Toytec Bilstein-Phased approach

[davidaw]

Hi Everyone.
Love this site.

1st post, but I’ve been searching here for some time.

Recently bought an 08 SR5 4WD. Want to run 285/70/17s and have researched this site thoroughly.
All previous lift experience is on an old FJ60, Leaf Spring rig.
I don’t plan to wheel this as hard as my FJ but it needs to be capable.
Don’t plan on heavy bumpers unless I damage the stock ones.

I am 95% sure I will go with the Toytec 3" using the adjustable 5100s ($900 kit).
The extra $300 is probably not worth it for me to get the fine tuning of the ultimate kit.

The truck came with a new set of stock size Dunlops, so it may be a while between lift and tires.
Therefor I may want to phase the lift in, so it is not too high with stock tires.

Looking for 2nd eyes on my plan to make sure I am thinking correctly.

-Order full kit- Understand it comes pre-set at highest lift.
-Re-config front 5100s at one of the middle settings
-Install Front springs/shocks
-Install 5100s in rear
-Do NOT install on Toytec Rear springs yet
-At this point the truck is lifted front/leveled
-Get tires 32+ inch (6months out)
-Re-config front coils to highest setting
-Add rear toytec springs
-Chop/trim if required
-Done (for a while)

Thanks
Dave

 

[wnelax04sr5]

why spend more money over time to get it where you want it, rather than doing it all at once? most agree here that its better to wait a little, save a little, and do it all right the first time, the way you want it, instead of going back and redoing everything. if i was you, id make a list of what parts you want to run, how you're gonna get those 34's to fit, and then see what actual costs are gonna be, then decide what you wanna do

 

[davidaw]

why spend more money over time to get it where you want it, rather than doing it all at once? most agree here that its better to wait a little, save a little, and do it all right the first time, the way you want it, instead of going back and redoing everything. if i was you, id make a list of what parts you want to run, how you're gonna get those 34's to fit, and then see what actual costs are gonna be, then decide what you wanna do

Hey
Thanks for the reply.

I would buy the entire kit up front, but not take advantage of the full lift until I get tires in the future.
I have 265/65/17s or 30inch now which I think are stock size.
I'm thinking it may look too high on 30s.

Mis-print above, planning on 285/70/17s, around 33s. (I'm used to standard inch measurements)

The only future cost is my time and probably an alignment.
Or at least that's what I am planning.

All advice welcome,
Thanks
Dave

 

[ebg18t]

Are you doing the labor yourself?

Keep in mind adjusting the front shocks spring perch (c-clip style perch) can only be done after you remove the assembly. Just too tight in there to get spring compressors in there while on the truck.

It won't look bad to cruise around on small tires for a few months. Most have us have done that while in between tire sizes (ie upgrading).

 

[wnelax04sr5]

Hey
Thanks for the reply.

I would buy the entire kit up front, but not take advantage of the full lift until I get tires in the future.
I have 265/65/17s or 30inch now which I think are stock size.
I'm thinking it may look too high on 30s.

Mis-print above, planning on 285/70/17s, around 33s. (I'm used to standard inch measurements)

The only future cost is my time and probably an alignment.
Or at least that's what I am planning.

All advice welcome,
Thanks
Dave

i ran a 3/2 lift on the stock size 265/65/17 for about 8 months. while it would certainly have benefited from larger tires, it wasn't a deal breaker. if you really want the lift, its not horrible to install and keep the stock tires on for the time being. as [MENTION=86678]ebg18t[/MENTION] , readjusting 5100's isn't simple, especially on the vehicle, it requires complete disassembly of the strut. something to keep in mind

 

[davidaw]

Thanks Guys,

Yes I will do the work myself. I planned to do the "no spring compressor" method, like this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6u7dC7EHg

I've done a lot of 1 man spring work (leaf) on my FJ60 and I'm pretty comfortable with carefully positioning loaded springs.

That being said, if the lift with stock tires doesn't look too bad, I might as well install the kit as shipped, 3" lift.

Thanks again
Dave

 

[zopperman]

i "phased" in my lift and wish I just did it all once and didn't waste time with spacers. I was rocking stock size Michellins with the DS 2.5/1.5 kit and it didn't look silly at all, i'd just deal with it till you get new tires. The lift will settle a bit too. The eibachs preset at 3" is perfect and a great match with the superflexes with a lean correction spacer.

 

[davidaw]

i "phased" in my lift and wish I just did it all once and didn't waste time with spacers. I was rocking stock size Michellins with the DS 2.5/1.5 kit and it didn't look silly at all, i'd just deal with it till you get new tires. The lift will settle a bit too. The eibachs preset at 3" is perfect and a great match with the superflexes with a lean correction spacer.

