5100 install and tire/wheel size question

First off thx to all the enthusiastic members who post the very helpful guides for upgrades.

I recently purchased a stock out of the box 2011 Tacoma 4x4 SR5 Access Cab that came with 245/16" tires. Its my all around truck used for work in my remodeling biz and I do a lot of fishing and tow a 300 lb drift boat to somewhat rugged locations here in NorCal (Yuba River) requiring 4 wheel drive to access unimproved gravel bar river put-ins and take outs.

Got the shell and towing hitch installed and I'm looking to beef up the suspension a bit, level out the look of the truck and run a larger tire or wheel for more ground clearance but uncertain just how large I can go. I'd be ok w 265/16 would like to run a 265/17.

I've read the "Tacoma Lift/FAC Guide..." posted in this forum and have chosen to install the Bilstein 5100 shocks all around which just got delivered this past week. I have searched many threads regarding my inquiry but have not gotten the clarity I'm seeking and apologize for posting to the forum what may have been covered already.

I'm not performing the install and have a longtime trusted and capable mechanic who has serviced my trucks over the years and I would like to know if there's any additional info regarding the 5100 install to pass along.

So based on my current config and needs stated above here are my questions:

1. Installing 5100's on all four suspension points, a no brainer or must I improve or upgrade any other suspension components?
2. Ideal height adjustment number for leveling, .85, 1.75, 2.5?
2. How large a tire and or wheel can I run after the 5100 install?

Any other advice or tips are most welcome and thx again for the community and the support

Many thx in advance

Joe

 

Sub'd, this is exactly what I need answers to...

You may want to include which coils you have for better replies

 

1. - raising your front any more than 2" (with either 5100s alone or with new coils, you will need new UCAs) - if you want to do things right. Less than 2" you don't need anything else. You will need to have it aligned after raising any height in the front.

2. Measure your center hub to fender on the front and back. It should be about a 2" difference. So you will want your 5100s at 1.75" in the front to level it. .85 if you want a rake. The difference on your driver side will be slightly less due to the fuel tank and battery being on that side.

3. -265/75/16 or 265/70/17 are the same size diameter 31.7 - so either one. You will have to most likely remove your front mud flaps to accommodate full turns. What type of wheel you use will impact this due to the width/offset. A 265 will also fit in your spare carrier area underneath.

Good Luck and you will be very happy with your 5100s.

 

Question: Why does no one run 245? If you are not offroading, is the only disadvantage looks?

 

bigger tire = more ground clearance & more surface area which provides better traction.

But to answer your question of why no one runs 245. Plenty of people do if getting the best mileage is your concern. But slightly bigger tires look better on trucks than the stock ones and perform better off road.

This is America - the only country where people have a love affair with their cars. From the time we are 16, we want our engines faster, tires bigger, stereos louder - its in our DNA and that is one of the things that makes us the greatest country in the World.

 

Well said!!

I would like 245s because I do no offroading and would like to conserve some MPGs but I do fear what they would look like once I lift. If anyone has a picture please show me!

 

As for anything above 2" needing UCAs, how come NONE of Toyteclifts.com's 3" lifts for 05" Tacoma include UCAs???

 

If you don't use Uca your Uca ball joint will start to wear faster and it will lose the minimal oil that's already in there. Mine are bad right now I'm all the way up on my billies I wish I did it at stock height till I had gotten spindles or ucas. And if you put at 2" without 33's you'll have a big gap from wheel to fender which will just make you want bigger tires later on.

 

I don't know inch measurements on tires, I was thinking of doing a 1.5-2" lift and getting 265/70/16s, how big is that in straight inches?

As for UCAs, can you just replace with stock UCAs once they go bad?

 

I was just going by what I was told, I don't mean to threadjack but what do you think I need for a 2" lift front and rear? Again no offroading for me, the lift is just for looks. And for those who say lifting for only looks is garbage, I am lifting because I genuinely do not enjoy driving the truck being at the current height and for something I spend so much time in I want it just right. Going back to stock nearly costs as much as lifting in my case

The link I needed:
http://www.crawlpedia.com/tire_size_converter.htm

I had no idea the width (245, 265) affected tire height...

 

If 33"s wouldn't fit, then that should mean that 32"s should be the max fit... So if that's true, is there only one acceptable size if 31"s are too small?

 

(4) 5100s front 2.50 stock UCA rear 1.50 AAL 265/75/16 Tires 16x8 Rims 4.50 B/S .0 offset with mud flaps no rubbing even tire wear good set up

 

They have a chart for just about every brand of tire. Click on the specifications. This will show you the dimensions

http://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/wrangler-duratrac

 

There are quite a few UCA options - they don't include them so you can choose what you want. They do however provide the option to add Light Racing UCAs to your shopping cart when buying a lift kit.

This is what I did. The LRs allowed me to rotate the upper ball joints forward & maintain a factory spec alignment. I moved my wheel center forward over 1". This kept my 33" Tires from getting into the cab mount at full stuff.

 

How is the ride at 2.5?

Oh, thanks for correcting me. I just can't afford to buy one optional part that costs more than the lift itself. I didn't know you could change where the wheels are, nor what getting into the cab mount is nor what full stuff is

 

Thanks for posting the before and after, this definitely helps in making a decision on lifts. My freaking head is spinning after reading through the ton of posts in the Suspension section.

 

Chopper - If you want to go with a stock tire size. I would go with 265/70R16, but get some Level 8 wheels since most of their wheels are 8.5 wide (instead of the usual 8"). That extra width will give your tires a much larger appearance. One tire size smaller than my setup is not going to looks small or bad.

5100s @1.75. Rear 4 stock leafs. 265/75/16 16x8.5 wheels

 

I'm running 265/70r17 and I took my mud flaps off

 

For alignment correcting, LR UCAs are probably the best bet, and they're also the cheapest, lowest maintenance, being that they don't use uniballs.

Headstrong Offroad generally has the best prices on them.

 

I know I'm being dense but I just can't fathom paying the price of the lift for a part! One day when I am making graduate money I will buy and install the best of suspension but I think for now I will just keep a lower lift and not buy UCAs.