Why do so many Taco owners choose spacers or collars to lift and level ?

[PNWkip]

I'm pretty new to the lift/level game. My last truck was the only lifted one I had and it came with spacers and shot suspension on a 6 inch pro comp lift (rode like crap) and then I replaced them with Rough Country 6" loaded struts before I sold because it was economical. Honestly the rough country felt fine to me on that brodozer
Combing through the forum I had trouble finding any rigs (think I actually only found 1 example) leveled by Bilstein 5100s. From everything I've read they do seem like the better option over collars or spacers, but I feel like maybe I'm missing something ? If you chose Westcott, Readylift, or some similar spacer or preload collar, I'd love to hear your reasons and thoughts to learn more.
I got a full set of 5100s for $505 delivered, so same price as preload collars. Seemed like the right choice for an SR5.

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[Yotota]

I'm pretty new to the lift/level game. My last truck was the only lifted one I had and it came with spacers and shot suspension on a 6 inch pro comp lift (rode like crap) and then I replaced them with Rough Country 6" loaded struts before I sold because it was economical. Honestly the rough country felt fine to me on that brodozer
Combing through the forum I had trouble finding any rigs (think I actually only found 1 example) leveled by Bilstein 5100s. From everything I've read they do seem like the better option over collars or spacers, but I feel like maybe I'm missing something ? If you chose Westcott, Readylift, or some similar spacer or preload collar, I'd love to hear your reasons and thoughts to learn more.
I got a full set of 5100s for $505 delivered, so same price as preload collars. Seemed like the right choice for an SR5.

Bilstein 5100 (and 6112), along with all other "lift shocks" on the market, provide lift in one of two ways:

The shocks are longer than stock (longer from the bottom spring perch to the lower mounting eye)(5100s are a bit longer than stock).
The shocks preload the spring more than stock (such as the circlip perch adjustment on 5100s).

Top spacers make the shock assembly longer - just like a longer shock does.
Preload spacers add preload - just like a 5100 shock does with the circlip setting.

There is no practical difference between a 5100 shock, and a TRD Sport shock with a preload spacer and a small top spacer.

 

[PNWkip]

Bilstein 5100 (and 6112), along with all other "lift shocks" on the market, provide lift in one of two ways:

The shocks are longer than stock (longer from the bottom spring perch to the lower mounting eye)(5100s are a bit longer than stock).
The shocks preload the spring more than stock (such as the circlip perch adjustment on 5100s).

Top spacers make the shock assembly longer - just like a longer shock does.
Preload spacers add preload - just like a 5100 shock does with the circlip setting.

There is no practical difference between a 5100 shock, and a TRD Sport shock with a preload spacer and a small top spacer.

I get that, but is the Bilstein not an upgrade over OEM ? Up until maybe the OR ? People say so many different things about the quality of even the OR suspension

 

[Yotota]

I get that, but is the Bilstein not an upgrade over OEM ? Up until maybe the OR ? People say so many different things about the quality of even the OR suspension

That's a big "it depends".

The TRD Off Road dampers are a better quality, and more sophisticated, shock versus the 5100. But they are damped softer than average in the initial travel, and then MUCH firmer than average in the ESCV second stage of the travel. This is the whole "bottoming out" feel that people complain about. They aren't actually bottoming their suspension - they are just getting into the second stage of compression damping.

Bilstein 5100s are good quality shocks, and are usually damped somewhat firmer than average through their full travel (in the OEM fitment applications).

IIRC TRD Sport shocks are monotube KYB or Tokico shocks that are damped firmer than average - effectively the same as 5100s.

 

[PNWkip]

That's a big "it depends".

The TRD Off Road dampers are a better quality, and more sophisticated, shock versus the 5100. But they are damped softer than average in the initial travel, and then MUCH firmer than average in the ESCV second stage of the travel. This is the whole "bottoming out" feel that people complain about. They aren't actually bottoming their suspension - they are just getting into the second stage of compression damping.

Bilstein 5100s are good quality shocks, and are usually damped somewhat firmer than average through their full travel (in the OEM fitment applications).

IIRC TRD Sport shocks are monotube KYB or Tokico shocks that are damped firmer than average - effectively the same as 5100s.

Thank you!
This is helpful. Folks on this forum have helped me so much.
So it's subjective if 5100 v.s. stock OR shocks are "better" then ?
Someone here offered me their TRD OR Hybrid take offs with 4k miles on them. This might be a good option for getting that small front lift while upgrading my SR5 suspension. Seems pretty straight forward and they're already assembled. Anything I might be missing ?

 

[Yotota]

Thank you!
This is helpful. Folks on this forum have helped me so much.
So it's subjective if 5100 v.s. stock OR shocks are "better" then ?
Someone here offered me their TRD OR Hybrid take offs with 4k miles on them. This might be a good option for getting that small front lift while upgrading my SR5 suspension. Seems pretty straight forward and they're already assembled. Anything I might be missing ?

You're spot on.

I could dive into damping preferences and use cases, but I'll just say that I think 5100s are good shocks for a basic daily driver that may see an occasional dirt/gravel road at low speeds.

The TRD Off Road shocks are better than 5100s for certain uses, and for certain drivers. But other drivers who want a firmer damped shock will prefer the 5100s.

And the TRD OR shocks with Hybrid springs should net a small lift on your SR5, and the shocks will be better off road. They might feel about the same on road (I haven't driven a 4th Gen SR5 to directly compare). I like the TRD Off Road shocks.

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