Broken Coil Spring w/Bilstein 5100's

Hey guys, first post just joined today. Probably old topic though, but I have been trying to research and find the best answer on my own. Here's what I got going on...

I have a 2012 Tundra 5.7L SR5 Ext Cab with the TRD package. When I bought the truck I was told it had a 3" spacer kit installed with 3" blocks in the rear. It also had 20" rims (currently running 285/60/20). Time came for new shocks and I got a set of the Bilstein 5100 (front & rear). Just got em installed today matter of fact. Now about an hour after I picked the truck up (and of driving around) I was sitting in the bank drive through and heard a loud snap and something hit the concrete. Got out to check and the driver side coil spring broke off about 3" of the pig tail on the bottom end. I have the Bilsteins set a the top or 2.5" setting. Loved the ride but I've read a lot of reviews about not using the 5100s with spacers. I'm definitely going to re-evaluate the spacers and most likely remove them when I get this fixed but my primary question is:

What replacement coil springs do I need to get if I'm going to use the Bilsteins at the 2.5" setting?

I've seen where people say you can only use stock coil springs with the 5100s but there is info out there saying I should get the extended springs and use the Bilsteins at the 0" setting to get the lift that the spacers were giving me. I've seen the OME 885-887 springs (they all seem to be the extended springs with different ride characteristics) but should I go that route and use the Bilsteins at the lower level? Or should I look for stock sized springs (and what size is that on the TRD; from what I've read they are different) and use the Bilsteins on the 2.5" position? I liked the ride characteristics and how it felt on 2.5" so that isn't a real concern. Any info you guys could throw out there on this would be appreciated.

Two other notes: I have the Smitty Built bumpers on the front and rear of the truck (Extra 280-300 lbs on front; 230+ on the rear). I do have the differential drop installed. Thanks!!!

 

Bump...

Just trying to get some info ASAP. Driving around with broken coil spring...

 

Mind sharing a pic of this snapped coil?

 

You can see where it snapped off the first 3" of the coil spring pig tail...

 

Holy crap batman..I would definitely remove that spacer...

 

If you have 3” spacers on top of 5100s at 2.5” left setting, there is a crap load of preload in those springs. You’re lucky something else more significant didn’t break.

I would remove the spacer ASAP. Lots of people sell their stock coils cheap. Check classifieds or Craigslist.

 

For sure, all about that. My issue/problem is getting replacement springs to work with the Bilstein 5100's if I'm using them on the 2.5" setting. Most info says use stock springs but with the TRD package what I've read is that it has different springs than stock (not TRD package). I'm not adverse to getting longer coils (885, 886, 887, etc...) and using the 5100's on the 0" setting but don't know if this will work. I've explored using an additional rubber spacer/cushion between the spring and the bottom of the strut mount too. I'm not a suspension guy so looking for advice from those that have experience.

 

Spacer shouldn't have an effect on the coil as it is on top between it and the UCA. Only lifts the truck up. I would guess the coil was struck with a hammer or other metal object causing a fracture.

 

ShreveportTSS when the guy who put the shocks and springs on was finished he told me that the two shocks on the font didn't match. One appeared to be factory and the other was a captured aftermarket unit that he disassembled to reuse the spring. I'm guessing that it wasn't as good of quality as the OEM spring and couldn't take the pre-load of the 5100's at the 2.5" setting. Logical conclusion I would assume, just as likely it was hit with something as well.

So any stock Tundra coil spring (07-2013) will work with the 5100's?

 

Don’t go back to that shop. They should have never installed them knowing there was a spacer already installed. They don’t give a sh*t about their work or customers.

 

yeah. If you can find use I’m sure people are selling them as a pair so even if their truck isn’t TRD you should be good use both springs from another Tundra

 

They do, replace in pairs.

 

Tundra-361 any other time I would agree but he was doing it on the side and charged be about 3 hours of labor on an extensive job because he had to weld the spacer bolts back together because they all rounded off trying to loosen everything up. Had my truck for 2 whole days to get to this point. I'm gonna have to take it back to him but I want to walk in with new parts and say "here, put this on" and be done with it...

 

I'll look for a set of stock used springs. Can anyone answer the question about using the extended springs from lets say OME and setting the 5100's on 0"? Will this work or are the 5100's too short, even on 0", to use an extended spring?

 

Stock or others are the same he

I'm pretty sure the 5100s were designed for stock springs. They only offer 1" more of travel. More spring would mean more tension and the possibility of going solid on compression.

 

Post your location and someone will probably sell you some cheap. I have mine with less than 10k miles that I would donate if you were local.

 

Get ahold of @Toytec Lifts

 

Here is a picture of a stock coil-over and a spacer. The spacer gets bolted to the top and does not get installed between the coil and top cap of the assembly.

 

ShreveportTSS I get how the set up works. Its why I wasn't buying that the coil was under additional preload from having the spacers installed. It IS under additional load (assuming 1.5") with the 5100's at the 2.5" setting. Think I'm right on that...

 

Correct, longer or extended spring would not help. The factory spring can handle the additional 1" travel the 5100 offers. The 6112s come with springs.

 

ShreveportTSS my questions about the extended springs had more to do with keeping the truck height at where it is now with the 3" spacers. If I remove them it'll lower the setup and change the rake. I was wondering with the additional 1" of travel the 5100's offer could an extended spring be used to "lift" the front end back to or close to what it sits at now if I remove the 3" spacers? Would the 5100's accommodate an extended spring with the 5100's set at 0" because they do have an additional 1" of travel? I can get a set of extended springs for $160-$180 shipped but if its going to create too much pre-load on the coil then you're right, I'll have to use a stock replacement set.

 

Ok, The shock lift height is limited to 3" using the top setting. A longer spring will not help as you are increasing preload vs middle or lower setting. The lift spacer you will be putting on top does not increase spring preload.

 

I get that. I guess I assumed incorrectly that you meant the 5100's were 1" longer than the stock shocks, providing for an additional 1" of travel of the stock set up. With that assumption my mind kept saying that it would accommodate an extended spring because it had more "space" for the spring to be in (an additional 1"). It would mean I'd have to be very careful and know the exact extension length of the extended spring over the stock. I'm not a mechanic so the "additional travel", I'm assuming, doesn't mean that the shocks are and additional 1" in length over the stock shocks.

 

in the bottom setting they are the same ride height (length) with 1" more available down travel. (extension). In top setting they are 2.75" taller (longer) in ride height. with the same 1" more available down travel.

 

The Tacoma guy's put Old Mad Emu (OME) springs on the 5100's all the time. The spring numbers you have listed are actually for the Tacoma's (885-887) the proper numbers for the Tundra are.
OME 2612 coils 740 lbs spring rate 415 mm in length per ARB spec guide coils to provide around 2.5" of lift on a stock/light load Tundra
OME 2613 coils 740 lbs spring rate 435 mm in length per ARB spec guide coils to provide around 2.5" of lift on a heavy load 5.7 liter engine Tundra
OME 2614 Coils 740 lbs spring rate 425 mm in length per ARB spec guide coils to provide around 2.5" of lift on a heavy load liter engine Tundra
You could also get some shims from boss off-road or Coachbuilder use 2 on the drivers and one on the pass to get you up to 3" of lift and take care of the tundra lean.
I don't see why they won't work on the tundra but the better way would be to get the 6112 that come with springs.

 

Pony up the money and get shocks the length you need. You probably bottomed it out the shock due to the spacer. No bueno