bilstein 5100 Breaking

I finally received my new bilstein 5100 shocks to level my truck. I was debating if I was going to install them or have a local shop install them. So I went to 2 local shops that specialize in Toyota off road builds and repairs. Both shops told my they will not install them because they have seen these shocks breaking. One shop said they only install Toytec Shocks. One shop also said because your not taking off the control arms you do not need an alignment?

I read a lot about these shocks on this form and haven’t seen anyone have any issues with them. What is Bilstein warranty?

Both shops seemed to me like possibly they are just saying this so I would upgrade and buy shocks and labor through them. Any advice would be great thanks!

 

If you lift it you definitely need to get the alignment checked and most likely need it adjusted. The shops are probably just trying to push their own exclusive product. Many shops will not install customer supplied parts because they want to be able to make money on the parts as well as the labor and for some liability purposes as well.

 

You need an alignment any time you change the height on the front end.

I’ve seen toytec shocks break too. They’re just pushing you to buy the more expensive product by convincing you you’re getting a far superior product and they can tack on their astronomical mark up on it.

5100s can break. Any shock can break if it’s used beyond its capacity

 

Have @dcsleeper408 install them!!! I trust him more than any shop around.

 

I can get you new suspension too. Lmk!

 

5100 with eibach I installed last month. Smooth setup.

 

Did you set the on the bottom setting?

 

Man, I wish you would have posted this a sooner. I really wanted to go this route but had some info I could't confirm. Does using the bottom Bilstein setting with that spring result in about 2.8" of lift? I was wanting to stay about 2.5". Ended up buying a Fat Bob 5100 coilover kit.

 

I'd recommend 6112s over 5100s every day of the week but if you already have 5100s...so be it.

 

All good!
Using the bottom setting with the Eibach Spring sets you around 2.8" ish. It will settle a bit. Rides pretty good.

 

The only reason those shocks broke is because someone installed spacers on top of them and didn’t put spacers on the bump stops to make up for it. Those shocks bottomed out and broke. If you install 5100s anywhere from 1-3 settings, with zero shims you should not have any problems. If you use spacers or shims on top without addressing the bump stops that’s where you run into issues.

Sounds like your shop is a bunch of fools and liars.

 

Oh and you damn straight need an alignment after lifting the truck. If it’s changing like for like springs and shocks, then it’s not completely necessary. If they somehow can wedge a lifted shock and spring in between the upper and lower control arms that’s going to put your control arms in a bind. The proper way is to loosen the lower control arm cam eccentric‘s and slide in the new lifted shock and spring. Then put the truck on the ground and retighten the cam bolts.

If you think you can do this yourself, and have a shop that will mount your springs on those shocks for you, I will gladly give you some instructions in a PDF that can help you get this done. Also there are quite a few good YouTube videos that that have slightly different tactics than what Toyota recommends, but also gets the job done.

 

Taco,
Don't know if this is directed at me. I agree with you on the 6112's but for my use the 5100's are all I need. The Eibach spring route would have saved me a little money but the Fat Bob's kit has the threaded adjustable collar so I can change height without having to compress springs.

 

I’ve heard of 5100s popping off their ring setting but have never seen proof.

 

Only time I heard of that possibly happening is when they install the cups upside down. Almost looks impossible for the clip to pop off if it’s encapsulated in that cup, but I’m sure anything could happen.

 

THIS!!!
If your shocks are breaking it's bc they are bottoming out HARD. That's what the bump-stops are for though. To have the susp bottom out on the bumps and not on the shock.

 

Great information thanks guys! Still going to install them think I will be doing it myself andgo take it for an alignment.

 

These instructions are for the pro shocks. But it installs the same way. These instructions are a little bit over detailed and there may be some steps you can skip. At least this has the Toyota approved guidelines and torque values. Hope it helps! A little tip, use something to mark the cam alignment tabs so that you can at least tighten it up where it used to be once you get the truck back down on the ground and get it to the shop. Make sure you loosen the nuts not the bolts.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sxjguie9rkx4dti/PTR13-34140inst.pdf?dl=0

 

This exactly. Don't install those urinal cake spacer lifts on top and you will be fine!

 

+1

 

Are these the 2" lift coils or the 2.5" lift coils you used? Im about to go the same route but having a hard time deciding which coils to get.

 

Go with @dcsleeper408 he doing my fox set up in a few weeks dude knows his shit and is super helpful.

 

These are the 2.0”
I think eibach recently released the 2.5” I have no experience with those yet. The 2.0” works well with the bilstein keeping it under 3”. If you do the 2.5” lift spring u will be sitting around 3.25”. Give or take with whatever extra weight you have up front.

 

If you add anything or adjust your springs you void your warranty and you could break the shock or roll your ring...just ask me how i know..Never again will I buy from bilstein again.

 

It happened to me and the first guy at bilsteins said the same thing. Well the Titanic sunk too...besides adding any change besides the OEM voids the warranty on shock

 

I have timbrens installed. So it does happen. One side is leaking already and under 3 months on shovks

 

Leaking is different than breaking the lower mount of the shock, because of the shock bottoming out before the bump stop.

 

Will not void your warranty, hell I had Toyota install mine and now the work is covered. They have to prove that the shocks caused the would be damage.

 

I'm talking shocks have zero warranty not the truck

 

Adding aftermarket shocks will likely void warranty on most anything related to the front suspension of the truck. Not aware of any single item that will void out the warranty completely on the entire vehicle...except maybe lighting it on fire, dumping it in a lake or some other way totalling it.

Common discussion on vehicle forums "will doing XYZ void my warranty?" Not really the right question. The warranty is coverage on a variety of systems and components of which are mutually exclusive.