Bilstein 6112/5160 Installed (5 Viewers)

[Blackford Oakes]

Hey did you ever get your truck leveled out? I'm thinking of swapping my 2721 ARB coils for the bilsteins but I'm also on the 5th perch.

I'm thinking maybe the Bilstein springs and a 10mm spring spacer?

I ended up measuring on a perfectly flat surface and I’m just about exactly level on all the corners, but with no load in the back but the third row seats. I’m still planning at some point to go down a perch. I’ll keep you posted.

Merry Christmas all!

 

[LC70605]

UPDATE: Changed to 4th Perch
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UPDATE 2
0.75" Bora Spacers
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BEFORE: Perch 3 with 2721 21.5" Front and 22.5" rear (new springs, I'll report if they settle overtime) 3rd row seats. Tires are Duratrac 275/70-18


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BEFORE: 1" front only
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How much lift will I get out of the 1st and 2nd clip?

 

[jeguth1s]

I picked up 2013 with 6112(5th perch)/5160 and Bilstein rear coils . Front driver side is a little higher than rear driver. I'm not at all a fan of a rear dip. I noticed that one of the KDSS bolts doesn't appear to be fully recessed, so I'm going to first get it on the lift next week to reset the KDSS and see if that changes anything. If not, I may drop it down a perch.

I assume the right way to remove and reinstall the snap-ring is to remove the shock completely? I would welcome any tips on this.

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What about installing the Icon 08-UP LC 200 1.75" DUAL RATE REAR SPRING KIT. I have the same setup with the same setting in the front and the only difference is the rear springs.

 

[LC70605]

Wanted to add a pic of 6112 on the lowest perch with OME 2720 rear springs

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How much lift did you get out of the 2720s

 

[LC70605]

I just put 2720s on with my kings. I know they are listed as -20mm but I still gained an inch over the stock springs, and less squat when loaded. I was consulting with another member than ran 2721s and the same shocks and they ended up with the rear too high, though I guess this will depend a lot on how heavy you are. I’m pretty light in the big scheme.

How do the 2720s ride?

 

[bloc]

How do the 2720s ride?

Ride is great, though that has more to do with the shocks than the springs.

I do plan to bump up to 2721s for a better ride height when loaded for a trip, now that I have a panhard relocation bracket to keep rear end wag under control at the increased unloaded height.

 

[TeCKis300]

Ride is great, though that has more to do with the shocks than the springs.

I do plan to bump up to 2721s for a better ride height when loaded for a trip, now that I have a panhard relocation bracket to keep rear end wag under control at the increased unloaded height.

Airbags!

Keep all the goodness of a slinky suspension for day to day and off-road articulation. Airbags are just the thing for trip or towing use.

 

[RTaylor]

2720 and 2721 are both progressive rate springs. 2721s are just a little taller. They ride good around town and can handle extra weight very well. Minimal sagging when loaded up for trips. Great for small lifts and comfortable ride quality.

 

[jefo13]

I had 2721 on, they are a good but a tad firm ride on stock weight Land Cruiser. They are much better when loaded. Consider the fact that OME sells these as a zero lift spring based on the extra load it’s meant to carry….

 

[FerrisBueller]

@turbo8 @eimkeith
In case you're looking for another project: the 200 platform could use rear shock guards that protect the Bilstein 5160 shocks w/ attached reservoir. No other guards fit since the reservoir gets in the way.

 

[bloc]

Airbags!

Keep all the goodness of a slinky suspension for day to day and off-road articulation. Airbags are just the thing for trip or towing use.

I don’t load down enough to justify the added complexity.. rear axle weight is only 3k, towing extremely rarely. And personally I prefer the idea of the tall rubber jounce stops over the bags.

2721s will add the slight extra height I need to keep the attitude correct for trips. Per my testing I’ll have just as much flex as my current 2720s. Plus I already have them in the garage.

 

[TeCKis300]

I don’t load down enough to justify the added complexity.. rear axle weight is only 3k, towing extremely rarely. And personally I prefer the idea of the tall rubber jounce stops over the bags.

2721s will add the slight extra height I need to keep the attitude correct for trips. Per my testing I’ll have just as much flex as my current 2720s. Plus I already have them in the garage.

Sure, different philosophies.

From my POV, airbags are better than most on here appreciate. Undeserved bad connotations. They are robust and adjustable. Other than the minimal cost and installation, the best part is they can be setup for zero impact when deflated. Keeping the vehicle tuned and optimized for unladen performance. That can't be said about any other solution, which then starts biasing the suspension for laden performance.

Why setup a car for 10% of it's use cases and compromise it for 90% of day to day use and comfort?

