Bilstein 8112/8100 Lift

I've searched forums and Google extensively and have yet to find specific information on what I intend to do, so I started this thread.

My 2024 4Runner came brand new from the dealer with 2021 TRD PRO wheels, 285/70 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT tires, and a 3" Ready-Lift spacer kit. I love the look, height, wheels, and tires, but I did not want a spacer lift, so I ordered Bilstein 8112 coil overs and 8100 smooth body shocks (no bypass) with OME 2895 rear springs. I am also installing a Dr. KDSS bolt-on panhard bar relocation kit, Dobinsons UCAs, Dobinsons adjustable rear sway bar links, an Icon front sway bar relocation bracket, and extended brake lines.

After too much research and watching several great videos from Tinkerer's Adventure, I decided to add a 1/2" Ekstrom shim (two 1/4" shims/side) to the coilovers. I'm looking for ~3" of lift in the front, but I do not want to max out the preload, thus the shim. If I understand all this correctly, the 1/2" Ekstrom shim will equate to ~1" of lift, allowing me to run the coilover at ~2", helping to keep my down-travel intact. The OME rear springs are rated at 2-2.5", which is fine since I am looking for more factory rake than leveling.

Tinkerer's Adventure - Everything about Toyota IFS, Part I

Tinkerer's Adventure - Everything about Toyota IFS, Part II

I am not running aftermarket bumpers or carrying anything on the roof, so I ordered the normal spring for the back. I will install Wescott Design rock sliders, adding ~100 pounds, but that is the only additional weight.

Am I on the right track here? I was surprised to find very little higher-level information on Bilstein 8112/8100 installs and almost no information on the 8100 smooth body shock. Everything I found on the 8100 was for the bypass shock, which was way more than I needed or wanted to spend. This configuration wasn't cheap, but the bypass rear shocks would add ~$1200 to my build, pushing it over the edge. Not to mention, I doubt I would ever be tinkering with rebound and compression settings for the driving I do.

Thanks!

 

Very cool you're going with the 8112's! They sound like the best shock available for our vehicles (to me). If I had the extra money, those are the shocks I'd get.

I don't think you should put a top hat spacer on it. I'm not an expert but that sounds like a recipe for disaster. Lots of people have documented broken suspension parts due to top hat spacers. Maybe just settle for the max lift Bilstein recommends for that shock.......which is probably 2.5" or so? Do you really need that extra 1/2"?

If you're serious about it riding nicely, I think it's a mistake not to get bypasses in the rear. Being able to fine tune the rear end can make or break the way a vehicle handles. Its unlikey the non-bypass 8100's perform the exact way you want out of the box, so I guess you could always get them re-valved.......but who's to say that re-valve works perfectly? The nice thing about the bypasses is the fine tuning you can do yourself to get things dialed in perfectly for the way you drive.

 

A 1/2” shim equals 1” of lift if I understand all of this correctly. I also have Durobump bump stops, so I should be good with preventing over-travel. But I started this thread to try to figure it all out. Kai at TA talks specifically about spacers and lift height in his part two video on Toyota IFS. My goal is not to rob too much down-travel. In my application, I don’t think the shims will be an issue, but that’s why I’m asking.

As for the bypass shocks, $1200/side is just too much. Researching the 8100 smooth body shows they have the same technology that makes the 8112 awesome, so I went with them. This is my daily driver, with some occasional exploring. I’m already going deeper than reasonable. Having adjustable rear suspension I never adjust seems pointless.

Hopefully, someone has real-world experience that can chime in.

 

Here's a gratuitous picture after washing tonight with the current Ready-Lift spacers front and rear. Hopefully, I will have the 8112/8100 and the other components installed in the next week or two. For now, I am planning on two 1/4" Ekstrom shims so I can run less preload and have 2" of height from the shock, with the rest coming from the shims.

 

Dang you beat me to Bilstein 8100's. Looking forward to your install/review.

 

I have 1750 miles on my 4Runner, and I feel like I have a pretty good sense of the stock suspension. I probably won't have a chance to do much off-road driving before I get the new setup installed, but I will definitely let you know how the 8112/8100 compares to stock.

 

My suspension build is complete, and a more detailed report on what I did and why is in this thread:

Bilstein 8112/8100 - Cross Post

Here are a couple of gratuitous pics to whet your appetite!

 

How would you say the ride is? I am looking for something more capable than stock but still gives a soft ride. I am not mobbing in the desert but doing fire roads and rock crawling.

 

I just picked this up yesterday, so my experience with the new suspension is limited. But compared to stock, it is very nice. The behavior on the road is sporty, with no body roll or brake dive. It handles great and feels like a completely different vehicle. It is firm and supportive, but every bit as comfortable on the road as stock, but better. Tonight, I was driving 50 MPH on a severely washboarded gravel road, and it was incredibly smooth. None of that crab-walking where it feels like you are driving on ball bearings. I took a couple of rutted off-shoots from the main Forest Service Road I was driving, and the suspension feels amazing. It isn't overly firm and drives like a dream. I did drive over some very mild uphill embedded rock, but the area I was driving is pretty tame, so I can't speak to rock crawling. Sunday, I will have a chance to drive some steeper embedded rock terrain, and I can give more feedback then. All in all, I am extremely happy with the setup. It makes the 4Runner feel super-premium, like an expensive German car or equivalent. Including installation, the setup cost ~$6500, so it damn well better be nice! But I feel like the money was well spent. The only problem is that I am now thinking about a Magnuson Supercharger! Haha!

 

Looks great!

I'll be following to hear more about how they perform.

I have a 6112/5100 setup now. I've been super happy with the 6112's. The 5100's don't seem to have quite enough damping for the heavy springs and added weight. Overall, I'm still satisfied. I wish they made a rear shock equal to the 6112. I have been considering the 8100's for my next set, and possibly 8112's in front eventually. It's just hard to swallow the price.

