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Old Man Emu setups on 1st gens

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by kyle39, Feb 19, 2011.

  1. Jun 14, 2022 at 7:12 AM
    #5221
    Brake Weight

    Brake Weight But it hasn't rained in weeks...I'll make it.

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    Weld on sliders, fiberglass shell, 12k winch in an Elite Offroad bumper, front Aussie Lunchbox
    I need to take my GX back then. It’s all over in winds after they aligned for the lift on it. I didn’t get a print out. Same shop I have always used that’s done me right.
     
  2. Jul 1, 2022 at 6:57 AM
    #5222
    Fishtacos15

    Fishtacos15 Member

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    Pic of the 04 Prerunner with OME 880's/nitros in the front and Dakar/nitros in the rear

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Jul 1, 2022 at 7:42 AM
    #5223
    LearningToFly

    LearningToFly Well-Known Member

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    How many miles do you have on this setup? I just installed dakars and 2881’s. Mine has just a little more rake than I’d like.
     
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  4. Jul 1, 2022 at 8:32 AM
    #5224
    Fishtacos15

    Fishtacos15 Member

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    Just got them on recently so not many miles, have some rear rake too, but thinking will settle down a bit with the camper shell. I was debating if I should add the extra leaf at one point which would of been higher.
     
    LearningToFly[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Jul 1, 2022 at 8:33 AM
    #5225
    Brake Weight

    Brake Weight But it hasn't rained in weeks...I'll make it.

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    Weld on sliders, fiberglass shell, 12k winch in an Elite Offroad bumper, front Aussie Lunchbox
    You may have to preload the rear some then. Those 881s are stronger than the 880s but once the strut tops out, well, it’s topped out. I have heard of people using a couple of those heavy QuickCrete bags in the bed to bring it down until the leaves settle a bit. One, or two, on each side between wheel well hump and tailgate. Depending on your location the overnight dew or just humidity can cause it to ‘set’ and it will mold to the ridges in the bed better.
     
  6. Jul 1, 2022 at 6:48 PM
    #5226
    LearningToFly

    LearningToFly Well-Known Member

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    2881’s and standard Dakar leaf pack. 285/75/16 KM3’s on stock Enkei wheels.C2730EBC-1EC9-42A6-9522-651180AEBA9B.jpg
     
  7. Aug 5, 2022 at 12:07 PM
    #5227
    noodles93

    noodles93 Well-Known Member

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    OME complete suspension kit along with JBA upper control arms. 881's in the front Dakar without AAL in the rear. Definitely a different ride, really happy with how it turned out.
     
  8. Aug 5, 2022 at 12:59 PM
    #5228
    Madjik_Man

    Madjik_Man The Rembrandt of Rattle Can

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    DFE0314D-C0D3-4E6E-84EA-36055A29FE84.jpg
     
    LearningToFly[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Aug 27, 2022 at 4:55 PM
    #5229
    tacogatito

    tacogatito Member

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    Before - stock suspension all around:
    BeforeLift.jpg
    After, OME Front - 880 Nitrocharger Sport Coilovers, Rear - Dakar Leaf pack + rear Nitrocharger sport shocks
    AfterLift.jpg

    I'm not happy with the massive amount of front rake. I was hoping for closer to a 2 inch rake but I'm between a 2.5 - 3 inches height diff between the front and the back. I also did not get the advertised 1.5 inch lift in the front, I gained 1 1/8 inch on the drivers side and not even an inch on the passenger side. The driver side with the trim packer leaves me at 37 inches fender to ground and the passenger side is 36 3/4 fender to ground. I thought I would be closer to 37.5 in the front.

    Any Ideas why I only got an inch lift up front? I replaced stock coilovers.

    As for the rear, I'm sure it will settle maybe a 1/2 inch or so, especially once I get a camper shell on it. I think I need to go for the 881 coils to get back to level/1 inch rake right? Pretty sure the 883s would be way too high up front for what I'm trying to do. Any advice is really appreciated.
     
    Area51Runner and Brake Weight like this.
  10. Aug 27, 2022 at 5:19 PM
    #5230
    Brake Weight

    Brake Weight But it hasn't rained in weeks...I'll make it.

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    Weld on sliders, fiberglass shell, 12k winch in an Elite Offroad bumper, front Aussie Lunchbox
    880s are more for the 3rz trucks. I’ve got 881s on mine with a 3rz, plate bumper, and winch. But using middle setting of 5100s. For the rear I’ve seen where people get a couple of big sacks of concrete and place one on each side of the bed between the wheel well and the tailgate. Sort of expedite the settling process. The topper will help as well. If it doesn’t settle lower in a couple of weeks then you can look for a shorter leaf shackle.
     
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  11. Aug 27, 2022 at 5:47 PM
    #5231
    Area51Runner

    Area51Runner Well-Known Member

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    Looks good. Yep, 881s would've been the the way to go. You would not like 883s at all with that stock front end.

    I chose the 881s and Dakars w/AAL for my cap. OME recommends if you're going to be carrying 200 or more lbs then to AAL.
     
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  12. Aug 27, 2022 at 5:54 PM
    #5232
    tacogatito

    tacogatito Member

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    Thanks for the advice. I think I'll throw some sand bags in the back and drive it around a bit and see how it settles. I'm not expecting more than 1/2 inch of settle but I think if I switch to the 881s I should be much closer to level.

