Bilstein 5100s

I see everyone talking about the Bilstein 5100 so i’m definitely going that route. But not understanding people setting them a certain size to get a 2” lift when they have this set up (pictured). Should I get the adjustable ones to achieve a 2” lift or can I go with this? Money isn’t the issue for me. Just what’s easiest. Also what am I going to need in the back to keep it at factory rake (or level)?

 

The 5100’s were designed by Bilstein to retain the factory coils. You don’t have to replace them to achieve lift. The shocks themselves have an adjustable perch that sets the height at various levels. Bilstein recommends 5100s use stock Tacoma coils to retain their lifetime warranty.

The rear 5100’s do not work the same way so you would need to use lift blocks or an add a leaf to the existing leaf pack. Each version has pro’s and cons .

Toyotas own Trd lift kit is just rebranded 5100’s with 1” rear lift blocks . Basically set@ 2” in front and 1” in the rear which gives the Tacoma a level stance.

 

Thanks for the info, that’s pretty much what I thought. I just rarely see anyone talking about the set up that comes with the coils. I guess it’s just presence? Less money? I rather get all new parts than use my OME. I’ll store those in case I need it down the road.

But what do you mean maintain lifetime warranty? On the Tacoma coils or the Bilstein strut?

As for the rear, what do you think is best? I don’t off road really. Just dirt trails and the beach. Other than that, it’s a daily driver for me. Just looking for my truck to sit higher.

 

Question #2. Do I need to add rear 5100 with a 2” front lift? Or is an AAL or 1” block doable on its own?

 

Stock SR5 has about 1" difference between rear and front(rake) If you add 2" in front, need to compensate the rear.Typical add-a-leaf gives 1.5" lift.
You can use non-OEM coils. 885 will give you 1.5-1.8, 887 - 2" and small change in both directions

 

Go with the bilsteins set to the highest setting in front and add the Icon RXT leaf pack at stage 2 for the rear. Add some bilsteins in the rear while you’re at it. It’s a proven setup. Not top of the line but better than stock with a nice ride.

 

I run the 5100s now on the top setting for a ever so slight rake with my 285s, had it on the 4th setting for 3 years when running 265s. I run a 1 inch rear block, no issues. The truck rides the same on the 4th or 5th setting, in fact it may ride better on the top setting but maybe because of the new tires. I only have about 22k miles on the truck over the past 4 years and this mild, best bank for your buck lift is perfect, nice stance and sits perfect, rides great. I did the ECGS clam shell bushing, a front diff drop and rear carrier drop to keep the drive angles in spec and no vibrations!

 

I'd definitely get them assembled with OME coils installed. I would shoot @HeadStrong Off-Road an email for an invoice with the 5100s preassembled with 885 coils and the taco lean spacer installed.

I had 5100s/885 coils and a 1" block in the rear and it was super level. Ever so slightly higher in the rear but looked perfect IMO. Ran the 1" block with the stock suspension in the rear then figured I'd match the front and got 5100s for back there as well. Check my post in this thread for pics
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...y-2-front-1-rear-levels.543394/#post-17585266

 

Do I need to get the rear suspension if i’m not off roading?

 

You don't need to but anything more than a 1" block will negatively impact your ride quality. IMO, the stock rear springs in these trucks are marginal at best and could use some help. I just finished doing 5100’s all around and got a Headstrong 3 Leaf AAL for the back with a 1/2" block. In the process you remove the overload leaf which is what the bracket for the e-brake cables bolt to. The Headstrong kit comes with the correct bracket on the springs to reattach the factory bracket. Ride quality is nice and firm but not stiff. I'm very happy with the improvement over the stock Hitachi shocks.

 

OME springs are known to sag. I was going to do OME but decided to skip on them and keep the original springs as Bilstein designed them to be used with the factory coils. By doing this it keeps the lifetime warranty.

 

Mine 885 did not sag after 3 years.

 

Your one of the few lucky ones. I thinks its the 887s and 888s but not sure. Lots of good info about them sagging on here. My neighbor went through two sets in a year and thats what turned me off about them. I drove his and see no difference in the ride between the two.

 

My 885s did not sag, my 888s did.

 

I just placed an order for the 5100’s and am keeping my stock coils for the same reasons as you.

 

Thats the route I went on my 2011 that had 300k and needed new suspension. I now have 350k on my truck so 50k on the shocks and love them. Still no issue what so ever.

 

I had 5100s w/ Eibach coils and 33s for over 3 years. Rode nicely on and off-road, especially w/ AALs. Once I went with a full leaf pack - it did get rougher on the road but very smooth off-road. Bilsteins are quality suspension and it is pretty much a bolt-on-set-and-forget kind of suspension.

 

What would be best for smoother ride on the road, not off road?

 

stock coils and leafs w/ 5100s

 

here and only here is where you hear about them sagging. It is often the earlier coils that did not have the “x” in the part number.

I’ve seen hundreds of tacomas and 4 runners running 887, 886, 888 in the shop, thousands of miles and years on them with no sag. That is why they are recommended by countless off road/tuning shops.