Need some opinions on my suspension upgrade.

So I have a 2008 Toyota Tacoma prerunner and wanna give it a little bit of a lift. Keep in mind that I'm ignorant when it comes to truck lifts and suspensions. After reading many forums, I don't think I want to do a spacer lift. I know that many Tacoma owners do the Bilstein 5100s to give it a little bit of a lift and was planning on doing that. But today I went into my local 4 wheel parts and was talked into getting some Sway Away 2.0 for the front of my truck. I didn't buy them but I was pretty damn close! Now what I would like to know is what are the Pros and Cons of doing one or the other? Is there a huge ride difference? They quoted me $400 for each Sway Away.. is that a good deal? Thanks for your help!!!

 

coilovers = nicer ride, better offroad, will have to rebuild them if you wheel it hard.
billys = decent off road, cheaper, wont ever have to re build.

edit: if your gonna pay 800 for some saws. why not spend 200 more and get some ballin' ass Icons!?!

 

HELLO FROM VENTURA!

you planning on doing some offroading or prerunning? the 2.0's will heat up and fade quicker than 2.5" CO's. they are nice shocks but for a few hundred more you can get better but thats the case with everything.

bili 5100's on all four corners of the truck and an AAL 3 leaf pack out back will be a great starter set up. all depends on what you budget is and how much you wanna spend

 

I mostly use my truck on the highway but about once a month I haul my CRF 250 to the desert to play. As for off-roading the truck, right now it is used mostly for pulling my moto trailer in and out of the dirt. Once lifted, I would like to use it every now and then in the dirt, nothing too extreme like crawling or jumping. I want something that will make the truck look aggressive and that can withstand a desert drive every now and then. My budget is about $1200 to $1300. The only thing is that I would most likely have the shop install it.

 

If I get the SAWS 2.0 then I wont be able to afford to do any kind of lift in the back just yet. The shop wants about 1200 for the SAWS installed. Any other options that you guys recommend?

 

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?! $1200 just to swap out the old CO's and put in the SAWs? please tell me that includes the parts, labor and alignment. there are TW members here that would gladly help you do the install yourself. go to a mod day and you can get it done for free and learn how to do stuff yourself.

 

next upcoming so cal mod day. cost of gas to get there will be much less than paying a shop to do the install for you

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/so...-mods-beer-bbq-basketball-football3-27-a.html


like said before the front adjustable bili 5100's can give you 2.5" lift up front and pair a rear set of 5100's out back with an add-a-leaf and you will have a great economical lift. OME is also another option for you.

toytec offers both lift set up and offers a tacoma world discount

bili's

OME

 

Ohhhh damnnn... I never knew about Mod Day! Thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately I'm going to be out of town that weekend... I'm going to have to stock up on some parts for the next one!! I think I may just go ahead and get the bili's. With the money I save maybe I'll grab an intake or something else . Oh and the 1200 included the labor, parts, and alignment.

 

One more quick question. After I put the bilstein 5100s set at 2.5 in the front, will I be okay with a BFG AT 285/75r16 or should I go with the 265/75r16???

 

You can run the 285's. You may want to go with a wider wheel though. It will spread them out a little more and give a more aggressive appearance. I run the 5100's with 885 coils and couldnt be more pleased.

 

Sweet! So I get my bili's and block for the back installed on thursday! I decide to go with the 285's so hopefully I don't Rub when I haul my toys to the desert. Eventually I'm going to change out my wheels but my funds are a little low right now.

 

actually coilovers are not giong to be a nicer ride because they have super stiff springs (650lbs and up) and are valved stiff as well. So the billys would technically ride "nicer"

 

Good to know! Haha!

 

it all depends on how much you preload your springs. I have the Fox 2.0's and they are not stiff by any means, they are actually very soft. they have the 8 way adjustable valving so I can change my ride with the turn of a dial...with coilovers your spring gets compressed, with billys your spring gets stretched out...

 

Finally got the bilsteins and tires on the truck. Before getting the 285 bfg's I asked them if they could test fit them and they rubbed a lot so I went with the 265's. I took it to the desert over the weekend and really like the ride! There are a couple things I don't like from the mods I have done. My truck, although aligned after the bilstein install, still feels like it pulls to the left a little. Also, the steering doesn't feel as responsive as it was, it seems to have a little more play in the steering wheel. What do you all think is going on here?

 

Here is a pic from yesterday at Gorman, CA.

 

post a thread in the so cal section next time so we can get a group together and head out there. was it crowded?

 

Yeah there were a lot of people there yesterday. Probably because a lot of schools are on spring break. Next time I'll definitely put a post up before going. I didn't yesterday because it was kinda a last minute trip. Any two cents on how to fix my ride? I was reading that I may need to change the UCA's to correct the issues.

 

double check the alignment numbers and make sure they are in spec. maybe get the wheels balanced. the truck is going to ride and drive different after a lift. it's just unavoidable. having the UCA's would be nice for added strength but if the truck alignes fine without them then they arn't really needed. they wont give you any extra travel unless you pair them with some ext length coilovers (icon, king...)