[tcoche]

Tonight I finished the rear installation of the Bilstein 5100's. Not much really here as far as installation process goes. Its real easy to do the rears.

-PB Blasted all 4 bolts about 4 days prior than tonight, each night.
-I jacked up the rear of the truck
-Put jack stands on each side under the frame. In front of rear tires.
-Pulled the floor jack under the driver side of the axle
-I put a small 4x4 piece of wood on the jack and jacked up the driver side axle ever so slightly from under the bracket for the leaf spring. Just enough to slide the bolts out from the shock mounts.
-Removed the old shock from driver side
-Started from the top shock mount with the new Bilsteins
-Ran that bolt through and hand tightened that bolt
-Lowered the jack ever so slightly to line up the bottom shock mount
-Ran that bolt through the bottom and hand tightened
-Repeated same process above for passenger side
-Went back over all 4 bolts and torqued them to 115ft lbs.
-DONE!!! :rockon

I will try my best to get good pics and try to do a step by step for the front Bilsteins installation tomorrow. But, here are some pics of the new shocks vs the old crappy rusted Ranchos. These Ranchos are garbage. The dust cover is a hard plastic. They just feel very generic compared to these Bilsteins.

 

[tcoche]

I tossed my rear Ranchos after about a year. I couldn't believe it when I saw they had hard plastic imitation dust boots, that's f'n laughable. I considered giving them away on here but didn't want anyone to waste their time or money on installing them. Same with the front Rancho struts. Since I only had them on for 20K miles or so, I reused the coils for my Bilstein HD's.

LOL!!! thats a good way to put it. I was fukin laughing when I pulled the first one off. I crawled out from under the rig and started laughing and calling it a POS. I even took it inside and showed the wife how crappy it is. I wanted her to see it cuz she bought me these Bilsteins. I am definitely even more excited now to get the craptastic Ranchos out of the fronts. Cant wait!!

 

[tcoche]

So I almost have the front passenger side completed. Unfortunately, I got caught in the rain. When I started it didn't look like rain. Well, about 30 minutes in to it, rain!!! GRRR!!

Oh well, I worked on it as much as I could. Then called it quits for today. I will finish it up tomorrow, weather permitting. I did manage to take some photos in the rain. So, I'll try my best to explain what is going on in the pics and the processes I did.

First step....

-jack up the front
-place jack stands on each side behind front tires on the frame
-remove front tires...this is passenger side

Second step....

-remove cotter pin from upper control arm bolt
-loosen nut (do not remove)
-tap side of upper control arm to break it free..it will drop and be stopped by the nut

Third step....

-find the sway bar end links

- remove bottom nut from bracket and pull the end link out

Fourth step....

-loosen but do not remove top piston rod nut (middle nut on the rod)
-remove 3 nuts on top of the coil bucket

 

[tcoche]

Fifth step....

-remove lower shock mount bolt and nut
-will need a breaker bar and 19mm wrench for nut

Sixth step....

-now remove the nut holding the upper control arm..the one with the cotter pin you removed earlier

Seventh step....

-now you can remove the shock assembly from the truck..wiggle it outta there
-I did not get a pic of the stock assembly. got too busy wrestling around with the spring compressor (which you need to rent from autozone). After the fact, I realized I could have used my impact wrench on the [email protected] spring compressor nuts to tighten and loosen. So FYI, use the impact here...much faster.
-after you get the spring compressor tight enough so you can spin the the shock inside...remove the nut on the rod at the top

-I used a vice grip on the end and a box wrench. You need a vice grip or something to hold the rod so it doesnt spin.
-here is the rediculous Rancho shock...how freakin lame!! These are GARBAGE!

Eighth step....

-assembling the new Bilstein with the parts from the stock shock. I laid it in order from which they go on the Bilstein. Install from right to left!!

-so the washer at the far left is off the stock assembly. leave the washer that is already on the Bilstein shock from the manfr in its place..dont remove it! Basically assemble it exactly like these pics....here is another at a different view

Ninth step....

