Local (Seattle) Suspension Install

I'm about to start purchasing parts for my suspension. I'm wondering if there's anyone in the Greater Seattle Area who does installs like some of the guys in CA, i.e. driveway / private shop that takes cash, etc. I'm not knowledgeable enough to confidently do my own suspension or else I would.

I ask because if no one does, I'll buy all my parts from the local shop and have them install. I believe that dedication to a dealer for all parts and service is key for great service / relationships. However, unfortunately, money talks and saving about 20% buying online, with no tax plus other discounts, is a significant amount of $$.

 

Had mine done at Bellevue Toyota. UCAs, front and rear shocks, and leafs was 684+tax and included an alignment. Highly recommend. Also came with a free loaner for the day

 

@JimSnell is pretty handy and may be willing to help out

 

Looks like Joel best me to it. @JimSnell is the shit! Quite handy and very knowledgeable of all things wrench-worthy. To say he's a 'weekend wrencher' is an understatement. Good luck!

What did you get?

 

@Korndog1284 & @Rocco-Taco, Thanks for the advise. I'll ping him.

I haven't made a decision yet. Since this is my first build, I'm thinking of starting with OME Nitrochargers, 886 springs, and the Medium duty leaf pack. Then as I get more experience upgrade to Icon stage 6 over time.

What are y'all's thoughts?

 

Nitro Chargers are good, I installed them on the Xterra that I sold @Rocco-Taco and they have been performing fine. It really all depends on what you intend to do with the truck and your budget. How do you intend to use your truck, rock crawling, Overlanding, Fire Roads or Pavement Princess? Once we know what you want to use it for we can then make some recommendations.

 

Glad to hear they're still working well.

Long term goal is Overlanding, but the truck is still my daily driver. Need to make it palatable for the family and work. Definitely not a pavement princess, this thing goes off road every time I have the opportunity.

 

My rig has grown out of control over the last year. I built it based on what I felt I needed at the time for long term off road sustainability. Hindsight is always 20/20.... and with that I mind here is the list of items I would have installed in the following order. This all depends on how quickly you are building this... I assume the build would be over multiple years.... but if you were looking at completing your build inside of 1 year I would modify the order of operation.

1) Paint Protection (Wrap)….The paint on my brand new truck is looking pretty bad these days
2) Sliders
3) More aggressive tires, The largest that will clear with stock suspension 275/85R16?
4) Skids
5) Suspension... Install what you want the first time.... Installing Nitro chargers or 5100s could be 20% of the cost of your Icon Stage 6....its wasted funds that could go towards a proper suspension kit... Buy Once Cry Once
I have BP-51's....If I were to do it again I would install kings ( I still might at some point in the future)
6) Cab Mount Chop
7) Gears/Lockers
8) Bigger Tires? …. I still have 275's and wont replace them until they wear out.


Here is the order of my install

1) Tepui Tent
2) Yakima Bed Bars
3) All Pro Steel Bed Rack (Yakima Bed bars Removed)
4) BP-51's
5) Wheels/tires
6) Dual Odyssey Battery (offroad engineering)
7) Switch Pros
8) Grill Mounted Led light bar and Ditch lights (Caliraised)
9) ARE Camper Shell (All Pro Steel Rack Removed)
10) Custom made camper shell rack
11) Prinsu Rack
12) 4.88 Gears/Front Locker
13) Diff Breather Mod
14) CBI Bumper/Warn Winch (LED Light Bar removed)
15) C4 Fab Sliders/HC rear bumper

If you look at this list there are multiple items that were removed/sold at a loss because I didn't plan out my build better.

 

Tor from Torfab installed my lift and welded on my sliders. I think he's in the Muk.

 

I went with OME sportchargers/885/Dakars and honestly am not that impressed. Even with the softer valving I wouldn't call the ride all that fantastic. The Dakar's are fine, I'll be able to use then for a long time, maybe add a leaf eventually. But I'm positive I'll be upgrading the shocks. I don't regret it though, being able to upgrade when I want, deals, etc, will be nice

 

There is a self service garage in Kirkland that charges 40 bucks an hour for a lift rental with all the tools. If your not doing UCA's its a relatively fast process. Probably 2 hours max. Then you just need to get an alignment. If you wanted to learn that way and need help lmk.

 

Its called stews self service garage, I installed my suspension there

 

I did Icon stage 6, billetted Al UCA's w that better patented spindle. But instead of their AAL pack I did OME heavy duty leaf pack. Not regretti.g a thing.

 

This is the information I was looking for. While I've probably overthought everything, this is the first "order of a build" that makes sense to me. I've been going back and forth on suspension or wheels/tires so this definitely helps guide me.

Additionally, I think you're right. The installed cost on a Stage 6 is ~$5500 from a local Seattle, OME Nitrocharger Kit installed from a different Seattle shop (with UCAs & CMC) is ~$3300, only 2k more to get what I want...no brainer.

You're not the first to voice unhappiness with the OME setup. In fact, it's been pretty common.

I was going to go with the OME heavy duty leaf pack instead of the Icon AAL also. Are the Billet AL UCAs any better than the Tubular UCAs?

 

@Korndog1284, @Rocco-Taco, thanks for the shameless plug.

@KaizerWilhelm, if overlanding is the thing, I'm not sure I'd suggest suspension work at all at this point. Do skids, sliders, and an air compressor, and a winch and bumper. These trucks are extremely capable in the stock form. My truck is a bone stock sport model, and to date there's only been two places it didn't go. Surprise Lake, because at the time I didn't have sliders, and funny rocks. I had to take a bypass. The air compressor is way bigger for your offroad experience than tires or lift. I've seen trucks with stock tires in unreal conditions just having aired down. Tire choice is also way bigger of a bonus than tire size. KO2s are awesome in the AT department. If you don't put a lot of miles on the truck and don't mind a slightly obnoxious tire, Interco Trxus MT. Skinny tires work real well.

That being said, if you do decide to do suspension, do something with remote reservoirs and full leaf packs in the rear. The forest service roads around here will definitely overheat shocks, and add a leafs just don't quite cut it imo. My favorites are king first, and bp51s second.

As for the install, hop in https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/nw-wa-meet-bs-thread.224544/ and ask around. As long as the coilovers are assembled it's an easy driveway job, and there's multiple people over there that are into helping you in trade for beer and pizza. Also, hang out in that thread a bit for social hour. We do organize quite a bit of activity out of there.

 

Here's some info. I think these are the reasons. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/upper-control-arms-where-to-start.542121/#post-17529647

 

These guys are great! They charge by the hour, not the job. They even did a safety inspection on my taco for free!!! In Everett...

 

This is the reason why I come to the local forum. Thank's for the excellent advice @JimSnell. It's just something else I have to take into consideration as I plan my build.

Noted on the remote reservoirs. So far I've decided to pass on the OME Nitrochargers. I've got the opportunity to get some Icon Stage 4s at a great price. If I do, I'll definitely be doing the install with someone from the BS thread. I've been meaning to hit the meet ups, it just never works in my schedule.

 

You can fit tall/skinny 33s on stock TRD 3rd gens - that's 255/85/16 or 255/80/17. You can actually find the 255/80/17 KM2s for pretty cheap as they are stock Rubicon take offs, just need to get new wheels. That being said I don't think KM2s are great all season tires in the PNW and I think Nitto Ridge Grapplers are the best option in that size - no KO2 unfortunately.

I'd avoid the Icon Stage 4 and just get Kings...it's not really that much more expensive but much better. I have Icon Stage 4 in right now, and you have to pay for the AAL which sucks, but honestly I'm not super impressed with it.