Should i take my lift out??

have this lift installed:


it was installed correctly Except for the front adjustable shocks were not at the lowest setting mechanic is working on the truck he says I need to replace the right ball joint, lower steering bushings as well as new brakes which are prob not related wondering if I should just take the lift out because In the long run it'll cause more wear ? or should his adjusting the front shock down midigate that... So far I had a left lower ball joint fail but I think it may be related to the lift being too high...

i know its a personal choice but any input would be appeciated


for some background see my previous posts at:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/254708-catastrophic-failure-caused-lift.html
Catastrophic failure caused by lift?

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/262767-issues-ball-joints-would-like-suggestions-poss-reducing-installed-lift.html

Issues with ball joints, would like suggestions on poss. reducing installed lift

 

I think your fine brakes probably just needed changing

 

breaks are not a factor as stated but i did have a ball joint fail and ive been told this isnt the best way to lift a truck.. but if lowering the billstein down one will make it less prone to failing then id keep the lift

 

The 5100's NEED to be set at the lowest setting with the eibach coils

 

ok good, glad i know now.. is it a durable lift?? i kind of also want to switch to stock wheels as well

 

I would leave the lift in. Having the shocks not at the lowest setting with the eibach springs will definitely cause problems and probably made your lower ball joint wear out. Your lower ball joint was probably going out anyways but the lift probably sped it up. This will also cause your cv axles to wear our faster. This won't cause issues with your brakes, as you said, but I don't think it would cause problems with the steering rack bushings.

This is the correct way to lift the truck by the way but if you lift it over 2.5-3" it will cause problems, which you are over 3" with the shocks set that way. So lowering the shocks to the lowest setting will make it less prone to failing.

 

ive had 5100's and eibachs for 12k, so far no complaints

 

My mechanic is working on lowering the left to the lowest setting on the shocks and according to him it's already at the lowest setting I'm out of town so I cant doublecheck but could it be he's looking at wrong what should I tell him?

I spoke to toytec lifts and they said from the center wheel hub to the fender should be no greater than 24 inches it's currently at 24 1/2 inches so to them and me it doesn't make sense that it's at the lowest setting and sits that high.

heres a pic i took when i was in town before i took to shop not sure if u can tell from it that its at its lowest setting or not

 

Just above the numbers in this pic. It looks like that would be the "lowest setting" See the groove? That's where the retaining ring (or whatever it's called) should sit.

Edit: I also have the bilstein/ Eibach setup. Mine took a bit to settle in (had vibs from steep CV angle). No issues now. I replaced upper and lower BJ's and also did inner and outer TRE's too, very close to same time as lift install.

 

Okay so are you saying based on the picture that you don't think it's at the lowest setting just trying to figure what I should tell my mechanic because he may never have worked with this setting before thx

 

That's what I see. It looks to me that it's on the middle setting currently, and needs to come down one notch. That's based on the one photo. It could just be a shadow too... He should be able to just compress the eibach and he'll be able to tell real quick if it's on the lowest setting or not.

 

Okay so it sounds like just by the very fact that there's a line above the seat perch alone means that it can't be at the lowest setting because that should be below the seat perch is that right?

 

Not the one above the seat perch...in the pic, it looks like there is a groove below the seat perch also. That would mean that the seat perch is not on the lowest setting. If it's on the lowest setting you will not see any grooves below the seat perch. If that's what you meant...then yes.