-here is the Bilstein shock all assembled with the Tuff Country 1.5'' spacer/level lift

Tenth step....

-this is where I pretty much stopped. I placed the finished assembly back in its home.
-I will finish the install in the morning and post more. Still have another side to go!

 

[tcoche]

I did not. I put the fronts at the middle setting. As for the bushings, i dont remember if they are the same part. I will remember to look for you when i do the drivers side today. Honestly, i dont think you need to waste the time and money on new bushings. Mine looked really good!

 

[tcoche]

Yeah i was toying with that idea as well. But&, norcal4x4 advised me to save my money. I only have 29,867 miles on my T. So he said you really only need those springs if you have a lot of miles on the stock springs. So i decided to save the money. No problem...ill take better pics of the bushings and parts there for ya.

 

[tcoche]

Got the drivers side done! I got some pics for ya Lvcoyote. I did not take step by step pics on this one. As it is the same as the steps above.

Ok it starts..

dissembling the stock setup...

close up pic of the stock nut (loosened), washer and rubber bushing...

pics of the stock washer and the rubber bushing...

Looks like they are different bushings Lvcoyote...

Here is the finished product. It doesnt look level in these pics but I measured from the top of the fender (highest point all around) and they are level. Except for the front passenger side. For some reason that is higher by like 3/4''...hmmm! But here is the drivers side...

left over garbage that I was excited to throw away!!!

 

[tcoche]

nice, but why did you undo your upper UCA to remove the front shocks? When I replaced mine all I did was disconnected the front sway bar and the front shock assy dropped right out.
I installed the Bilstein HD's but I do like the 5100's

I was only following the directions from Tuff Country. I didnt know how to do this so i just followed their directions. I wish i would have known that before. Oh well!! Atleast i learned a lot...thank you!!

 

[tcoche]

Very helpful post of install!! I'm going to be undertaking this install in a few weeks myself and this information will help a lot.

I have also been toying around with the idea of using the Tuff Country 1.5" spacer with the Bilstein 5100's set to the middle setting for my 06 4x4. But I was unsure about this b/c I was worried about coil bucket contact using this setup. Let me know how this setup works for you and if you are getting any contact.

Thanks Again!

I really like this setup. After a few days of driving on it. I will not be changing anything. There is still plenty of room with no contact to the coil bucket. I can run my hand through the space at the palm and have about 1/2'' to spare. Thanks! :cheers:

 

[tcoche]

(deleted post)

never mind...I figured it out!

 

[tcoche]

K guys I have been trying to find front shocks for my 06 titan w/ 6" fabtech for two weeks now. I had bailey tire, big o tire and wyoming 4x4 here in riverton trying to find me shocks. The lift used a spacer upfront keeping my oem shocks but the rear shocks were replaced with the lift kit. Each of these stores could find a shock for the rear but no one could find me an oem shock for the front. So I had to call nissan in rocksprings and they got me lined out on all 4 shocks. Now I read this post about bilstein shocks in the front is the way to go the rancho ones are junk. Nissan will be calling me this afternoon to pay for these shocks so I need to make a quick decision. Where are you guys getting these shocks? How much are they going for?

My girl got em for me. She ordered mine from 4wheelparts.com. Free shipping when you have them shipped to the store for pick up. I usually order from them cuz they have a store rather close to me.

tcoche,

What was your ground to fender height before and after?

Im kicking myself for not measuring before I started. I was in such a [email protected] hurry to get it done, i forgot! Oh well. My bad!

 

[tcoche]

Thanks everyone!

After 4 months of this installation. I have to report I have had "0" issues with this install. One of these days I am going to get back under there and retorque every nut and bolt. Just to make sure everything is tight like it should be.

Enjoy!

 

[tcoche]

Im doing my install this wkend...Stoked.. Nice work..

Im doing the 2010 4x4 springs, 5100's, and leveling kit..

Sweet! thats gonna be awesome. Like I said in the above post, to help with the spring compressors, definitely use an impact! It is EXTREMELY beneficial.

