Comprehensive 5-lug 2nd gen lowering info.

mild drop for performance would be my build. SLammed would be brendoballs or phildammit

 

well thats what i was leaning towards since it is still my daily driver. Would a 3/4 be too much ya think?

 

3/4 on our trucks really isn't that aggressive of a drop you wont scrape unless its a really big dip or driveway but you should be perfectly fine. 3/4 will definitely give a much better stance than stock. if you plan on staying with a stock diameter size tire you will be okay no rubbing or anything. You will need to notch the frame unless you like riding on bricks. With the notch the ride will be as if factory. Id suggest upgrading the rear shocks to some drop shocks or even qa1 ajudustable ones, front struts upgrade to some Bilstien 4600s, Djm upper and lower arms and 4 inch blocks. DJM blocks are fine to use unless you want so real good quality then get street taco blocks. (You will be waiting several month before receiving them). If you want a 3.5/4.5. You can run 1/2" spindle spacers with your djm, and 4.5" blocks or a combo with 4x4 leafs and 3 inch blocks. Hope this helps out

 

Don't trust him he knows nothing of tacomas lol nah, right there pretty much suggested drop is what I got minus the front spindle spacers. Which I have but don't have installed and if you really quanta do it right the first time just get coilovers for the front instead of the bilsteins and coils. That's what I i would do.

 

Agreed if you got the money chee

 

^^ Yah depending on your cash situation but as they say cry once buy once right, cheaper in the long long run going with stuff you'll wanna keep rather then keep upgrading like me ha ha

 

I daily drove my truck since 40k miles until 85k at 4/4.25. Hauled tons of things too, so that should be a good height for you

 

I purchased the 1.5 springs from xii.
What shocks do you recommend ?
Thanks

 

Anyone ever heard the rubbing sound after cutting bed crossmember? Only hear it off the line or when goin over dips. Running stock rims with 5"/6" drop

 

Ok thanks yeah it sounds awful would that cable be the e-brake lines?

 

Does anyone know the part # to the stock spindle bolts or any equivilent to that, I am trying to remove my longer spindle bolts and go back to stock

 

Where'd the rear drop info go on first page? Maybe I'm just not seeing it

 

Yeah is there any info on the rear? Went throw the pages a few times already.

 

So after many hours pouring over my options I think I'm going to start the process for lowering my RC. Inspiration came from Kelson's or RMERRITTS build and I will likely run a 17x9 et28 or et17 offset with a 275/40 tire. et17 seems a bit aggressive, but I'm open to opinions if anyone is still alive around here and wants to chime in.

I just acquired a pair of '17 leafs. From what I've seen the 4x4 components didnt change between 2nd and 3rd gen, so hopefully they'll be exactly what I need to start (1.5-1.75" drop IIRC). Combine with those a either 1" block, and that should give me a 2.5-2.75" drop out back. Notching is out of the question, and I still want to tow my Miata with gear in the bed), so having a sub 3" drop in the rear I think will be ideal. I'm even going to install some

$105 Hellwig 550 Helper Spring Kit - 550

Hellwig 550 helpers to keep load capacity up. This'll be along with X-runner Bilsteins.

For the front, of course I'm going to start with the XII drop coils (again with XR Bilsteins). From what I've seen they should lower me around 1.7-2.2" (someone clarify which might be closer to reality for a RC 5er?). For the additional drop and to get it to around 2.5" I was thinking of a spindle spacer. Might have to find something from the hardware store since no one seems to sell them anymore. Anyone know the outside diameter needed and bolt size?

I'll update in the coming weeks on my progress, but for now I'll post the two pictures that solidified my desire to lower the taco.
Top is Kelson's w/ 3.25F/3.75R Bottom is RMERRITTS w/ a 3/3 setup.

 

I will tell you from experience....your gonna wanna go lower so might as well do it all at once....here is my RC...set up is full DJM 3/4 drop kit with QA1 18 way shocks in the rear and stock shocks and springs up front which I don't recommend...upgrade to bilstein 5100 or a performance shock of your choice....I'm running cosmis racing wheels 18x9.5 et15 all the way around with Toyo proxes 255/50 the truck handles amazing and when you turn the rear shocks to the stiffest setting you have full load capacity.

 

^ How much does that wheel/tire combination poke out of the fenders? I started to lean towards the x9's with 28 offset since I have chosen to run a 275 tire. I fear it would stick out too much on the x9 17 offset.

I probably would want to go lower, but detest the thought of notching the frame, especially for a truck that I intend to continue working as a truck. But as all things, I may severely change my tune once I see it and own it for a while at the 2.75-3" level (approximately).

 

My wheel and tire setup is pretty much flush with the fenders maybe .5 inch most....and my truck is used every day of the week and harder on weekends between work tools and quads and towing my fishing boat....it's really not bad notching the frame....use a template and don't put much support on the frame just put the jack under the rear bumper until it touches and start cutting...air hammer for the rivets to punch them out and a cutoff wheel and your gonna want to to take the bed off that's it

 

^ Cool, thank you. Just ordered a set of 18x9 et20s with 255/45 tires, just want to take baby steps right now and figure out what I like or can tolerate, after all I have a Miata I'd like to spend the majority of my disposable income on.

Though sometime down the road I may enlist the help of professionals or friends with mad welding skills to help make a proper notch using box section, but that may never happen depending on life and the many things it throws at you. For now, XII springs, X-runner Bilsteins, 4x4 leafs and a small block should satiate my need in the short term.

 

Does anyone know if I will have any issues running the 4 inch drop kit in the rear as well as a 4x4 leaf spring swap? Like driveshaft rubbing the frame or anything?

 

I just picked up a 2wd 5 lug RCLB 2009. I used to have a 2009 X-Runner with the sittin sic drop and sways. Are they still around or has something better come along? I know that they had the cracking issue with their first run of leaf springs.