1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

I need some suspension advice, I'm clueless.

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by nate71, Jun 3, 2011.

  1. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:16 AM
    #1
    nate71

    nate71 [OP] Rising Creek

    Joined:
    May 26, 2011
    Member:
    #57306
    Messages:
    170
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    17 TRD Off Road
    Toytec Boss 2.5 front coilovers Toytec Boss rear shocks Deavers 10 leaf pack Caliraised ditch light brackets Caliraised faux TRD Pro grill Rigid LED D-SS pods Timbren bump stops 16” VTX off road wheels
    I understand very little about suspension mainly because I have never had a truck with any kind of lift until I bought this one 2 weeks ago. My towns population: 3,452 so needless to say there isn't anybody knowledgeable on this subject for miles around.
    I believe what I have is 3" spacers with stock shocks and springs... and well they are looking kinda old. The leaf springs in the back are sagging pretty bad... Whoever had this truck before looks as if they were running this set up for awhile. I need some advice on what should be replaced on this set up and what can be re-used so that I can save money! (I don't do extreme off roading I just take it out in the field during hunting season). I need to know what a worthy/pocket friendly replacement would be or what parts should be replaced. I hear a lot about bilstein 5100 shocks...But I really don't know what all of it means in the long run... (I have pictures below for reference)

    suspension front 1.jpg
    suspension front 2.jpg
    suspension rear 1.jpg
    suspension rear 2.jpg
     
  2. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:20 AM
    #2
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    Member:
    #42280
    Messages:
    12,846
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Mesa, AZ
    Vehicle:
    alot of metal, small engine, decent travel.
    caged, camburg long travel, 50t leafpack (soon to be installed) light rack over cab, 5pt harnesses etc
    the front looks fine imo. if you want a better ride take off the top spacer and go with bilstein 5100 shocks. you can set them to what ever height you want!

    as for the rear leafs its hard to see if they are sagging when you take a picture from underneath. try and take a side picture so we can see the frowing and what not
     
  3. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:23 AM
    #3
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2010
    Member:
    #39131
    Messages:
    38,409
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    '19 Ford F-250 6.7 SCrew
    F-250 Land Yacht Mod
    If your leafs are sagging or you're bottoming out, I'd see if you qualify for the suspension TSB (If you plan on towing or hauling). If not you could lose the rear block and replace it with an add-a-leaf to help support the leaf pack. The rear 5100 shock helps dampen the stiffer leaf pack once you add the extra leaf. The front 5100 shocks are adjustable so you can use them to lift your truck. They have 4 settings on them, 0, .85", 1.75" and 2.5" (0 being stock height and you can figure out the rest). They basically preload your existing coil to provide lift. Or you can get new shocks and coils and let the coils do the lifting. Depending on how high you want to go, letting the coils lift will probably ride better. It looks like you the Off Road which have progressive front coils so the more you preload them, the stiffer they'll ride.
     
  4. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:26 AM
    #4
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    Member:
    #42280
    Messages:
    12,846
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Mesa, AZ
    Vehicle:
    alot of metal, small engine, decent travel.
    caged, camburg long travel, 50t leafpack (soon to be installed) light rack over cab, 5pt harnesses etc

    yeah i suggest eibach coils, they are a higher spring rate so you wont bottom out as easy and they also give you 1.6 inches of lift (i think) when bilstein 5100s are set at 0.
     
  5. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:32 AM
    #5
    nate71

    nate71 [OP] Rising Creek

    Joined:
    May 26, 2011
    Member:
    #57306
    Messages:
    170
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    17 TRD Off Road
    Toytec Boss 2.5 front coilovers Toytec Boss rear shocks Deavers 10 leaf pack Caliraised ditch light brackets Caliraised faux TRD Pro grill Rigid LED D-SS pods Timbren bump stops 16” VTX off road wheels
    alright, thanks guys! now if I only knew a place close to me that could install this :/ I might could do it myself but idk how to do any of this crap!
     
