Well hell...

just finished installing my new rear leaf packs and 5100s from the wheeers off-road complete suspension package. Couldn’t wait to get it off of jack stands to see what it looked like.... I was definitely surprised with the results. Prior to lifting I was at 35” to the bottom of the fender flare. Here are some pictures of the results...4” !! I guess I should’ve pulled a leaf spring out because I only wanted 2” of lift. When I finish installing all of my new front end parts I will post pictures of the stance before fixing the rear.

I’ve seen some debate on here about which leaf to remove. I think it’s the longer of the overtravel ones? Is this correct?

 

Lol yes on the “well hell”.
I take absolutely no thrill in wrenching, even if it’s for something fun like your project !
The reason for my displeasure is there are always a couple of things I’m going have to remove so that it is done right.
If I paid myself by the hour to install a mod I’d be rich !!

 

Wait for it settle it should drop then after that decided what you want to do

 

This is my first time to do anything like this so it’s all a new adventure. I’m actually enjoying it though. My 14 year old brother has been helping me out and we are having a good time with it. Certainly not paying either of us by the hour! I’ll have to grill him a really nice steak for the help.

All four control arms are headed to a machine shop tomorrow to have the new bushings installed. I’ve decided to forego that battle. The rest of the front end parts have been surprising easy to work on(upper BJ, lower BJ, tie rods, etc.) I let all of the write ups and videos intimidate me a bit, but this really is pretty straight forward work.

To further add to this post: I CAN NOT BELIEVE that I was driving around on my old ball joints and tie rods. They were all completely trashed. Upper/lower ball joint and both the inner and outer tie rods were so far gone that I was disgusted with myself for letting it get that bad.

 

Think it’ll settle a whole 2”? Or 1.75”?

I’m driving like 1000 miles round trip to my new house and back this weekend. Should have a loaded trailer for the trip too. That should settle them right in if they’re going to settle much.

 

@eon_blue do you have a measurement after installing your Dakars? Curious how this compares to your experience

I'm in the same boat, and I know I gotta do ball joints soon. where'd you buy from?

 

Dang something isn't right...is that just a standard Dakar pack with no added leaves? Mine just gave me 2.5" until i added the AAL and then got 3".

4" right off the bat is not normal...weird

 

Not that much. Are you sure its on right? They are side specific I believe also which ones did you get because if its the heavy load ones then without weight it will sit hella high

 

Everything is exactly as it was sent to me. Triple checked part numbers before putting them on to be certain that I wasn’t mounting them on the wrong side and all of that jazz. I don’t want 4” of lift at all though. Wanna figure this out for sure. Maybe I’ll get the part numbers tomorrow for you guys to look at. Is it possible that I was sent the wrong leaf packs?

 

Are you using the stock shakles?

 

4" is your overall gain, yeah? I got around 5" from where my stock, very flat leafs had the rear end, which I'm guessing was at least 2" lower than stock. Using the CS018R springs for 95-97 reg. cab.

Went with the greasable shackles in @Wheeler's Off-Road Inc's kit, are they longer than stock? I didn't notice, apparently.

Similar rake to yours, exaggerated by my wheelbase

 

Didn’t even think of that. Yeah if your old leafs were shot then the new dakars would of put you way higher then were you use to sit but still at the right hight of you were to start at stock hight

 

Your truck just wants a expedition cap.

You can take out the overload, but go easy on her for a while until it settles.

 

Ordered OEM Toyota lowers and got 555 everything else from low range off-road.

 

I bought this package: Came with the greasable shackles from wheelers.

What are some common fender measurements after adding the dakars? I know tire size will effect this. Mine currently sits at 39” and may be close to what others are sitting at after the same upgrade. Maybe my original 35” measurement was sagged a lot more than I thought?

 

I run a pretty tall shell on the back and am building a set of drawers/camping platform, so I don't plan on doing much about it till I see how the springs handle the weight. I think if anything I'd just move up to 881s, currently running 880s.\

Where it sat:


Here's right after install, no weight in the bed:


I don't know how your fender flares affect this measurement, do they sit lower than the fender itself?

 

I really don’t know if those wheelers shackles were any longer than stock or not. I cheated a little and cut my old shackles off when disassembling everything! Never thought to compare them side by side. I’m guessing that they’re the stock length shackles though.

 

This happen to me as well. I've just been adding weight to it and it's been settling just fine.

 

You should measure from the center of hub to Midway bottom of fender, for accuracy.

Also torquing the front and rear leaf/ shackle bolts after cycling the suspension at ride hight will combat it sitting funny/ & or binding.

Dakars sit high at first then pretty much settle flat.

With an empty bed/ no weight you can remove the 5th leaf or throw a few concrete/ sand bags to settle it quicker.

 

My Dakars definitely flattened out after a few days like they are known to do, but I was never at more than 3" right after install...they sat just a high as my 3 leaf AALs did previously. I can't imagine they'll settle from 4" down to 2.5" but maybe...even after adding the AAL to them I'm sitting at maybe 3" now. Interested to see how this plays out, assuming the right part numbers were installed and what not. I'm using stock shackles with mine for what it's worth.

If you have aftermarket lift shackles on then that would explain the added lift.