Bilstein 6112/5160 & CB +2 shackles installation tips

After jumping around and researching tons of information online. I figured I would post what steps and videos I used to complete my Bilstein 6112(third setting 1.9” lift)/5160 & CB +2 shackles installation on my 2010 Tundra without a spring compressor.

Also the reason I choose the 1.9” setting was to have a balance of lift/comfortable ride and the CB +2’s would give me some lift to maintain rake in the rear. This will also help me avoid cost on other major suspension components when it comes to lifting above 2.5”.

Enjoy and hopefully this makes life easier for some of us Tundra owners!

Special thanks to:

David Ekstrom
Ekstrom Design and Fabrication
(Appreciate the group buy price on CB +2’s and working with me to get the lift I wanted)
801-635-4872
https://shop-coachbuilder.myshopify.com/

Randy Rusk
Xkstensive Offroad
(David Ekstrom referral awesome deal on the Bilstein 6112/5160’s)
(318)-792-7767
https://www.xkstensiveoffroad.com/


Tools needed:
-Hydraulic jack
-Jack stands (please use jack stands to support your vehicle)
-Torque wrench
-Breaker bar
-Cheater bar (leverage to break loose some tough bolts)
-Socket wrench’s
-24, 22, 19, 17, 14mm sockets
-19, 18, 17, 14mm wrench’s
-Vise-Grip locking pliers (used to hold the shock rod from spinning)
-loctite
-Anti seize
-Wire brush
-pry bar
-rubber mallet
-flat head screw driver
-ball joint press (rented from O’reilys)
-impact gun(will make pressing the bushings for the shackles out much easier)

Videos:
Installing front 6112’s

(tip while the car is still on the ground unbolt the front sway bar on both the front driver and passenger side. When done make sure the sway bar is in its groove and rebolt them with the truck on the ground or you will struggle getting it aligned)

Shock assembly
(the two washers he threw to the sides are used for spacers on the bump stops. Two per a side/1 spacer per bump stop)
*Thanks @dirtydeeds
https://youtu.be/A0ww8bRNrw4


Used the videos as a reference as they are the same for the tundra besides having to deal with the front sway bar and different bolt sizes.

Alignment bolts to adjust are towards the rear of the truck and towards the front tighten/loosens which allows for adjustments. Mark them since you’re moving the lower control arm and ALWAYS get an alignment after any suspension modification. (Firestone has lifetime alignment)

Alignment tips for tech:
-Camber = 0 - .1 (Get as close to 0 as possible)
-Caster (Get as much as possible)
-Toe = 0.05 (.1 total)

https://youtu.be/5E6u7dC7EHg
https://youtu.be/jo0FJSi-KYs

(FYI... Your shoulders will burn installing the bolt to the rod that secures the top hat to the shock with the spring fully compressed)


Installing CB +2’s

-Poly bushing removal with ball joint press
https://youtu.be/QbwT5DEYe6E

Shackle removal/install
(Install Bolt side on inside for clearance and nuts to the outside)
-Torque bolts 70 ft/lbs once there’s weight on the shackles (the video states 90 ft/lbs for the older steel shackles)

*Thanks @Coachbuilder1
https://youtu.be/zmJ6Xjjtpe8


Torque specs:

*Thanks @csuviper
https://www.tundras.com/threads/suspension-torques.4740/

Please feel free to correct or add any information that I have left out. We’re all human lol.

 

Good tips. I did a similar write-up with tips and advice after I did my 6112s last summer. Seems like most on here have a shop install new suspension parts for them, but threads like yours are always helpful for those of us who like to tackle it on our own.

 

Krewcial Excellent job on your writeup, we all greatly appreciate posts like this

 

Great write up man!

 

Thanks!

 

Another way to remove the leaf spring bushings for those without impacts or want to rent a press.

I took a torch to my stock bushings. Got them good and hot. Damn near on fire. Then drilled through them with a 1” milaukee hole saw. Once I got the core out. I then cut the top and bottom of the outer sleeve with a sawzall. Then got a 1 1/4” socket which is the exact diameter of the outer sleeve. Couple hits with a maul and it popped right out.

 

Awesome write up! Gonna be using this to tackle the same job pretty soon here.

 

Any photos of the truck now? Still on Bilstein or switch to the Pros? Shackles in the rear?

 

I’ll take some photos tonight once I get home. Stuck with Bilstein 6112’s (1.9” setting) and 5160’s in the rear with CB +2 shackles.

 

Here are some pics I just took @cmiller219.

 

Thanks for the photos looks great

 

No Problem, forgot to add that my rake is 1.5”. The front bumper dropped the front lift to 1.75” at the 1.9” setting