What Suspension / Lift Do I Have?

Not only am I new to the Tacoma World forums, this is my first Toyota AND my first pickup, so please take that into consideration when answering.

I bought the truck almost a year ago, and haven't changed anything. It looks like this:



And like this:



Okay...I like the height that it is. People have asked me how high the lift kit is on it, and I have no idea. My goal with this post is for you to tell me what I have, and then take advice on how to improve it. Here are some pics of the current suspension:

View of suspension from behind front right tire, looking towards the front. Front wheel turned all the way to the left.


Same view, just from a little higher.


View from in front of front right tire, looking towards rear of truck. Wheel turned all the way to the right.


Same view, just from a little higher.


View from in front of right rear tire, looking towards rear of truck. Please ignore the inner-tube in the leaf spring, which I will do right later.


View from behind right rear tire looking towards front of truck.

Okay, so I guess that's it. I'd like to know what I have, and take suggestions for how to improve it while maintaining the height. Thanks!
​

 

Looks like you've got a spacer lift, I'd say 2-3".

 

One with some rust.... had to do it! Good luck with an answer, I look forward to seeing this!

 

You have a block in the rear and spacers up front.

 

about 3" spacers up front and ~2" blocks on the rear.

edit: Im too slow!

 

it looks like u got just a basic 3" spacer lift in the front and a block lift in the back. it lifts a little and levels the truck's rake out. make sure u got front diff drop spacers so as not to damage/tear the cv boots.

 

You have a spacer lift..... What kind, who knows

 

Id say a 2" spacer lift up front with blocks in the back

 

Okay, cool. So...what's the best way to go about maintaining the height and improving the ride. I've read a lot of posts but don't really understand a lot of them.

I am NOT a serious off-roader, although I will occasionally go for fun. Like I said, This is my first truck. The worst I usually get into are some rough dirt roads.

It squeaks pretty bad (hence the poorly-installed inner-tubes). I guess I'm looking for a highway ride that I can occasionally take off road and have some "Easy Trail" fun.

Thanks again for the quick responses!

 

get rid of the blocks and spacers and get some some new leafs or add a leaf for the back and get something new in the front, bilstein 5100s or OME shocks and coils. This will improve your ride and reduce the eventual sag you will get.

 

the best price wise would have to be billy 5100's front and rear with a 1.5" aal. You will get 2.5" of lift with the front 5100's and a stock coil but you could get an OME coil with OME front shocks with about the same lift. Prolly a better ride than spacers and no more squeaks. Check toyteclifts.com out. Or give downsouthmotorsports a call.

 

X2.

 

Outstanding! This is EXACTLY the info I was looking for.

Thank you all for your time & expertise.

 

No problem!! Let us know if you have any more questions!!

 

Whats the oil sprayed around on the front right side from, looks to me like the shock blew as your CV boots on that side look OK

 

That reminds me of a joke about a penguin and a Klondike bar...but I digress...

I had an issue with the suspension on that side about 4 months ago, which has been fixed. I don't know if it would still be stained because of that or not. I don't notice any kind of problem with the handling or anything, and the suspension seems equal on both sides.

Could it be something else, or do you think a stain from a few months ago could still be there?

Man...rust, oil stains...maybe I should just go get a new one!

 

yes you are right. you're not a genius..Its spacer front. block rear.

 

Definitely. You have a 2" leveling coil spacer in the front (not sure what brand makes black, maybe spraypainted..?), and a 1" block in the rear (I got the same one from Toytec a while back, but they all look the same).

So next time you get asked, your answer will be: "2" coil spacer front, 1" block rear"

Also, I'm guessing the previous owner ran 33" tires on there at some point and they rubbed, hence the paint worn off your upper-control-arm (UCA).

 

Yes I would think the oil stains would last that long