Bilstein/Eibach/Lift question

Having read through countless threads on bilsteins/eibach’s/etc I’m needing some help. Have a 2020 4Runner venture that I decided to go conservative on with just a bilstein 5100 level to start, with intentions on upgrading further down the line. Wanted the bilstein set to the 1.75” setting with nothing in the rear. The shop ended up setting it at the max height so now I’m pretty significantly front high. They have agreed to reset it for me in a couple of weeks.

My question is this, I do like the stance set at 2.5” and the ride quality has been fine, other than being nose high. I began searching for options for the back to level it out and found the eibach lift kit that’s 2.75” front and 1” rear that most say is level. Do I just throw the eibach or more 5100’s on the rear with a 1-1.5” coil on the rear and call it good? I know a lot of people complain about the bilsteins at the top height setting and my preference if I was going this route would have been just use the entire eibach kit. Is the ride quality of the eibachs or another kit that uses the spring for the lift that much better than the bilstein at the top setting?

I guess I have 3 options, let them reset it to 1.75” and go on, add 1-1.5” spring and shocks to the rear, or buy a kit like eibach and start from scratch. Any insight with experience with the different lifts is appreciated. The truck has <2k miles so I wasn’t really wanting to do UCA’s and my initial intention was to just level and keep it close to stock. Now I’m not sure as I like the stance at 2.5”.

 

The easiest thing to do would be to just have them lower the Bilsteins back down to 1.75". You'll be dead nuts level and you'll be done.

Yes, Eibach's ride better IMO (I've owned both), but ride is subjective and if you're happy with the way the Bilsteins ride, there's no reason to switch them out. If you do end up deciding to switch them out because you can't live with the Bilsteins, just get the front adjustable Eibach strut with your stock coil and set it to 1.6" up front with the stock rear. You can always sell your 5100's to re-coup some of the cost.

Going up to the 2.75" lift coil in front will put you in UCA territory. Some people don't add them, but the truck really does feel better with the higher caster you can get with aftermarket UCA's at that lift height. Obviously the most expensive option, but if you want that lift height, then life is too short to waffle over it.

 

I appreciate the feedback. How about option #3– Adding coils and possibly shocks to the rear to bring it up 1-1.5”? There are a lot of options, could go with eibach coils and shocks, bilsteins to match the front and a 1.5” coil...Also, would the ride be substantially better to reset the front Bilstein to 0 and add a 2.5” coil to get the lift?

 

If it was me and I was seriously considering option #3, I'd just buy the Eibach Pro Truck kit and sell the 5100's. That would be my personal preference. By doing that, you would achieve everything you wanted pretty easily.

Yes, you could keep your stock coils at the 2.5" mark on the 5100's and add a lift coil and shock to the rear. But if I was going that high in the front, I'd rather have the coil doing the lifting and set the Bilsteins to 0" (personal preference). But I don't think it will ride substantially better with the lift coil vs the stock coil if they are both the same spring rate.

You don't have to keep the same shocks front to rear. I'm actually a fan of a little softer valving for the rear shocks because it feels like the vehicle soaks up bumps a little better and doesn't buck. If you like that same feel, you could pair Bilsteins up front and Eibachs in the rear. They're both digressive shocks and will perform similarly when paired with one another. But Eibachs valving is less stiff than the Bilsteins. Not soft, but less stiff.

 

Dobinson is a brand I’m not really familiar with, but seeing a lot of good options there. 2.5” front coil and 1-1.5” rear. Really considering going that route. May add shock in back to pair with Bilstein shock/dobinson coil. That way could just replace Bilstein in the future if I wasn’t happy with it. I appreciate your feedback.

 

I have Bilstein 5100 all around with fronts at 2.5 and a 1" rear Cornfed spacer. I have about 1/2 inch forward rake.

 

How is the ride?

