Beginner looking for advice on leveling kit

Hey folks, im starting to plan what I want to do to my new Tacoma and I really am not quite sure what I am doing here.

My truck came with 20" Toyota Alloy wheels so I think Im going to keep them since I haven't seen them on other Tacomas, im thinking its kind of a rare thing, with my truck being a Texas edition and all.

Anyways, im looking at tires and well, I notice that If i leveled the front of my truck with these "spaces" im reading about, i can put bigger tires on my ride.

There are plenty of places down here in Texas that im sure will let me buy my own parts and bring my truck in and put them on for me, so I don't think that will be an issue.

Im looking at these spaces, and well, i really dont see the difference between the different brands, they all seem to be the same thing just made of different alloys. So is going with something cheap like Toytec just fine? or is there issues that may occur over the next 200k miles if I dont buy the 400$ readylift billet spaces?

Also, how much lift do i need to make my truck level? 1inch? 2inches? 2.5? im sorry if I seem like I have a lot of questions. Just excited I guess.

 

nothing, really?

ok

well, ive been reading the site and all this stuff sounds like ive got my ducks in a row and my information in order and i am understanding it right. Just would like a little more assurance from someone who has been there and done that before I go out spending thousands of dollards.

 

Spacers.....prepare for a

Anyways....the best thing you can do to level the truck is AVOID SPACERS AND BLOCK LIFTS! Also use the search function, this thread has been covered multiple times. Look into the bilstein 5100 shocks, they're adjustable up to 2.5 inches of lift but a full 3 inches of lift can be achieved with OME 885 coils. To just level the truck most people say set the shocks to 1.75 inches of lift and some recommend the rear spring TSB. Spacers are not bad for getting your truck up a little higher but they ride like crap because they pre-load the shock, blocks just ride like crap in general. If you plan on any kind of off roading, this is an even better reason to stay away from spacers.

You said your TX edition came with 20" rims? Was it dealer installed? Cause the tx editions normally come with 16" rims.

Also Welcome to TW!

 

If you're staying on pavement for the life of the truck go ahead and install spacers. Brand? Toytec is a reputable company, and I personally had Pro-Comp spacers on my truck, and they've been pretty durable. But either way, be prepared for a harsher ride. Especially on 20"s.

If you're doing any kind of off roading, do not go with a spacer lift. You will be much happier with a set of Bilstein 5100 height adjustable shocks. When set at 1.75", they will level your truck.

I also do not advise off-roading with 20" wheels. Just my 2 cents.

Edit: LMAO...repost of the century right here!!

 

Hahaha no kidding man! Great advice I'm on spacers right now....because I wanted to do it the cheap way and from all my buddies "it didn't ride bad at all"....should have listened to TW.....switching to a full OME 3inch kit with AAL and new UCA'scloser to Christmas. Trust me man....buy once, cry once.

And Traveler, your truck is so sick! Photo editing is very nice

 

You should be able to measure how much you want to level it with a tape measure. It's an opinion.

 

just save up and do it right the first time... (NO SPACERS)

 

Yep I'm going with Icon's coilovers. And thanks man!

 

well, its a 2wd truck, so i dont plan on doing any off roading i with it. To be honest, its just for looks. I drive less than 8 miles to work every day. so, that was why i chose spaces, but if you guys say that the shocks will ride better, then shocks it is, i was going to buy the Readylift spaces (billet steel) but heck a pair of blisteins are almost the same price

 

thank you very much for the warm welcome

yeah they were dealer installed. blew me away because ive never seen a set before in my life, 7 spoke 20" Toyota branded wheels!

 

You got a picture?

And didn't realize you were 2wd, look into spindle lifts, not real familiar with them since I'm 4x4 but everyone seems to rock those. On the other hand I believe I read a while back that they were $1k or more, can't remember though. Either way the bilstein lift is an all around affordable, well made lift.

 

This ^^^^^^ Stay the F@#K away from spacers.

 

save your money and get one of these bad boys!!

jk saw this on craigslist. as far as lifts get billies with eibach or OME. use the search function if u dont know what any of that means

 

here they are at a distance, you can see the "Toyota" in the center, but ill take better pics later when I get home and upload them.

Yeah, I think ill have to go ahead and get these bilsteins that everyone are talking about. Im just trying to get this truck up high enough to put 32's or 33's on it (i know if its high enough for 33's ill have more tire options).

 

As I have learned from experience, should have listened to the king in the first place

These guys know what they're talkin about

 

im glad i got some input here

the reason why I chose the spacers was because im not looking to spend a shit ton of money just to "get a look"....normally i would say if i needed it to "perform" a certain way id spend the money, but i dont so I was almost set on spacers....

but now after rallying my thoughts and looking some more based off of ya'lls advice, I see I can get the bilstein shocks to get my truck leveled for actually less than the spacers I was looking at, and even better, I can build parts into my truck based off of those shocks to lift it higher later if i wanted to!

thanks guys

so now I have to decide on which OME coils to get :-D

 

out of curiosity, ive seen a lot of people like this guy selling bilsteins, but they call them "factory". Ive never owned a 4x4 tacoma before so I really dont know much about the parts he is selling. Would something like this be what I would be looking for?

 

Yes, those are factory, but no you don't want those. The TRD packages include Bilstein shocks from the factory, but they are not height adjustable. They're a step up from the SR5 shocks, but Bilstein 5100's are the way to go, as stated.

The yellow Billy's sell for very cheap, and are a good stock for stock replacement. You're looking for silver and blue Bilsteins.

 

you guys are awesome, i knew they didnt look right because they were a different color, but i wasn't sure.

this helps, im going to go with that plan, get the shocks then upgrade my lift piece by piece