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What you need to know about lifting a 2016 Tacoma - Presented by Toytec Lifts

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Toytec Lifts, Oct 14, 2015.

  1. Oct 14, 2015 at 10:41 AM
    #1
    Toytec Lifts

    Toytec Lifts [OP] Toyota Suspension specialist

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    Hello all,

    We wanted to post up some information about the 3rd gen suspension and what we have seen that works and does not work for the testing we have done thus far. After our truck gets back from the SEMA show, it will undergo some more testing and i will continue to update this thread with more information as it becomes available.

    So lets get to it.

    To answer some of the recent questions about spring rate,


    We did send the springs from our 2016 out to one of our spring manufacturers to be tested for spring rate. We are doing this in hopes of developing a spring that will work well on the factory shocks and give a 2 inch lift. Similar to the 112-620 coils or the 521-600's we have. For those interested, i have posted the spec sheet. Spring rate on the factory coil did indeed come back at 717lbs/inch. Spec sheet is attached to this post

    What you do need to keep in mind is that spring rate is not the only piece of the puzzle to look at. Spring length, amount of preload placed on the spring, and the valving of the shock will have a equally important role in ride, performance and lift height. While our Boss kit does have a 600lb/inch spring rate, the spring length and preload are not going to be the same as factory and the valving of the shock is much different so therefore comparing just the spring rates is not going to give you the whole picture

    Springs are really just meant to hold the vehicle at ride height. The valving of the shock will have a bigger difference on how the truck rides than a small difference in spring rate will. For example, Toyota wanted the truck to be a smoother ride over bumps and such. So they typically run a higher spring rate and less compression damping so when the truck is driving down the road, those small little bumps will feel softer. Since the small bumps are not causing the suspension to travel a whole lot, the effect on the ride from the spring rate increase is negligible

    With most aftermarket suspension, we do the opposite. We drop the spring rate and raise the compression and rebound valving of the shock. This helps with overall travel at slow speeds so the suspension has the ability to compress more if you are offroad. The increased valving will allow for better resistance to hard hits like hitting whoops. The downside is that the suspension will feel a little firmer over the smaller stuff like cracks in the road. However the pro's of increased damping and travel far outweigh the con of the suspension feeling firmer for most of what we do.

    Another important piece is that preload only affects ride height and not spring rate or stiffness. That is provided the shock can extend the same amount that you are adding in preload. With that being said, The current Bilstein 5100 valving and adjustments are for the factory springs from a 05-15 Tacoma which are listed as a 500lb/inch rate in some OME spring guides So you are installing a 717lb spring on a shock meant for 500lb coil. This means that the preload adjustments will be very different on the 717lb 3rd gen coil compared to the 500lb 2nd gen coil. Now we do offer a 620lb coil for the 5100's but preloading it anymore than the 2nd clip causes issues.

    For a visual comparison, Here is a 07 Tacoma coil, a 16 Tacoma coil, and a OME 885

    [​IMG]

    Front Suspension:

    When we get a vehicle in the shop, the very first thing we do is take a baseline ride height measurement so we know where the factory suspension sits and do calculations based on that to determine what ride height changes are for various setups we are testing.

    The most accurate way to check the ride height is to measure from the center of the wheel straight up to the fender opening lip. This method removes the variable of tire size and pressure and only gives you the amount of suspension and/or body lift.

    The 05-15 Tacoma on average, measures 20 inches in the front and 21.5 inches in the rear. The 16 Tacoma measures 21 inches in the front and 22 inches in the rear.

    So being that the control arm/shock/spindle configuration is nearly identical to the 05-15, this means that the front of the 3rd gen actually sits 1 inch higher in the shock travel range. We were able to confirm this by doing a hub-to-fender measurement at full droop (24.5 inches for both the 2nd gen and the 3rd gen) and doing a measurement while sitting on the ground (20 inches for the 2nd gen, 21 inches for the 3rd gen), we can see that the 2nd gen factory suspension compressed 4.5 inches to get to ride height and the 3rd gen compressed 3.5 inches to get to ride height. Full droop stayed the same. The 3rd gens just did not compress as much.

    So i bet you are asking what that means for lifting and why would i even care?