Yeah, after reading a ton of pages on this forum and 120, I realized that spacers were not the right path.

Sounds like my worries on 3" lift with stock tires looking bad is not an issue.
Good news as it makes it easier to proceed.

I'll need to look into that "lean" thing, saw a couple references but didn't dig too deep.


Thanks

 

[dereky]

Nothing wrong with phasing it in. It's easy enough to take the coil overs out and adjust them. You'll need compressors but I can do both my fronts in under two hours.
The front 3" lift setting will be the second lowest setting. Not the highest. The lowest setting still give you 2" roughly with a really nice plush ride. Leave your front swaybar on at the lowest setting. You can take it off when going to 3". The coils will be plenty stuff to support the truck through turns.
You'll want to install the rears when installing the fronts.
That toytec package gave me 4" lift on the second lowest setting. I am a v6. The v8 will sit differently for sure.

 

[davidaw]

Thanks everyone.
Pulled the trigger on the Toytec kit last night.
Used the 5% T4R discount.

Will post pics when done.
4XI sliders on the way also.

Thanks
Dave

 

[ghostridr]

Thanks Guys,

Yes I will do the work myself. I planned to do the "no spring compressor" method, like this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6u7dC7EHg

I've done a lot of 1 man spring work (leaf) on my FJ60 and I'm pretty comfortable with carefully positioning loaded springs.

That being said, if the lift with stock tires doesn't look too bad, I might as well install the kit as shipped, 3" lift.

Thanks again
Dave

I used that method to install and re-adjust my front 5100s, not that hard at all and doesn't require taking out/totally disassembling or use of spring compressor.

 

[davidaw]

Pulled the trigger on the Toytec lift.
Ordered Sunday, arrived in VA on Sat. at noon. Installed alone by 5pm.
Did have to get my neighbor to stand on the axle for DS rear coil.

Looks good. Happy with stance.

Height compared to FJ60 on 33's , 4" lift


Should look good on 32"s.

Also blacked out the grill.

Thanks for everyone's help.


Dave

 

[t-man]

I used that method to install and re-adjust my front 5100s, not that hard at all and doesn't require taking out/totally disassembling or use of spring compressor.

What all did you have to disconnect to do it this way? I just started getting my parts in, Was looking at doing it that way as well.

 

[ghostridr]

What all did you have to disconnect to do it this way? I just started getting my parts in, Was looking at doing it that way as well.

For install, I disconnected the LCA bolts (2), upper and lower shock mounts, wheels (of course) and loosen the LCA alignment bolt/tab. For people with more lift/kits/additional spacers, they might have to also disconnect the front sway bar. I just used my hydraulic jack bar/pry bar on the LCA to gain extra space so I could insert the shock/coil.

 

[davidaw]

What all did you have to disconnect to do it this way? I just started getting my parts in, Was looking at doing it that way as well.

Hey

I did not have to adjust the Toytec / Bilstein setup as it was already set to 3inch.

This video has good info on setting up these shocks (5100s) with coils using a compressor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9-0hMzv_RU

The link earlier shows a method of doing it on vehicle without the compressor. Basically using the cars weight to compress the coils.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6u7dC7EHg

So on my install, I just had to disconnect the swaybar, the 2 lower control bolts, then the shock/coil. I didn't need to release the LCA alignment bolts, or jack up the LCA to compress the coils.

HTH
Dave

 

[cleex024]

Hey

I did not have to adjust the Toytec / Bilstein setup as it was already set to 3inch.

This video has good info on setting up these shocks (5100s) with coils using a compressor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9-0hMzv_RU

The link earlier shows a method of doing it on vehicle without the compressor. Basically using the cars weight to compress the coils.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6u7dC7EHg

So on my install, I just had to disconnect the swaybar, the 2 lower control bolts, then the shock/coil. I didn't need to release the LCA alignment bolts, or jack up the LCA to compress the coils.

HTH
Dave

so does it look like you have 0 camber or maybe even negative? im actually in va beach also lol and i just did the lvling kit and i cannot get 0 camber...its sitting at +.2 degrees.

 

[davidaw]

so does it look like you have 0 camber or maybe even negative? im actually in va beach also lol and i just did the lvling kit and i cannot get 0 camber...its sitting at +.2 degrees.

Hey,
I just took it in for an alignment after installing. The report says its within specs. I don't know much about setting these so figured I would pay the $100 for peace of mind.

Dave