Bilstien 5100's up front, OME Dakars in rear configuration question. Also, recomended tire size???

Hey there, I bought an 03 xtracab 3.4 v6 4x4 last July and it has become a fun project. Currently I am trying to figure out what to do with my suspension and tires.

I have done a lot of research but am having a difficult time figuring out what I need. Currently my rear leafs are shot and I ordered OME Dakars (CS046RA/B) and somehow the vendor (not OME) sent me two completely different springs so I am waiting for the correct replacement (I do know that there is an A AND B). I have a 200# fiberglass topper, a wood deck, and a wood pull-out drawer in there as well. I bet everything with gear is around 600#.

I have 5100's up front set to the +3/4"~ setting with factory springs.

Right now I am planning on installing the Dakars with the 3rd leaf removed (3rd from the bottom, the first positive arch spring). From what I have read the FULL Dakar leaf pack will lift my rear 2 1/4"~.

I'm guessing that the truck will sit level OR will have a little rake in the rear when fully loaded with my 5100's set at +3/4" and OME Dakar leafs with third leaf removed (that is what I want to accomplish). I'm just trying to avoid pulling out components to make adjustments after installation. I know can always bump up the lift on the front with the 5100's and I can always add the third leaf again if my ass end sags too much with my truck loaded. Can anyone give me advice here so I can get it right the first time?


Also, I am going to need to upgrade my tires eventually as mine are worn pretty well. I have 16" wheels with 0 offset and 4.5 backspacing. Does anyone have a recommendation for size? I am leaning towards going with a 265/75-16 to avoid any rubbing issues etc. IF I want to go bigger would I be fine going with a 285/75-16 with that 0 offset and 4.5 backspacing? Or would that being pushing the limits?? I don't want my quality of ride to suffer too much. I have a 3 mile drive to work and that won't change anytime soon and I travel far distances on the weekends. For example, I put 850 miles on the truck this past weekend... Any recommendations will be appreciated!

Thank you

 

Sub'd

I have almost the exact same setup, but I have OME 885 springs on the Bilstein 5100's set at 0 on the front. Also, I have a 3-leaf AAL in the rear which isn'y cutting it with my Leer cap, sleeping platform, camping gear, awning, and roof top tent. I'm curious about getting Dakars to replace my AAL in the rear, and what shock to use with the Dakars (I have 5100's all around).

 

I'm getting mixed information. One person says it will sag 1/4"-1/2" and another says I might need something more like airbags or timbrens. I'm just going to install the Dakars without the third leaf. If it sags too much I will just throw that third leaf back in. I'll keep you posted. Now I just need to wait for the correct leaf pack to be delivered...

You can check out the responses that I have received from ARB and Wheelers. I'm not upset with their responses, I know it's a unique question to ask.

The leaf springs on the Tacoma have a spring rate of 114 lbs/in on each
spring. If you remove the 3rd leaf then you would reduce the lift and spring
rate by 15%. With the 300lbs in the bed I do not see the spring sagging very
much, my guess is between 1/4"- 1/2".

-ARB Technical department

Hey Ryan,
So from the sounds of it the OME Dakars are going to be your best bet as for the weight. They give about 2.25" of lift empty, stock weight. With everything you have back there it will definitely squat it down. Hard to say exactly where it will sit though. It is a lot of weight in a Tacoma so it is possible that you might need something more like air bags or some Timbrens

-Wheelers off road

 

Good info. And as for tires, I have Cooper S/T Maxx 265/75 R16 and love them. I've only had them rub on the driver side with a sharp right turn with an incline (this happens on my commute when I pull onto the street with a parking lot - I slow down which compresses the front shocks, then make a right turn onto a street with a slight incline). These tires have been great in snow, mud, and highway.

 

Finally got my leafs installed. I did not need new U bolts. With my 5100's up front at the +3/4" setting my fender measures 21.5" from bottom of fender to center of wheel. I installed the dakars with one leaf removed and stock shackles and my rear measurement is at 21.75" with a fiberglass topper, camping deck, some gear (325-375#) and a full tank of gas. I also stood on my trailer hitch (190#) and the truck only sagged another 1/4"~ 1/2" tops.

I had a slight vibration between 60-70mph. Unfortunately it's still there, but it didn't get worse. I'm hoping it's my tires, they are old and fairly worn. I don't think the previous owner ever rotated them. I'll be throwing new tires on soon.

Very happy with the 5100 + Dakars.

 

Good info!

FYI: I had a vibration around 65-75mph and now it's gone because I rotated and balanced the tires.

 

kind of late on this but if you didn't want any lift you should have gotten heavy duty springs at the standard height. kcsprings makes a set and are cheaper than the Dakars

 

I just busted 2 inner cv boots, probably due to my spacer block lift 3" in the front and 2" in the rear. Before i get slack for posting in this thread, i also have a shell with bed drawers and a rooftop rack. I have similar weight concerns. The busted boot issue has become a catalyst to make me want to change my suspension set up similar to what you guys are discussing. I currently have stock springs with rancho shocks up front and stock leafs with rancho shocks in the rear. The shocks were installed in january by the previous owner. I bought the truck in march. I installed the lift and new 15" wheels and new 33x12.5x15 mud terrains in April and bust both boots in May. I was about to install an Addicted Offroad front bumper and possibly a winch but after reading the previous post about weight, im thinking i might spend a little more money now to fix future suspension issues. My question is...
Considering all the weight and cv angle issues im having what suspension set up is recommended for what i have planned for the truck?
Im new to the forum and this is my first truck. Its my daily driver, ill probably take it offroad 4 times tops a year. No wheeling. Budget for parts around 1k more or less as i can do the labor myself. I appreciate the help, thanks!

 

Honestly your CV boot issue is due to the lift itself. If you have a double cab, and are planning on re-working the suspension then I'd look at doing the Diff Drop Kit. That should fix your CV issues. My truck (02 Xtra Cab, 4x4 TRD, 134K miles) has the complete OME suspension (OME Shocks, Dakar Leafs with the AAL, Re-Location Plate, Diff Drop, Extended Rear Brake Line) with 16" wheels and 33" tires. I tow a boat EVERY weekend during duck season and my dad goes "Man, this truck has a really, really smooth ride for being this tall and having such big tires. It definitely rides better than your other truck."

I'd look at this: and

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/1995...-drop-kit-by-low-range-off-road-lr-1gddk.html

If you're super-tight on your budget, I'd save up until I could get all of the "extras" as well like the extended brake line, exhaust re-location plate, etc. Wheelers can help you out with all of that.

If you're really concerned about the extra weight on the leafs (remember- I tow a boat) then I'd go with the AAL and you'll have just a slight rake when all of that "extra" stuff is out of there.

 

Thanks for the advise, ill def look into the OME set up.

 

Here is a before and after photo. I love the way things turned out, and so far the ride is very nice. If the rear ends up settling, I can always put the one leaf back in. That's why I went with the dakars. Below you'll see the wood deck that I built when I first got the truck. All of the panels are removeable, that way I can take everything out in an instant if need be. The last photo is from the day I bought the truck!

 

Ryan, are you still on TW? What can you tell me about that white topper with the swing out side panels?

 

Knuckledragger was last seen: Jun 9, 2017


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Copy frizzman, thx.