Bilstein 6112/5160 Installed (2 Viewers)

[raoulduke101]

The compressor I had couldn't grab enough of the coils, which would have made it much easier. I don't think I would recommend the average tinkerer to do the rear themselves, at least not the passenger side. My neighbor came over to help - it definitely helped to have a second set of hands and even more tools

Thanks for posting your experience. I'm thinking about doing this install myself also, but the passenger rear coils really concern me.

Did you end up using the u-bolt compressor pictured above? it looks pretty short, so I'm guessing you could only grab 3 or 4 coils.

 

[FerrisBueller]

Finished the front. Since the rear springs giving 2" of lift (with mostly stock weight, including 3rd-row seats and Slee formed slider steps), I decided to use notch 4 on the front coilovers (for 2.2" lift in front according to the docs).

The fronts took a little over 7 hours. This included adding Total Chaos UCAs, which was by far the easiest part. I did the driver's side first, and it took 4 hours because I was learning as I went. Passenger's side took about 3 hours, but was actually more complicated than the driver's side.

For some reason the passenger's side LCA doesn't want to droop as far as the driver's side, which made it more difficult to get the original coilover out and the new one in. Thanks to @CharlieS 's suggestion, I had the idea to put a small jack between the rear of the LCA and the little arm of the bump stop. That worked perfect, gained about 2 more inches of clearance to get the old out and new in.

I used @HustleHard 's instructions (link to post below) so that I wouldn't need to use a spring compressor. His instructions are really what you want to follow IMHO, it made a lot of things easier that I think could have been pretty difficult otherwise. The only change in those instructions is that I would not remove the top shock bolt until after you have the bottom of the shock free. It helps keep the spring compressed so it's easier to get out.

Bilstein 6112/5160 Installed

When you say, "Removed the shock top bolt, loosened the bottom shock bolt" - did you remove 4 top shock bolts (not the center one) and completely remove the bottom shock bolt? You definitely need to loosen the lower control arm nuts that they use for alignment to get enough droop. But the...

forum.ih8mud.com

There was enough monkeying around with jacks to (1) push the bottom of the shocks up to get the top threads up far enough to get the bushing, washer, and nut on and (2) to gain more clearance between the LCA and the passenger lower shock mount, that I wouldn't recommend this for the faint of heart. I was super careful and did not feel that anything was dangerous, but it was easy to see how things could have been dangerous if someone didn't take the time to be super methodical and careful.

That being said, I'm glad I did it, I'm more familiar with my LC now. If I need to replace my suspension again in the future, I'm sure I would it myself now that I've learned some tip, tricks, and experience.

I'd say it was a 7- or 8-banana job (out of 10). If I were to do it again, it would probably be a 6-banana job.

It was starting to get dark when I finished, so no pictures of the finished result yet, other than this picture of the installed coilover and Total Chaos UCA (before tightening the knuckle nut). I'll add more pictures when I take them.

 

[FerrisBueller]

Thanks for posting your experience. I'm thinking about doing this install myself also, but the passenger rear coils really concern me.

Did you end up using the u-bolt compressor pictured above? it looks pretty short, so I'm guessing you could only grab 3 or 4 coils.

You're exactly right, the compressor was too short, it could only grab 3 coils. If it had been able to grab 4, then it would have worked better.. Another problem is that there are so many bits and pieces on the frame around the passenger side coil, that it took many attempts of moving the compressor around to different positions on the coil to get it in without those other pieces getting in the way. I did end up using the compressor I posted earlier (for the rear springs, I didn't need a compressor for the front), but it was the biggest headache ever.

I think I would not have had any problems at all for the rear springs if I had thought to do what @CharlieS suggested and use a scissor jack between the axle and the frame to get the space needed to put the spring in. Definitely will do that next time. I did something similar on the front passenger side, too (see post above).

One thing I've found works well is to put a scissor jack between the axle and the frame on the passenger side (temporarily remove the bump stop). You can expand the jack to get the space you need to remove and install springs. The drivers side is too easy, I've never had an issue getting the necessary room to R&R. The rear suspension is always easier than the fronts, where you have to fight the KDSS.

