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Need help correcting my current suspension set up.

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by yoTaco98, Jun 13, 2011.

  1. Jun 13, 2011 at 7:36 PM
    #1
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    1998 V6 Xtra-Cab Tacoma 4x4 SR5
    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    Hey guys..

    My 1998 4x4 Tacoma came with Skyjacker 2.5" lift, which consists of front spacers, and rear shackles.

    It also has Rancho struts up front, and Skyjacker Shocks in the rears.

    The front struts are worn out and need to be replaced.
    The rear springs have completely lost their arch, but the shocks are still good.

    The front has it's 2.5" of lift but my rear has began to sag about an inch due to the OEM leaf flattening out.

    I am considering leaving the spacer/shackle set up, and getting 5100's for the front and rears, as well as replacing the rears leaf springs. I also heard I can just add a leaf to correct the OEM leaf sag.

    What do you guys think about this set up? I really need some advice so that I can keep my 2.5" set up, but improve my ride economically and efficiently. The only concern is that an AAL may not fix my axle wrap.

    Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

    So...

    Leave the Skyjacker spacers and shackles, add a leaf, and add 5100 all around?

    or

    Leave the Skyjacker spacers and shackles, replace the entire leaf spring, and add 5100 all around?

    or

    I have this completely wrong. I should do something different?


    THANKS IN ADVANCE!
     
  2. Jun 14, 2011 at 5:54 AM
    #2
    TexasTacoma37

    TexasTacoma37 Well-Known Member

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    For the front, ditch the spacers and set the billys to 2.5" That will give you a much better ride than the spacers, because the 5100's are valved to properly dampen the stiffer spring rate, which your worn out shocks weren't doing.

    For the rear id recommend you ditch the shackles, and get a whole new leaf pack. Adding a leaf to your 13 old pack won't do much.
     
  3. Jun 14, 2011 at 6:20 AM
    #3
    BFA

    BFA Nuttier than squirrel shit.

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    shackles prematurely wear out leaf springs, atleast stock ones i believe and the spacer is junk just get the 5100s and set them at 2.5 with a new leaf pack
     
  4. Jun 15, 2011 at 2:35 AM
    #4
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    1998 V6 Xtra-Cab Tacoma 4x4 SR5
    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    Thanks guys.

    Any recommendations on the rear leafs that would give me back 2.5 or put me level with the front?
     
  5. Jun 15, 2011 at 3:35 AM
    #5
    TacoCat

    TacoCat These pretzels are making me thirsty

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    Johnny-5
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    I believe I saw a thread where someone was setting up a feeler for all pro leaf pack group buys. Not sure if there might be anything worth looking into though.

    If you need help installing try setting up a mod day if you can host one. We've done a couple in the past that have been pretty successful.
     
  6. Jun 15, 2011 at 6:09 AM
    #6
    BFA

    BFA Nuttier than squirrel shit.

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    dakars are 2.5" lift springs and for a good price too check out wheelers
     
  7. Jun 15, 2011 at 7:32 PM
    #7
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    1998 V6 Xtra-Cab Tacoma 4x4 SR5
    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    Wheelers mentioned that Dakars are 2.25" and I believe I have change the shackle out to OEM from the Skyjackers, and get new bushings as well too right?
     
  8. Jun 17, 2011 at 8:35 AM
    #8
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    So I decided to take the spacers out and use the 5100s for the lift.

    I could just bring the front down to 1.75 and it would sit level with the rear.

    Does any one know if I have to have camber bolts for the front to get the alignment in spec?
     
  9. Jun 17, 2011 at 8:38 AM
    #9
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

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    alot of metal, small engine, decent travel.
    caged, camburg long travel, 50t leafpack (soon to be installed) light rack over cab, 5pt harnesses etc
  10. Jun 19, 2011 at 6:49 PM
    #10
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    1998 V6 Xtra-Cab Tacoma 4x4 SR5
    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    I've been reading about the 3" lift All-Pro Standard Duty Leaf Springs.

    Hopefully the GB goes through soon. But my question...

    If I I did 2.5" on the front with the 5100's and the 3" lift on the rear with the All-Pro leafs, would the I be level?
     
  11. Jun 22, 2011 at 8:57 AM
    #11
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    Anyone?
     
  12. Jun 22, 2011 at 9:17 AM
    #12
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

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    "level" means so many things to different people. It's all in how your eye sees the truck.

