Does this sound good?

This is one of the best threads I’ve made, you all have been a massive help. Lots of people say kings with heavier leaf springs would be the better way to go. No idea the needle bearing was such a common problem.. there is so so so many lifted Tacoma’s in Hilo, I can’t imagine that non of them have delt with this. I’m going to talk to the dealership and some shops and see who will install the ECGS bushing. There is no way I can pull off that install by my self lol

 

After reading hours upon hours of threads, it seems most guys are replacing the needle bearing and opting out of the diff. drop. I believe the carrier bearing drop is on a case by case basis.
I cancelled the appointment for a lift I had made a couple months ago so i haven't actually lifted mine yet. Decided to collect the parts myself. Still haven't decided if I'm going to do the job myself but I'm not gonna do the diff drop. Already have the bushing, leaf pack & SPC uca's ready to go. Just debating now what shocks I want. Keep going back & forth between all of them. King's, Elka's, ADS, Fox, Billy's...ugh. decisions, decisions

 

I’m in the same boat. I’m definitely accumulating all the parts before install so I can get it all done at once. ECGS bushing, leaf pack, bump stops all around U bolt flip kit- (leaning toward kings) I feel like the shops where I live so so many half asses lifts because I hear of people getting lots of problems with no solution. Especially when I’m just looking for added weight capacity and better handling off road loaded.. nothing crazy like the standard 6-10 inch lifts they crank out in my town.

 

It's not pointless but IMHO not critical either. On my old truck (a 1991) the shock lower mount was shared with the u-bolt plate so flipping was more trouble. Either special (more expensive plates, also prone to break) or welding on shock tabs. On my Tacoma the lower shock mount hangs further down than the plate so I just don't see value in going to the effort.

Yup, the lower plate will sometimes drag and you might have to repaint or replace it or cut off a u-bolt if the end get mangled. But the alternative is having the load-bearing radius of the u-bolt and axle tubes being ground over rocks. Plus I don't like how the brake hard line and ABS sensor wire are left more exposed.

This is one of those places where there's just different opinions on how to build your truck. Flips do give you more clearance, there's no question.

 

Yeah, I'm not interested in going over 3" either. Occasionally I'll see a 6" lifted taco but most are around 2 or 3 inches. I don't recall ever seeing any high lifted trucks on the trails.

 

Your absolutely right. This is when it starts getting well opinionated.. I like to think everything was designed the way it is for a reason and to differ from what some of the best engineers on the plant do is perplexing. At the same time I see where things can be different and try to take it with a grain of salt.

ahh lifting...

 

If you lift beyond 3" you're into bracket lifts, which require cutting the frame and using a subframe. It's not reversible, at least easily. It also puts more stress on your frame. Practically speaking even 3" without brackets is pushing it since that's hard on your CV joints and ball joints. Just my $0.02 but you want enough lift to achieve your goal but no more. I went up about 2" with my FOX 2.5 extended travel coil overs which is about where they'll sit in the middle of their travel. I went about 2.5" in back with heavy Dakars so that I'm roughly level completely packed.

 

BTW, I did new UCAs, ECGS bushings and an OME carrier drop. I still need to do leaf shims to angle my pinion, just haven't gotten around to it.

 

yeah that. exactly that.

 

Why have a shock mount AND a bracket on there when you're upgrading to "top of the line"? That's not "top of the line" like the OP was seeking. Makes it much easier to thread rocks through/by the axle without both there. And for 40 dollars per side before bumps, it was/is a no brainer for me. Toyotas design isn't bad, just not ideal. At least it's not as bad as the Chevy Colorado. Axel looks terrible for threading/dodging rocks with their shock mount location and ubolts. Gross. Hangs lower than the pumpkin