Total newb - need help with suspension

So I bought a 2015 Tacoma that was somebody's pavement princess. No shame in it just not what I'm into. It has a pretty significant lift on it and I have limited experience with modifying cars/trucks. It has 33x14.50 which, despite the lift, still rubs. The front and rear sit about 41"-42" off the ground. The front suspension has some sort of spacer compressing it. The spacer is 5". The front suspension appears to be some sort of Bilstein and the rear is Rough Country. I think the front is a Rough Country kit of some sort. I want to turn this thing into a beast offroad and from what I understand having a compressed suspension is not what the best thing for it. So my questions are:

• Do I need to replace the whole suspension?
• Can I get away with just removing the spacers on the front and keeping everything the same?
• Would replacing the front shocks(?) with the correct size to keep the lift the same where it is at now be possible?
• Are there any questions I'm not asking that I should be?

Also, I hate these tires. Trying to move down to a 33x12.50 or a 285/70 on 17in wheels. Is a body mount chop inevitable with these tires?

Any advice or input y'all can give is appreciated. Thanks!

 

6” drop bracket kit. The spacer isn’t compressing anything it’s simply a spacer. The front cross member has been cut out so that will have to be remedied if you remove the kit. Also that kit comes with a new steering knuckle so that has to be addressed if removed. What are your plans for the truck?

 

I'm planning on making this into an overlanding truck. Going offroad for long periods in easy to difficult terrain.

 

If that’s the plan and if it was me. Imo I’d remove the kit have the front crossmember repaired and start over and research setting it up specifically for your needs.

 

That DB lift and spacers on the rear are only to cause issues if you wheel. They place so much stress on the flexy bits and pose a strong possibility of leaving you stranded. Since you need to repair the front, look in JDFab's lower kit. It addresses many of the factory's weak points and will also repair your cross member.

 

Seems like this might be my best option. Would I want to go ahead and replace my shocks or would the current ones be fine?

 

Also just to clarify you are talking about this:

https://jdfabrication.com/products/tacoma-05-18-lower-arm-pivots?variant=31752378843251

and

https://jdfabrication.com/collectio...py-of-tacoma-05-15-6-lug-2-25-long-travel-kit

 

correct. And youll want to swap your shocks. No telling how old or abused they are. They are lots of options out there for every budget.

 

Don’t forget you’ll need new steering knuckles if you remove.

 

That’s the problem with buying a truck someone else has modded up. You don’t know exactly what they’ve done, if it was done correctly, what problems it has caused and may cause. Also undoing and redoing can be quite costly and be very time consuming. If you know what you are doing, got the time and can do it all yourself you’ll save some $$$ but it’ll cost you a lot of time. And I agree the tires and wheels are ugly. If it were me I wouldn’t have bought the truck in the first place, but if I did I’d consider selling it to someone looking for a pavement princess. Then I’d consider buying a mostly stock truck and building it myself, setting it up the way I want or getting something else with well done minor mods that I could improve on.
Just replacing the wheels and tires you are looking at maybe $2000 or more. It’ll add up quick to get that truck where you want it.

 

Watch this guy's videos, lots of 'splainin' and good info.

https://www.youtube.com/@TinkerersAdventure

Ya, you bought a Pavement Princess, so there is a lot to change but it's doable. Dive in!

 

holy crap those wheels LOL

 

For the life of me I cannot understand why people do that to a truck! Good on you for wanting to fix it right!