 

OP, buy a rear lift coil that’ll put you level with the front. I’m not sure on the exact specs of OEM but I’m pretty sure you can safely run a 1”-1.5” lift in the rear with stock shocks. If you’re not going to be off-roading it would be a pretty safe bet but if you plan on doing any trails you’ll definitely want to swap out your shocks for longer ones. Just a thought if you want to keep your cost down as rear lift springs are pretty inexpensive.

 

The ride is great!

 

Yeah, Dobinson coils get good reviews. Definitely another worthy option.

 

Famrunner - please post what you end up with. I have the same vehicle and i need to up it a bit too.
I'm considering Bilstein 6112's in front with their included springs to go up 1.5-2.0 inches in front, then Bilstien 5100 in back with Cornfed spacer in back. I like the rake, but i want to lift a bit.
Add pics of your final move. thanks,

 

I went with dobinson’s 2.5” front coils with the bilsteins set at no lift and the 1-1.25” coils in rear with dobinson shocks. I ended up getting about a 2/1 lift out of it once everything settled. Have to say after a couple thousand miles, I could not be happier. I drove maybe 1,000 miles after install then am finishing up a 2,000 mile road trip. Still have a little rake, which is fine, and ride is great. Little stiffer but reduces roll and glides over rough roads and off road. Highly recommend. Hit up Mike at exit off-road, he was great to work with and may go with their UCA’s as my next upgrade.

 

sorry I'm not trying to hijack your thread but I was hoping to get confirmation/clarification on the bilsteins. is it correct that you can install them with no lift? as they have 3 different height settings. then later you have the option to adjust to a different height? my reason for this question is that I need a xreas delete and want to swap to bilsteins. my truck will not pass Maryland inspection at present, as the xreas is leaking. Toyota service wants to replace for 4k. needless to say I want to get rid of xreas. put shocks on at stock height to pass inspection and not throw up red flags with the vehicle lifted. once inspection has passed then lift. this is possible with the 5100s correct?

 

Yes, the bilsteins can be installed with no lift. If you are wanting to lift later on it will involve completely re-doing the install, so it’s not an easy adjust later option, however one shock can be used no lift and added lift in the future, so no additional parts would be necessary. The rear bilsteins do not provide a lift.

 

thank you for the clarification !!

 

Here’s my experience. I learned as I went and spent money. Might help others not spend as much. I had 5100 installed all around with SPC UCA and ARB/OME 2 inch lift rear coils on 2015 4Runner with 3rd row seat, no added weight. Stock front coils. Front was set at 1.75 lift and the rear was 2 inch lift. Got the full lift height. Less body roll and nose dive. Rear coils were very stiff and firm road feel but rear was too high for stock size tires. Some vibration from front end at low speeds. Mechanic not sure what it was - wheel bearing, spindle bearing, CV? Replaced the rear coils with Eibach E30 82 071 01 02 and installed differential dropper kit. Eibach advised that the coils could be used with 5100 because they had longer travel than stock and coils to give a 1 inch lift over stock. Ride is softer with Eibach than ARB. The Eibach settled at about stock height on rear. The truck is just a little nose high when looking at it. Installing Hefty Fabworks 1/2 front bumper but no winch. 35 lbs over stock. Will install Cornfed either 1 or 3/4 inch rear spacers to get a little rake once the bumper is on. The dropper kit seems to have solved the front end vibration.

 

I'm sure you're not the first, but I haven't heard of anyone using lift coils in the rear, and stock coils in the front. IMO, if someone was going to all that trouble, they'd use coils all around, especially since the front gets more lift than the rear. That said, whatever works for you!

 

Interesting point. I read online that 5100 upfront can be used with stock coils, so I didn’t question it but maybe something to consider. What would you recommend for future? Any experience with the Eibach coils? Any idea why they settled at stock height when they were to give a 1 inch lift?

 

The 5100s can definitely be used with the stock coils. Most do it to level the front. Once you get over 2.5” of lift, with lift in the back also, I would say most go with lift coils. Not everyone, though.

i don’t have any input on why the Eibach coils didn’t maintain the 1” lift, though.