5100s. im so mixed up

hey, i got myself a trd offroad 2008 acces cab tacoma , and i want to lift the front *only* would it be somewhat of such a bad idea to set these shocks to there highest setting AND keep the rear completly stock. i love the way a truck looks when its higher up front. anyways im from canada and the 4wd modification shop dont no jack. anyways i dont plan on changing my original springs inthe front. i just wanna slide in the 5100s bilstien and set it at 2.5. would it be okay? or my truck will have so many problems after this

 

It would be fine if the desert PreRunner look is what your after. Wont really cause any problems. But you may still need to do a 1" block. Just have to try it and see how it looks.

 

There are a few guys running the bro look on here. It's probably going to drive like crap but yes, you can do it. I'd suggest the 1.75" setting up front but it's up to you. Do some research before you do anything. Don't be afraid of the search button on here either. This has been discussed and you'll find pictures too.

 

you can do that, but at 2.5 inches and higher, you'll most likely need new UCAs

 

X2. Yeah new UCA's would be suggested but theres a lot of people that run without them just fine. Or at least they say they do.

 

I just had the TSB done today and while they were doing it I had them install new 5100s on 4 corners... They set the 5100s at 1.75 and the TSB raised my rear 1.25"... the truck sits pretty level... I would not want the front any higher unless I raised the rear more. It drives great but I havent been on the interstate yet.

SO... my point is that 2.5 with stock springs will be way too high... I suggest you get a floor jack and stick it under it and lift it 2.5" up... I did this to mine and it looked goofy. That is why I went with the 1.75.

ALSO... you cannot just stick the 5100s under there... you will also need a wheel alignment for it to drive correctly and not wear the tires uneven.

Greg

 

hmmm what would you think iff i set the shock at 1.75 and put .25 spacer (if it exsist) to make it 2 would this be better and a safer move ?

 

with a 2.5 inch lift in the front yout can BARELY tell it has lean.... i got 5100's in the font at 2.5" only and the back was stock when i got em on and i had a camper shell on too. and i could still barelytell there was a lean

 

i personally want to do it 2.5 alot of people say theres no problem with uca and some do. thats whats getting me all mixed up.

 

From what I have read here, you would probably have excessive wear on your cv joints as you get close to a three inch lift without the UCA's. Many of the longtimers on here say go with the UCA's. I am not a suspension expert or even close. But I would think that anytime you alter the engineered suspension on any vehicle you may have issues later on. Lots of talk about vibrations, alignment not factory specs, tire wear etc. You just have to decide if you want to deal with any of the issues. Or you may not have any issues at all.

 

I just got mine 5100's at 1.75" up front and TSB in the rear. In this pic I have the old tires and wheels in the bed, so it looks lower in the back then it really is...it sits pretty even...front may be about 1/4" higher than the rear.

 

Yes, it does exist and yes, you could do it. A 1/4" spacer will give you 3/8"- 1/2" of lift. It would put you a little over 2" and would most likely ride smoother than 2.5" on the Billie's alone (Less spring preload). Your stock UCA's can handle that height no problem.

The type of UCA has little or no effect on your CV's. The CV's have more or less stress placed on them from the height of the truck. UCA's do not change the height. The UCA's mainly allow you to get your alignment back to perfect whereas the stock UCA's start to run out of adjustment at about 2.5". Aftermarket UCA's also allow more suspension travel but not much, maybe an inch or so.

 

I just got mine done...
I just got mine 5100's at 1.75" up front and TSB in the rear. In this pic I have the old tires and wheels in the bed, so it looks lower in the back then it really is...it sits pretty even...front may be about 1/4" higher than the rear.


Im curious what size tires are you running?

 

where are you from OP. Don't say that the mechanics in Canada know jack. There are just as many people per capita in Canada that lift their trucks compared to the states. Look around talk to someone with a lifted truck in your area i guarantee that there are good people that do aftermarket suspension work. Here you will find a lot more normal shops that know and do this type of work. They have to do the normal mechanical because there just isn't the market here to run a strictly offroad shop. Don't count out the two bay mechanic down the street just yet.

 

im in quebec montreal its a long story but the guys wernt helpfull with none of my questions

 

Got a little extra weight lowereing your rear end though......

I ran stock rear end and 5100 fronts at 2.5" for awhile, and it sat BARELY higher in the front, and drove and handled great. Then I got the TSB leaves in the rear and it sits perfectly level now. Here's a pic of it on stock rear and 5100s at 2.5" in front:



Now with TSB rears and 33" tires:



Most people want the rear to sit a little higher than the front, and I see no functional purpose for putting a block in the rear. If you want more lift in the rear for some reason, I would recommend saving for a whole new leaf pack. I don't want my center of gravity that high though, I drive lots of highway and higher-speed dirt roads.

 

nice truck. what size are your rims and tires? and are you using spacers?

 

265/70/17's

 

weird, yours looks perfectly level- (and awesome btw) I have had the TSB done, and the 5100's are set at 1.75", when there is no weight in the rear, the front measures about 1/4" higher than the rear. If i set them at 2.5" I think it would look really jacked. I wonder if that shell is causing it to "droop" I hope when I am towing my trailer it doesn't look like a tail dragger!

 

Yeah that shell and carrier on it will def lower the rear at least an inch.

I'm running 16x8 raceline wheels, 4.5" BS with 285/75/16 yokohama geolandar at-s.

Thanks for the comments.