 

I am no expert, but I was under the impression the 5160 was paired with the 6112 in most cases. I considered that setup strongly, but "for just a little more," I went for the 8112/8100. My suspension does not have adjustable rebound or compression, and the rear shocks are the smooth body, not the bypass shocks. That saved considerable money, even though what I bought was still expensive. I don't have any driving experience with anything other than the stock suspension, but I've driven enough to know that the 8112/8100 I have is super-premium. I can't see how anyone wouldn't be happy with it unless you were looking for a very specific use.

 

You are correct. But, as best I can tell, the 5160 is basically a 5100 with a reservoir. I'd rather have something with a bigger body comparable to the 6112.

 

I ran 5100 with 6112 for a while and had the same impression as you. The damping didn’t line up. I swapped to 5160 and the suspension feels great. There are small damping changes that feel well matched to 6112. I’d recommend trying it.

 

Thank you for posting this! I have considered just trying them out to see if there's a notable difference. Maybe I'll try a set before I go off the deep end.

 

That’s good! I was satisfied with the 5100 but love the 5160. When I researched it, I believe the 5160, in addition to a longer stroke, has lighter compression and slower rebound tuning. It makes for a good match. 5100 is better than stock but felt a little brittle to me. These tuning differences make sense when I think about the ride feel.

 

I'm really glad you decided not to space those coils. It makes no sense. For anyone else stumbling on this thread:

The coilover is what limits downtravel and adding a spacer extends that past what the other components can handle. If you can't get the ride height you want from the coilovers as they're shipped by Bilstein (either at their height or with preload) the solution is a different shock or spring, not just adding an extra inch of downtravel.

 

Register for next year’s Rocky Mountain Toyota Roundup and break the rig in! Took my 6112/5160 2020 ORP out to the event a few weeks back and was amazed by my Bilsteins let alone the 4Runner itself. We really have one of the best trucks out there. Handles daily driver duty AND tackles Rocky Mountain passes no problem.

 

Where does the Roundup take place?

 

San Juan Mountains, Southwest Colorado (Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride). It’s a great way to get introduced to the beautiful trails there as well as meet a bunch of other Toyota enthusiasts from around the country (170 trucks). I went specifically to get introduced to Imogene Pass but wound up enjoying everything around the event. The area is one of a kind. I’m definitely attending another in the future.
https://www.rockymountaintoyotaroundup.com/Home/Trails

 

Looks fantastic! Perfect amount of lift, and those Mickey Thompsons look great.

These vehicles are so worth the cost of a nice suspension system. I had similar “German car” handling opinions when I changed to Dobinson IMS. It’s so nice to feel the suspension work when backroad bombing on old rolling farm roads.

Look forward to more updates on your opinions as you get some miles on. I also might be looking for a change in the next couple of years, because I’m not liking how the IMS are pairing with some higher spring rate rear coils that I got last year (not enough rebound damping on deeper/faster bumps).

So the rear shocks that you have, they have reservoirs, but not adjustable damping? Are the ones with adjustment called bypass shocks? (Still a bit confused by the lingo).

 

There are two versions of the rear shock. One is the bypass shock that has two tubes coming off the main body with rebound and compression adjustment. The shock I have is called a “smooth body” shock since it doesn't have the external tubes for adjustable rebound and compression damping. Both shocks have an external reservoir.

For my needs, the smooth body was a good fit, and saved me some money. If the amount of weight you have on the rig varies, the adjustable damping might be a good choice. Bilstein is coming out with an 8112 coilover with adjustable damping. I am not adding weight, and knew I wouldn't be adjusting with any frequency, so I chose the non-adjustable shock. I also didn't want to wait for the adjustable front coilover.

I am extremely happy with my choice.

 

Hey @Bend_4R , thanks for the post. I'm looking at a similar setup for my rig. Do you know the spring rate of the front coils? How much lift did you get at the front, without the spacers? Thanks

 

I just used the standard version of the 8112, and I do not know the spring rate. I set the front lift at 2", but I don't know what the lift over stock ended up at. I have been very happy with the height and ride quality. I used the standard spring rate Bilstein 1.5" rear spring, which has been great since I do not add additional weight to my rig. With passengers in the back seat or gear for a trip, my 4Runner is basically level. It works perfectly for me, but I'd probably use a stiffer rear spring if you regularly have weight or passengers.

 

Thank you. I'm more worried about the front, given that it's harder to swap coil if needed. I will reach out to Bilsteins but I'm afraid they are 600lbs.

 

There are two front coils offered,
https://cart.bilsteinus.com/front-k...&Model=4Runner&SubModel=TRD Pro&DriveType=4WD
https://cart.bilsteinus.com/front-k...&Model=4Runner&SubModel=TRD Pro&DriveType=4WD

I got the Zone Controls on my '17 Tacoma. The front coilobvers come stock with a 600lb spring, and I removed them and installed their 650lb spring.

 

I have had no issues with the stock front coil springs, and the ride is great on rough, washboard roads, rough, potholed dirt roads, or light four-wheeling. If you have additional weight on your rig, you might need to get a stiffer spring, but for an unladen rig, the stock spring rate has been awesome.

 

Thanks. What about slow offroading, rock crawling?

 

I have only done a little rock crawling, and I am not an off-road expert. But my rig handles beautifully. I think the need for a stiffer spring should be solely based on additional weight on or in the vehicle. If you have a heavy front bumper or winch, it could be the wise choice to use a heavier spring. I am typically alone in the vehicle, or maybe have one passenger. I have a stock front grille, nothing on the roof, and just a TRD skid plate. For my setup, the stock Bilstein 8112 spring is ideal.