Some questions about replacing suspension/lifting

Yeah, it looks like I'll end up going that route.

So right now I've decided on:
5100 front (set to 1.25 in the front) and rear kit from downsouth motorsports
OME Dakar springs

I'll wait on coils for now, but if I do end up needing them (if the OME lifts the back too high and I max out the 5100's trying to match it), or bushings or UCA's or diff drop, brake lines, exhaust hangers, I'll probably just figure those out as I go.

That would put me right around $730 depending on if downsouth still offers the discount and where I decide to get the OME springs, and if they come with bushings or not. Now that the parts are figured out, time to check the budget/bank account and make the money materialize LOL

 

I'm in a few more $$$ since I got new greaseable bolts for the rear leaf springs, and opted for all the hardware from Wheelers Off Road, as well as shipping. I figured a lot of the hardware was all due for replacement anyways.

I was going to go with the stock front springs but the Moogs where like $50 for the pair, and along with new front strut hardware, I was able to have my buddy assemble everything at work for free. Once I get around to the install, the front will be super easy as I just need to swap over the entire coil over assembly. Hopefully the 2 inch lift in the front (the Moogs I got are about .5 inch shorter than stock, but I'm sure my stock coils are old enough to be sagging a bit) will match the 2.75 inch lift in the rear, minus a .5 inch or so with all the weight I have in the back. I guess I can always get front coil spacers to help level it out a bit if needed. Right now the back is at least an inch lower than the front, and the leafs have a negative arch. I can feel them bottoming out when going over big dips.

But all in all I'm under $900 and all wear parts will be replaced except for front ball joints, which I will get to next. And should last me!

 

Mine are actually about level right now. I definitely intend to measure height before and after to get a good idea of how badly I'm sagging. I've been considering getting the full energy suspension bushing kit (~$200) and just picking out the stuff I need/can install at the same time, then putting the rest on the truck later.

Did you get UCA's too, or are you hoping it'll still align?

 

My understanding is that you won't have any alignment issues until you go more than 3 inches in the front.

I should net a 2 inch lift in the front, so I should be okay with leaving everything else stock. I might have to use a spacer for the front suspension if the lift in the back is more than 2 inches, but I'm guessing that I should be okay.

Upgraded bushings came with the new shackles needed for the Dakars, I just needed to get a kit ($35) for the front leaf spring attachment point, and didn't want to have to get back under there again. I bought new strut mounts and bushings ($40) for the front coil overs, which I needed to get them assembled to make the swap easier. All in all it was roughly $200 for all the extras, and will save me time and effort in the future.

 

My two cents.....

OME shocks front/rear
OME Dakars
OME 881s
OME box of goodies (bushings, exhaust hanger) and grab new ubolts.

Total=$1200 USD (I paid $1600ish CAD)

Done! Ride will be great on road. And off-road will be an improvement, though it's definitely not LT. I can easily do 60-70mph on washboard and sketchy gravel roads/torn up ashphalt......not that I always do

 

Incidentally - does anybody know what the stock ride height measurement from the ground to the underside of a wheel arch is? In my case I'm running the 31 x 10.5's on 15's, and I've got the TRD 4x package.

 

What's LT? Ideally, yeah I'd go for a setup like that, but unfortunately 1200 is more than I'd like to send right now :/

wish I could help, but my truck is all sagged out.

 

LT= Long travel.

This is the epitome of IFS suspension and provides the best ride and suspension travel. Costs ~$10k to do properly with the most benefits. Not in everyone's budget (and a pipe dream of mine).

Tons of info in this forum: https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/long-travel-suspension.113/

 

Oh durr, I knew that, promise.

The acronym just didn't click.