What would you do?.....bilstein 5100

[Zachpins34]

I've been a post whore lately but just want to get some opinions before I take stuff apart and adjust.
I'm sorta in a pickle here......I have 2" of rake and it is wayy to much for me. I decided I am going to keep the TRD Tundra springs. I have Tundra bilstein 5100s up front. Currently, I'm on the 2nd notch out of 5. Every notch up lifts it about .65 inches.
Right now I'm on the second notch sitting at:

Front d: 22.875 inches
Front p: 22.75 inches

Rear d: 24.75 inches
Rear p: 24.875 inches

If I go one notch higher to the 3rd notch, I would have about 1.25-1.5 inches of rake. If I go to the 4th notch, I'd have 0.5 to 0.75 inches rake. If I go 5th notch (highest) I would be just about level maybe 0.25 in of rake tops. Every notch up compresses the coil more and results in a stiffer ride.

The rear coils I have are LC coils and are known to sag with load....But I VERY RARELY carry a load. Daily, just a gym bag, backpack, shoes, bag full of safety stuff, jumper cables, flashlight, tow strap, etc. Maybe put in my roll bar ( only ~30lbs). I do not want to go to the 5th notch (highest). I'm sure the ride would be just way too stiff. So I'm either gonna bring it to the 3rd notch (1.25"-1.5" of rake), or 4th (0.5"-0.75" of rake). I would like to be close to level, and not notice a huge rake like I have right now.


What would you do if you were me? 4th notch too stiff? I've only had my lift on for ~4 months, will the rear settle more and look sagged eventually if I go to the 4th notch? Will I still be unhappy and have too much rake on the 3rd notch (not enough of a difference)? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.....decisions decisions.....Any advice or opinions anyone?


Here's a few pics of its current stance (~2" rake): (same spot different days)

 

[SCRunner12]

If it were me I would get different rear coils. The back end looks really high for the 265's, but the front looks good. I also don't suggest going above the 3rd notch. it will be way too stiff and probably too much lift. You will probably go through CV boots pretty quickly on the 4th setting.

 

[Zachpins34]

Thanks for the input. I love the height in the rear just b/c it looks cool from the back, but I agree the tires look way small with it. But in the next few years or so when I can afford a car to daily drive, I want to put on 285s or a body lift and 35s. I'll have to wait a while for that though, especially w/ gas prices lol. I'm leaning a little more towards the 3rd notch as well, just to play it safe. Maybe third notch and put in the roll bar, subs and as much **** as I can think of in the rear to balance it out a bit?

 

[quicksilvr]

Man, that rear is just too high (for now anyway). It's easy to change rear springs out...why don't you pull those LC's out, and put some 890's in there? Hold onto the LC coils, and just put them back in when you're ready to do your other stuff down the road.

You're going to regret raising the front any more than it is. CV's and all 4 ball joints are going to hate you.

 

[4ganger]

Which LC coils do ya have? I have them & my rear looks a little less high than yours.

Aldo your rear wheels look like they are a bit forward?? Did you install the panhard drop?

Id probably try to find LC coils w/ less wraps and/or go up one in front. I have the toytech springs in front and LC could in rear. I have a little rake but not as much as you show.

 

[Zachpins34]

Man, that rear is just too high (for now anyway). It's easy to change rear springs out...why don't you pull those LC's out, and put some 890's in there? Hold onto the LC coils, and just put them back in when you're ready to do your other stuff down the road.

You're going to regret raising the front any more than it is. CV's and all 4 ball joints are going to hate you.

Yea the front is 2.75" higher than stock, but if I go one notch up it would be 3.5" higher than stock. Seems like the most common lift up front that people have is from 2.5-3". You think the .5" would make a big difference? I have a diff drop too btw. I love the look of the height, part of why I lifted it is for cosmetics. But that does seem like the smartest thing to do, swap out the rear coils and leave the front alone. But mannn I just love the height in the rear.

Which LC coils do ya have? I have them & my rear looks a little less high than yours.

Aldo your rear wheels look like they are a bit forward?? Did you install the panhard drop?

Id probably try to find LC coils w/ less wraps and/or go up one in front. I have the toytech springs in front and LC could in rear. I have a little rake but not as much as you show.

I have the pink light blue white/pink dark blue white 8 wraps. How high is yours in the rear(hub to fender)? Do you have weight in the back? I might just try and throw in a bunch of weight in the back (subs, some tools, whatever) No I didn't install a panhard drop. Do you notice a big difference w/ one? How do you like the toytec springs? That's what I was originally considering.

 

[4ganger]

My measurements are in a thread somewhere. I'll measure it today in a few and post it up.

I do have the panhard drop kit and it makes a difference. The back end doesn't swimm around as much. It's not expensive and worth doing in my opinion. I still need to get the differential drop kit and install it. It's on my list of to-do's.

I have the OME 883 coils in front. It's 3" of lift I believe. Again I'll measure it later. I have the wrong shocks right now. Went with a recommendation from Rancho's help line & got the ranchos for a 4cyl 4runner. Next year I'll get the either the toytech billies or nitto gas charged for the front. The rear ranchos for the LC work fine. Front is just a bit stiff over bumps b/c the front springs overpower the front shocks.

The Billies that they carry are not the tundra ones. They are a spec version developed for lifted runners. Did a bit of research on that already. I think they'll improve my ride but won't know for sure until I try then on.

I don't carry extra weight on a daily basis but I do tow about monthly. The LC coils work great for towing. I either tow a trailer or also use a hitch mounted motorcycle carrier. The hitch Moto carrier + bike weigh 500 lbs. at the limit for tongue weight. The car rides ok and doesn't squat too much with the LC coils.

 

[Gerdo]

I'm siting at ~24" in front on mine and have had no problems. I wouldn't go higher because I would loose droop.
I am running 265/75-16 with my lift too. Granted, the Yohohamas are bigger than most.

FYI: The axle does look forward but the panhard has nothing to do with that. The control arms on our rigs are short (length of the control arms and where they mount) which cause the axle to arc forward when lifted. The ONLY way to minimize this would be build all new mounts, forward, and longer arms. If you lengthened just the arms, you would rub like crazy when stuffing wheels.

 

[jrm]

I'd

replace the LC coils with some 890s and leave the 5100s on the 2nd perch. YMMV

 

[tbst]

You can always bust out the ole angle grinder. *gasp*

 

[mizzle415]

Zachpins34,

I have a set of OME 890s and was considering doing the LC coil lift. I'm in Pacifica...maybe we could work out a trade.:boink:

 

[4ganger]

Ok I went back and checked my info. Here goes....

Front springs are the OME 883's. Toytech site says they are for +100lbs of front end weight which is probably why they feel a touch on the stiffer side. I don't mind it though and it doesn't feel much different than my old 1998 did with stock suspension.

But you're asking about rears, so... best I could tell & measure when I got my LC coils they are these:
18.75" Double Purple/Drk Blue/White - 8 wraps
18.5" Double Pink/Light Blue/White - 7.75 wraps

Measured hubs to fender and got these measurements BUT I have the SR5 flares which I think are different from yours?

FD = 22 1/2
FP = 22 5/8

RD = 24 3/8
RP = 24 1/2

Not sure why my drivers side sits a little lower. Settled or I'm not a good measurer... Ha!

Here is a pic