    Well since the suspension is now 1 inch higher is the travel range, its actually 1 inch "lift" from the factory. The limit of the suspension is still the same 3 inches of lift so this means that over a factory 2016, you can only do a true 2 inch over how it comes from the factory. Technically you could adjust some coilovers to the full 3 inches of lift over factory but then you would end up with hardly any down travel left in the coilover and you are going to be hitting full extension on the shock all the time.

    As of right now, we have tested a couple different versions of our BOSS suspension and our Bilstein coilover setup. The mounting is all they same so they bolt right up. Mainly is the lift heights that are slightly different.

    Our TTHA-CK Bilstein coilover setup that is not adjustable gave a 22.5 inch hub to fender measurement. So compared to factory ride height, its only 1.5 inches higher. But it actuality, its really a 2.5 inch lift when compared to a 2nd gen.

    UCA's and other stuff:

    We have installed the Total Chaos UCA's on our SEMA truck and had a dealer of ours install the Light Racing UCA's. The only thing to note is that on the driver side of our truck, we had to slightly bend the hard brake line so the grease zerk on the TC's would not interfere with the brake line. I'm thinking that may have just been a manufacturing variance but still something to look out for if you are install UCA's on your 2016.

    Diff drop has been installed and works just like the 2nd gens do.

    Sway bar looks to be the same. The 16 uses the same sway bar relocates as the 05-15.

    Rear suspension:

    From the testing we have done, the rear is just about identical to the 2nd gen Tacoma. The ride height being 1/2 inch higher is a negligible difference. Our standard AAL still gives the same 2 inches of lift and the block kits are no different. No testing has been done with aftermarket leafs at this point but hopefully we will change that once SEMA is done.

    If anyone has any questions. Feel free to post, PM or call us.

    ***Warning***
    We are seeing posts in this thread recommending products for sale that are not listed by Manufacturers (Bilstien and Old Man Emu specifically) for the 2016 Tacoma.
    Beware that using these incompatible parts will void your warranty from the manufacturers, in our testing OME coils did not provide the lift they do on models before 2016, these parts are not recommended for use by ARB/OME.

    The factory coils on the 2016 Tacoma have a higher spring rate than any of the Old Man Emu coils (884, 885, and 886 specifically) listed for sale by some vendors here, therefore they will not give lift stated and will quickly sag and loose lift due to the lower spring rate.

    We recommend calling manufacturers if they do not list a specific part for the 2016 and newer Tacoma, do Not assume any parts will work, as stated they are not the same suspension!

    Thanks!
    Dylan
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2016
  2. Oct 14, 2015 at 11:03 AM
    #2
    Toytec Lifts

    Toytec Lifts [OP] Toyota Suspension specialist

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    It will still have pretty close to the same factory 1 inch rake since you are doing 1.75 on the front and 1.5 in the rear. IMHO, it would look bad at all but it just won't be dead level. Which i actually think it a good thing. A very small amount of rake is what i personally think looks the best.
     
  3. Oct 14, 2015 at 12:02 PM
    #3
    TacoTuesday86

    TacoTuesday86 Well-Known Member

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    I'm wanting to get the complete toytec 3 in lift kit for my 16 taco, what is the largest recommended tire size without having to do any cutting or rubbing, I was thinking 295/70r17 would these work? Would you recommend the 1 in body lift? And if I wanted to go to a 305/70r17 would those work as well? Thanks in advance
     
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  4. Oct 14, 2015 at 12:05 PM
    #4
    Dean724

    Dean724 Well-Known Member

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    I'm putting on my 5100s all around next week. Looks like .85 setting is in order.

    This is some great information. Subbed.
     
  5. Oct 14, 2015 at 12:55 PM
    #5
    Toytec Lifts

    Toytec Lifts [OP] Toyota Suspension specialist

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    Give us a call and we can go over some options with you.

    303-255-4959

    Thanks

    You would be correct!
     
  6. Oct 14, 2015 at 12:57 PM
    #6
    Toytec Lifts

    Toytec Lifts [OP] Toyota Suspension specialist

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    Thats actually something we haven't done yet. If you would post up your numbers pre and post install, we would be best friends.
     
  7. Oct 14, 2015 at 1:02 PM
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    Oey12

    Oey12 Well-Known Member

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    I wonder if a 3rd gen coil on a 5100 in a 2nd gen will give a inch lift and will it make for a better ride...
     
