on mine. In my own personal opinion I think between 0.5"-1" of rake looks best or you can make them even if you want. This is your personal opinion. I did see a few 4runners that were perfectly even on the measurements and looked great. Do some searches and look at pictures of various 4runner with different degrees of rake. Figure out how much you need to lift the front in order to match the back.

You can look at the photos I've posted recently and see what 1.5" rake looks like. I calculated on paper to end up with 1" rake but got 1/2" more in the rear from the FJ springs than I planned on.

FJ springs will ROUGHLY give you 1/2" all the way around and will possibly lift your REAR more than the FRONT due to your 4x4/V8 (mine gave me 1/2" FRONT and 1" REAR).

Although I did lift the front 1/2" more than the rear I'm still not quite as level as I want to be and will eventually go up a setting on my Bilstein 5100s. If I would have gone with the 1.75 setting I would have ended up with 1/2" rake overall which would have been perfect I think.

2003 4x4 v8 set at (.85) 120k miles 265/70/17 Bridgestone Dueler Revo 2
No rubbing issues until I got 1.25 spacers then it was only minor

Before - measurements 33.5" Front 35.5" Rear
After - measurements 35.5" Front 37" Rear

(1/4 inch or so is added to "after" measurements due to larger tires)
(each setting will add about 1" lift from the Bilstein 5100s 0", 1", 2", 3")
(some people claim that the car will "settle" a little but I've had mine for 5k miles and the measurement has not changed)

 

[Sonicpilz]

Here is a recent photo of mine with 1.5" rake and my 265/70/17 Bridgestone Revo 2s installed. In this picture I have my 5100s set at .85 which is the 2nd notch (1" lift). I also have the 1.25 All-pro spacers installed in this photo.

Measurements are 35.5" F and 37" R (Its on a hill so it looks more even than it really is)

 

[krupnation]

Thanks Sonic, your runner looks sick. Believe me when I say I've done a TON of research on this subject but it seems like everyone gets something different each time. The reason I'm doing the FJ coils w/ Billies is because it fits my needs (level front, slight overall lift). I really want it level, maybe a 1/2" rake at the most. My biggest pet peeve with the 4th Gen is that "station wagon" look with the stock suspension. I loved the aggressive look of my stock 3rd gen.

I don't do any hardcore offroading, just up to the mountain in the winter and some mild wheelin' when we go camping each summer.

Will be taking measurements tomorrow...

 

[OdinWiski]

I just measured mine:

Front Driver: 35 3/4
Front Passenger: 35 7/8
Rear Driver: 36 3/4
Rear Passenger: 36 7/8

Exactly 1" rake front to rear Running 265/70/17 tires - haven't checked them in a while - hope they're still properly inflated.

I did not write down the before measurements, but I do know I had slightly over 2 inches of a rake. I think they were about 34 and 36. I agree that the FJ springs would raise the rear slightly as well.

 

[Sonicpilz]

Yeah I planned on 1" overall rake when I was done or at least thats what I wanted. I think I'm going to go up 1" more up front and maybe a 1/4" spacer in the rear or something to get it pretty close to 1" overall rake.

Then I think 275/70/17 BFG A/Ts will fit nice.

 

[krupnation]

took measurements this morning and here's where I'm at stock:

front pass: 33.5
front driver: 33.25

rear pass: 35.5
rear driver: 35.5

So pretty much 2" of rake to it. I think the 1.75 setting will level it out nicely...shocks arrive tomorrow and I'm seeing if my buddy can help me install them so I'll give an update soon. :hatsoff:

 

[Sonicpilz]

Thats correct the 1.75 setting will give you approx 2" of lift in the front. You will also get about 1/2" or so from the FJ springs. Since you have pretty close to the same set up as me I'll bet you get about 1/4"-1/2" more in the rear. This should put you about 1/2" rake overall when you're done.

**One other thing to consider is towing. How much if any? Being perfectly even under no load might cause a slight "bro lean" if you tow anything with substantial weight. On the plus side the FJ springs are a little stiffer so it will help out a lot.

I'm anxious to see your results since it seems you've decided to go with the 1.75 setting. I'd like to see if you can do it without having to add additional lift to the rear. Also I want to see what a 1/2" rake looks like compared to a 1.5" rake. I think ARK_SWAMP used that setting and had to add a spacer to his rear to make it level.

On paper it makes sense though. I took all this in consideration and went the safe route with .85 setting but I think I can go higher and still not be in the "bro lean" club since I got about 1/2" more REAR lift than most others.

 

[krupnation]

I'm not towing anything so I'm not to worried about a bro lean. I think the 1.75 will do a nice job of leveling it out. Installing the suspension this Friday and will post pics.

 

[JD914]

Are there any small rear spacers available (rather than buying a front/rear kit)? I'd like a little to run the 1.75" setting for more lift for off-roading, but I do tow fairly often, and carry a dirt or sportbike on a hitch carrier, so I'm trying to avoid having a squat.