3" lift.....

looking to purchase a kit for 3". Don't want sagging in the rear and wanna run a 33. Best ride!!! Recommendations?!?! OME, tough country, etc.

 

billstein setup. I did a

$202 Daystar Comfort Ride 2.5" Suspension Lift Kit - KT09102BK

spacer kit and love it. no idea why peeps here don't like them though.

 

^^^I second the bilstein lift, good bang for your buck, and still rides great. But I wouldn't do a spacer lift cause if you wanna do any kind of off roading, your just asking for disaster.

 

My vote is one of these three w/dakar leaf pack and UCA's:

http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/Boss-Suspension-System-for-05-Tacoma_p_15.html
http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/OME-Tacoma-Suspension-lift-kit_p_231.html
http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/3-lift-kit-with-Bilstein-5100-Front-Coilovers_p_364.html

I have the 1st one... nothing negative to say at all.

 

but what "disaster"? I've had my spacer lift for 2 years now and everything has been fine aside from already needing ball joints.

 

and wtf is up with your rusted rotor? lol

 

Cause rotors build rust if they sit? The truck sat outside in the rain for a week. I've just heard bad things about spacer lifts, good for looks and street use, but if you wanna off road I think your asking for trouble.

 

They physically overextend and put more stress on balljoints. They move the range of travel to the point where the bump stops dont even hit causing a harsher ride and damage to shocks and other components. Its not a mystery that they are junk. Just because you havent had to replace anything doesnt mean it isnt causing premature wear and im surprised you have gone through a few joints yet. Personally seen people go through a full front end each year because of these.

A proper lift will ride, perform, and last better. Go with 5100s at the bare minimum as there so cheap that spacers shouldnt even be an option.

 

but that toytec lift i mentioned before does the same thing as the spacers i have. it extends the distance between the shock mounting points by the same distance. that's exactly what both types of lifts do. thusly causing the rest of the components to undergo the same stress.

 

or are you saying to use a real lift that has taller knuckles and/or better designed upper control arms? that's the only thing I can think of that would make a difference.

 

No it doesnt. The 5100 keeps the factory range of travel. Spacers move it down past where it should.

 

I thought the 5100s were a lift kit?

 

the spacer essentially moves the "stopping point" for the suspension down however many inches it is (2" in your case). you now remove the "bump stop" as the safety stop for a harsh impact. it now relies on the shock (stock height) and could cause you to slam the shock all the way compressed and deform or "blow out" the shock body

for street use you shouldn't have any issues as no extremes should come into play. but if you routinely go off roading and are flexing the suspension a lot then a situation can occur

 

Achieve lift by spring preload. That kit comes with 620lb eibachs which gives the 3" of lift

 

there ya go. that makes sense.

but someone said it added more strain on ball joints and other parts. if that added strain on the other parts happens from my spacer, it should also happen from longer shocks since the ride height and extended lengths are increased in both scenarios, right?

I figure the only true way to fix that is by getting a lower crossmember like in 6inch lifts, and a knuckle with a longer arm reaching up to the upper control arm.

 

basically you're right too. anything other than stock puts more stress on the joints/CVs. it's just for off roading a "true" -if you want to call it that- suspension lift does it so the shock has more travel but still relies on stock parts for stopping the bottom-out. LT and other lifts are a whole other beast.

 

Debating between Billstein and EMU full kits......anyone have? Recommend or don't?

I'm not a avid off-roader really just want a good ride. What's input on maybe a leveling kit instead? Looking for 3"......no more no less

 

I went with OME 3" from Wheeler's. 881's up front with 10mm "lift enhancer" and Dakars out back. I may end up getting the AAL since I use the cap/shell for at least half the year.