Pro comp 3" spacer lift opinions

I know everyone says spacer lifts are garbage but why is that? I saw a lifted tacoma at a dealership and contacted a reputable shop that installs it....I paid $850 which seems a bit high to me but I wanted it done correctly.


The truck drives great and it received 3" of lift in the front and 1" in the back. Why do people bash on it?

Also is $850 for the kit installed a super bad deal?

 

I figured ugh dont ever shop at american wheel and tire in Houston TX

 

I would never put a $200 lift kit on a 35k truck..

 

$850 to install just spacers front and rear ? Yes, that is super expensive for what should only be three hours of driveway labor. If you bought the ProComp 3" kit with new coil overs and shocks then that price is not too bad because the parts alone sell for $500 + labor + an alignment $850 would make sense. The reason people rag on spacer lifts is that they kill your alignment and if you do any off-roading you can very easily bottom out your coil overs and bend them.

 

ok since I got ripped of..should I expect any issues with the lift? So far its been okay (about 8k miles)

 

This is what happens with spacer lifts of you hit a hard bump, deep pothole or offroad. Lots of people learn these lessons the hard way don't feel bad but you should save up for a set of new front lifted coilovers. Even a Bilstein 5100 can get you over 2" of lift the right way so you can ditch the front spacers.

 

Lol welcome from houston!!

Don't listen to these double bags. They all have 5100s.

 

It'll be fine...until it's not

 

till the above happens.... measurements dont lie!

 

Eh, I've had spacer for over 2 years. Never seen " above happen".

 

spacers and LT glass fenders huh...all show and no go huh

No, I don't have 5100's just trying to offer the guy solid advice for an inexpensive functional alternative.

 

Lets quit the dick measuring here.

OP, most people don't like spacers for the reasons above... but, MOST of the time, spacers are perfectly fine for what people who want them will use them for. Now, can you go out and bust through some dunes or haul ass over rocks and stumps like Evenflow can with his big fancy king kit? No. I doubt he does that on a regular basis anyways.

if you just want something to get you a little more lift and you don't plan on being an offroad warrior, spacers will suit you just fine.

and for people who sip the 5100 juice every night, do you realize the physics of how 5100's lift the truck? There is really not a whole lot of difference between a 5100 lift and a spacer lift. Esp these people that go get 5100's with 886's and set them to 2.75". I would much rather have a spacer lift, even offroading, than that setup. But this isn't a classroom, so ill spare you guys the lesson.

Before you bash him for spacers, why not ask what he actually uses his truck for? Not everyone here is a harddick, trophy truck wannabe.

 

Yes it has been covered but most people here will bleed and die defending what they've been told without any research on their own.

a preloaded coil will not bottom out, fully compress, before a non preloaded coil? Explain the magic behind that one for me. once the preloaded coil is fully compressed, guess where the weight of the truck, remaining force that was not absorbed by the coil, lands...

 

For that price I hope you also received a lifetime supply of reacharounds.

 

Umm well ...actually there is a big difference between a pre loaded 5100 set at 2.75 and a top plate spacer. A 2" top plate spacer shoves the CO down, reduces travel and the bump stops become irrelevant unless swapped out to a 2" taller aftermarket bump stop. A 2" top plate spacer will allow the CO to internally bottom out 2" before the bump stop can do anything about it which is why there are so many photos and threads about bent OE CO's...from daily driving incidents. The most recent thread I saw was from a guy that simply hit a big pothole and ended up with a collapsed CO and almost tanked it on the highway. A 5100 will safely use all of the available travel without bottoming out.

....and I have actually driven in excess of 20,000 miles traveling in Baja and Mainland Mexico, completely destroyed OE LCA's, 2 sets of CO's, a broken Deaver main leaf, imploded wheel bearing etc etc which is why I made the investment in UCA's, LCA's and Kings. BTW none of that is from hard sick trophy truck driving just washboard dirt roads, dips and potholes? Yare absolutely correct, not everyone is offroading but he questioned the $850 price tag and the fact is he could have landed with higher quality and more functional components which is all I was trying to convey. You will notice if you re read the thread I never bashed him, I only took the opportunity to reply to 357sigs unprovoked BS.

 

$850 for lifetime reach arounds !? Where do I sign up !?

 

I don't believe I've ever had any 5100 juice.

Lol

 

A preloaded stock coil spring on a 5100 set at 2.75 will bottom out much the same way a 3" spacer on a stock CO will. The spacer for a 3 inch lift is actually only 1.5" so they are not far off when it comes to where they bottom out.

But you're obviously a pro so what do I know.

Apparently they drain eagle pussy, bottle it, and sell it beside trd pro hats.

 

Neither of you all are wrong or right. The only way I can see a 5100 bottoming out like a spacer lift is if the spacer lift is the style with a spacer between the top of the spring and the top hat. In those two cases, as long as the spring doesn't slap together before the shock has compressed to the point where the bumpstop has contacted the frame, then all is well. The spring is going to be compressed nearly the same amount to achieve the same amount of lift.

As for the other style of spacer lift like a Daystar kit where it is on top of the top hat, well, some serious shit can hit the fan in that situation, as was seen with the picture that was posted in this thread earlier before there was a swinging contest.

 

Mall rated! That's what it's about