  6. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:36 AM
    #6
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    Member:
    #42280
    Messages:
    12,846
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Mesa, AZ
    Vehicle:
    alot of metal, small engine, decent travel.
    caged, camburg long travel, 50t leafpack (soon to be installed) light rack over cab, 5pt harnesses etc
    we can help you!! installing front shocks is extremely easy!

    jack up the truck
    take off the tire/s
    un bolt the top of the coil over 3 or 4 bolts i forgot.
    unbolt the bottom, (1 bolt)
    pull the shock out
    put the top of the new shock in place
    put the bolt through the bottom, dont tighten yet
    put bolts on top, semi toghten, tighten bottom, tighten top. put tire on. and repeat for the other side


    but you will probably need to take the shock to a shop and have them put the coil on for you
     
  7. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:39 AM
    #7
    nate71

    nate71 [OP] Rising Creek

    Joined:
    May 26, 2011
    Member:
    #57306
    Messages:
    170
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    17 TRD Off Road
    Toytec Boss 2.5 front coilovers Toytec Boss rear shocks Deavers 10 leaf pack Caliraised ditch light brackets Caliraised faux TRD Pro grill Rigid LED D-SS pods Timbren bump stops 16” VTX off road wheels
    the coil goes around the shock...correct?
     
  8. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:43 AM
    #8
    JLee

    JLee The Man! Vendor

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2010
    Member:
    #40461
    Messages:
    19,557
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jerry
    Benicia, CA
    Vehicle:
    02 Extra cab SAS Linked front and rear
    I lost track thousands of dollars ago.

    There is a few more steps on a 2nd Gen

    You have to remove the sway bar and disconnect the spindle from the UCA to remove the shock.
     
  9. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:45 AM
    #9
    JLee

    JLee The Man! Vendor

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2010
    Member:
    #40461
    Messages:
    19,557
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jerry
    Benicia, CA
    Vehicle:
    02 Extra cab SAS Linked front and rear
    I lost track thousands of dollars ago.

    I'm sorry but with that comment you might want someone to help you compressing a coils can be deadly if done wrong .I'm sure there is some members near you or at least a hour or two away that can help you.
     
  10. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:45 AM
    #10
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    Member:
    #42280
    Messages:
    12,846
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Mesa, AZ
    Vehicle:
    alot of metal, small engine, decent travel.
    caged, camburg long travel, 50t leafpack (soon to be installed) light rack over cab, 5pt harnesses etc

    ohh i didnt know that.. my bad
    is that the only other steps?

    and yes the coil goes around the shock, and you would need a spring compressor to add it, which most people dont have. but i know a shop can do it for fairly cheap.
     
  11. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:46 AM
    #11
    nate71

    nate71 [OP] Rising Creek

    Joined:
    May 26, 2011
    Member:
    #57306
    Messages:
    170
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    17 TRD Off Road
    Toytec Boss 2.5 front coilovers Toytec Boss rear shocks Deavers 10 leaf pack Caliraised ditch light brackets Caliraised faux TRD Pro grill Rigid LED D-SS pods Timbren bump stops 16” VTX off road wheels
    I really really appreciate all the help from all the TW members! I better try to let a shop do this work for me or get somebody experienced to help me out, but I now have a much better idea of what I should do!
     
  12. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:46 AM
    #12
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    Member:
    #42280
    Messages:
    12,846
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Mesa, AZ
    Vehicle:
    alot of metal, small engine, decent travel.
    caged, camburg long travel, 50t leafpack (soon to be installed) light rack over cab, 5pt harnesses etc

    this is true, or have a shop do it, then im sure you could install the shock (once assembled) by your self. got to learn sometime!
     
  13. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:46 AM
    #13
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2010
    Member:
    #39131
    Messages:
    38,409
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    '19 Ford F-250 6.7 SCrew
    F-250 Land Yacht Mod
    Depends on how tall the coil is. I put 5100's with Eibach coils on and only had to loosen the sway bar and disconnect the steering linkage. If you were going with a set-up closer to 3" I don't think we would have made it work, we would have had to remove or loosen some more like you mentioned. They were set at 0 and I ended up with right about the 1.6" of lift (just a hair over).

