i have questions about a lift im trying to do on a budget...

money is really tight right now. but i was planning to use $250 extra cash i just got to get some 5100 all around for my 2011 4wd. i want to eventually end up at 3" lift but being on a budget i was planning to do this in stages. the 5100 all around first. then some ome springs and an add a leaf. i checked the place i saw the 5100s on sale a few months ago and the price went up to 300. so i decided to shop around. and i found a place selling the fronts for $85 the rears for $76 and they have a tough country add a leaf for $45 with shipping all comes to $239. i feel like this is too good of a deal to pass up. and the sale is only for another 3 days. what im wondering though. is how hard is the add a leaf to install is it something i can do myself with the shocks. or should i take the whole thing to the shop. and also is it wise to put the add a leaf on now with just the 5100 and stock springs.. should i keep the add a leaf off till i can afford the springs or is there anyone out there that knows of some cheap ome springs to complete my set up and not go terribly over my budget...

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/f4-be5-c477-t0-bilstein-tacoma.html

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/f4-be5-c478-t0-bilstein-tacoma.html

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/85250t5.html

 

It looks like you have a pretty good plan there. I do not know much about the Tuff country AAL, but it should be fine. You will have to get the front coil installed by a shop, but the AAL one can certainly do at home..

 

It's not too difficult but if you're not confidant you should take it to the shop.
mating the springs to the 5100's will require a compressor.

just wondering why you're gonna go with the ome coils rather than toytec's lift coils? OME coils are made to be mated with OME struts for the best ride (OME struts are valved for OME coils) though, there are members that run ome/bilstein without a problem.
(just my .02)

If you use the 5100's to lift the front, you can put the AAL in for an all-around lift; or you can use the 5100's to level the front with the rear, it's all up to you!

 

It's kind of slow here tonight, isnt it?

 

Morning here, buddy. You should probably be getting to sleep soon, huh?

 

Ah...
I don't even know what sleep is anymore.
Didn't even realize it's 2

 

Come on, it's Friday night in Hawaii. You should be at a Luau or night surfing with a bikini-clad hottie or something.

 

that's tomorrow
friday nights are my "Glad I dont have to wake up early tomorrow" nights. full of forum trolling, xbox, and liquid goodness

 

I can dig it. We are off to the new car show in Philadelphia today. Time to look at a bunch of vehicles I cannot afford.

 

Pics. Lots of pics.

 

haha thanks must be slow. actually wasnt expecting a response this quick so thanks. so toytec sprongs might be a better fit? on one hand i wanna go with whatever is cheaper without the risk of problems.. but on the other hand i dont plan to mess with this set up for awhile once i get it on so i wanna spend the extra effort to get it just perfect the first time.
and also good to know i can go ahead with the add a leaf with just the 5100 im assuming running that ill have to crank up the adjustment on the fronts.. is this going to give me any ride quality issues, and about where will that leave me ride height comparably front to back?

 

Sorry Jansen, we got off topic. What are you trying to accomplish? You looking to just level the truck front to back, or get lift all around? Will you be off-roading this truck, or will it spend its time on the street?

 

if you crank up the fronts to 2.5 you may end up with a stiffer ride; without the AAL you will be nose-high, with the AAL you'll be pretty level.

More people run the eibach/toytec coils on 5100s (That's what I have currently) but you have to set the 5100s up a notch to get a full 3" out of them (eibach coils give 2nd gens 1.75" of lift). If you'll be offroading, the coils will be the better option; you lose wheel travel with the fully-preloaded stock coils on the 5100s.

With these kinds of budget-type lifts you can expect a slightly stiffer ride. The "good" rides come from the expensive stuff

 

no worries lol i was enjoying your convo. i want it leveled but eventually or if i can do it temporarily with this set up my end game is 3" of lift. and it will be mostly a street truck my daily driver but i do some weekend offroading in the mud down here. especially after a rainy week. kinda my stress relief.

 

ok thank you, that pretty much tells me what i need. might just go ahead an do this.. ill have to sacrifice offroading as much for a while till i can afford the springs.

 

there's a bunch of guys that wheel with the 5100's on the top setting. Not idea, but it works

 

well just put in the order.. hopefully if i bring it to the shop labor wont cost too much. but atleast ill finally be off the stock ride an have my truck sitting where i want it.

 

im thinking about just goin ahead and geting the toytec/eibach springs and doing it all now. i found em on the manufacturers website for about $150. is that a good price?

 

My 2 cents, take them for what their worth:

- Get the springs at toytec if you want to do it now instead of somewhere else for the same price. From everything i've heard toytec is the only one that sells them anyways. I got mine from them sitting on the floor of my office right now.

- If you plan on getting three inches of lift (ie 5100s not at stock height) with the eibachs then you are probably going to need new upper control arms to get a decent alignment. That blows your budget.

- If you have budget concerns then just stick with the 5100s and level the truck. With a tight budget, I wouldn't want to be lifting the truck much...stuff breaks and gets expensive in a hurry especially without performing the work yourself.

- The prices you quoted and apparently bought the 5100s for...is that per shock or per pair? I glanced at the site and couldn't find anything that said pair (because its a frickin steal if it is). So I'm thinking based on your original post math that you might be getting a front and a rear shock in the mail unless it is indeed for a pair. Have a hard time believing that downsouth is selling them for 280-300 and everyone raves while someone else is selling them for $160ish.

 

they are individual struts. so are you saying dont put the add a leaf on now.. or dont go to a full 3 inch lift till i can afford upper control arms?