Bilsteins 5100 with KINGS 101HD or 101HHD?

[FM78LUX]

Hello Everyone,

Thought I created this thread since I have not found a straight forward and concrete answer after hours and days hitting the SEARCH button. Please if somebody have already discussed this ,my apologies, and guide me as to where it is since i have not found it. Other wise, your 2 cents of knowledge will be greatly appreciated

Brand newbie in this great community. I currently have OME struts all around with a 2" lift in the rear (medium leaves) and OME Prado Coils 885 which are the most "Heavy Duty" ARB offers since they are largest in length Vs. the OME884. I have made my decision of going from OME struts to 5100 Billies as many members have great things to say about them over the OME ones, not saying OME is bad, but many users prefer Billies over OME all day long for many reasons. And also have made my decision in going with KING front coils as may members have complained with sagging issues with OME even with the 5mm and 10mm spacers.

I see that many members have the KINGS HD with Bilsteins and are quite happy with this combo, and no Sagging issues, but I also have read in a few discussions that it will be worth trying HDD with Bilsteins with the bottom groove position of the strut.

My whole idea is to get a true 2.5" lift in the front and 2" in the back to also have the truck leveled and no sagging issues.

Currently i am leveled up because I have NOT installed the Winch Bar and Winch, but will eventually do it in the next couple of months so I know that with the OME 885 that I have right know the coils will sagg once the winch, and winch bar is installed and not give me a true 50mm lift. That is why I want to go with KINGS and Billies combo, but should i go HD or HDD???? I mean, If I go with the HD means that i will probably have to put the bilsteins strut in the highest or middle position to get a true 2.5 or 2" lift correct?
Will it be better using the HDD (which is taller than the HD) and maybe use the Bilstein at the lowest position? That is what I really want to find out which set up will be better and more adequate for the LUX.

I currently run a 285/75/16 Tire with a 0 offset wheels with Total Chaos UCA and a 1" Diff drop kit already so going a full 2.5" or 50mm in the front will be fine with the CV angle since I have the UCA and the 1" Drop Diff kit and 6mm bumpstops spacers. No touching or trimming of the bodymounts and no rubbing issues whatsoever with aftermarket ebay flares from Thailand.

Wanted to kind of let you guys know how my rig is setup to better understand my intentions and your recommendations.

I have not gone off roading since i installed all this so maybe the rubbing issues and chopping the body mounts, and cutting the flares will be unavoidable.

But for know your expertise and advise is on whether using the HD or HDD with Bislteins will be appreciated.

Cheers!

[FM78LUX]

Anybody out there wants to jump in? ...

Thanks!

[Torsion]

Up until last Thursday I was running the Bilstein struts with OME 884's (4 years).
BUT I had the Bilstein's machined with a extra groove (4 all up) to allow me to take up any spring sag.
Saying that if I went that combo again I would buy the heaviest spring available on the market.
The Kings HHD would be up their.

[FM78LUX]

Up until last Thursday I was running the Bilstein struts with OME 884's (4 years).
BUT I had the Bilstein's machined with a extra groove (4 all up) to allow me to take up any spring sag.
Saying that if I went that combo again I would buy the heaviest spring available on the market.
The Kings HHD would be up their.

Thank you Torsion, so you are telling me that you will choose the HHD over the HD?

What lift where you getting with the 4th groove machined on your bilies? Do you have a Winch and a Bar in the front?

Thank you!

[Torsion]

Check my shed mate all details are their. (yeh heavy front end, and I dont care about harsh rides.)
I have never used King coils, but if the Kings heaviest rated was the HHD, that is what I would buy.

Only used the highest groove when the OME 884's sagged to their lowest settling point, and that resulted in being able to maintain just on 3inches (maybe a smidge under).
Saying that if I replaced the coils, the spring base would have been dropped down to maintain a true 3 inch (as close as possible). With the Bilsteins the only prob with machining extra grooves is you will eventually "top" them out at full extension. So always set your spring base to suite the coil and that realistically would be a max 3 inch.

Check Dobinsons as well, ive heard they do good coils.

[Alby]

I can't remember for certain but pretty sure mine were HD
The billies are a firm shock as it is so I would not put a harder spring than necessary because you will shake the shit out of your Lux if you plan on doing much outback touring
There is plenty of adjustment left in the billies for height, the CV angle will stop you going too high anyway

[nnicko]

hey mate, i run the 5100's with king hd springs. On the top notch it gave me 3'' lift, has settled to 2 1/2'' now. Thats with winch, dual batt's, bullbar, scrub bars etc.

[FM78LUX]

hey mate, i run the 5100's with king hd springs. On the top notch it gave me 3'' lift, has settled to 2 1/2'' now. Thats with winch, dual batt's, bullbar, scrub bars etc.

Thank you Nnicko, you feedback is muchly appreciated.

[fatboy]

I run the billies with 2 extra grooves (never gonna use them) but do have hhd king coils on the bottom groove it sits at 565mm from center hub with bull bar winch battery etc. i will move it up one one day. I think they ride great especialy with the sway bar removed for off road work, gained 55mm in up travel too

[FM78LUX]

I run the billies with 2 extra grooves (never gonna use them) but do have hhd king coils on the bottom groove it sits at 565mm from center hub with bull bar winch battery etc. i will move it up one one day. I think they ride great especialy with the sway bar removed for off road work, gained 55mm in up travel too

Hey Fatboy, thank you for jumping in and give me your 2cents of feedback. Is the front of your LUX if really HARD and stiff with your HDD? I mean, with the HD do you think it will be a lot smoother or not? It is still a 17mm wire both springs the only thing is that the HDD is 5 mm Higher I Believe so than the HD.

I mean do you still get a very smooth ride when just touring on the streets? Member Alby advised that the Bilsteins is already a hard strut so It really gets me thinking....I dont want to fill by front end like if i Was driving a Bulldozer or Tractor, but i still want to not stress the Bilsteins. When you say 565mm from the Hub to the fender, is that about a true 2" or 3" lift?

Thanks!!

[FM78LUX]

I can't remember for certain but pretty sure mine were HD
The billies are a firm shock as it is so I would not put a harder spring than necessary because you will shake the shit out of your Lux if you plan on doing much outback touring
There is plenty of adjustment left in the billies for height, the CV angle will stop you going too high anyway

Thanks Alby,

Let me ask you something and put it this way to see if i am in the right direction in asking the questions.

It is really hard to make a right decision since lots of members have different advised, for some work for some doesnt.
and all your feedback is appreciated.

The question is the following. If ones goal is to set up a true 2" or 2.5 Inch in the front with Bars and Winch, will the Bilstein work better on a higher groove with the HD or on the lowest groove with the HDD? I want to get the best out of this combo in the front and have the bilstein work best...

Thanks

[Alby]

Mine sat at 565mm with bar and winch and I still had adjustment grooves left
I can't advise of the technicalities of the two spring scenario setups, I would ask a pro that but what I am saying is be mindful of the firmer ride of the Billies to start with
Last year I had a suspension failure in the desert and the only replacements available were OME, I couldn't believe the difference, they were very soft and boaty feeling by comparison which gave a softer ride on corrugations but too soft on road to what I was used to
I guess what I am saying is I wouldn't make them firmer than is needed to achieve your preferred ride height so that is what I would be asking from your suspension supplier

I loved the billies though they are a great touring setup

[fatboy]

I run the billies with 2 extra grooves (never gonna use them) but do have hhd king coils on the bottom groove it sits at 565mm from center hub with bull bar winch battery etc. i will move it up one one day. I think they ride great especialy with the sway bar removed for off road work, gained 55mm in up travel too

Hey Fatboy, thank you for jumping in and give me your 2cents of feedback. Is the front of your LUX if really HARD and stiff with your HDD? I mean, with the HD do you think it will be a lot smoother or not? It is still a 17mm wire both springs the only thing is that the HDD is 5 mm Higher I Believe so than the HD.

I mean do you still get a very smooth ride when just touring on the streets? Member Alby advised that the Bilsteins is already a hard strut so It really gets me thinking....I dont want to fill by front end like if i Was driving a Bulldozer or Tractor, but i still want to not stress the Bilsteins. When you say 565mm from the Hub to the fender, is that about a true 2" or 3" lift?

Thanks!!

No worries mate, I'm happy with the hhd coils I think you'll find there 20mm longer I went with this option because I have the adjustment on the bilsteins and I reckon because of the extra sping length there would be more give so therefore softer than hd but they are not a soft spring. I had iron man before and which sagged and wanted a spring that would hold up much better as I have heaps of accessories and carry a load, I have sax in the rear and think these also suit me.
Standard height is meant to be front 520mm and rear 582 to guard not flare, my lux is 565 to flare so add 5mm and will be bang on 2 inch.

[Richolux150]

Hi Gang

Is anyone running the Kings KTFR 101 HT which are the HD version of their tapered coils....meant to be a less harsh ride....apparently suited to bull bars but I cant get any specs on these babies.....

Cheers Richo

[deano87]

A little off topic but I'm looking at getting some billies sometime soon. I'm not planning on puting a bar on though. Is there any need to get aftermarket springs or are the stock springs ok? I'm hoping to get a 3" lift.
Thanks

[fatboy]

For the low price of the front coils I would be getting new ones. The stock ones will sag more and more.

[Alby]

A little off topic but I'm looking at getting some billies sometime soon. I'm not planning on puting a bar on though. Is there any need to get aftermarket springs or are the stock springs ok? I'm hoping to get a 3" lift.
Thanks

I had billies with the factory springs for about 12 months and it was fine. I only changed to heavier king springs when I fitted the bar and winch.

[juls]

I have King 101HD with bilstein on the lowest (2" lift) groove. ARB bar, winch and 2nd battery. 560mm from centre hub to bottom lip of flare. True 2" lift.

101HDD could get you to 2.5" on the 2" notch i reckon but dont quote me

I had the spring platform the wrong way around (600mm or nearly 4" lift). With that much preload it handled better on road. Bit softer now its installed correctly. Tip - put spring platform on the correct way.

IMO harder spring off road is going to affect flex. so I am happy with what i have.

With the caloffroad bilsteins you ge 3 circlip positions. - 2" (lowest), 3" and the highest notch for two inch lift on stock springs (a lot of preload on the stock springs).

[rysermon]

i have either hd or hhd kings and have had no sag at all, to be honest if youre running a bullbar winch or dual battery any one of them or all of them i just think its best practise to get the heavest duty springs you can on the front end of a ifs hilux, if sag isnt the issue the issue is usually front end is too bouncy or soft. my thoughts anyways

[Richolux150]

Has anyone run the Kings KFTR-101H 660 Lbs (KTFR-101 HD are 800 Lbs) on the Caloffroad struts (Billies 5100)?
Just wondering if they are too soft for a Sahara Bar and Dual Batteries?
Cheers Richo