 

[raoulduke101]

You're exactly right, the compressor was too short, it could only grab 3 coils. If it had been able to grab 4, then it would have worked better.. Another problem is that there are so many bits and pieces on the frame around the passenger side coil, that it took many attempts of moving the compressor around to different positions on the coil to get it in without those other pieces getting in the way. I did end up using the compressor I posted earlier (for the rear springs, I didn't need a compressor for the front), but it was the biggest headache ever.

I think I would not have had any problems at all for the rear springs if I had thought to do what @CharlieS suggested and use a scissor jack between the axle and the frame to get the space needed to put the spring in. Definitely will do that next time. I did something similar on the front passenger side, too (see post above).

Great write-up. Can't wait to see pics of the finished product.

Did you final measurements come out to 2.2" up front and 2" in the rear?

 

[FerrisBueller]

Another note: the Total Chaos UCAs did not come with any instructions, but you can download them from their website:

https://www.chaosfab.com/PDF/install/87504.pdf

The video earlier in this thread for the Bilstein suspension install happened to also show the Total Chaos UCA installation. It made it super intuitive doing them.

I'm an @OTRAMM video junkie. This tutorial may help.

Once difference, though, was that for mine the star bolt that goes through the top of the uniball sits on top of the uniball, instead of being inset inside of the uniball like in the video. The instructions don't say anything about this, and I saw no way to remove the upper uniball piece that has a seam. I think it must just be the latest iteration of their design?

 

[FerrisBueller]

Great write-up. Can't wait to see pics of the finished product.

Did you final measurements come out to 2.2" up front and 2" in the rear?

I took before-lift measurements at all 4 wheels. I've only taken rear after-lift measurements so far, it was exactly a 2" lift (went from 20" to 22" fender-to-center-of-hub, exactly the same for both sides). I'll take the after-lift measurements for the front tomorrow, and I'll check if the back has changed at all after driving around a little.

EDIT: whoops, I meant to say center-of-hub, not top-of-hub.

 

[Colby Murphy]

Finished the front. Since the rear springs giving 2" of lift (with mostly stock weight, including 3rd-row seats and Slee formed slider steps), I decided to use notch 4 on the front coilovers (for 2.2" lift in front according to the docs).

The fronts took a little over 7 hours. This included adding Total Chaos UCAs, which was by far the easiest part. I did the driver's side first, and it took 4 hours because I was learning as I went. Passenger's side took about 3 hours, but was actually more complicated than the driver's side.

For some reason the passenger's side LCA doesn't want to droop as far as the driver's side, which made it more difficult to get the original coilover out and the new one in. Thanks to @CharlieS 's suggestion, I had the idea to put a small jack between the rear of the LCA and the little arm of the bump stop. That worked perfect, gained about 2 more inches of clearance to get the old out and new in.

I used @HustleHard 's instructions (link to post below) so that I wouldn't need to use a spring compressor. His instructions are really what you want to follow IMHO, it made a lot of things easier that I think could have been pretty difficult otherwise. The only change in those instructions is that I would not remove the top shock bolt until after you have the bottom of the shock free. It helps keep the spring compressed so it's easier to get out.

Bilstein 6112/5160 Installed

When you say, "Removed the shock top bolt, loosened the bottom shock bolt" - did you remove 4 top shock bolts (not the center one) and completely remove the bottom shock bolt? You definitely need to loosen the lower control arm nuts that they use for alignment to get enough droop. But the...

forum.ih8mud.com

There was enough monkeying around with jacks to (1) push the bottom of the shocks up to get the top threads up far enough to get the bushing, washer, and nut on and (2) to gain more clearance between the LCA and the passenger lower shock mount, that I wouldn't recommend this for the faint of heart. I was super careful and did not feel that anything was dangerous, but it was easy to see how things could have been dangerous if someone didn't take the time to be super methodical and careful.

