Write-up: 3rd Gen Bilstein 6112/5160 with 3-Leaf AAL for 1.5" lift

did you install some sort of drive shaft angle adjustment or anything or just do the AAL with OL left in?

 

Yep if you keep the Lift at 2" you should not need UCAs for more caster.

@Neodous I would just talk to Marie tell her you want the kit but with the third gen 6112s assembled, just assemble them per Bilstein instructions. You don't want to add a spacer into the mix. They should be able to customize the kit for you no issue and take the $25 or whatever off the price of the kit. I think they just market the kit that way as a "catch all" for the 2nd gen Tacomas too.

@Governor I too noticed my lift in the rear quieted the Howling. Only difference for me is I wanted a more supple ride and only 1.5" lift in rear so I took out the Overload leaf. Feedback from others as well as from some of the "experts" out there was that the Overload leaf will cause it to ride a bit stiffer in the rear.

@Boris not needed to my knowledge. I added a carrier bearing drop to test and I think it actually created some slight vibes at highway speeds. I took it out and it rides just fine without it at 1.5"

 

Overload + 1.5" AAL only. no carrier bearing spacer

 

Is your truck level with that set up?

 

Couldn't hurt right lol

 

It has been explained to me by others that installing UCAs without much lift can actually add TOO MUCH caster and throw the alignment off -- just the opposite effect as lifting too much WITHOUT UCAs can throw it off.

I think 1.5" to 2" is that sweet spot of lift where you avoid a lot of extra headache and expense on these trucks in hardware (~$500+ for UCAs) as well as wear and tear on your steering & driveline components.

Some guys seem hung up on getting 3" of lift to fit 285s or whatever. Truth of the matter is, lift has little to do with stuffing larger tires and it has more to do with alignment, wheel backspacing/offset, etc to which there are many variable and factors that play into it. Too many to ever give someone a "one size fits all" answer to the never-ending question of "Can I fit these without rubbing"

 

Also forgot to ask and I am sure youve mentioned it, did you guys mess with diff drop kit with 2" lift?
I am already sold on doing the ECGS, just getting a parts total for what I need to do things right.

 

Truck comes factory with a slight rake. (Ass end high)

If you lift the front and the rear by equal amounts, you are going to maintain the factory rake. Common sense if you think about it but I can understand how it confuses folks initially. It can be tricky to get your head around some of this stuff if you overthink it.

Also keep in mind when you first install the lift, particularly the new coils up front, it will take a few weeks or so to settle. It will sit a little high initially...maybe a quarter inch or a third of an inch high...it settles after a few weeks and driving.

 

NO diff drop! Don't do it.

 

I had concern that the 1/2" added height would compromise the 5160's in the rear but multiple sources tell me I am fine, and these sources did not sell me the setup.

Also, I worried that the overload would change the ride stiffness. But two things, I tote around a RTT occasionally and would not want to go without it and in my mind the leafs lay on the OL and only gets utilized with cargo weight at some point, Wheelers Offroad confirmed this without me asking a loaded question. I cant speak to there being a difference in ride as this is the only way I have had it.

 

Guess I can do a wait and see on the UCA's and I planed on just doing 265/70/17 using the sema TRD wheels.

 

You won't need them.

 

Was'nt $700 that I wanted to spend for aesthetics.

 

I dont mind a little rake so if I do 2in in the front and the rear AAL is 1.5in, I will have to leave the OL leaf in to keep it close to the stock rake.

 

If you do 1.5 in the front, and 1.5 in the rear the truck will maintain factory rake.

If you do 2" up front and 1.5" in the rear (without factory overload) it SHOULD settle to be about "level"

Overload leaf, IIRC, adds about half an inch of lift on top of whatever the AAL's add (1.5)....so a total of 2" in the rear. So 2" front, 2" rear, you're back at Factory type rake (ass end SLIGHTLY high)

I want factory rake so when I do tow or haul some stuff my truck isn't riding nose high.

 

Ya I think I will keep it in for when I get a popup camper

 

You sir answered that a lot nicer than I prolly would have

 

You need to measure your truck from hub to bottom of fender to get a rough idea of where she sits today front and rear.

Determine from there how much you want to lift front vs. the rear.

For instance if the front figure is about 20" and rear is 21" -- do the math. Add 2" to each.....

EDIT: Keep in mind to not be alarmed when you see one side (passenger vs driver) is off between maybe .5" or .25"....Taco lean!

 

BAM. exactly what I wanted to hear. I didnt want to do it anyways lol

 

lol thanks I know the math I am just worried about being nose high