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  8. Oct 14, 2015 at 1:42 PM
    #8
    kennebec

    kennebec Jr. Birdman

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    Installed my first dimple then removed it.
    Sub'd for information
     
  9. Oct 14, 2015 at 1:57 PM
    #9
    knhorn

    knhorn Well-Known Member

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    There are some members in the lifted 2016 thread that are at the full 3" on their coilovers without any problems.
     
  10. Oct 14, 2015 at 2:04 PM
    #10
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

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    Um, unless they changed the front fender line. You can only compare those measurements "apples to apples" on trucks with identical fender design shapes. Even changing fender flares from factory to "bushwacker" flares can throw that measurement off.....

    EDIT: This was my "off the cuff" take at the time. Since I wrote this more folks have taken more detailed analysis and it does look like Toytec's initial analysis in this post is on track, the truck does have a starting height 1" higher, and you can only lift it 2" by lengthening the strut.
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2016
  11. Oct 14, 2015 at 2:07 PM
    #11
    Rippin101

    Rippin101 Well-Known Member

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    Great info! Can't wait to see more pics from you guys!
     
  12. Oct 14, 2015 at 2:07 PM
    #12
    Toytec Lifts

    Toytec Lifts [OP] Toyota Suspension specialist

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    That is correct. However the Hub to fender measurement while sitting at full droop on our lift is the same for the 05-15 and the 2016. That means that the fender is in the same location and the vehicle at ride height is sitting 1 inch higher in the suspension travel range.
     
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  13. Oct 14, 2015 at 2:16 PM
    #13
    Toytec Lifts

    Toytec Lifts [OP] Toyota Suspension specialist

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    It can be done for sure. But you can also adjust a coilover on a 2nd gen up to 4 inches of lift. You will just be 1 inch closer to the droop limit of the suspension.

    That means that you are generally topping out the shocks a fair amount which is going to lead to a ride that isn't too pleasant and put more stress on the shocks.
     
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  14. Oct 14, 2015 at 2:19 PM
    #14
    OrangeTexan

    OrangeTexan Well-Known Member

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    A better measurement that would be much more accurate and telling would be to drive the truck up on a lift and measure how far the shock is actually compressed under static load, and compare it to a Gen2. Im with moose here. Since they changed the fenders there needs to be a better way to measure how much the spring/shock is actually compressed. Are ALL of the suspension part numbers the same? Shocks and everything? I'd like to know specifically if the shocks are the same and if other components are the same and in the same spots like the bump stops which can affect the travel....
     
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  15. Oct 14, 2015 at 2:28 PM
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    millertime89

    millertime89 Flatlander

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    Yes sir
    Solid info :thumbsup:
     
  16. Oct 14, 2015 at 2:28 PM
    #16
    Toytec Lifts

    Toytec Lifts [OP] Toyota Suspension specialist

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    I completely understand your point on that and i too thought the same thing. However by doing a measurement a full droop (24.5 inches for both the 2nd gen and the 3rd gen) and doing a measurement while sitting on the ground (20 inches for the 2nd gen, 21 inches for the 3rd gen), we can see that the 2nd gen factory suspension compressed 4.5 inches to get to ride height and the 3rd gen compressed 3.5 inches to get to ride height. Full droop stayed the same. The 3rd gens just did not compress as much.

    Either way. I do appreciate all the feedback from this post and if anyone would be able to prove my findings otherwise, i'd be more than happy to revise it. The main thing i want to prevent with this post is people installing a 3 inch lift on their 3rd gen and then discovering that they cannot get an alignment or they wear through CV boots faster than @SilverGhost mocks up a tube bumper out of PVC.
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2016
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  17. Oct 14, 2015 at 2:54 PM
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    SilverGhost

    SilverGhost Well-Known Member

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  18. Oct 14, 2015 at 4:30 PM
    #18
    3rdgenfan

    3rdgenfan Active Member

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    Post more pics of your truck!
     
  19. Oct 14, 2015 at 6:17 PM
    #19
    Dean724

    Dean724 Well-Known Member

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    The Gen3 sits higher, it's an undisputable fact. Accurate measurements as Toytec has already done, down to side by side comparisons where you can visually see the difference. Facts in your face and you're still searching for any angle you can to prove someone wrong.:facepalm:
     
  20. Oct 14, 2015 at 8:34 PM
    #20
    mudcheck

    mudcheck Well-Known Member

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    Would a set of 265/75/16's fit the stock lift.
     
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