how envolved is it to remove a body lift?

so i have a 99 pre runner and it has 31's on it with a 2 inch body lift approximately. now how hard would it be to undo this lift? i think it looks o.k but the car drives like a sail boat in the wind and the tires on it look small. so its either get 33's or remove the lift that i don't really like anyway. and i don't want to go to 33 inch tires because of gas mileage and power loss. the truck is already a dog. i imagine i need an overhead lift for the body or can it be blocked? how much would i be looking at to have a shop do this for me?


also the truck is off on the speed by +20 mph...do you guys think it possibly had bigger tires and was adjusted for them, than they were removed before it was sold to me? it may be re-geared for larger tires as well because it shifts funny..it doesn't hold gears long enough.

 

I don't know the proper way of installing or removing body lifts because I have never been interested in them, but if I had to remove one I would use a block of wood on a jack and put it under the body. Then I would take my time and remove one spacer at a time slowly letting the body down to the original mounts. I wouldn't imagine it being to difficult because there isn't much to a body lift.

The issue with your speedometer is probably from a regear. I don't think it is possible to correct the speedometer in these trucks. Most people just go buy a scan gauge or something like that and calibrate it to the correct speed.

 

Would be a good idea to buy a Body Mount Kit from Energy Suspension or Daystar before you begin.

 

Shouldnt be too difficult with the right tools and plenty of beer!

 

does the body have some kind of stock mount or something than? i was imagining it just bolts right back to the frame.

 

It has rubber bushings that go between the body and the frame to give it a little cushion. The rubber tends to wear out after a while and when you are taking the body lift off, that will be the best time to change them.

 

I took a 3 inch body lift off my 98, it was tedious but not too bad. First I did the box with the only real issue being the gas filler hose, just shortened the rubber hoses and replaced the clamps. The cab and front clip were a different issue, once I got all the lift stuff out, a bit of a job with the rust from our heavily salted roads, I used pieces of wood to hold everything in place and slowly lowered the cab and clip a bit at a time stopping to check wires and squeezing the brakeline coils together. The radiator was a bit of a problem, you have to make sure it is just hanging by the hoses and once the clip is down at the proper height you can bolt it right back into the original locations. The steering connection may be an issue depending upon how it was extended but that will also have to be disconnected and carefully watched as you lower the cab so it doesn't jam, I had to go the scrapyard to get a replacement as there was no way I could use the extended one that came with the bodylift kit that had been installed. Truck is much better now, less of a sail in the wind and my 31's look just right with 5100's set at the middle position and the rear springs done to add about an inch of rake, rides better too with the proper body mounts but don't buy them from Toyota.

 

I also have a 3" body lift and planning on removing it. I heard the rear isnt bad to do but the front is a little trickier. Since the front bumper is mounted to the frame you would have to relocate it, but the rear bumper is mounted to the body i believe so it would be fine. Re-organizing the engine parts seems to be the hardest part.

 

The rear bumper is also mounted to the frame.

 

Good info thanks!

So My bumper is flush with the body. And I have a 3 inch body lift. Im planning on removing mine, so how do I move my bumper down?

 

yes, it does, but you'll also need to remove the steering (etc...) spacers. Not that big of a deal. As for your bumper, it more than likely has a set of brackets that moved the bumper up. Hopefully these aren't welded in place. If not, just take the brackets off. If they're welded, get an angle grinder or a torch and have some fun...

As for getting new body mount bushings, it's probably not absolutely necessary, but if you're taking it apart anyway, ~$70 (urethane body mount kit) is a good investment and piece of mind. It's hard to inspect the body mounts until they're off the truck anyway. So if they're damaged, and you didn't buy new ones, your truck will sit for a few more days while you order new ones.

 

now i see why everyone hates body lifts...they seem to be the biggest PITA thing you could to to your truck.

 

for me, it's not that they are a PITA to install/remove, it's actually quite the opposite. Most people (IMO) get body lifts because they are cheap and relatively easy to install. You don't need to modify the suspension, extend brake lines, etc...

The problem I have with them, is well, they are cheap, and make the truck higher, less stable, etc... for absolutely NO performance increase. I just can't see how spacing the body 3" away from the frame using 1" diameter spacers can be a good thing. Think of it like stepping on a soda can and balance on that. That's what a 3" body lift is like for your cab/body. The next worst option, IMO, is a block/spacer lift. Those also reak havock on your suspension. If you're going for minimum money spent and you want a city truck with huge tires and 15 hellas on a light bar that doesn't see dirt, fine...

 

Crap, i am not looking forward to doing my body lift now.
Shortended run-down:
Remove/loosen front and rear bumper, relocate as necessary
Remove and replace/shorten steering shaft
Loosen radiator for relo
Keep an eye on fuel/brake lines, relocate as necessary
If your shifter (mani) arm was lengthened like mine, shorten as necessary so as to not interfere with instrument panel.
THEN take off body lift
FML
For those of you that are thinking about putting it off and like to wheel...don't.

Here's what my body lift looks like after the previous owner beat on it in the dirt with no consideration for the weakpoints of a body lift.


Who in their right mind would install one of these is my question?

 

This might help... it's the instructions to put on a Body lift... search for your truck.... may help in getting it off
http://www.performanceaccessories.com/instructions.php?Application1=Toyota

This might help if you think you need new hardware to bring it back to stock.
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/ToyotaTacoma.shtml#Tacoma

And of course the most important reading material for any Tacoma owner to have.
Have fun, I've subscribed, so if you get to it before I do, I'd love to see a full write up.

Mdub.

 

i think im gonna do it.....the more i look at my truck the more i hate that damn lift. all i need is a buddy and a cool day....i may take a few pics of the process and post em but doubt i will have the desire to do a full write up. who knows maybe i will.....

seems tedious but not impossible. i read over the lift install instructions and it talks about some brackets being welded underneath the body so ill have to check that out. also my bumpers are bolted with lift brackets so im good there.

 

Lol, PURGE IT WITH FIRE!!!

 

There has to be brackets moving your bumpers up that might of came with the kit hopefully it's not welded on.

 

so the bed seems easy enough....once i have it blocked and the lift cylinders removed i can just jack it up (with jack on some sort of stand) remove blocks and lower...but what about the cab and clip? where would i even begin to put the jack so that the cab was balanced and would not tilt? where would be a safe place to load all that weight in a single area as well with out causing damage? im going to have to go slow and triple check everything before i lower it to the frame...any ideas? and can anyone direct me to a good brand to get some stock body mounts from?

 

This might help if you think you need new hardware to bring it back to stock.
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...a.shtml#Tacoma

go with the 0'' lift witch would take it down to stock.