    Thanks, I definitely think I need the 881's in front thought to get rid of some of the rake. Ive seen others get 882s for added height but I don't want to be squatting. After the 881 isntall if I still don't like the rake I can get shorter shackles or pull the overload leaf I think.

    I wish I was more careful when choosing front coils. I was reading the thread for the 4cyl/reg cab where everyone was telling OP to go for 880's :(. Maybe I can get lucky and find someone nearby that wants to buy my old 880 springs. I'll post pics after I swap the 881s. I did the original lift kit install over a couple weekends but i'm taking the tacoma to a local shop to have them install the 881s. I don't have a spring press and I'll have to get an alignment anyway.
     
  13. Aug 27, 2022 at 6:40 PM
    #5233
    Brake Weight

    Brake Weight But it hasn't rained in weeks...I'll make it.

    Joined:
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    Taco pulling 33s and a B6 pushing 33psi
    Weld on sliders, fiberglass shell, 12k winch in an Elite Offroad bumper, front Aussie Lunchbox
    I swapped from stock coils on 5100s to 881s on 5100s after my bumper and guessed wrong. Ended up compressing springs manually 3 times in maybe 45min. Not fun cause my air ratchet was not cutting it with my tiny compressor.
     
  14. Aug 29, 2022 at 11:44 AM
    #5234
    tacogatito

    tacogatito Member

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    OK - loaded my bed with about 250lbs of sand and drove around a bit, on and off road. God, I love how the truck handles now compared to the stock suspension. Also the extra weight dropped the rear end about an inch. If this is the height I can expect once the leaves are settled I'd be very, very happy.

    I went ahead and ordered the 881s from wheelers, free shipping and no tax can't be beat! Also I got a 10% off code for joining their newsletter. I'll be looking to get those installed as soon as they get delivered.

    I wonder If I should just rent a spring compressor and do the springs myself? I'll have to get an alignment after I change the ride height so it will already need to go to the shop.

    Either way I'll post some pics once I get the springs installed. Truck should be looking pretty good next week.
     
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  15. Aug 29, 2022 at 12:13 PM
    #5235
    Area51Runner

    Area51Runner Well-Known Member

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    I personally don't take chances on manual compressors. Nope. Just pay a local shop for that job.
     
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  16. Aug 29, 2022 at 5:48 PM
    #5236
    Krogers128

    Krogers128 Well-Known Member

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    OME complete kit. 881 coils. Dakar Leafs. JBA UCA. 265/75-16 Goodyear Ultraterrain.
    When I did the front suspension on my Taco and my 4Runner, I just used the weight of the vehicle to install/compress the spring. I was pretty hesitant at first but the process makes sense and I knocked it out pretty quick and easy. Just some thought. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6u7dC7EHg there is a part 2 after this one.
     
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  17. Aug 29, 2022 at 7:30 PM
    #5237
    Brake Weight

    Brake Weight But it hasn't rained in weeks...I'll make it.

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    Weld on sliders, fiberglass shell, 12k winch in an Elite Offroad bumper, front Aussie Lunchbox
    Manual compressors aren’t hard or that dangerous if you take your time. I’ve got an extra long 1/2” drive ratchet I use and usually do 2-3 strokes each side all the way. Maybe start out at 5-6 strokes per until it gets just slightly snug, even the sides out, and then 2-3 each. Get you a moving blanket and fold it up into quartered and kneel on it while working the spring down. That’s with parts house manual compressors.

    Now, if you want to be fancy? Get a macpherson style compressor off Amazon and a trailer hitch vise from harbor fright. Cinch that bad boy down in just a couple of minutes and be done. Make sure you have enough stroke on it to release the 880 after you take the strut off.

    Not Tacoma struts, but this is a front strut on my Audi B6 Avant getting S4 springs. The rear got S6 springs and the coil of the rears were actually as thick as the 881s, just not as long. It handled both flawlessly.
    3E823A6F-9375-4B74-820F-F99EC35D466E.jpg


    8MILELAKE Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor Kit Interchangeable Fork Coil Extractor Tool Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DP2CDJU
     
    tacogatito[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Aug 29, 2022 at 10:15 PM
    #5238
    Nessal

    Nessal Well-Known Member

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    In my younger days when we were young and dumb, we used to zip off the top nut with a impact and watch the shock shoot across the yard/street. Don't do that.
     
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  19. Aug 31, 2022 at 6:44 PM
    #5239
    Enfield1

    Enfield1 Well-Known Member

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    Do the JBAs give you any more clearance for the tire with the 3rd gen wheel backspacing? Id like to step up to 265s, but I'm concerned with how tight that is. I was thinking about putting some 1" spacers on or biting the bullet and buying aftermarket wheels.
     
  20. Sep 1, 2022 at 10:58 AM
    #5240
    tacogatito

    tacogatito Member

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    New coils arrived!
    PXL_20220901_021530610.jpg

    I'm going to have SD Truck Shop swap em out. I was talking to the shop owner and was asking him his opinion on UCAs. He told me JBAs were junk and was highly recommending me these 'Built Right' UCAs. I understand he has a fabricator here in SD that makes them. Anyone here have opinions on these arms? Seems like nothing but positive reviews from what I've seen but there isn't a whole lot of info on them.
     

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