Bilsteins raised way more than expected??? Whats wrong

Hello, this is my first post so forgive me if I'm doing it wrong.

I got a high mileage (170K) Tundra this spring and finally need to get it leveled and put some KO2s on it. I did this exact same thing with my last truck (2012 Ram 1500) and loved it.

So, I figured I'd order the Bilstein 5100's and put them in, then measure the difference in wheel wells from front to back and decide how much I wanted to lift the back (with blocks).

So, last night I put the 5100's in (middle ride height setting) and when I got done I couldn't believe how much it raised my truck.. it looks silly... see pic. Can anyone think of a reason its like this? There's nothing in the bed weighing it down.

Also, I figure it will be accentuated since there hasn't been anything done in the back, but it just seems wrong to me.

Please let me know if you have any ideas or think this looks normal.

 

The most likely cause is the spring base is upside down.

 

Let me also say


Welcome to the party!!

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Is this what everyone calls ‘bro lean’?

 

Please post a picture of how your front coil overs are assembled

 

Yes

 

As @Larmand said, I have heard of this happening before - make sure the base is sitting like this picture, sliding over the ring, not upside down sitting on top of the ring.

Other than that, I have no idea...

 

Oh my... the way the spring sat on the seats didn't seem right... I'm not even lying when I say that my buddy put them on the first one like that so I just followed suit with the second... still what a stupid way to introduce myself on here. I swear I'm not an arse like this usually. I'll post the pic, but I'm sure its wrong. Is there any reason you'd think this could be dangerous just to get it home?

Thanks for the welcomes and quick solution!

 

Should be fine getting home. Just be aware that you have a problem that needs resolve and drive accordingly

 

For the record, once you get it fixed itll ride better, and the lift will be pretty much level front to rear.

 

It happens to the best of us. I would be concerned driving it like that since the perch is just sitting on top of it and there is nothing keeping the ring closed - it can slip out of the groove causing you more headaches than you currently have. When it is turned around, the perch sits around the ring keeping it from opening up and slipping out of the groove.

 

Thanks for the help... I would have never thought of this, and yes, I'm hoping that it's just about level

 

I will say this....

Good for You!!!

You actually installed the bump spacers!

Now get that perch fixed and truck in the dirt!

 

Yeah, I try to do things by the book when I can.. the bump stops were there, so why not put them on!

My truck is in the mud every weekend... which is why I need to get better tires and do the leveling. I feel kind of bad doing it because she was so pretty when cleaned up and now shes covered in scratches :/

Oh well... gotta use them right?

 

Thanks to you, I now know of one more thing to be aware when it comes to these shocks. Knowledge is power! Thank you!!!

Please post a pic when fixed.

 

I’m gonna tack a question to this thread since I am considering options for leveling.

When 5100’s are installed up front, do you have to change anything in the rear?

 

Not that I'm an expert like the guys on here but I'll give you my .02 from what I've read.

If you just want to level it you can just do the 5100's on the middle setting up front and don't touch the rear.

If you want to go to the top setting, it will raise the front 2.25" and then you'd need to put inch blocks in the rear to make it level or maybe with slight rake.

When I tear mine back apart I'm going to go to the highest setting and put 1" blocks in the rear, I'll post pics when I'm done if you'd like to see what it does exactly.

I had them on my Ram and they were terrific.

 

Nothing like doing the job twice..ugh. At least it's fixable..lol

 

I’m curious how to level my tundra out as well the front end looks like it sits lower than rear I have stock Bilstein shocks all around any ideas?

 

There are about 999 options available.
You can do a spacer, which can be either in-coil or on top of the strut - various pro's and cons, starting at $100 to $500.
Or do a shock replacement - Bilstein adjustable 5100 is one of the cheapest but good quality, at about $100 ea. - this will use your OEM spring.
Or do a full coil over replacement which can start at Bilstein 6112 for $300 ea. range to some expensive $3000 setups.

It all depends on what you use the truck for and what you want to spend.

The Bilstein 5100 option that this tread is about is a popular option for just leveling and not planning on serious off-roading, but can handle occasional off-roading well.

Ideas: https://www.tundras.com/threads/leveled-before-and-after-pic.19093/#post-434215

 

Here is a question- How much weight is put on that ring that goes around the shock to raise the truck? For my needs, the 5100 is perfect and I like that Toyota uses Bilstein from the factory but don't fully know how this works. Any shock gurus out there that care to explain? I plan on keeping this truck for a long time and don't want to kill anything prematurely.

 

I have 5100’s on middle setting. Stock in the rear. Good set up for leveling. Works great for moderate off roading and all around street use. Lots of info on here about different kinds of lifts/leveling.

 

No worries OP, it happens to the best of us!

Chalk it up to a lesson learned and move to the next mod (you know you want to)

 

I watched a Bilstein video explaining the shocks will fail before that ring will, they are that strong. Can’t answer your question about how much weight, but I’d guess a shit ton.

 

Na, that's called the Carolina Squat

 

Thanks I'll check out YouTube and Bilstein's site.

 

No big deal. Flip it on over and have the best color truck looking like this...

 

It was a video of some dude explaining the difference between the 4100, 5100, 6100 or whatever the hell the big 3 are that we all consider...