Regretting Bilstein 5125's; alternative advice requested

preacher35

preacher35

New member
So, I've been driving my '05SE V6, around for two weeks now, following the installation of the Toytec Ultimate kit. As some of you may recall, when I ordered said kit, Toytec had no 5100's available for the rear of the truck and there seemed to be a national shortage at the time. Thus they shipped me 5125's for the rear. After two weeks of the truck being almost level, I am finding that I am greatly disappointed in the performance of the rear of the vehicle. Driving around in stop and go traffic seems to be OK, however, on the freeway, I seem to have a "spongy" rebound which is quite profound. Instead of a nice, abreviated jump in the rear of the vehicle, it seems to rise much higher over divets/dips on roads, almost giving it a "floating" affect, or a slow, yet high bounce.

So, for those of you with actual 5100's on the rear, do you have the same spongy/floating rebound affect? Does anyone else know of a shock what would prevent this affect? Or, is this more of an affect from the Superflex coils?

Any and ALL opinions and advice is requested and welcome!!!!
 
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If I recall correctly the 5125 is softer valved that the proper 5100 for the 4Runner. While this is nice sometimes Offroad it will feel under damped on the road depending on the load & rear spring selection. I don't remember which springs you are running in the rear (Superflex?, be worse with 895) but they are probably at the upper end of the valving range for the 5125 's.

What your feeling on the highway is a common situation with under damped-softer platform suspension. If you have a load it the truck it will be even more pronounced. It will more bearable at lower speeds.

This is part of the reason why I am not a proponent of off the shelf shocks being used with up-rated springs and I use adjustable damping suspension.
 
ebg18t said:
If I recall correctly the 5125 is softer valved that the proper 5100 for the 4Runner. While this is nice sometimes Offroad it will feel under damped on the road depending on the load & rear spring selection. I don't remember which springs you are running in the rear (Superflex?, be worse with 895) but they are probably at the upper end of the valving range for the 5125 's.

What your feeling on the highway is a common situation with under damped-softer platform suspension. If you have a load it the truck it will be even more pronounced. It will more bearable at lower speeds.

This is part of the reason why I am not a proponent of off the shelf shocks being used with up-rated springs and I use adjustable damping suspension.
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[MENTION=86678]ebg18t[/MENTION], I installed Toytec Superflex springs in back. Based on what you said regarding "off the shelf" shocks, what would you recommend I use to remove the affect that I am currently having?
 
I suggest you contact Toytec and ask them. You have the option to see if Bilstein can do a custom valving of those shocks.

On my Fox's the rebuild/re valving was ~$125 a shock + shipping.
 
The 5125s/5100s are not rebuildable or re-valvable. For custom tuning you would need to look into a rebuildable shock like the Icons, Sway-a-ways, etc.
 
Well based on Dans comment it looks like you are going to have limited options. Call Toytec and see what they say.
 
ebg18t said:
Well based on Dans comment it looks like you are going to have limited options. Call Toytec and see what they say.
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Yes, I called Toytec a little while ago. The tech did not sound too convincing, but stated that they would be happy to swap out the 5125's for the 5100's at no extra charge, as they now have them in stock. Not sure that will make much of a difference, but I suppose I can try.
 
I have 5100's and super flex in the rear and it isn't spongy at all. Firm, but not harsh is how i would describe it. I'm pleased with the way it rides til i re-do the front. Probably getting 885's in a few months.
 
YotaDan said:
The 5125s/5100s are not rebuildable or re-valvable. For custom tuning you would need to look into a rebuildable shock like the Icons, Sway-a-ways, etc.
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actually they are. i just spoke with Bilstein two days ago, and they offered this to me as an option to my blown shocks i have. they can rebuild them and revalve them at time or rebuild. cost is about $75 per shock plus shipping. the real downside is that they are out about 6-8weeks from the time they get the shock. so yes they are very much rebuildable, but they do need to be sent in to bilstein to be done.
 
Recently Installed the Toytec Ultimate on my 03 V8 4runner with 5100 in the rear with the superflex and its firm and tight over bumps and in and out of parking lots. No spongy effect on the highway either. Me likey very much compared to my crappy X reas. Hope this helps.
 
Mudyrunner said:
Recently Installed the Toytec Ultimate on my 03 V8 4runner with 5100 in the rear with the superflex and its firm and tight over bumps and in and out of parking lots. No spongy effect on the highway either. Me likey very much compared to my crappy X reas. Hope this helps.
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It does... Thanks!
 
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