Suspension Question

I'm looking at a 2.5in lift for my baby. I'm not a serious off roader, but I do use it to get in and out of the woods to hunt and fish and occasionally to play in the mud. I had the Bilsteins on my last 2 vehicles (f150 and jeep grand cherokee) and loved them, so I'm going with them again. I know for the rear it will be aal, but here's my question. What's the difference between running stock springs and bilsteins adjusted for the lift as opposed to the bilstein's on 0 and aftermarket lift springs? Besides the price, is one better for the truck than the other, does one wear on the shocks more, does one last longer, does one ride better.....? Oh and my other question, does anyone have $1000 laying around I can have so my wife doesn't find out?

 

A non pre-loaded spring rides better than one that has been loaded.

 

This ^^^
And tell your wife that you broke a spring and aftermarket ones are cheaper than OEM replacement ... usually works for me

 

The shocks are already shot on the truck (I've found the bottom of them a few times) and if I order the whole package, she won't know the difference. The problem is she doesn't understand the idea of shocks being no good and what damages can be caused from it.

 

You're going to hate the single AAL mine lasted 3k on my 5500 mile leaf pack..you will want to replace the leaf pack completely. You will thank me later

 

Any recommendations on who to buy through? And what to get? Besides the 5100's, I really don't know what's good to figure out what I want. Also, if I go 3 inches, does anything need to be replaced besides UCA's?

 

Sorry. I know this stuff has been covered a million times, but I've been digging and reading, and honestly end up more confused after reading than before I started. So many options to dig through.....

 

Try OME 887's and Billies on zero, should almost be 3". You will probably want UCA'S at that height. Some say they're fine with stock arms, most opt for aftermarket upper control arms.

 

Buy from Headstrong offroad. 2.5"+ you NEED aftermarket UCAs

 

Listen to him

 

I was looking on toyotec's site and after reading his post, but a set of OME's in my cart (for pricing ideas)

 

I've had good luck with Wheelers 3 leaf HD aal .

 

Deal with Wheeler's on here or Marie at Headstrong off road.

 

I don't doubt that..you're a 2015 however; new leafs = the progressive AAL will have great results.

OP is a 09..the day for replacing his stock leafs is quickly approaching.

 

Tell em brother.

 

I'll hit up Headstrong and see what they can do. Pricing it on toyotec (I've seen them talked about on here and they're the first website that pops up when you google tacoma lift) with 5100's all the way around, OME 885's, and OME leaf springs, I'm looking at just $952 before shipping. Which will be only the beginning of the cost of the divorce this may cause.....

 

@geekhouse23 So I was thinking of putting in the Wheeler's progressive AAL's my 15. But they are already kind of sagging. Should I just go full new leaf pack?

 

Good points.
Air bags and cradles on my rig also. Works well with all the tools I carry, and weekend wheeling, flinging said tools hither and yon.

 

Yep. AAL's are a bandaid to a certain degree depending on which rout you go. MY single AAL lasted 3k..a progressive AAL might last 10k+. I haul many multiple times a year and now with the cap on my truck, it makes even more sense. I carried 50 bags of river rock in 1 trip to Menards and while it sagged a bit, the leafs handled them like a champ. Stock leafs are garbage.

 

Expeditions in the future. This was all on the '12 Sport. Took it off for trade in.