Tacoma 2” lift (Bilstein 5100, OME 884, General Springs HD leaf springs)

Alright guys, I’ve gotten a lot of help through reading all of your threads, so I figure it’s my turn. I just finished my lift this morning.. (use the 1/4” top plate spacer to begin with, don’t leave it out like I did before the springs settle, because you DO need it, that’s why I had to retake it apart this morning to install the spacer)
I wanted a 2” lift all around, because I didn’t want to have to fool with getting new UCA’s, as money was already tight just buying all of these for the lift. Here is a list of what I’ve done

- General Springs KC Heavy Duty Leaf Springs (3+1) left them as they came
- Bilstein 5100 shocks all the way around
-OME 884 coils
-1/4” top plate spacer for driver side to correct for “taco lean”

In my opinion of ride quality, it’s great. My truck was at 70,000 miles when I started this lift, and I wasn’t very fond of the spongy ride the stockers gave me. The front end is definitely stiffer, but it will not beat you around the truck. It still has a hair bit of dip when you hit the breaks hard enough, and as for the rear, the ride of these leaf springs is excellent. Also stiffer than stock, as mine had about had it. Overall opinion, I love the ride quality. Sticks to the road much better, takes corners great, and potholes are a breeze. I’ve given it two weeks for all the components to settle, and also rode a few days with a car hauler trailer hooked up to settle the leaf springs. Here are the numbers- (Full tank of gas on both measurements)

Before Lift Driver Passenger
Front 20” 20 1/4”
Rear 21 1/4” 21 1/2”

After Lift Driver Passenger
Front 22” 22 1/4”
Rear 23 1/4” 23 1/2”

Tires are also P265/75/r16 Hankook Dynapro ATM, no rubbing anywhere, no funny noises, no problems with anything. Smooth driving and smooth sailing. I’m not extremely mechanically inclined either, I work in a pharmacy and am going through Optometry School, not mechanic classes. That being said, I had minimal problems doing any of these modifications. Just a little elbow grease and thinking it through. Here’s some pics for anybody interested!

 

Great job! Looks good. The thinking it through part will stop quite a few on here I’m afraid.

 

Nice job, thanks for the post. I'm thinking pretty well the same set up for myself.

 

Looks good, Tyler. How do you like the Dynapros? I've been considering them for my next set but I love my Michelins. I've just been thinking about getting something a little more aggressive. I still have a couple of years to decide though, plenty of tread left on my current set.

 

I like them a lot, they’re not as aggressive as the LT dynapros like on my 97 Silverado, but they are much better than the highway tires it came with. Much more quiet than I expected too

 

Looks great man! Time for some BFG's to finish it off

 

Very nice!

 

are these the leaf springs u used to gain 2" lift?
https://www.generalspringkc.com/product_p/90-297hd.htm

 

Thats them! I called the company and they explained that at first you’ll have around 2 1/2” or 3 or so until they settle, but will settle down at 1 3/4”-2”. I didn’t want 3” like OME Dakar’s provide and wanted the extra weight for when I haul trailers. Extremely pleased with them!

 

Did you use your stock u bolts?

 

I didn’t. I used the ones that they recommended on the website, and ordered them when I ordered the springs. I wish I would have used the stock bolts though. Because they defintely would have worked. The ones the recommend were significantly longer.

 

Those are sweet springs..

 

Looking very cool dude!

 

BrownTaco12, I am looking into this same setup for my ‘13. I need to increase the load capacity of my taco to account for the Leer cap and the 100+ pound drawer system in the bed. At the same time, I don’t want to raise the height of the truck too much. Any chance you can post review of your setup now that you have some time and miles on yours?

 

Any issues with the UCA's I know that under 3" you are supposed to be ok but I am very tempted to copy your setup but want to be sure about alignment.

 

Looks good exactly what I want on my 2011 DCLB with camper top.

 

Funny, I thought they sold/sent me the wrong U-bolts, cause after installing these springs, the U-bolts are at least an inch or more longer than what they needed to be. Nice to know I wasn't the only one to notice.

 

The rear springs are doing awesome, as for lift, they haven’t sagged a single bit at all, despite having pulled several trailers and boats several times. They still ride awesome and I’ve got 20,000 miles on them now. I’d recommend them to anybody, because I’ve never once hit my bump stops, no matter what I haul. IMHO they’re the best springs I could have used for my needs.

 

Alignment was perfect, have even tread wear all the way around and the shop said I was in the middle of my alignment range still. I’m still tempted to bump my front up a hair bit from 884 springs to 885s, but I know I’d want some SPC UCAs if I decide to do that. Overall though, the ride the 884s give is a ton better than stock.

 

I thought the same thing. I’m not sure who decided they should recommend new, longer u bolts because those just seemed way too long for that specific application.