That being said, I'm glad I did it, I'm more familiar with my LC now. If I need to replace my suspension again in the future, I'm sure I would it myself now that I've learned some tip, tricks, and experience.

I'd say it was a 7- or 8-banana job (out of 10). If I were to do it again, it would probably be a 6-banana job.

It was starting to get dark when I finished, so no pictures of the finished result yet, other than this picture of the installed coilover and Total Chaos UCA (before tightening the knuckle nut). I'll add more pictures when I take them.

View attachment 2570462

Have a aside profile pic with it sitting on the ground?

 

[FerrisBueller]

Final before and after measurements (center of hub to fender):

	Before​	After​
Left front​	19.25"​	21.5"​
Right front​	19.5"​	21.5"​
Left rear​	20"​	22"​
Right rear​	20"​	22"​

So yeah, the rear coils gave it pretty much exactly a 2" lift. The front coilovers, set to notch 4, gave approximately a 2" lift as well (2.0 on one side, 2.2 on the other). So the install instructions seemed to be about spot on for the notch setting (at least for notch 4).

The passenger side measurement seemed to have settled slightly after driver a couple miles (it was pretty close to 22" before the little drive).

Took after-lift pictures today. Here's the before and after:

 

[FerrisBueller]

I also have 1.25" Spidertrax wheel spacers that I bought from Slee (anodized gray instead of blue - which I like better!). I am planning to install those in a couple hundred miles when I have to retorque all the suspensions bolts & nuts. I'll also use that opportunity to rotate the tires.

 

[Tex68w]

So the wheel spacers aren't on in the second pic?

 

[FerrisBueller]

So the wheel spacers aren't on in the second pic?

Nope. Here's a couple shots from an angle. They're inset about the same amount as stock right now.

 

[04UZJ100]

Nope. Here's a couple shots from an angle. They're inset about the same amount as stock right now.

View attachment 2570937
View attachment 2570938

Truck looks great. What size rubber is that?

 

[Colby Murphy]

Final before and after measurements (center of hub to fender):

	Before​	After​
Left front​	19.25"​	21.5"​
Left rear​	20"​	22"​
Right front​	19.5"​	21.5"​
Right rear​	20"​	22"​

So yeah, the rear coils gave it pretty much exactly a 2" lift. The front coilovers, set to notch 4, gave approximately a 2" lift as well (2.0 on one side, 2.2 on the other). So the install instructions seemed to be about spot on for the notch setting (at least for notch 4).

The passenger side measurement seemed to have settled slightly after driver a couple miles (it was pretty close to 22" before the little drive).

Took after-lift pictures today. Here's the before and after:

View attachment 2570884

View attachment 2570887

Looks awesome! What size tires?

 

[FerrisBueller]

Truck looks great. What size rubber is that?

Looks awesome! What size tires?

Thanks! LT285/65R18 E. I was thinking I might try going up to 285/70R18, but people seem to get mixed results with rubbing, even with wheel spacers. I think it looks great like this with the 285/65R18 and the 2" lift to remove the slouchy look.

 

[Tex68w]

I have the wheel spacers arriving tomorrow. I hope to put them on this week but I am concerned they might rub a bit without a lift, I guess we shall see.

 

[Colby Murphy]

Thanks! LT285/65R18 E. I was thinking I might try going up to 285/70R18, but people seem to get mixed results with rubbing, even with wheel spacers. I think it looks great like this with the 285/65R18 and the 2" lift to remove the slouchy look.

Dude it does look great, I have the same setup sitting in my garage and have been on the fence about perch setting on the front with the bilstein rear coils, you answered all my questions! Thanks man!

 

[04UZJ100]

I have the wheel spacers arriving tomorrow. I hope to put them on this week but I am concerned they might rub a bit without a lift, I guess we shall see.

285/70/18s?

 

[Tex68w]

285/70/18s?

Yessir.

 

[04UZJ100]

Yessir.

Looking forward to pictures.

 

[terdrocket]

This is the only Spring Compressor that I have found works well.