Selecting a mild lift (TRD Baja TX Pro + Icon AAL)

The Baja kit was the one I was planning. Should I consider the Pro instead? I see they are on mark down right now.

If Baha, how do I assemble them?

I have been looking for the 3+1 leafs, but none around in my area for a reasonable price. Found some for $500, but I could buy new leaf packs for the cost of those with the AAL.

 

Auto parts stores usually have free tool rentals, you can ‘rent’ a spring compressor to assemble the strut.

Pro is softer, more sway and nose drive when braking but smoother ride off road. Baja is firmer, designed for speed and sporty handling and high speed off road. I chose Baja based on talking to a few people that drove both and they preferred Baja for street driving due to its handling. My truck is mainly street with a few trails a year so I chose based on how I use my truck the majority of the time.

$500 is crazy talk. I was thinking ballpark $100 or less, the springs are not worth much except to older trucks or 3-leaf trucks looking to refresh. Otherwise new leaf packs would be better. Keep an eye out.

 

@Cativelense Have you seen this thread?

 

Excellent write-up. Been doing my research for a few months now and as soon as we thaw out here in North Dakota I'm gonna give it a go.

 

What additional parts are needed to fully assemble to Baja struts (not reusing parts off the old struts)? It looks like they come with everything but the top plates?

Rears are missing new top shock bushings? Does anyone have the part numbers handy for those? I think it looks like Energy 9.8101's?

Getting ready to install a Baja kit on my 2010 TRD OR, with Icon AALs (keeping the overloads). I want to put in as many new parts as possible during the swap and not need to reuse anything potentially worn out.

Thanks!

 

I've done many suspension swaps so it is difficult to remember exactly what was reused for this one. I actually wore out my spring compressors. I should have taken better photos of the front end parts. But maybe someone that has done it more recently can recall.

 

Hey @crashnburn80 . Just got the Pro setup, but i got an extra 120lbs of Winch and US Offroad bumper. Would you suggest swapping for a 650 Baja spring or you think it would ride alright with the 600 Pro spring? Do they use the same front shocks or they valved differently? You still sitting at 23 and 22?

Sorry about all the questions

 

tempted to go this route since i love the occasional spirited drive even in the truck, plus i missed the boat on the trd pro discount

 

What is your current setup?

I'm pretty critical of vehicle handling characteristics. Adding that much weight to the front end without beefing up the suspension in some way to compensate is going to cause sloppier front end handling than the stock Pro, but depending on what your current setup is it may be an significant improvement over what you have today (if you are currently on stock 550lb coils for example). Many may consider it acceptable, personally I wouldn't like it. But I don't know that you can buy the Baja springs separately from the entire kit. If you are adding a 3-leaf progressive AAL in the rear as well to maintain the factory rake (since the Pro kit is a leveling kit), you may end up with more rake than desired with the extra 120lbs on the nose. Both setups use the same 6112 shock bodies but different surface finishes and different valving.

Other options
-You could also look to see what 6112 springs are available from vendors like Headstrong, but you'd have to check coil length in addition to spring rate as the 6112s are ride height adjustable whereas the Baja/Pro are not.
-Since the setup uses offset spring perches to account for the Taco lean (and not spring spacers) you could potentially use a 1/4" taco lean spacer on each side to add 1/2" in height to the front to account for the sag.

Might help to know what kind of sag people are seeing from adding similar weight to the Pro setup. You probably have the best luck getting that info from someone whos done it in the Pro Baja thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/trd-pro-tx-baja-official-thread.360056/

I'll double check my height this evening.

 

I'm running 5100's right now, set at 1.75. That has me at 22" and 23" hub to fender. I have stock springs on the back, but with airbags. I picked up a new set of leafs (takeoffs) for $75. Plan to add an aal to that.

Since i posted on here, i found a guy thats running 140 pounds up front, that just put the Pro suspension on. He also has a camper and aal. 3rd gen. He is 21 1/4 & 1/2 up front and 22 1/2 in back. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ptr13-35150-bilstein-trd-pro-kit-upgrade.530072/page-112

So it looks like i may drop a bit in the front and back, which i am fine with. He seems to like the ride and says it rides good, so i am tempted to run the Pro's. I also plan to get cradles for my bags.

I am curious of your front and back measurements now, though. That will help me decide on the 1/4 spacers. Thanks for checkin on that.

 

In regards to the Baja shock package for the 2nd gen Tacos, I have been only able to really find it through TRD4U in Dallas for !~$1400. Now I did see this for the FJ cruisers: https://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-TO...ash=item2aa0713f78:g:-DAAAOSwUiJajehv&vxp=mtr
And was wondering what the difference is as the price is less than half! I do realize the part numbers is: PTR13-35140 vs PTR13-35120. I would be remiss to think there is no difference here, I just dont know what it is and if there was a less expensive way to have the upgrade purchased. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks

 

My first guess would have been spring rates. The Baja has 650# springs while the Pro's have 600's. But when you punch your numbers into eBay, it says there not compatible so it must be something else. Oh, and a big TW Welcome too.

 

I've not heard of anyone running an FJ kit on a Tacoma. I could see there being differences in the rear shock reservoir mounting on the frame among other things, there is a reason it has a separate part number but I do not know the differences. I agree with @fasteddy above the kit is likely tuned like the Pro kit with 600lb coils and not the Baja with 650lb coils. The TRD Pro uses the same assembly bodies but is set up to be a far softer rider with more body roll and nose dive but smoother off road ride.

There was recently a massive price drop on the Pro setup for the Tacoma, part number PTR13-35150, I'm not sure if there are any left:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-discount-price-on-trd-pro-suspension-kit.534207/

 

Maybe 'cuz they come disassembled their a heavier version like assembled pro's vs unassembled Bajs's?

 

They also have the rubber coated reservoir lines like the Pro, vs the braided lines of the Baja.

 

What I'm interested in is rear leaf spring rates having calculating in the additional weight I will be adding with a Bed rack, jack, spare relocation,small tool box & rear bumper. Best way I figure is borrow a set of wheel scales once I get the front on & settled out a bit.

 

Installed my Pro suspension and wheelers 3 leaf AAL on Easter Sunday and since then put close to 150 miles on the truck.

Front - 22.75” center hub to fender
Rear - 23.5”

How long does it take for these to fully settle? Or do you think I’m there now

 

Love the stance. From my experience (not with the pro set up) it will settle some more.
What you gained in front seems high for the pro setup. I thought they were to give 1.75"-2.0" of lift. But hey, good for you on what you gained. How did it align? It seems to me you gained ~2.75" of front lift to me and the rear was right on par.

 

Did you measure before and after? Which side were your measurements taken from? Driver will likely be a little lower than passenger. I don’t recall which side I took mine on for certain, but I believe it was driver side.

Edit: Did you leave the overloads in the rear? Did you have top plate spacers up front?

 

I took no before measurements.

Haven't had it aligned yet, wanted to put some miles on it and allow it to settle before I got one, it’s riding straight and true so I don’t think it’s far off.

Measurements were taken on both sides, it’s dead level side to side. The Pro struts up front account for the taco lean, the driver side is on the second notch while the passenger side is on the first notch.

I took the overload out so I’ve got 6 leafs out back total