Which front shock to buy

[octanejunkie]

As I begin to weigh down my front end this weekend with an ARB bumper, I'm starting to think about freshening up my front suspension after 257K miles on the original shocks, springs and bushings. A Whitline kit is being delivered tomorrow and the UCA bushings and ball joints will be evaluated when the shocks and springs are addressed. Swaybar bushings and steering rack bushings already in hand. LBJs are already done.

My future plans involve a winch and a front diff. Intended use (goals) of all this is

• all around handling with increased front end weight
• occasional wheeling
• maybe winching
• probably just as much snow as dirt and mud

That being said, budget is always a concern (no Kings or Icons in my future) and I've got a set of 99 tall coils with only 90K on the shelf and I've been eyeballing 5100s

That being said, there are 3 options in the 5100 family that will work with stock coils that I am aware of:

The 3-groove BE5-D558-TO for $175 a pair plus shipping
The 4-groove 24-248730 for $120 ea free shipping ($225 pair from Wheelers plus shipping, so it evens out)
The Tundra 24-261425 for $104 ea free shipping​

Considering coil springs aren't going to break the bank at sub-$200 a pair I can always swap those out down the road.

Given my goals and budget, what is proven that can be progressively dialed as I add weight, or what else should I be looking at?

NB, I already have a 3" lift in the rear thanks to Toytec shocks and OME 890s

Thanks in advance, gents :hatsoff:

 

[nat103]

I went with 5100's on the lowest setting and OME 881's.

I've got an ARB bumper and a winch. 906's and 5100 in the rear. Just a slight forward rake. Still rubs a little with full flex. Wish I'd gone up one notch on the front 5100s

 

[octanejunkie]

I went with 5100's on the lowest setting and OME 881's.

I've got an ARB bumper and a winch. 906's and 5100 in the rear. Just a slight forward rake. Still rubs a little with full flex. Wish I'd gone up one notch on the front 5100s

Which model 5100?

You can still go up one notch, no?

 

[kolelt]

Weight upfront has to do with "coils" and no so much if at all shocks. Just like the rear. The coils support the weight. If you run stiff coils. Your ride will be shit. A lot of people run the eibach coils with 5100 bilsteins. I my self ran tundra 5100 with eibach a for a while.

 

[calimobber]

I went with these. not sure the notches. I used the stock coils and went on the second notch I believe. your 99 coils would be a good match.

this is what my order shows from 2015.

Bilstein 5100 Height Adjustable Front Strut Set for 99-06 Tundra (#BIL 24-188265 X2) $195 for the pair.

 

[octanejunkie]

Weight upfront has to do with "coils" and no so much if at all shocks. Just like the rear. The coils support the weight. If you run stiff coils. Your ride will be shit.

Agreed, and the adjustable coil seat on the shock sets the preload on the spring. Then there are hat spacers for adding height without changing the spring rate.

 

[kolelt]

Agreed, and the adjustable coil seat on the shock sets the preload on the spring. Then there are hat spacers for adding height without changing the spring rate.

If your putting money down for a suspension. Try to eliminate the need of spacers. Get the proper lenght shock with proper lenght coil for best results.

What are you running now ? What is your front end set up like? How soon do you
Think you'll get s front bumper and winch ? I don't recall how my ride felt like with 5100 tundra/eibach a without any weright in the front. But it wasn't bad. Right now I'm running icons all around with full armor. So I cannot comment much. But if you are looking for a good affordable set up. I'd say 5100 with eibach a or OME.

 

[octanejunkie]

I went with these. not sure the notches. I used the stock coils and went on the second notch I believe. your 99 coils would be a good match.

this is what my order shows from 2015.

Bilstein 5100 Height Adjustable Front Strut Set for 99-06 Tundra (#BIL 24-188265 X2) $195 for the pair.

Thanks!

24-188265 was replaced by 24-261425 which are $105 ea at Summit (cheaper than wheelers and ships from Sparks NV)

 

[kolelt]

Thanks!

24-188265 was replaced by 24-261425 which are $105 ea at Summit (cheaper than wheelers and ships from Sparks NV)

Try looking for it on amazon. I remember I picked up the rear 5100 of amazon for cheaper then Toytec had it. And I got the front 5100 tundra of some website that strictly sold shocks. Just get the part # for Bilstein for tundra. And go from that. Don't worry about typing "4runner bilstein shocks".

 

[octanejunkie]

What are you running now ? What is your front end set up like? How soon do you
Think you'll get s front bumper and winch ? I don't recall how my ride felt like with 5100 tundra/eibach a without any weright in the front. But it wasn't bad. Right now I'm running icons all around with full armor. So I cannot comment much. But if you are looking for a good affordable set up. I'd say 5100 with eibach a or OME.

