Taco Lean

The lean between the passenger side and the driver side drives me crazy. I know its because the gas tank and all that but I have about an inch and a 3/4 difference between the driver side and passenger side on the rear. Is it that significant on all the tacomas after they have been lifted or is there something I can do to fix it a little? In the front I do have the top spacer in the driver side and it helps a little bit.

 

@58 Siesta

 

What is your lift? You shouldn't have that much lean. Usually the lean is caused by worn out body mount bushings being squashed more on the driver side, but an inch would be on the high end for that.

If you've recently done a suspension lift, I'd suggest looking at the lower spring perches on your front coilovers. The low side may have the spring perch upside down.

Of course, pics of the spring perches will help us help you if you're unsure what you're looking at.

 

If you put in new leaf packs, you may have a + pack on the high side and a - pack on the low side. This will exacerbate the issue.

 

I have just 1.5" AAL in the rear. But it the lean seems more apparent in the rear than the front.

 

Would the front suspension have much to do with extreme difference in the rear?

 

You'll want to put a 1/2" spacer on the front driver side. It will lift the suspension and force everything back to normal

 

Did you check your radiator support bushings? To see if the driver's side is lower than the passenger?

 

There's a big difference up front too, right? Give us details about your lift, please, so we can be more helpful.. This is all conjecture thus far.

Negative ghost rider. We want to solve the problem, not treat a symptom and possibly cause more real problems.

 

I had to go back to find this. Is this all you've done, or did you lift the front?

 

Well only way to avoid running a spacer is getting adjustable coilovers and correcting it with those.

 

I have OME 885x coils with Bilstein 5100s set at .75" and Bilstein 5100s in the rear with a 1.5" AAL. I have the top plate spacer on the driver side.

 

Not true. Taco lean is generally a body mount bushing issue, not a suspension issue. I still have my 5100s set at 1.75" with a lean spacer on the driver side in my truck for a few more days. The day that I replaced my body mount bushings, my truck suddenly had a reverse Taco lean. I can't wait to get my 885s in without spacers so my truck will be level side to side.

 

You are the second person this evening to post that you preloaded OME coils. This is strongly discouraged. These coils aren't meant to be preloaded, and doing so may have catastrophic affects on your struts. This would not cause your lean problem though.

I'm guessing that the stock leaf pack was simply finished when you added the AAL and the dead leaf pack is the cause of your problem.

 

Ya I was ignorant when I had the lift set up and I have been trying to fix everything now that I have a full time job and not just part time. I have Dakars being shipped that I just bought through the group buy on here, and do you know if it's easy to adjust the 5100s or do you need to take it to a shop? And if you don't mind could you explain the concept of pre loading coils. I want to fully understand the concept behind it. Thanks

 

@GARSHA91 Hopefully you aren't taking my reply as being combative. I'm just trying to help.

My body mount bushings were all far worse on the driver side than on the passenger side. The most obvious was up front, the radiator support mount. My rad support mount was maybe 1/4" and there was evidence of metal on metal contact on the driver side. The passenger side wasn't as bad, but still quite worn out.

 

You could do it if you're mechanically inclined. Get the front off the ground and secure. put a floor jack under the LCA and lift it slightly. Mark the alignment cams (to get close to alignment on reinstall), loosen them and disconnect the LCA from the spindle. Lower the jack to full droop and unbolt the bolts on the strut (1 bottom, 3 top , not the big one on top). If you have a sway bar, disconnect it at the spindle or both frame mounts. Remove the strut, compress the spring with the appropriate spring compressor, remove the top plate and spring, remove the spring seat, move the clip to the bottom setting, and put it all back together in reverse order. Expect 3 - 4 hours since you've never done it (to do both sides - the second side will take about 1/2 hour).

 

And is there somewhere on this site that explains the whole pre load. I've seen all over that it's bad, but I like to know the whys to things. Thanks

 

No I'm not. I know you are. And yes it is true the body mounts come into affect. I plan on switching mine out and they're only a year old. I picked up new ones for cheap during Amazon prime day yesterday so I couldn't pass it up

 

The site is Tacomaworld.com lol