'14 TRD DCLB - 5100's set @ what for level?

Hey guys,

I've got a 1 week old 2014 TRD DCLB and just as everyone warned me the truck is going to need its own bank account! I'm planning to add a set of 265/70/17 tires in the spring, and although I've seen several threads where people post pics of their non-lifted trucks with larger tires I would like to at least level the front end.

My truck is a daily driver and I park in an underground garage during the day so that ultimately restricts what I can do. From what I've read the height adjustable 5100's with stock coils up front are the best bang for the buck to level the truck with minimal cost. Here are my key objectives:

(1) level or slight rake, I don't like the nose high look.
(2) Need to limit the overall lift effect to ensure I don't scrape the shark fin antenna from the roof when parking!

My questions are as follows:

(1) I have the 4 leaf rear pack from factory (Canadian truck). From what I've read most are setting @ 1.75" with the TSB on their double cabs and getting a level result...however most have posted with short beds. Is the long bed a significant enough weight difference to warrant going 0.85" instead to be level? Would 0.85" be worth spending the money (i.e. will I even see the difference)? I don't want to add anything in the rear b/c of the resulting overall lift effect. Can folks with the DCLB @ 1.75" confirm they aren't nose high at that setting?

(2) The parking facility has a low clearance point of 6'4". So, if I set the 5100's to 1.75" up front and installed a set of 265/70/17 tires what's the actual total expected lift (measuring from ground to top of roof)? Is it something in the range of 2 to 2.5 inches (1.5" for the lift and 0.5 to 1" for the tires)? If I'm leveling the front instead of raising both ends of the truck am I correct in assuming that the 1.75" from the 5100's won't directly translate into the same amount of lift when measured at the back of the cab (where the antenna sits)?

Thoughts? Should 5100's @ 1.75" with 265/70/17's meet my objectives of level (or slight rake) and enough clearance for the garage?

 

Curious, as to OP's post as well. Although, I have a DCSB. Not so much concerned about the parking garage piece of OP's post, but the rake piece. I'd like to be, at most, level. Slight rake is fine by me. I've read stock Sport coils with Billie's up front @ .85" with the factory 4leaf pack will give that ever-so-slight rake look. Thoughts?

 

I have the 5100's with 2" blocks in rear and have slight rake now. I tried with 1" blocks in rear, it had some rake but just didn't look right, looked ass low. Just added 2" blocks and sits 1"+ high now in rear. It also cured a slight vibration in the rear driveshaft. I think my driveshaft angles were off just a wee bit with driveshaft bearing spacer. I also had some shake in the steering wheel that has seemed to be almost gone now. With the Bilstien's in the highest setting I ran out of adjustment to get caster back in spec. Going to grind frame for more adjustment on the lower control arms and line up again.

 

1.75" will be very close to level. I have the same DCLB sport and originally went with 1.75". I ended up lifting the rear 1" to get some rake back.

 

Here is my old dclb with the billy on 1.75 with the stock 4 leafs in the back and 265/70/17. It was a great setup

 

As a follow up to my original post I went with the following:

5100's set @ 1.75" with 1" block in the rear. Measurements are from mid wheel to fender

Before - F20" R22"



After - F22" R23"



Before installing the 1" rear block I measured and the truck was perfectly level...but that would have left me nose high with anything in the back. I was very tempted to go 2.5" on the 5100's but worried about getting alignment in spec as it sounds like its hit or miss with stock UCA's.

 

Damn you installed that outside in the snow? Looks good though!

 

That's nothing, Friday was +3C...warmest day in a long time, lol. Most of our snow is gone now, if I'd done this 2 weeks earlier you wouldn't have seen the wheels behind the snow between the driveways.

 

So question for all you guys, I installed a spacer kit in the front and 1" blocks in the back last year and now my 2012 dcsb has a real rough ride. Would taking the spacers out from the front and installing 5100's improve the ride quality or am I still going to feel every bump? Thanks in advance.

 

Looks great. Are those the new tires?

Instead of the 1" block I was thinking airbags. I anticipate towing regularly.

How easy/hard was the install? How long did it take?

 

So question for all of you with the 5100's installed, do they ride smooth? I installed spacers in the front and a 1" leveling block in the back and I love the way it looks. However, it rides real rough and I can feel every bump in the road. Would taking the spacers out of the front and installing 5100's help with the ride quality? Here's how it looks now, Thanks for the input.

 

Yeah, it'll be a lot smoother than a spacer lift. I ditched mine for an add a leaf and 5100's at every corner with eibachs in the front and it rode so much smoother than stock and the spacer lift. Do it and never look back!

 

I'm running Nitto Terra Grapplers (265/70/17). The install was pretty easy, ended up doing it 3 times b/c I forgot to install the shock guard on the first one. Most call the ride "firmer", but I think it's better described as "tighter". There's less body roll on the corners, but the ride isn't really much firmer than stock b/c the shock itself is higher quality.

Install took me 2.5hrs...but if I'd done it correctly the first time I think 2hrs would be a reasonable approx.

 

Thanks man, appreciate the advice. Looking forward to adding the 5100's and enjoying the ride!