Help with Suspension please!

Hi everyone,

I am going through and deciding what to do with my truck. Its that time of year where I have extra money to change a few things.

Current specs:

2012 Toyota Tacoma SR5 PreRunner (2WD) @ 20k miles

Bilstein 5100's front and rear
Spidertrax 1.25" Spacers @ Front
16x8 wheel size (FN Wheels Konig Counter)
TSP Leaf Swap
Stock UCA/LCA/Coils/Brake Lines
BFG 265/75/16

Right now I am looking at swapping out the entire suspension and tires. I am on a pretty frugal budget of about $3000.00.

I know tires will cost me about $1200 so that leaves me with about $1800.00 to spend on suspension.

I have had a few friends helping me with some suggestions (Thank you guys so much for all your input thus far!). I am trying to stay on budget and maintain quality & performance. My issue is the ride so far (I dislike the bilsteins). I have only had my current set up for a year so far and don't think its holding up for what I want out of it.

Shopping list:

New shocks front & rear
New coils
Leaf pack
Bump stops
UCA's
Maxtrac Spindles ($475) [Only thing im for sure on so far]

So let the quest begin, if any of you can assist me stay in budget and help me shop around i'd be very grateful for your input!

Thank you community!!

 

Any ideas at all - post away.

I know an $1800-2k isnt going to get me everything. But its better than sticking with these Bilsteins and stock everything else.

Let me know your ideas =]

 

How much lift are you wanting? The maxtrac will give you 4" I believe. If you also get new lift coils you'll be sitting at around 6-7" depending what coils you get. OME coils seem to be the best besides going full Coilovers. For the rear you should probably get some allpro leaf springs to bring the rear up high enough to atleast match the front. Maybe pair the springs with some allpro lift shackles. These are just some ideas. You have lots of options. But since your a prerunner you should definently get the maxtrac lift spindles.

 

How about skip tires if they aren't worn down and just go long travel or mid travel front and use new Chevy 63s from sd truck springs be a decent setup since some people do rear Chevy.

 

Are you installing yourself or paying a shop for install? Paying a shop could possibly take 1/3 off your $1800 budget.

Spindles $500
Leaf springs $450
Shackles $100
Coil springs $200
Shocks all around $300
Shipping $100-200???
Install $free if you do it yourself or $400-800 for shop to do it

Again these are just some ideas of what I would do if this were my truck

 

Thanks for the input thus far.

I would be having someone help me with install so yes that does cut cost.

Overall the tread is ok, I just wanted to get a bigger tire for now.

I don't want to get into 6-7" lift, I want to stay at around 3-4 (maxtrac giving the 4).

The coils were an idea since the stock ones are not so fantastic. Was just thinking better ride quality overall.

 

Then just get a good set of stock ride height coils. That'll save a couple hundred. Also you won't need extended shocks for the front so that'll keep the shock cost down a little. Spindles are the best lifts for pre-runners, in my opinion of course. I think your headed in the right direction

 

So, just rolling with the ideas here and all of your suggestions:


Now if I do Maxtrac Spindles (Lets say $500), Keep the Bilsteins (maybe), get new UCA's ($400 lets say), Leafs+Bumps ($500 lets say).

Puts it at around $1400.00


Thing I wanted to also touch basis on is with the Bilsteins. Reason I was thinking of changing them is because after only a few offroad adventures the rubber boot around the shock in the rears has detached itself from the bottom of the shock (where it holds in).

I assume this means they are shot? I really don't know too much and im just being upfront and honest. I don't claim to know, just going off of what I can assess in quality terms!

 

New at this whole, "having my own vehicle and being able to do what I want with it". The past year has been the first time I have ever started anything with a truck and being mechanical - so thanks for understanding.

 

You won't need new UCAs with the spindles and no additional lift. Unless you go with an extended travel coilover. You mentioned staying at around 4", so I would suggest spindles keeping your 5100s but return them to the stock no lift setting, and a new leaf pack and shocks for the rear. Should keep you close to your budget.

 

4 wheelparts did mine (4) 5100 (2) AAL /Alignment /Parts & Labor $ 700.00 Set Front 2.50 Rear 1.50 stock coils / stock uca Works great with my new 265/75/16 Duras on 16x8 XD Rims 4.50 BS/ 0 OS

 

So the rears are done then? Since those boots ripped?

 

Not necessarily. But if you move up to a larger leaf pack you will need longer shocks to accommodate the new travel.

 

If your talking about the boot then no it's not done. Some people remove the boots but I wouldn't because they do serve as a dirt/ grime shield. If your talking about the bushing that sits inside the shock mounting point then that can be replaced. But like others have said... Since your going up 4" on the front I think you would need atleast 3" lift on the rear to sit level or close to it. It kinda depends what stance your trying to achieve?

 

Front suspension:

• Maxtrac Spindles
• Bilstien 5100 (unless you have them already) set to ZERO
• Factory coils (all other coils will give you lift)

Rear suspension:

• OME Leaf packs (ditch the longer overload, this gives you a great ride and will put you at just over 2" for a level truck)
• A shock thats the right length (extended, collapsed). Bilstien 5125, 5160, OME 60091, Icon 2.0s.......
• Extended rear brake lines depending on shock selection

This would give you a great ride on road and offroading would be improved over your set-up now. Down the road do a set of extended travel Coilovers and uniball UCAs would be a nice upgrade. If this is something you plan to do in the future, pick the shocks with the resi now as they will better compliment the front COs when you get them and you won't be buying shocks again.

 

thank you everyone for your input.

 

Are your OME Leaf Pack suggestions coming from personal experience?

Can you not run the Dakars with Bilstien 5100's in the rear?

 

Sure you can, just depends which shock you prefer. I've heard the OME shocks dampen the ride a little cushier than bilsteins. I have bilsteins with dakars and I like the ride