    OP, there are some great DIY write-ups with pictures on this site. Have a read through them and see if you're comfortable with the proceedure. Air tools and a full set of good hand tools make the process much easier. An extra set of hands doesn't hurt either!
     
  14. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:47 AM
    #14
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    Member:
    #42280
    Messages:
    12,846
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Mesa, AZ
    Vehicle:
    alot of metal, small engine, decent travel.
    caged, camburg long travel, 50t leafpack (soon to be installed) light rack over cab, 5pt harnesses etc
    if you do have a shop do it maybe ask if you can watch them do it? would help you learn!
     
  15. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:48 AM
    #15
    JLee

    JLee The Man! Vendor

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2010
    Member:
    #40461
    Messages:
    19,557
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jerry
    Benicia, CA
    Vehicle:
    02 Extra cab SAS Linked front and rear
    I lost track thousands of dollars ago.

    Just unbolt the brake lines from the spindle and UCA to get them out of the way.
     
  16. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:51 AM
    #16
    JLee

    JLee The Man! Vendor

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2010
    Member:
    #40461
    Messages:
    19,557
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jerry
    Benicia, CA
    Vehicle:
    02 Extra cab SAS Linked front and rear
    I lost track thousands of dollars ago.

    That must of been a pain to remove the old shock. We just disconnect the top spindle nut to get the spindle out of the way it's takes about 2min to do it and it's so much easier to remove the shock and replace it.
     
  17. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:51 AM
    #17
    mxnborder

    mxnborder Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2010
    Member:
    #38749
    Messages:
    1,107
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jason
    Santa Barbara
    Vehicle:
    05 4x4 sport - black on black on black
    DR coilovers AAl 285 kelly safaris lightbar/skidplate need more!
    The set-up doesn't really look that old or worn out to me. . . i had a spacer on my old tacoma for about 3 years and it held up great, unless you are doing serious wheeling or the money is just burning a hole in your pocket i would just leave it like that for a while until you start getting on TW enough you won't be able to resist upgrading just because it happens to us all on here haha!
    Definitely try to get a better pic of that leaf pack thats sagging its hard to tell from those angles as mentioned above.
     
  18. Jun 3, 2011 at 9:54 AM
    #18
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Member:
    #27584
    Messages:
    50,399
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Peter North
    British Columbia
    Vehicle:
    Mag Grey 09 Trd Sport DCLB 4x4
    OME 885x , OME shocks and Dakars , Wheelers SuperBumps front and rear , 275/70/17 Hankook ATm , OEM bed mat , Weathertech digifit floor liners , Weathertech in-channel vents , headache rack , Leer 100RCC commercial canopy , TRD bedside decals removed , Devil Horns by Andres , HomerTaco Satoshi
  19. Jun 3, 2011 at 1:00 PM
    #19
    nate71

    nate71 [OP] Rising Creek

    Joined:
    May 26, 2011
    Member:
    #57306
    Messages:
    170
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    17 TRD Off Road
    Toytec Boss 2.5 front coilovers Toytec Boss rear shocks Deavers 10 leaf pack Caliraised ditch light brackets Caliraised faux TRD Pro grill Rigid LED D-SS pods Timbren bump stops 16” VTX off road wheels
    here is a better angle on the leaf springs.

    leaf spring.jpg
     
  20. Jun 3, 2011 at 1:02 PM
    #20
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    Member:
    #42280
    Messages:
    12,846
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Mesa, AZ
    Vehicle:
    alot of metal, small engine, decent travel.
    caged, camburg long travel, 50t leafpack (soon to be installed) light rack over cab, 5pt harnesses etc
    they look almost as bad as mine haha. a add a leaf will work for a little bit but will eventually flatten out. you can take those to a shop and they can reheat them and put them like they are supposed to be
     

Products Discussed in

To Top