Which type of spacer is better?

I am looking to order a 3 inch lift kit, and have noticed that there are two types of spacers? Those that bolt on top of spring, and need coil to be compressed. And those that get bolted on top of the whole assembly, and dont need coil to be compressed. Any ideas, I am looking for the better ride of the two, No real off roading in my future other than a few camping trips, Thanks!

 

If you want ride quality you're barking up the entirely wrong tree looking at spacers.

Much better off with a 5100 kit from Toytec as Wolfpack suggested.

 

Thanks but looking for a spacer, not new shocks.

 

For the price difference and a few other factors considered, like wolfpack mentioned, a set of 5100's up front would be the "best" alternative to a spacer lift.

As far as the spacer kits that compress the coil vs. bolt on top of the coilover, If it were me, I would go over the top of the coilover to prevent any spring compression from happening. Low Range Off-Road makes a kit that Tundra guys seem to like on their trucks and a friend has one. Truth be told, it rides pretty much like stock and took about 3 hours to put on (using a lift though). http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/inde...10-3-leveling-lift-kit-for-toyota-tacoma.html

 

Which spacer is better? Thats like saying which shit smells better

 

The spacers that bolt to the top of the shock assembly will give you better ride. However, the shock can break off-road because the bump stop on the frame won't be contacted with the suspension in full compression.

 

This can happen if you even take a speed bump too hard lol

 

The ones that go on top of the spring, compressing it will give you a terribly rough ride. Ones that go on top of the whole assembly cause your shocks to bottom out resulting in shocks that snap in half. Spend 5 more dollars and get the 5100's. They will give you 2.5" of lift and pretty much do the same thing as a spacer but do it better while giving you a better ride. For that extra 1/2" get a toytec top plate spacer.

 

Get both type of spacers.

 

That's the biggest thing I like about the Low-Range kit, they include new bump-stops.

 

and stack em!

 

Just went to the link you posted. Looks like a well-thought out kit.

 

Heres the top plate spacers











And here are the preload spacers

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your pick.

 

listen to the advice being given to you.......

 

Damn, I can't save my $ fast enough to get rid of my pre-loads...

 

Spacers will *not* give a better ride.

 

No real off roading in my future other than a few camping trips, Thanks!

A top spacer will do that^^^^^^. I ran a spacer until I installed my winch and they worked fine. The Eibachs/5100's do a better job supporting and controlling the added weight though. Bottom line is if I didn't add weight to my front bumper I would still be running spacers.

And don't believe for a second that all those shocks broke hopping speed bumps.

 

A top plate spacer gives a better ride than than a coil spacer, since there's no additional spring preload. Ride with a top plate spacer should be about the same as stock.

 

i have that kit for a first gen and love it. i dont offroad with my truck and just wanted a leveled look and for tire clearance

 

Ya I didn't do enough research. The cost of my current setup and the spacer lift is pretty close so I wasted money on the spacers. I still stick to my previous statement: Properly installed spacers will be fine for on road and for the ocassional camping trip.