Need suspension help

Hi!

I have a 2008 access cab sport tacoma 4X4 that is currently sitting on an adjustable 3” bilstein lift with OME 2887 coils. The struts are set at the max for tallest ride height. The ride is very stiff. I’m sure the heavy duty coils don’t help, but gaining the height was important to me. I’m trying to figure out a solution to lessen the preload with the struts while also maintaining the height. The height comes out to about 4” with this setup. I’m thinking that if I find a longer coil spring with a similar spring rate, I wouldn’t need to preload the spring as much with the strut and I would be able to maintain a similar height.

Any suggestions?

 

Sounds like you've lifted the truck too high and no longer have down travel. Unfortunately, with an IFS you're limited how high you can lift the front end.

If you jack up the front of the truck, do the front wheels droop down, maintaining contact with the ground? Or do they lift off of the ground right as you start jacking?

As much as you want +3" of lift, you probably need to reduce this. Aside from the rough ride, you are probably destroying your CV axels as well.

 

Bilsteins should be set on 0 with OEM coils.

 

The OME coil you have provides 3” of lift, without preload. Lower the snapring on the Bilsteins to their lowest setting.

 

sounds like you put the shocks on the highest setting. that will cause a rough ride.

also, why do you have the 887 coils? are you running extra weight? that will also give you a rough ride.

i went from 650lbs springs to 600lbs and noticed a big diffrence.

 

OME 887s are 590 spring rate, same as 885 springs, just provide more lift than the 885.

In any case OME Springs should be set at the lowest perch on 5100 shocks, in that case you would get close to 3" in a 2nd Gen Access Cab (V6).

 

Are you saying you have 887 coils on the highest setting on 5100? No wonder why your ride sucks lower it to the lowest good to go. After market coils are ment to be at 0 on 5100 shocks.

 

The specs on that coil says its 590lb rate. Is it because of the extra length on the coils that makes it stiff on the highest setting?

 

I’m not sure I understand your question, but I’ll take a crack at answering it. For every inch of increased up travel you lose an inch of down travel. As you approach zero down travel the ride quality can suffer. Imagine your truck free falling into every dip in the road. From the factory there is 3” of down travel. So a 3” lift can ride bad.