Slee4+1 w/ Bilstein 7100s

[alia176]

With a lift of over 3", it seems logical to start with the 400/100 and then tweak as necessary. I'd imagine the vehicle to have the usual armor, tires, etc so this valving ought to work out well.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[Darwood]

OK....I have run several different Tacomas and am new to the Cruisers. I recently purchased a 97 LX450 and will be looking to lift it soon. I think I might go with the OME 4-5" COMP springs with 7100s and it seems like 400/100 shock valving would be really stiff.

I think the big difference is that a Tacoma weighs around 4000 lbs where as an 80 weighs around 6000 lbs. There is about a ton difference in their weights. (I actually have the weight of my Tacoma somewhere since I had to get it weighed to register it in Cali.)

 

[Darwalk]

vistataco and I are in the same boat with the lifts. We are going to help each other with install. We were told that having the shock valving set for a Tundra would probably take care of it, since the Tundra is about 300# lighter. Feelings?

I also am concerned with the 400/100, even though we will have armor eventually, but who knows.....vistataco likes it more stiff anyways I guess

 

[450 DUDE]

The nice thing is that the valving"plates" are like a buck a peice IIRC.

So is your skeerd start soft.

ken

 

[Vistataco]

So...uhhhhhhhhhh. Darrin and I will be helping each other out on the lifts which will be the 4-5" OME COMP kits with 7100's and just looking for a level of difficulty. We are well experienced working on Tacomas but after looking under the 80's we have about 0 experience.

What are the typical problem areas we might run into?

 

[FirstToy]

So...uhhhhhhhhhh. Darrin and I will be helping each other out on the lifts which will be the 4-5" OME COMP kits with 7100's and just looking for a level of difficulty. We are well experienced working on Tacomas but after looking under the 80's we have about 0 experience.

What are the typical problem areas we might run into?

did you read the 105 posts in this thread?

Solid front axle=just like working on tacoma rear axle. much easier than IFS.

 

[Darwalk]

Well I am ready, besides the MAF lift that should be at the house by friday....oh, and the shocks

 

[Darwood]

did you read the 105 posts in this thread?

Solid front axle=just like working on tacoma rear axle. much easier than IFS.

I wouldn't say just like working on a Tacoma rear axle, since the Tacoma has leaf springs and the 80 has coils which also brings in a panhard arm and some control arms. It is however easier than a Tacoma front end in my opinion. More room for one.

 

[Darwood]

Oh hey James, can you give a measurement of your lift from the hubs to the flare lip? Thanks

 

[FirstToy]

24.25" front, 25.5" rear (center of hub to bottom lip of flare)

 

[Darwood]

Thank you sir.

 

[Vistataco]

You hear back from Jason on the shocks or did you just order them elsewhere?

 

[Vistataco]

did you read the 105 posts in this thread?

Solid front axle=just like working on tacoma rear axle. much easier than IFS.

But it was the 106th post that would have answered my questions.

 

[FirstToy]

sleeoffroad.com has a good writeup on lift installation w/ pics (tech-->ome lift)

 

[NW-sickboy]

It's finally done, relocated the front resivoirs and everything is done! It's been drawn out but hopefully this helps and a jumping off point for anyone considering the Slee lift and/or different shocks

The clamps are cool surplus ones Rick found. There is plenty of room to drill a bolt on the pass side. Driver's side, I used a existing empty nut to mount.

Resivoirs are now completely out of the way and also out of the path of engine bay heat.

Slee4+1 w/ 7100's - end of story!

I dont know who "rick" is.... could you elaborate on where he found those clamps. I have my 7100's off for the first time in 3 years and the nitrogen is low, also planning on revalving, Are you still stoked on the 400/100?

 

[FirstToy]

Valving- empty w/ my setup the front rebound is a tad high. With Load-it works nicely. If you have a empty truck w/ minimal armor, I would try 360 or 380/100 instead of 400/100.

I still feel this way about it NW-sickboy. I think it's really good. Note that I am running a light winch (M8K w/ syn) Rick has 12K winch. I think he's happy w/ his 400/100 as well.

Rick is Inverness, he found the clamps at a local surplus place (I can't remember the name of the place)

Inverness has a ton more miles on his 7100s on easy (coyote flats) to tough terrain (dusy ershim). You can PM him on thoughts as well as Clownmidget, Alia176 and 450 dude.

 

[NW-sickboy]

First toy,

thanks for the info. I have had 7100's rear and 5150's front. I am going from a six inch slee lift to OME 5 inch. Also thinking of putting the 7100's up front and your thread has been MUCHO HELPFULL! I would not have attempted to re-valve myself but after your threads, and Alia making it sound like it is a past time of his i am goin to give it a shot.

I will let you know where i end up. I have ARB front with 12k winch so i am considering 400\100 in the front, But in the rear i have a tube bumper,no back seets, no real storage yet, and a 37 inch spare, so i not sure where to start. thinking 360/100

Where did you source your washers/shims to go to 400/100? also did you have the black sleeve/tool for taking your shocks apart?

 

[alia176]

and Alia making it sound like it is a past time of his i am goin to give it a shot.

Where did you source your washers/shims to go to 400/100? also did you have the black sleeve/tool for taking your shocks apart?

I'm sad to say that I re-valved the front....again This time it is at 400/125ish (did some swapping of shims to come up with the second number). It's just too much fun I tell you what. My valve stack came from Bilstein via the local retailer - Desert Rat. You might be able to source them directly from Bilstein. I didn't use any specialized tools or anything. Do buy the gallon of shock oil in case you spill some or simply have worn looking oil.

<sorry for the hijack>!!

 

[PabloVTA]

Resurrecting an oldy...
James, what's different on your WIP since '07 and this install? Have you modified anything, changed/worn out/broken, re-engineered anything? Suspension-wise I mean.

Looking to go this route and was wondering what the consensus was.

Thanks for all the info.

 

[alia176]

I can tell you what I went through: I went from the Bilstein heim joints to Fox poly bushings back to Bilstein heims! My polys were getting squashed and losing their elasticity.