    When I put 885 springs on my front and Dakar leaf packs on the rear, I still had some rake, but I had to adjust my headlights down, so there was less than I started with.

    Now, with a 13 year old truck, I'd expect your original springs have sagged a bit. So with a new leaf pack in back, but 5100s at 2.5 on those aging springs in the front, my GUESS is that you'd end up with more rake than you have now. Maybe quite a bit more.

    My recommendation, assuming you've got the budget for it, would be to replace shocks and springs all around.
     
  13. Jun 22, 2011 at 6:11 PM
    #13
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    What kind new front springs would work with the 5100s?


    Or should I just do new OEM coils?
     
  14. Jun 22, 2011 at 6:42 PM
    #14
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

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    Eibachs from toytec are a good choice if you want to run 5100s.

    You'll have to set the 5100s at 0 or 0.85 to compensate for the increased length of the spring.

    OEM springs from the dealer are going to be shockingly expensive.
     
  15. Jun 23, 2011 at 7:10 AM
    #15
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    Thanks Bjmoose!

    I read on Toytec that the Eibachs were a 3" lift, so with the 5100's set to 0, would I be looking at 3" of lift?
     
  16. Jun 23, 2011 at 12:11 PM
    #16
    Fabulous

    Fabulous Well-Known Member

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    3" of lift on first Gens, 1.6" on 2nd Gens.
     
  17. Jun 23, 2011 at 7:23 PM
    #17
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    Thanks...

    I was trying really hard to keep the lift at 2.5", since I've read about all the issues you get into with alignment and UCA at 3" or more.

    It seems that it's going to be difficult. The only way to really get 2.5" level is the with spacers which I really want to go away from.

    I guess 5100's and Eibachs in the front, and 5100's and the All-Pro 3" leaf in the rear is the way to go.

    I just hope they get the group buy going soon.

    Any major issues aligning at 3" instead of 2.5"?
     
  18. Jun 23, 2011 at 7:36 PM
    #18
    RideFast

    RideFast on the flats.

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    ...
    Correct me if I am wrong but if you set the billies at any setting besides "0" you will be loosing equal to that amount of down travel. If you are going for complete looks this will be great but if you wheel consider setting your shocks at 0 and going with eibachs. The higher you set the billies the rougher the ride gets because you compress the coils.
    The same applys to spacer lifts because you are compressing your coils with the top spacer.

    This is how I think I understud it from the guy at toytec.
     
  19. Jun 23, 2011 at 7:42 PM
    #19
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    I'm pretty sure your correct.

    So I'm going to go with the eibachs.

    I was just hoping I could get springs that kept me at 2.5", but it seems that all the springs out there that I could use with the 5100s at 0, are 3" inchers, like the eibachs.

    There aren't even leaf packs out there for 2.5"? So I would have to go with 1-2" and add a shackle.
     
  20. Jul 12, 2011 at 4:35 AM
    #20
    yoTaco98

    yoTaco98 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    5100's Front and Rears, Toytec Eibach Coils, All Pro 3" Standard Leafs, BAMF BPV Bracket, ARMA Sprayed Bedliner, TGD Hunter Bull Bar, Blacked-out Headlights and Corners, Revtek 1" Diff Drop, Start Command Remote Start and Keyless Entry, Pioneer DEH-11E HU...
    Installed the 5100s this weekend. I have them set to 2.5 with the OEM coils.

    The ride height in the front was the same as the spacers, its just a better ride now. I'll keep his until I can get new coils, but new leafs are the priority now.

    My big issue is that I dont know what the original measurements for the front and rear was on the truck. So I don't know which set of leafs would help me avoid rake and keep me level.

    Fat Bob's got a medium strength 2.25" leaf pack I could use with the factory shackles.

    Fat Bob's also has OEM style no lift 4 leaf pack that I could use with my. 2.5" greasable shackles.

    All-Pro has the 3" medium leaf pack.

    Wheelers 4 leaf pack, with the 2.5" shackles.

    On the expensive end, there's Alcan and Deaver, which would also require me to replace my shackles.

    Any suggestions on which of these would fit best with the 5100s/OEM setup would be appreciated. Espcially if one of these is guaranteed to get rid of the axle wrap.
     

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