 

[tcoche]

Great write up!! I am going to be doing this to my '05 and I am going to replace the coils with some '08+ ones as mine have 97,000 miles on them. I am also going to replace all the parts that connect everything together.

Now for my Question:

Do I need to buy parts for an '08+ titan or are the parts all the same, also will they work with my '05 lift block?

If anyone has done anything similar to this please chime in with any suggestions and tips, thanks.

Thanks! Make sure you get an alignment. I put off on getting one and it was a huge mistake. It chew up the outside of my tires and I had a nasty clunk when I hit bumps in the road. I got an alignment a few weeks ago and it totally solved my clunking issue and will hopefully stop the chewing of my tires.

Not entirely sure about your questions. I kept the stock springs. I used a rough country level kit and middle setting on the bilsteins.

Have fun with the install. Like I said, if you can, get an impact wrench and use it on the spring compressors nuts to compress the springs. Makes life soooo much easier!!


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

 

[tcoche]

Not today but last night I installed all 4 5100's, the fronts I put on the middle setting with my 2" leveling spacer and I also threw a 1" PRG block kit in the rear. Definitely rides smoother than the oem shocks! I like the new look and I have not had CBC yet but I'm pretty sure I will it is about 3/4" from touching. I will try to eliminate that by buying the RC UCA's.
I now sit 39 1/4" up front and 39" in the rear.
I also extended my PRG SB endlinks a little more.
I eneded up breaking the special key for my locks and lugs so had to put one stock rim back on :ftard::ftard::teeth::bangit: I will post pics when I throw the other rim on.

Nice job bro! How did the overall install go?? Did you wrestle with the spring compressor or use an impact on it?

Make sure you get an alignment. Dont put it off like I did. Chewed the hell out of my front tires. Plus, everytime I hit a decent sized bump in the road. I got this really loud clunk up front, it was bad. Finally decided to get an alignment and it solved the clunk. I was impressed with the ride.

I have this bump that is about a mile up the road. Everytime I hit it I would get that annoying @ss loud clunk everytime. Now when I hit it, its like butter smooth. I cant stop grinning now when I drive my T!!! It made that big of a difference for me.

Soon I'll be tearing everything apart again. My T is about to get a serious face lift. In a few months I'm getting 35" nitto trail grapps, superchips cortex, 1.5" lug adapters, PRG UCA's, and a 6" RC lift...cant wait! :teeth:


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

 

[tcoche]

Cant wait to see pics of this!!!! :rockon

Yeah me either!! :teethmast

I had to amend my 2010 tax return. My ex wife said I was supposed to claim the kid last year. I thought she had her that year. Oh well! The tax guy said it could take 3-4 mos or longer Anyway, with that and this years return and an extra baby to claim, total 3 kids. I'm good!

My new wife is more like me. Loves lifted and modded trucks. She is as excited as I am.

I decided I want my tires to stick out a little bit further. Goin with the 1.75" adapters. http://www.titantalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140080


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

 

[tcoche]

Overall the install was pretty easy it did take a while though only because they have a DIY automotive skill shop here on base ( I'm in the Army ) and they have all the loaner tools and they were pretty busy so at times I had to wait for a certain tool. (They have everything, tools , specialty tools, paint booths, lifts everything). I used the lift for the front and then they have an awesome spring compressing machine, you just stick the strut with coil in it place the pins and turn the handle took 2 seconds to effortlessly compress. The rear I was done with in about 20-25 mins.

I will be getting an alignment, hopefully tomorrow if the shop is open.
I'm jealous your getting a whole new set-up, lol that sh!t is going to look bad @ss though, congrats man!!!

Wow! You have the hook up bro. I wish I had all that [email protected] tools and equipment. Glad to hear everything went good on the install. Just dont procrastinate on that alignment. It really chews your shoes up!

Yeah I cant wait to get my new stuff. It just seems its going to take months before it happens...damn IRS and damn me for F'in up on my taxes. LOL


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app