My personal opinion is jounce or overload springs, pushed by marketing and uninformed social media, are the least desirable solution. Off-road, it's all about articulation. These solutions limit articulation.

 

[LC70605]

I finally got the chance to install the OME 2720 rear springs with the Bilstein 6112/5160 kit. Big trip coming up and it was a great motivator.

I installed the OME "A" spring on the PS and the "B" spring on the DS.

Front springs are on the first (lowest lift) height.

Before in driveway with Bilstein rear springs (medium), no 3rd row seats, half tank gas, maybe 50lbs extra weight in back:
RR: 22.5"
LR: 22.375"

After in driveway with OME 2720:
RR: 22"
LR: 21.25"
I suspect the difference was due to the KDSS as I disconnected the sway bar end link on the PS.

After a drive around town and gas fill up. Drive included several corners and a few speed humps at 40mph.
RR: 21.5"
LR: 21.375"
RF: 20.75"
LF: 20.625"
I was parked in a parking lot with a very slight slope towards the DS. I suspect if the ground was perfectly level, the measurements L/R would be identical.


Impressions:
I lost an inch of height in the rear which is fine by me. I may switch to OME 2721 in the future if it sags too much when loaded with gear.

Spring rate doubled from 170 lb/in to 350 lb/in.

Ride was firm but not harsh. It felt amazing, but I understand this is subjective.. It felt like the truck should feel. Of course this was only on a quick drive around town. I can report back once I get more miles on it, and after the trip.

Anyhoo, let me know if anyone needs more detail.

And since I know the next question will be "what size ties are those?", they are Toyo AT3 275/70R18

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Do you still have the 2720s installed? Did they settle any more?

 

[bloc]

My personal opinion is jounce or overload springs, pushed by marketing and uninformed social media, are the least desirable solution. Off-road, it's all about articulation. These solutions limit articulation.

Maybe when poorly set up. In my case the soft, stock rubber in-spring jounce stops don’t prevent the axle firmly contacting the frame-mounted bump stop at all. Currently I can fully extend the longer-than-stock king on one side and smash the frame-bump on the other. And this is when not loaded for a trip.

Observing how our suspension works I actually suspect the jounce stops are there to assist articulation, acting as a more-solid-than-the-spring fulcrum that is inboard of the frame to assist pushing the extended side of the axle down, when the other side is fully stuffed. I believe this effect would be small, for the record. And substantial lift could reduce this effect.

 

[kbohtx]

How much lift did you get out of the 2720s

Unfortunately, since I was expecting no change in rear ride height I did not measure before/after. I do think, though, that I did gain a slight amount of lift over stock, maybe .5".

 

[sdnative]

Do you still have the 2720s installed? Did they settle any more?

No I have switched to 2721 on the rear. With the fronts at the lowest perch, the truck had minimal rake (maybe 1/2" - 3/4"). With any significant weight in the back, it quickly became level or negative rake which I didn't want. The ride was fine unloaded and loaded, just didn't have the height I needed.

The 2721 have the same spring rate, just a bit taller. So far I am happy with the 2721 with the fronts at the lowest perch. If you are set to a higher perch in the front you may run into a level or negative rake issue.

 

[LC70605]

Thanks. How many inches of rake do you have with this set up or front and rear height measurement.

No I have switched to 2721 on the rear. With the fronts at the lowest perch, the truck had minimal rake (maybe 1/2" - 3/4"). With any significant weight in the back, it quickly became level or negative rake which I didn't want. The ride was fine unloaded and loaded, just didn't have the height I needed.

The 2721 have the same spring rate, just a bit taller. So far I am happy with the 2721 with the fronts at the lowest perch. If you are set to a higher perch in the front you may run into a level or negative rake issue.

 

[jefo13]

Thanks. How many inches of rake do you have with this set up or front and rear height measurement.

All vehicles have different dynamics, with 2721 on stock 2016 and the front set at 4th perch, the rear sat 0.75” taller

 

[turbo8]

@turbo8 @eimkeith
In case you're looking for another project: the 200 platform could use rear shock guards that protect the Bilstein 5160 shocks w/ attached reservoir. No other guards fit since the reservoir gets in the way.

Not sure if you can even get these or if they will fit your 5160 shocks, but noticed this picture on Bilstein's site. They look like they add some protection for the reservoir.

 

[FerrisBueller]

Not sure if you can even get these or if they will fit your 5160 shocks, but noticed this picture on Bilstein's site. They look like they add some protection for the reservoir.

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Oh, super interesting - I'll have to look around for more info. Thanks for pointing it out