Lift kit w/ TRD

Hey guys, i just posted a similar thread in the 2nd gen forum but i thought i would re-post in a forum specifically for suspension. I have a 07 DC 4x4 with TRD off road. I'm wanting to add 2 to 3 inches. I don't do a lot of off roading, so its partially for cosmetic purposes, but when i do go off road i want my truck to be able to perform. i was looking at this site and i had my eye on the second kit from the top. will this kit work on my truck without me having to replace the Bilsteins? I really don't want to get rid of them cause to buy new bilsteins will be expensive and i wont ride on anything else. If the 3 in kit wont work with my suspension will a smaller size work? I've put racing suspension on a car before but this is the first time i have looked into lifting a truck so i'm totally new at this. If any of you more technical savvy members can give me some help it would be much appreciated. I don't mind spending enough to get it done right but i dont want to go overboard so try to keep that in mind when advising me. Thanks guys.

 

I am looking into the 3" toytec lift as well they say on the first gens you need new, longer shocks, but with our 2nd gens the stock bilsteins work great. I double questioned the tech dept at Toytec and they said that not only is it ok to stick with the stock bilsteins, but they recommend it. If your going to lift it 3", look into the other accessories they have like the carrier bearing drop kit, front diff drop kit, and rear end shims. All of these will help reduce wear on cv joints and u-joints.

 

yeah the techs told me the same thing. you going with the basic $209 kit or the $299? i'm not really sure which one i need. you know off the top of your head how much all those accesories cost?

 

I'm going with the $299 kit that has the Old Man Emu springs instead of the spacers. The accesories range from about $15 to $70 each there are about three of four things I am going to get. If you go to the toytec lift kit page for '05+ tacos scroll towards the bottom past the lifts and the shocks and you'll see them.

 

ya me to. im with ya couch. i just want it for looks i posted a thread last night. the guys at toytec said they will fit. the $299 one. thats a good price though, cus it includes the OME coils. i want mine now.

 

if your goin "just for looks" the springs are a waste of money, if your not goin to take it off road alot keep your OEM springs, and go with just a spacer. and put the $100 into an intake or somethin else, and yes you get to keep your OEM Bilsien struts up front.

 

Thanks Mark, i am actually planning on doing some off-roading. just every couple of months or so. So basically i don't need a huge stupidly expensive set up, but i dont want it just for looks. No point in having it look good but not performing off-road. Is the kit with springs a good buy for someone in my situation looking for some light off-roading and a slightly bigger look?

 

Now let me get something straight, i may be confused here. SLOtaco recomended the front diff drop kit. That will drop the front diff 1in. So i'll be adding ground clearance for the body, but lowering overall ground clearance by droping the front diff closer to the ground? That doesnt sound like something i want to do. Am i understanding this correctly or am i missing something?

 

From what I understand, the diff drop will help alleviate some of the severe CV angle caused by the 3" front spacers.

 

yeah, thats what i understand from the site, and that makes sense, but whats the point of lifting your truck when in the end it will have less clearance than when you started? That makes no sense to me unless i'm missing something

 

Have any of you looked into adding the OME extended shocks with your OME 3"lift kit. I have an 07 4x4 v6 tacoma but not the TRD. I cant decide whether to just buy the 3" lift or the 3"lift plus the extended shocks. I heard in a previous thread here once that if you dont get the extended shocks your truck's suspension will eventually sag and become lower. Has anyone who who has lifted their truck experienced this problem.

 

nd,
From what I can tell on the site, you will gain the 3" of clearance from the lift, but you lose less than an 1" with the diff drop because it is the skid plate that is the lowest point not the front diff. Also, you get the full 3" everywhere else, one of the places I have bottomed out is right in the middle of my truck where the exhaust wraps around, so a lift can help that as well.

 

I just looked under the truck again. The front diff is roughly even with the skid plate, so...? Personally I'll take the drop even if it reduces clearance by 1" because you still get 3" of lift in most places, so the drop can help save cv joints, while making the diff only 2" higher than stock. I would olny put a 2" lift but I need the 3" to get the size tire I want on the truck.

 

What size tires are you putting on?

 

I want to put on 305x 65 17" but I might still only be able to fit 295 65 17's

 

I am looking at 32" BFG mud terrain tires. What is a 305 x 65 17" tire equivelant to in inches. I am having a hard time comparing metric tires to imperial. BFG makes all terrain tires that might be better for me but does not make 32". They do however make a bunch of metric sizes. I don't know what would give me the same height.

 

I'm still trying to get a handle on the diff drop kit. Would it be 1in lower than the original factory height? or 1in lower than the lifted height (ie, 2in higher than it is now)?

 

It will be 2 inch higher than off the ground than original after the lift. But 1 inch lower than the original from the frame.

 

whoa bad grammer. I need to re-read my messages before posting.

 

2"higher than the ground, 1"lower than the the frame = 3"lift with 1 inch diff drop.