finally got around to installing my bilstein 5100 adjustable shocks at the highest setting 2.5in lift. The job was kind of pain. took me and my dad 4 hours. because i'd never done it before and don't own an impact driver. Loan a tool'd coil compressors from Autozone and those worked fine for getting my struts back together. Lots of pry baring and manuevers to get the taller strut in but finally got everything in place. I feel now that the job would really only take 2 hours if you knew what you were doing from the start.

Was kinda scary getting in the truck after the job was down and it was sitting on a slant down to the passenger side. Drove a little and the springs settled out even. The lift was noticeable but not as high as i wanted.

I dont have the AFTER pictures yet because i'm lifting the rear end tomorrow with some TJ coils used like the ZUK mod with skyjacker nitros shocks. Will post the pictures tomorrow but here's what i've got so far...

[IMG][/IMG]



OLD ONES


Strut Together


Installed


The ride is noticeably tighter upfront. no more steering wheel shake and feeling EVERY bump in the road. forgot i had unbolted my dead rear shocks and they fell off while i was test driving hahaha so those are gone. No more nose diving when braking. will let you know more tomorrow when the rear is actually together.
More pictures tomorrow when the rear lift is done

 

Alright finished the back end, its got a slight rake but my cap is almost always on unless the dirtbike needs hauling. What do you think?







Here's how i did the back, Those are TJ coils with about 4 inches cut off the top of the coil so it fits snug around the top bumpstop.




Overall it feels like i'm driving a totally different truck. no more nose diving at braking, far less body roll on turns. no more rattling and wheels jumping over bumps. Haven't taken it off pavement yet besides running over some frozen snow. Highly reccommended for old suspensions that need help, very very cheap suspension lift. bilsteins were 190 pair, skyjackers were around 150 and accomedate a 3 in lift. TJ coils were craiglist finds for 30

$370 for a 3 inch suspension lift, not bad


Before and Afters

 

Looks Great man!!!!!

 

Very nice!

 

Looks good. Just hope that zuk coil doesn't go flying and kill anyone when you flex the truck out.

 

Can you show the rear of that more in depth I am interested to see how you fit that

 

ZUK's original mod was for a 1st Gen and he had the coils held in so they wouldn't fly out...but I don't see how the coils are retained in the OP's mod?

I would definitely make sure that the coil is held in place and secured or else what Scuba said is a definite possibility

 

Looks good. How is the ride with the 5100's at the highest setting?

 

those coils aren't going anywhere, no they are not held in place by anything more than the bump stops, but the amount of force on them is plenty to keep them in place. Ive already jumped my truck over a snow bank and got the rear wheels off the ground with no ill effects than sounds of the coils settling back in place. Just in case, im going to wrap some straps through the coil and top mount to keep them from flying anywhere in a freak accident

As for the bilsteins, They feel nice and tight at the highest setting. i am using my 110k mile front springs with them, so the ride is not stiff as others have said. the truck rides great overall

 

Heres a bigger picture of the coil in the rear

 

More axle wrap? Only ask because there is no load on the bottem leaf with that setup.
Yota's spring setup usually behaves better with all the trucks weight on the pack. was cerious if you were able to notice at lower speeds.