Bilstein 6112/5160 Installed (9 Viewers)

[Valgrind]

So I got a shop to install my shocks and ever since I’ve had a bad clank in the back. I thought it was the heavy springs at first but now I’ve realized the top of the shock plates are moving all around. Both of these plates around the bushing are lose. There is another plate and bushing on top of the frame.

How is this actually suppose to look? Is the bottom bushing not supposed to be there? How does the top of the shock boot get held up?

 

[OregonLC]

Looks like it's missing the sleeve? Fitting instructions here.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Looks like it's missing the sleeve? Fitting instructions here.

View attachment 3834447

Agreed

 

[Valgrind]

Looks like it's missing the sleeve? Fitting instructions here.

View attachment 3834447

Yes! That’s exactly it… I know it didn’t come in the box, that’s frustrating.
Does the top of the shock boot also get zip tied?

 

[Boston Mangler]

Does the top of the shock boot also get zip tied?

Yes. Mine did.

Different schools of thought on shock boots…

1 school don’t like them and claim they trap much and debris inside.

Other school (myself included) keeps them on at all times to prevent road debris or trail rocks from nicking and pitting the shaft causing leaks

Personal choice really…

 

[jefo13]

My shop made this mistake the first time they installed them…

 

[Boston Mangler]

My shop made this mistake the first time they installed them…

Not defending them completely, but I can see where they’d miss it if they install a lot of suspension.

Honestly can’t say I recall seeing a spacer used like that I remember

I did a double take when I saw it in my Instructions also

 

[OregonLC]

The mistake would have been very obvious when torquing down the top nut and the rubber bushings weren't being compressed. Not to mention the lack of compression damping on the test drive.

Might want to check that the top of the shock didn't make contact with the body.

 

[Valgrind]

Well not good news. Bilstein doesn’t have the part available so they can’t send me any.
They sent me this so I could try to source one myself. Any ideas where? I haven’t had luck on McMaster yet.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Well not good news. Bilstein doesn’t have the part available so they can’t send me any.
They sent me this so I could try to source one myself. Any ideas where? I haven’t had luck on McMaster yet.
View attachment 3838452

I would call back and speak to someone else and insist you need it. That’s BS and someone being lazy

 

[Valgrind]

I would call back and speak to someone else and insist you need it. That’s BS and someone being lazy

Honestly, I do believe them. With how hard it is to get these shocks at all for the LC.... I will try again because I am not finding a perfect match.

Here is what I dont understand, the entire shaft is the same diameter, there is no lip. Does the sleeve press fit onto the shaft? I don't quite understand still what is holding up the bottom washer, because the bushing is 17.1mm OD and the ID of the washer says that it is 17.8mm. @OregonLC

 

[OregonLC]

@Valgrind you bring up a great point on the ID. It's been a while since I installed them and I think I was off on my initial assessment. The sleeve must act as a torque sleeve to set the distance between top and bottom, providing uniform bushing compression.

In your image from the Bilstein directions you can see it inside the bushing:

This is what the installed stack looks like below the perch on my 200.

Can you see the top washers, bushing and nut between the frame and body? It's possible that the top nut wasn't torqued and 'left the chat' as they say.

If you need parts I was planning to pull them off the truck and pitch them anyway. Longer story with how I got here, but the front are new CDCV, these rear 5160s will be replaced with new CDCVs and then the truck will be sold... I just need snow to melt out so that I can get to the project. So not sure how quickly I could get them to you. I have NIB 6112s also if anyone is interested, local pickup only.

 

[turbo8]

Well not good news. Bilstein doesn’t have the part available so they can’t send me any.
They sent me this so I could try to source one myself. Any ideas where? I haven’t had luck on McMaster yet.
View attachment 3838452

You can get this from mmc
Stainless pipe
Outside diameter is .672 vs .673(17.1mm)
Inside diameter is .493 vs .551(14mm)
You would need to drill out the inside a little, which can be difficult.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Honestly, I do believe them. With how hard it is to get these shocks at all for the LC.... I will try again because I am not finding a perfect match.
View attachment 3838486

Here is what I dont understand, the entire shaft is the same diameter, there is no lip. Does the sleeve press fit onto the shaft? I don't quite understand still what is holding up the bottom washer, because the bushing is 17.1mm OD and the ID of the washer says that it is 17.8mm. @OregonLC


View attachment 3838499

It’s possible they use different spacers for different applications

 

[Valgrind]

@Valgrind you bring up a great point on the ID. It's been a while since I installed them and I think I was off on my initial assessment. The sleeve must act as a torque sleeve to set the distance between top and bottom, providing uniform bushing compression.

