Tips/Mistakes/Helpful Ideas for installing lift

Hey guys, just purchased my first Tacoma, a 2018 OR!

Before my plates arent even in, I decided on bilstein 5100s with OME coils, light racing ucas, and headstrong 3 leaf and a top plate spacer for taco lean, which all should arrive this week. Haven't decided on rear shocks yet, but its betweeb 5100s and 5160s.

Also decided to the the ECGS bushing while it's apart.

I haven't decided on a wheel/tire combo yet, but I'm set on a 285 tire in a 16 or 17".

wanted to see what all you "professionals" had for tips, tricks, or helpful hints that may help with the install.

I have access to a lift at work, and feel confident on doing the ECGS install myself.

Thanks in advance for any helpful advice!

 

Don't let the CV joints drop when you take the front apart, if they come out, you're fucked

 

While you have it apart, pull out your LCA alignment bolts and smother them in anti seize. They are known to rust together and it’s expensive to fix.

 

Less important with 5100's but with my OME kit I wish I had put longer bolts on my top hats so I could later put thicker spacers on later without having to disassemble. As for the rear shocks I wish I had done what you're doing here. Buy the brake lines and get the longest travel ones that fit instead of having the shock acting as a limiting strap.

 

I was looking at the factory setup on the top hat's and it doesn't look like I have enough extra to put a 1/4 spacer on even. guess we will find out when I install.

and that is my main thing on the rear. I want this lift to be a do it right the first time and be done. my last lifted vehicle gave me nothing but trouble and I'm to blame because I cheaped out on the lift. I got in contact with Marie at headstrong about the rear setup and she was able to give me some good advice on setting up the rear to keep the shock from acting as a limiting strap.

 

I'll be doing this same thing in a couple weeks!! Check out youtube. There is a video on there were a guy shows installing new ECGS bushing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9W31KGy6k0&t=645s&list=PL3kTlyg01vKUCjP0IEB0KDWK9tcaXrxE_&index=1

 

I second what Cktrd17 said..and try to keep your cool when removing the uca bolts.

 

ive read and watch alot of the videos. the coilover removal/reinstall and the UCA removal/install look simple, besides the minor stuff that can take up a little time, like mentioned uca bolts. ecgs bushing will definitely be the most complex, and I ordered the removal tool to help with that.

all in all it seems straight forward, but you never know what to expect when doing it for the first time. appreciate the feedback fellas!

 

also if anyone needs a ecgs removal tool, I'll have one I won't need after this week! pm me address and I'll give it to ya. just ask that you do the same to help someone out in the future!

 

With the ECGS removal tool, you’ll want to round off the edge right here. It makes it a lot easier to tap it into place, since it’s such a tight fit.

 

I was wondering about that. I just saw the picture of the tool on their website and video but wondering about it being round.

so your saying grind off just one corner? Or round all 4 corners?

 

I wish I had a pic of the one I borrowed to better explain what I mean. You’re not necessarily rounding off a corner, but one leading edge that gets hammered into place. Maybe @PyritePirateBill has a pic handy of his to show what I mean.

 

ok I think I'm understanding what your saying. but I could be completely wrong with what I'm imaging in my head of hammering it in. if someone has a picture that would be awesome. if not I guess I'm sure when it's apart and I can't get it in there I'm gonna think awhhhhhhh that's what he was talking about lol

 

Pm sent!! Hell of an offer, thanks for offering to hook someone up.

 

No I don't have it handy....sorry

 

Can take a pic of it in the morning tho.

 

I installed the 6112/5160 with The 3leaf AAL set up all by myself, in one day, with zero mechanic experience. Your instal will be the same as this setup. I bought top hats off Amazon and had a shop assemble them rather than go out with jack method. If you don’t do the jack method, you do not have to loosen your alignment cams (and it’s much much safer). This first post on this thread is excellent and tells you exactly what you need and how to do it. You should check it out, it is extremely helpful. One thing I learned was that when removing/installing the fronts, I put a jack under the rotor and jacked the whole assembly up. It gave me a lot of space to remove/instal the shocks and made it really easy.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...112-5160-with-3-leaf-aal-for-1-5-lift.486379/

 

Thanks bill! That should clear up what I was trying to explain earlier.

 

Bolts only loosen up if not torqued correctly. 15 years of building cars and can count on one hand how many bolts have loosened up on me.