Lift kit

I’m looking for the best bang for your buck 3 inch lift kit for my 2004 xtra cab tacoma prerunner trd off road. It’s 2wd and I want it for basically just looks very minor off roadinf besides just driving on a dirt road.

 

Cheapest: leveling puck
Decent: Bilstein
Best: Fox, Kings

You wallet will define how much you're willing to pay

 

Could you post a link to the bilstein or do I just search 3 inch bilstein

 

Search Google...

2wd 5 lug or 2wd 6 lug prerunner?

 

I honestly know I should know but I will have to check

 

I how you will find out, as the suspension will be different...

 

It’s 6

 

Prerunner.... so any 4wd suspension will work

 

Are your current shocks still working well? If so, you can just install some spacers up front and see how you like them. This would probably be the least expensive route.
If you’re thinking you need new shocks, now would be the time to buy some nitrochargers or bilstein 5100’s.

 

I’m a relatively new driver with money saved up. I’m 16 so I really don’t have the experience to know.

 

What are you trying to accomplish? Where do you intend to drive it? What made you decide on 3"?

IMO it's best to stay UNDER 3" as that's about when you end up getting weird alignment issues that need to be corrected with aftermarket upper control arms. Not a deal breaker, just extra cost. But 3" is about the max you'd want to go anyway. Unless you are compensating for a small belt buckle and lack of a mullet, just stick to 2.5, or even less, really.

A well designed 2"-2.5" lift with good shocks will run circles around larger lifts. At least you're a pre-runner, so you won't have CV angles to contend with.

If you're on a budget, the 5100 shocks with an add-a-leaf in the rear should cost around $400-$500. By far the best bang for your buck. They're good shocks and are definitely an upgrade over stock. The fronts are adjustable so you can re-use your old springs to save costs. You can spend less, but then you're just getting hockey puck spacers that add no performance whatsoever: dumb, IMO.

From there, you start getting into replacement springs, and best bang for your buck there are the OME coils (various types depending on the desired lift and weight of your truck) and the OME dakar leaf springs. A full set of OME springs and shocks run something like $1200.

Then you can go with the fully adjustable coilovers (Fox, King, ADS, ICON, etc...) and higher end leafs (alcans, Devaer J59's, etc...) in the rear. A setup like that usually starts around $2500+.

 

Is motoflab a bad brand I’m looking at their 3” front and 2” rear leveling and lift kit

 

Never heard of that brand, so I had to google it. Honestly, it doesn't matter what brand you get when going with block/spacer lifts. They're just chunks of metal you stick between the springs.

Save your money, IMO. Spend a couple hundred more and at least get better shocks (5100s).

 

Okay so I’m looking at the bilstein 5100 adjustable 2.5” front and rear shocks. Does this mean they will lift the front and back 2.5”

 

The adjustable front shocks will, yes. Use your old springs and set the shock clip on the highest setting (there are lots of install videos floating around, and the tools needed you can usually rent for free at most auto parts stores). The rear: no. The shocks don't provide lift. You need an add-a-leaf. The shocks are just long enough to accommodate the lift.

Keep in mind this will all make your suspension slightly stiffer. Ideally, you would get new springs that are designed from the get go to have a lift. But you can save up and do that later and still keep the 5100s.

Are you planning on bigger tires, too? If you're just going for looks, a lift without bigger tires does tend to look goofy...

 

I am ultimately looking to get blacked out 31” or 33” on a 3 inch lift. I haven’t figured out exactly what I want I’m not trying to go the cheapest but more the best budget build.

 

31's is the stock size so no lift is needed to fit them.

For 33's, there are other issues at hand that are common, that even a 3" lift won't entirely fix. Often time you end up having to hammer down the pinch weld inside the wheelwells. Fairly simple, and lots of write-ups on that lurking around. Just do a search for "pinch weld mod". There's also the specific tire you choose will dictate the type of lift or other mods you do. The fatty 33's (285's +) often require more massaging to get to fit, vs. something like a 255/85r16. The skinnier width means they fit easier, but are still a 33" tire. Then you have wheel offset. Going with an aftermarket wheel that doesn't have the ideal backspacing creates even more problems.

As for not really knowing exactly what you want yet, I'd hold off buying stuff until you do. What you want (tire size, wheel selection, intended off-road use, budget, etc...) will dictate what lift makes the most sense. I would try and figure that out first before throw down some cash on something that may not end up being the "best" for you. The more time you spend thinking and deciding, the more cash you save up, too.

There are tons of threads here with people's builds and plenty of pics. I'd spend some time lurking around until you start narrowing down the look you want, and you can then see what those people did to get that look and most importantly what they spent.

The nice thing about the 5100s is they're kind of a jack of all trades, master of none. I still have 5100s on the rear of my truck. I had them on the front set to a ~1" lift (stock springs) for my daily driver/weekend warrior 'froader. $400 for a full set of shocks is really a great deal, and they definitely are better than stock, though they don't make it ride like a caddy (it is a truck after all, lol).

Go out and drive the thing as-is. Hell, you might find offroading is more fun than you thought and decide to focus your wallet towards that goal. At which point you should just skip all this and go straight for 40's and tons (kidding). You don't need $2500 coilovers to go offroad (none of us do, lol) but a set of hockey pucks certainly won't get you there.

 

I think an often understated consideration to the amount of lift, is pinion angle, and what happens with your driveline. Most folks only emphasize the CV axles and the 3" limit. I've had 3" of rear lift (1.5" aal, 1.5" shackle) since forever, but it wasn't until I replaced the leaf springs that I introduced a driveline vibration. Something about the age of the components at that point just makes them more prone to DL vibes. So I'd still suggest staying UNDER 3".

2.5" is a great target. You could still experience DL vibs though, just something that you'll have to consider, and them remedy (via angle shims).

 

Excellent points.

a carrier bearing drop and axle shims can help correct those things. But done wrong, then can make them worse, too, lol.

I'm currently sitting at 2.5" and don't have any of those issues (no CB drop or shims), but as with anything, YMMV based on wear and tear and a myriad of other factors.

This is why it's best to try and minimize your lift. The smaller the lift, the greater chance you have of things working properly without starting an arms race of mods.

 

I have a front spacer leveling kit you can have for the cost of shipping if you want