My setup today is stock 2WD springs and coils with 1" spacers
-my plan is to replace these either immediately or before adding more weight up front

ARB bumper goes on tomorrow
-I will measure before and after install and post back

I have a set of 99 tall coils installed on a set of Reflex (don't hate) shocks I got in trade from another forum member
-I can throw them on the truck temporarily if need be

Try looking for it on amazon. I remember I picked up the rear 5100 of amazon for cheaper then Toytec had it. And I got the front 5100 tundra of some website that strictly sold shocks. Just get the part # for Bilstein for tundra. And go from that. Don't worry about typing "4runner bilstein shocks".

Amazon is $254 a pair, Summit is cheapest today

 

[theesotericone]

ARB bumper goes on tomorrow
-I will measure before and after install and post back

I have a set of 99 tall coils installed on a set of Reflex (don't hate) shocks I got in trade from another forum member
-I can throw them on the truck temporarily if need be

Get the bumper on and see how bad your rake is with the 99/Reflex combo. That's gonna be a lot better then the worn stock components you have on there now. Then get 60 pounds of dumbbells and put them on the bumper to mimic the eventual winch weight. That's gonna tell you a lot. The diffs far enough back that adding that and cv's in the future shouldn't effect height to much.

Once that's done decide what coils to go with. Next time you come to Bishop let me know. I have the Taco Billies(D558) on the second perch paired with Eibach #620 coils. To me it rides exceptionally well for the price point. Take it for a drive and you can at least have an idea what to expect from that set-up once you go full 4x4, armor, winch.

 

[nat103]

Which model 5100?

You can still go up one notch, no?

OME 881 and Bilstein 24-248730 for the front and OME 906 and Bilstein 24-249966 for the rear

Yea i can still go up, just a pain to disassemble and have to take the coils somewhere to be disassembled/ reassembled


.

 

[theesotericone]

Yea i can still go up, just a pain to disassemble and have to take the coils somewhere to be disassembled/ reassembled

Ummm, or get a spring compressor for 70 bucks and do it in your garage in 30 minutes.

 

[octanejunkie]

Ummm, or get a spring compressor for 70 bucks and do it in your garage in 30 minutes.

You can borrow them from most auto parts store also. Why pay when you can do it at home, right on the truck?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[Tyler James Inc]

I love my '99 tall coils and Tundra 5100's.
I'm on the 4th notch, and that's around 2.25" over stock '97 4WD height.
I guess I should have measured the '01 fender to center of hub when it was stock, but I didn't.
Anyway, I would absolutely recommend the '99 tall/Tundra 5100(5 settings).

 

[octanejunkie]

Get the bumper on and see how bad your rake is with the 99/Reflex combo. That's gonna be a lot better then the worn stock components you have on there now. Then get 60 pounds of dumbbells and put them on the bumper to mimic the eventual winch weight. That's gonna tell you a lot. The diffs far enough back that adding that and cv's in the future shouldn't effect height to much.

Once that's done decide what coils to go with. Next time you come to Bishop let me know. I have the Taco Billies(D558) on the second perch paired with Eibach #620 coils. To me it rides exceptionally well for the price point. Take it for a drive and you can at least have an idea what to expect from that set-up once you go full 4x4, armor, winch.

Most generous [MENTION=143526]theesotericone[/MENTION], thank you :grouphug: I'll bring over some jalapeño cheese bread from Schatt's :der:

I love my '99 tall coils and Tundra 5100's.
I'm on the 4th notch, and that's around 2.25" over stock '97 4WD height.
I guess I should have measured the '01 fender to center of hub when it was stock, but I didn't.
Anyway, I would absolutely recommend the '99 tall/Tundra 5100(5 settings).

Awesome [MENTION=116470]Tyler James Inc[/MENTION], thanks! :thumb:

 

[octanejunkie]

Update

The tall coils and reflex shocks suck, pogos all over the road

Just ordered up a set of tundra billies from Summit. I'll swap the coils over to that on the second circlip setting and see how it goes.

Welcome to my money pit :madgrin:

 

[Scramble]

The tall coils and reflex shocks suck, pogos all over the road

Just ordered up a set of tundra billies from Summit. I'll swap the coils over to that on the second circlip setting and see how it goes.

Welcome to my money pit :madgrin:

99 talls are nice for a stock set up but cant hold any weight. Get the TRD Tundra coils with Tundra Billys & you will be set. I'm on the #2 setting with the Shrockworks FB & the ride is sweet!

 

[octanejunkie]

99 talls are nice for a stock set up but cant hold any weight. Get the TRD Tundra coils with Tundra Billys & you will be set. I'm on the #2 setting with the Shrockworks FB & the ride is sweet!

Part of me "buying an education" is progressively installing what I have and learning why it's no good Lol

I anticipate new springs in the future, no problem swapping them in after I see how these behave with my rig the way it is configured now

Thanks, NY :bump2:

 

[Scramble]

Part of me "buying an education" is progressively installing what I have and learning why it's no good Lol

I anticipate new springs in the future, no problem swapping them in after I see how these behave with my rig the way it is configured now

Thanks, NY :bump2:

Thanks for reminding me why we hated Great Neck kids! :vader: