Need first gen lift advice

Hello all. I need some lift advice to eliminate rubbing and reinstall the mud flaps. I installed a set of Bilstein 5100's this weekend on my 2004 Tacoma extended cab. I used the middle setting for 1" of lift. I am running Mickey Thompson 16X8 rims with 3.5" of backspacing. I am running 265/75/16 Goodyear Duratracs (just got this weekend too) and I still rub on sharp turns or big bumps. I had to remove the mud flaps and trim plastic to make it drivable. I was thinking about going to the 2.5" lift setting on the billies and putting a 1" block in the rear. I would like to eliminate all rubbing and put the mud flaps back on but still want the truck to look good. If anyone has any advice on a similar setup I would appreciate it. If I go to 2.5" 5100 setting, will that eliminate rubbing and allow me to install mud flaps? How much rear lift do I need to level the truck? I'm pretty frustrated since many people run 265's on stock rims without any rubbing.

 

Welcome to Tacoma World!

If you are still running the stock rear leafs, using lift blocks will surely hasten their demise. If your leafs are still in decent shape (no negative arch) an add a leaf kit is probably the way to go. Next step up would be a replacement leaf pack. Wheelers Offroad makes a reasonably priced set that a lot of folks are very happy with.

Keep in mind that what ever route you go, you'll also have to replace your rear shocks. The stock ones are too short for any amount of lift.

 

I ended up adjusting the billies to 2.5" in the front. That eliminated the rub but the mud flaps have to remain off. I ordered 5100 rears from wheelers and a 1.5" block kit from Fat Bob's Garage in Utah. I will put it all on this weekend. Maybe I will post pics if anyone is interested.

 

Yes, post your pics.

 

I finally got everything complete with a couple pics. I'm really happy with the setup. The lift blocks were trickier than I thought to put in. The axle likes to rotate after removing the u-bolts. I used my bottle jack to support the pinion flange and that kept it from twisting. I used the floor jack to support the axle so it was a little tricky running two jacks at once. The 5100's ride smooth. The Duratracs are really quiet considering how knobby they are. I still get a little mud flap rubbing even with the billies at 2.5" but I'm leaving the mud flaps on.

 

looks great congrats

 

your rake is bad.... i would either get some new lift coils in the front or take the block off. the block is causing harm to your rear leafs anyways.

EDIT: or you could just buy new eibach coils and an aal. and keep the billies, and lose the blocks! that sounds like a better plan

 

This

 

Roll Tide, MAKE A BUILD THREAD! or just tell me what your runnin, on your "murdered" "lifted" truck. you got one pic and i wanna see some of yours.

 

Great thing about TW - you never can tell which ancient thread will be revived from the past on any given day.

 

hate to say this but alot of them are from me... i have a computer class at school, and im pretty technically inclined so i breeze through everything while everyone else struggles, and takes time. so i have to do something, what better than TW! so start with all the new threads and go back in time. and i look at builds cause im planning on lifting and what not soon, so i go to find ideas. its great.

 

You guys still talking about this? I got a snugtop canopy since then off Craigslist for $500. Came off a 2002 black Tacoma. Still rubs at full turn but I just put up with it. Happy with my setup overall.

 

Haha. Sorry about no build thread. I started modding this spring. At the same time we found out we were going to be parents! So my modding was very direct and I honestly didn't take time to take pics. Of course, it isn't complete either. Maybe if I get some time between nursery modding I'll get the wife's camera out and create a build thread or mod list.

 

Which also brings us back to rake. I have always gotten comments from younger guys at work about how I need to raise my front more. Well, when I go to Lowes or put on a camper or fill the back with tools or dirt or whatever, it steers just fine down the hwy. and my front bakes aren't skipping along the pavement. His looks just fine w/ a camper.