In your image from the Bilstein directions you can see it inside the bushing:

View attachment 3838563

This is what the installed stack looks like below the perch on my 200.

View attachment 3838553

Can you see the top washers, bushing and nut between the frame and body? It's possible that the top nut wasn't torqued and 'left the chat' as they say.

View attachment 3838554

If you need parts I was planning to pull them off the truck and pitch them anyway. Longer story with how I got here, but the front are new CDCV, these rear 5160s will be replaced with new CDCVs and then the truck will be sold... I just need snow to melt out so that I can get to the project. So not sure how quickly I could get them to you. I have NIB 6112s also if anyone is interested, local pickup only.

Thank you for this picture! That is what I imagined it should look like, I haven't taken the shocks out yet, but it seems like the nut is tightened all the way.... I will check again how tight it is since it's so completely different. The nut and washers are def still on top however, I can feel the washers on top are loose as well as the bottom.

I hope I can figure something out but really appreciate the offer for the parts. I'll keep you updated.

You can get this from mmc
Stainless pipe
Outside diameter is .672 vs .673(17.1mm)
Inside diameter is .493 vs .551(14mm)
You would need to drill out the inside a little, which can be difficult.

I saw similar items to this, I think I might as well just buy this now and try to drill it out. I was thinking it will be difficult with a hand drill.

 

[Valgrind]

It’s possible they use different spacers for different applications

yeah I haven't measured what is actually on the LC, good point.

 

[turbo8]

Thank you for this picture! That is what I imagined it should look like, I haven't taken the shocks out yet, but it seems like the nut is tightened all the way.... I will check again how tight it is since it's so completely different. The nut and washers are def still on top however, I can feel the washers on top are loose as well as the bottom.

I hope I can figure something out but really appreciate the offer for the parts. I'll keep you updated.


I saw similar items to this, I think I might as well just buy this now and try to drill it out. I was thinking it will be difficult with a hand drill.

I forgot to mention that I found this. You can get the 120mm long version and cut to length. Might take awhile to get.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[Valgrind]

I forgot to mention that I found this. You can get the 120mm long version and cut to length. Might take awhile to get.

Pardon Our Interruption...

Might buy both lol, this is great but MMC has basically overnight shipping.

 

[mcmarshing]

Recently started looking at suspension options for the 200. Currently I have:
OME2722 springs in rear
OME60029 rear shocks (standard nitrocharger)
OME702 front springs
OME90005 front shocks (standard nitrocharger)
275/70r18 Load E LT tires at 38-40psi
+ARB bumper (no winch), drawers in rear.

Truck sitting at: FR: 22", FL: 22", RR: 22.25", RL: 22" (center of hub to fender)

Whole system about 13 years old, with the exception of front shocks that were replaced 2 years ago since they were leaking. Lately I've been thinking of changing them out to the Bilstein 6112/5160's lowered to the 1st perch to get more rake and improve handling and retain current OME 2722 rear springs with 5160 shocks in the rear (I read some things on the thread mentioning the Bilstein springs are pretty stiff). I'd like to not raise the rear anymore than what it is now. I've previously had 5100's on some other Toyota truck's and i've always thought those were best quality for the $. I've had OME stuff in older LC's, and I've generally thought that their springs are stiffer than advertised, their shocks are good, but their corrosion resistance and bushing's wear out fast (One of the rear shock eyelets is slowly backing out of the bushing currently haha)

I'm having my first kid here in the near future, and I think that the truck rides a bit rough poorly maintained roads at highway speeds, which I imagine might not be great for a newborn.

Wanted to see if anybody here has had experience with an OME setup and can compare it to a 6112/5160 at 1st perch setting. I've also been looking at the MT64's from OME but can't find any reviews on them on 200's (they're also more expensive).

Some photos of my current setup:

 

[sedole]

No direct experience with OME shocks, but I feel that switching tires to a lower load rating or experimenting with different pressures might have a greater effect than changing shocks. That being said, I'm in a similar boat as you, our first is due in June and feel that the rig could ride a little softer. I'm on 4th perch 6112 and just recently swapped from HD bilstein rear spring to the standard load spring. My 275/70/18 LT E winter tires ride much harsher than my 295/70/18 LT E summers. Lowering pressures does seem to smooth things out quite a bit on both sizes. My plan is to go to Falken At4w 35x11.5 LT C tires. Big cushy pillows should smooth things out and an excuse to buy big tires haha.

That being said, Bilsteins are known for their more "sporty" or also could say stiffer on road manners. And I've always been told that OME is good for handling heavier loads. So maybe stiff unladen? Although you've got weight front and rear so that shouldn't matter too much..

I'd try lowering to 36psi first and see how that felt if it were my rig.