Bilstein 5100s + Dobinsons 2" coils/springs

OK so here's my current "plan" for a minor lift ('13 SR5)

I would rather not have to do UCAs. So I am only looking for 2-2.5" lift max. I currently am stock and running stock 265/70/17 AT Falkens.

My goal is to lift and eventually add 285s. Add Billsteins for the upgrade over stock (also she just turned 102k miles so I can justify the spend on replacing factory equipment...in my mind). I would like to eliminate the nose dive and a little bit of the corner lean. Not looking for miraculous improvement.

To get it done I have 5100s sitting in a box in my living room for all four corners. I have settled on Dobinsons for the coils and springs (C59-300 Front/C59-329Rear).

I also have a set of 3/4" Cornfed spacers to work with in the back that I bought in case I want to put the Billsteins in BEFORE I get the springs.

My mechanic says to wait until I get the Dobinsons. Build up the fronts myself (no problem) and then schedule an appointment. Have him do the heavy lifting.

Questions I have for the forum:

Will this help me avoid having to use UCAs and still get the 285s?

Can I ditch the spacers and just roll off the 5100s and Dobinsons?

Is there a better combination of Dobinsons? (the models I have picked say 2" inches, but I know that's spec and spec isn't always what we end up with.)

I don't have any armor and I don't have any near term plans to run any. If I ever do it will be at most the C4 bumper insert on the front and maybe a plain jane bumper on the back (no swing outs or any other fancy stuff...but that would be a loooong time off).

Thanks in advance.

 

So with the Dobinsons, you'll be getting 2" of lift front and back. That will still give you a stock stance, just 2" higher at all corners.

If you set the front Bilstein struts on the lowest setting (0"), you will not need a UCA. If you set it to the next setting up (0.8"), this gives you a total of 2.8" of lift in the front which is right around UCA territory. I can't tell you if you will need UCA's for sure at that height, but you might.

You can fit 285's at any height really, unless you lower the vehicle. Fitting 285's has more to do with alignment and wheel offset/backspacing than anything else. Are you on the stock wheels or aftermarket wheels?

You do not need spacers with this set-up. Sell them or throw them away.

The rear Dobinson coils that you have listed are heavy load coils. This will ride extremely stiff in the back unless you're carrying 600-800lb loads all the time. I think you might want to seriously consider trading those rear coils for the C59-325's. Same amount of lift but with a stock spring rate.

 

OK so I'd like to kick the wheels out just a bit to widen the stance. Realize this needs more backspacing (i believe a negative backspacing). I want to run the 17" SEMA wheels.

Currently I am on stock '13 SR5 fan style wheels. I will use those until I save the pennies for the SEMAs.

And by spacers I meant leveling spacers, not wheels spacers. I do currently run Spidertrax, but I am ditching them when all this set up and the new tires go on.

 

You are almost certain to rub with a different backspacing than stock and/or wheel spacers. Not a big deal as you can fix it with the fender liner mod/fender flare trim, mudflap trim/removal, or body mount chop. No telling what your truck will need until you have all these components on together.

Yes, I was referring to a leveling spacer when I said to throw them away. With lift coils and bilstein 5100's, there is no need for a leveling spacer......unless it's one of those you put on one side to correct the toyota lean that some get. If you're saying that you want to put on a spacer before you get your lift coils, that's fine.......just know you'll be paying someone to work on your truck twice unless you do it yourself. That's money better spent on getting your lift coils quicker.

 

Appreciate your response. And thanks I just wanted to clarify on the spacers. Wheel spacers catch a bad rap and a lot of people would say to just throw them in the trash lol. Count me in the camp of "do whatever you want, but my experience is I had em and didn't care for them."

 

Yeah, I've run wheel spacers before. Had exactly zero issues with them.

 

I haven't had any issues either. I get a little shake at 60 mph but that could be the tires. I have them torqued to spec and aligned so I know its ok. I think its more just I read a lot of "one time my wheel fell off" stories and that stuff sits in the back of my mind. If it were truly an issue I don't think a company like spidertrax would be in business. More mental than it is anything else.

 

The 60mph shake is a common issue for a lot of stock 4Runners that aren't running wheel spacers. I think it's a stock tire/balancing issue personally.

If someone's wheel falls off when using spacers, I'm sure their wheel would have fallen off without a spacer as well. Most likely wheel (or wheel spacer) installation error.