5100s and AAL

Yup, probably the most common question relating to anything Tacoma.

My plan:
5100s up front (just front to save money)
Tuff country AAL (2in) out back.

I think the stock shocks will be fine in the rear. Maybe?

Thoughts? Pics? What lift up front?
Good idea? Dumb idea?
2006 sr5

Thanks friends.

 

Mileage? Based on age alone, new springs front and rear (coils and leaf packs) will be the best bet.

 

save up and do it all at once to save time.
5100's and 884 or 885 springs and and aal or new leafs in rear with 5100's. Then you're all set for a long while with a pretty good, cost effective set up.

 

I got 78k on my 06. Big old shell on the rear too. I really just want to add some larger tires and a little more level. I do tow a pretty trailer a few times a month. No leveling kit though, I do some light wheeling to get to some remote areas where I live. I want to save money, no spend much, gonna do this probably in 15000 miles when I need new tires.

 

New leaf packs will be the best bet. I towed ONCE with a fresh AAL and 5k on my factory leafs and I was brodozing hard AF after that. AAL are a waste if you have any weight in the rear; shell, towing etc.

Trust me. You will regret an AAL

 

Can you explain a bit more. Why are AAL a waste if you have weight in the rear? towing flattens them out?

 

Exactly. I use to think it was the age/mileage of the factory springs. However, it's the shit quality of the Toyota springs that are the issue. If you ride with an empty bed, never load it with ANY gear and don't tow, AAL will be fine.

When you have a shell (constant weight) or tow anything (literally anything) the leaf springs sag and ultimately fail. I can tell you from experience first hand, that a full HD Dakar leaf pack rides nicer and smoother than a single AAL.

 

I knew someone would say a new pack would be best. I did get new springs when my frame was replaced 5000 miles ago.
But if I can do the whole shagang, that’s DAKAR springs, 884 or 885 and longer shocks( 5100s or old man)?

 

I always recommend OME shocks with OME coils. They're not that much more than 5100's and designed to work with OME springs (Dakars and coils). Can't go wrong.

 

Sweet. Not trying to make a monster truck or anything. This setup is probably about 2in, right?
265/75/16 is my plan. Most likely a Cooper Discoverer (something of the sort), this is my man commuter.

 

Are you a double cab? if so:

884 - about 2"
885 - 2.5" (requires UCAs)

Dakars will give you 2.75" out of the box. You will want to retain as much of that as you can since you carry constant weight. Once installed, you might sit around 2.5" in the rear. My recommendation is to keep the pack intact, tow haul with it out of the box and then, if needed, you can always remove the third leaf from the top to sit a little lower.

 

You’ve been a huge help. I’ve always heard due to it right the first time, just letting my wife know I need to spend a 1000 and not 400 is the only problem.
At least I’m able to do the work myself at my buddy’s shop.

 

I'm the resident TW "lift man". Let me know what else I can do for you

 

Hey guys, I’m looking to lift my taco 2.5” and have heard lots of different things about it. Do I need new adjustable control arms, do a diff drop, sway bar drop and extended brake lines? I’m thinking a add a leaf in the rear with longer bilstein shock and then oem lift coil springs up front with nitro struts. I’m trying to keep it on the cheaper side but also want to do it right where I’m not going to have any problems down the road. Any info will be help full, getting lots of mixed reviews.

 

Stock length rear shocks will probably fail within a short time with any rear lift. I put Monroe stock size replacement shocks on the rear of my truck with 1.5" 3 leaf aal. Within 3-4 months the right rear shock was rattling badly. I think it was overextending every day as I backed out of the driveway, right rear extended, left rear compressed. One day I heard an clank sound backing out and it rattled/clunked constantly after that. I installed 5100s and no problem since.

 

Not sure if this is a one-size-fits-all response. I've towed and hauled some pretty heavy loads a few times on my TSB springs and haven't "flattened out" yet. I still sit with the factory rake. I've definitely seen many reports of people's springs flattening, but my guess is that there are just as many (if not the vast majority) of folks whose rear springs are fine. Sure, they don't carry loads well, but they also aren't flattening out longterm. Given my scenario (apparently good TSB springs?), I'm doing a single AAL when I add 885's up front, but also adding 5100's all around. Wheeler's also suggested bump stops for my scenario, so I'm adding those.