Good Quality Budget Lift 5100's & AAL

Hey so been reading through pages and pages of 5100 and aal lifts. My brother just got a 07 regular cab 4x4 and parking it next to my 2014 he wants a lift. Unlike me he is on a really tight budget, he graduates highschool in a few weeks, so I decided I'd lift his truck for him for graduation. I'm leaning towards 5100's on all for corners, 4Wheelparts can get me the complete set for 300 bucks, and a 2" aal form them for 40 bucks.
What I am concerned with is the 2.5 setting with the stock coils, do I need to do UCA's with the 2.5 setting, and do I need to add a diff drop or anything like that or is it pretty much a strait forward shock and strut install and aal? Thanks for any help, trying to figure this out ASAP as I need to get all the parts ordered by Monday.

 

you won't need UCAs or the diff drop.

 

You don't need the diff drop. As for the UCA's some people say you do and some say you don't it really depends on if they can get the truck aligned once the lift is on.

 

Ok yeah the UCA is what was hanging me up, I put Total Chaos on my 2014 because I went coilovers and a full 3" of lift, but for 2.5 there was a lot of back and forth. What about the rear exhaust hanger? No experience with that, wasn't an issue on my truck cause I have a turn down before the rear tire.

 

You won't have to mess with the exhaust.

 

You're good to go for the most part. At 2.5" he may need UCAs. Some people don't, and some do. I needed them on my last truck at that setting. I couldn't get the correct caster adjustment with the stock UCAs.

 

Will I need new U-Bolts with the AAL, or will stock ones work? Or should I not re-use the U-Bolts anyway? Also, I was just planning on going with the 5100 fronts. Do I need them in the rear as well if I am doing the AAL kit? I am not positive, but my truck does not have the TSB leafs.

 

you'll need new/longer u-bolts

 

depends.


I rock 5100's at 1.75 in the front. and the wheelers 2in single AAL in the rear with OME N182 rear shocks (they have 1.25in more of travel compared to the 5100's) and i didnt need longer u bolts (this is with the 3+1 leaf pack). Now if you go with a 3 leaf progressive AAL and the 3+1 leaf pack, you will need longer u bolts.

I like the stock rake i get with my setup above as i dont like the level look and hate the bro lean.

Id recommend the wheelers 2in single AAL as its nice quality

 

I guess I won't be doing the AAL's after all. I just got the TSB leafs ordered and Toyota is going to install them. Thank goodness for the extended warranty I got talked into -- $1,300 for the warranty (100% parts and labor on most things besides body and wear and tear items with $0 deductible until 11/2017 or 100,000 miles). Toyota is charging them nearly $1,700 to change out leafs to the 4-leaf pack!

So I think I'll see how the TSB leafs leave me and probably just get 5100's @ 1.75 for the front to see how close to level I am.

 

your going to probably be at a slight bro lean with them at 1.75.

 

Really? From fender to floor at the axles/hubs, my front is about 34.3125" and rear about 35.9125" average. That's a difference 1.6" without the TSB. How much lift does the TSB typically provide? I figured I would be level, and if not have a tiny bit of rake.

 

depends i got about an inch of lift from my original 2+1 leaf pack to the 3+1.

get the rear done, drive it flex it and let it settle then measure and go from there. your going to pretty much get spot on numbers as far as lift in the different positions on the 5100's

Id also recommend the 1/4in top plate spacer for the driver side even with stock coils to level out the truck inherent lean.

 

Thanks for the info! How long should I let it "settle"?

Also, looking at Headstrong Off road for the vendor Quoted at $218 to my door for 5100's and spacer. Anywhere I can beat that price?

 

5100's in all 4 corners and the 1/4 in top plate spacer? thats pretty good.

depends on how much flexing of the suspension you do for it to settle. 1k miles or so if you take her off road a time or two and full flex here n there.

 

Front 5100's only. I'm going to wait a while to do the rear shocks.

 

193 + shipping (which wont be more than 20 bucks) from wheelersoffroad ... thats for the 5100's in the front and the 1/4in thick aluminum top plate spacer.

 

BOOM! Ordered. Thanks for all your help - I ordered what you said, but what's the difference between the poly and aluminum? I understand the aluminum is probably better, but why would he offer a poly one as well?

 

different manufactures. I almost bought a poly one but figured id do it right and get the AL.

 

Agree. Wheeler's was backordered on the shocks and only $2 cheaper than Headstrong for everything, so I had to cancel and go with them. Wheeler's was on top of their customer service game though! I'll definitely hit them up when I decide to do rear shocks!