Official 05-15 2nd gen 5lug lifted/lowered suspension guide and general info

It should definitely give you but like it said above you’ll need longer shocks for the rear. Btw that’s expensive there 340$

 

For those curious, KYB SR4612 and SR4613 fit my 2013 5 Lug Reg Cab with a Fat Bob's kit. Couldn't be happier with the ride quality and the simplicity of the install.

-PyroTaco

 

Sad I didn't make the page lol. On another note, I was blessed by Dillon and may be having a custom Long Travel Kit fabbed up for my 07 5 lug. Currently running 33x25.r15s on the Icon MT Kit. I also have the original 5 Lug Taquito bumper and skid plate on my truck from Total Chaos

 

Hey @Sperrunner can we add McDangle's build to the list? (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-monster-2007-2nd-gen-5-lug-re-build.755523)
He was one of the first 5 lugs showing 33's were possible. Also he has some fun stuff in the works.

 

Done!

 

Thanks homie. How's your truck been treating you

 

Been good. Driving my wife’s rav4 more then anything though lol

 

Hey All!

I haven't seen anyone post about doing what I did, but I added a 1/4" plate made by Torch Offroad to the top of the Readylift Spacer for a teensy bit more lift. I gotta say, my alignment is pretty messed up. Camber and Toe are within spec, but Caster is about 3 degrees off. My workaround is Firestone's free lifetime alignments, but I'm scouring for TC UCAs.

The point is, if anyone needs an additional, approximately 1/2" of lift, this is one way to get it!

Overview:
I didn't want to reuse my old springs so I bought replacement struts from FCS.

I threw away the basic shock absorber they came with and kept the spring itself. Mounted the new spring onto the Bilstein 4600s.

The Readylift spacer goes on top of the strut and then comes the additional spacer plate from Torch Offroad.

To elaborate: Torch Off-road and Readylift offer the same sort of kit.
The Readylift spacer is one piece, 1.25" tall, and advertises 2.75" of lift.
The Torch Offroad spacer is two pieces, a 1" spacer, and a 1/4" plate to make up for the difference, and they also advertise 2.75" of lift.

I bought BOTH spacer kits so that I could take the 1/4" plate from the Torch kit and add it to the slightly taller Readylift spacer.
With this math, Each 1" of spacer adds *roughly* 2" of lift.
This would mean that the additional 1/4" plate gives me an additional 1/2" of lift compared to just using the Readylift spacer on its own.

Clearance with the UCA is very tight, but does not touch whatsoever.
The tab for the brake line bracket on the 4600 touched my steering knuckles, likely because of the additional plate, but with a little percussive maintenance, you can bend it out of the way and nothing interferes!

You can see the 1/4" plate on top of the spacer in the close up shot!

In the past year or so, I've been on a handful of camping trips, involving 1000's of miles of highway driving fully loaded, and dozens if not hundreds of miles of fire roads. Here is my honest review of the setup:

The front is a bit softer than I expected, but I think I still prefer it greatly over the stock handling. The alignment going out of wack after the slightest dirt road does get annoying, as I think I've gotten 5 or 6 alignments last year, but this is something I was prepared for.
Personally, I do see myself dropping the money on a Coilover setup as soon as I get my hands on a TC UCA set because these 4600s don't seem quite enough for heavier loads.
When I'm unloaded, they are wonderful and fun and hold everything nice and still.
When I am loaded, it takes an extra "bob" of the front suspension to level out when coming to a stop if that makes sense.
SumoSprings makes a "coil sumospring" that goes in between the wraps of the coils, so this may help as well, but I really only see myself needing to install them if I do go with proper coilovers.
To install coilovers on the front end of our trucks, we have to cut off our bump stop, so the sumo spring going in the wraps of the coilspring is supposed to act as a progressive stop to slow the compression of the coil as it approaches full compression.

The rear setup is just a Readylift AAL and 5100, and I am already looking for proper medium-duty leaf springs to offer a level ride when fully loaded with gear. Unloaded, you do get 2" of lift, but you quickly lose it with any kind of load in the bed, so Blue SumoSprings and Dobinson's Leafsprings are on the list to remedy this.

The wider shots of the truck are sort of meant to give an idea of the rear sag when under load.

Hope this helps anyone looking to squeeze a little bit extra out of our basic suspensions! I'm no suspension professional, but I work in the industry, and so far haven't had any issues myself nor have any mechanics given dissenting opinions!

 

On the first page there is a link for 3" spacers from ebay. I had 2.75 readylift and went to 3" with the ebay ones. Its cool to see some other companies support 5 lugs. I know at some point there is a diminishing returns for lifting as it just pushes the shocks into the upper control arm.

 

Anyone know if the 5lugs will ever have an option for a 6 inch lift?

 

Not officially but I've seen a 3" spacer lift and a 3" body lift. Personally probably wouldn't do that high of a body lift. A drop bracket won't fit because the control arms and mounting points are different. Tires can make a difference in look as well.

 

Rn I’m running a 3 inch spacers lift with 31s but I wanna be taller would a 1 inch body lift make much of a difference? And also are they easy to do yourself?

 

Yeah 1" is a pretty good compromise. Wayyy less gap and easy enough to install yourself if you have basic tools. You can just buy a body lift meant for any 2nd gen tacomas. Post some pictures if you do it

 

Awsome man thanks for the help I will for sure it post some pics if I end up doing a body lift

 

It's definitely nice to get love from major companies! I just wish manufacturers of leaf springs/rear-end stuff would label things as compatible with our trucks. I know 2nd gen leaf springs are compatible, but it would be nice to know for example, if this lifts a 6-lug 2", will a 5-lug also get 2", or will it be more or less, you know?

I think the ebay link in the original post is either expired or taken down. Yes, I found the Torch Offroad kit 3" kit on ebay, but found that the spacer + plate combo they provide is nearly identical in height to the Readylift spacer, meaning they are just rounding the same 2.75" lift and advertising it as 3". That's why I combined them to get closer to an actual 3" lift. I haven't seen another spacer personally, but if there is a single piece spacer that is the combined height of the readylift spacer + torch plate, that would 100% be a better option! I doubt you can go any more than that though.

Photos for reference:

 

You know I'm running the Mid Travel with my coils fully cranked out. I've always considered turning them all the way down for maximum absorption and installing the spacer on top for same lift height, OR MORE.... but never was sure how that would affect everything.

 

I think you could do longer springs or longer rod ends. I've considered looking into it but now its just for sas lol

 

Next step is to build out the Long Travel Kit and I have a fabricator reviewing the plans and measurements (Thanks to a gentleman who I have hounded for a very long time with the kit!).

 

Reading these suspension posts with interest as there lots of washboard roads where we are. I may be as interested in softening out the shuddering on washboards as lifting. What works best for shuddering? It seems bigger tires would be the first upgrade? Drive fast and skim over the washboards? But speed kills and I’ve hit deer before so prefer to go slow and drive in my stopping distance. Air suspension?
Edit: it seems to me a AAL spring kit would make shuddering on washboards worse? Too stiff but maybe AAL and sandbags in rear would lift and add traction while shuddering stays about the same? What about dual shocks or progressive springs like Timbren or ? Thanks.

 

Unfortunately washboards will always suck to an extent.

My vote is larger tires and some new bilstein shocks. Don't really need to lift unless you want too. If you do decide to lift you could look at maybe doing a shackle flip in the rear.