Kinda worn stock leafs + icon 3 leaf AAL? And OME coil question.

My 97's leaf packs are worn, no doubt, but dont yet have a negative arch, more of a flat arch, and with Rancho 5000 rear shocks the truck is really harsh in the rear.

I want to do 2'' OME lift in front and 1.5'' in the rear (with OME shocks all around). I know the best option would be to do a whole new leaf pack (wheelers 5 pack) but that is quite expensive ($459) compared to the Icon 1.5'' 3 leaf AAL ($180).

I emailed DSM, and they said that the Icon AAL would work well on my truck (explained the sagging), and they have a great repuatation, and know their shit.

Is it because they are progressive springs that it would ride better than a normal AAL? Or will it ride like shit? I also am concerned that putting the AAL on the worn leafs that it will just lead to needing a new leaf pack anyways...but because the Icon 3 pack AAL includes a long leaf and wont allow the AAL to sag? I know a new whole new pack would ride better, but will it be worth $500...thats really steep.

Also, DSM says 881 coils would be too stiff for my truck for a 2'' lift and only a tube bumper (planning to add a tube bumper also). They recommended 880 coils...wont they be too short to acheive 2'' of lift? And dont both the 880 and 881's have a 500# spring rate?

Wheelers O/R recommended an 881 coil for 2'' of lift.

I'll get pictures of my leafs tomorrow for reference.

 

Not sure on the AAL.

On the coils, yes, they are both the same spring rate. Only diff is the 880 is 10mm shorter than the 881.

However, you have the 4-cyl, so this is lighter than the V6, and the 880s won't compress as much as they would with a V6 on them; that's why you'd get "the same" lift. I'm not sure if your tube bumper will be lighter than the stock steel, also. Do you know?

Ride-wise, the 881s with the V6 are firm, but not harsh (Paired with nitrochargers, anyway. They were harsher with 5100s on zero). They could be too firm with the I4, but I can't tell you from personal experiecnce. This also gets into judgment calls and personal preference.

 

right, good insight.

I can tell you that any tube bumper will be heavier than the stock steel bumper. I removed the front bumper to dome some touching up and I was shocked at how light the stock bumper was (no more than 25-30lbs)

I am also unsure right now if I am eventually getting a winch...that will make a difference. But idk if I will end up getting one.

And I am definitely going to run the OME coils on the nitrochargers, not bilsteins.

Wheelers has the 880's down for 1.25-1.5'' on an extra cab v6, and the 881's down for 1.75-2'' on an xtra cab v6. I just dont want to get the 880's and not get 2'' of lift and have the truck have a rake like stock (where as I want it level).

But because both coils have a 500# rate wont they both ride the same? The 881's are just longer?

edit: will I need extended brake lines in the rear for 1.5'' of lift? Seems like i shouldnt need them.

 

I know my tube bumper was around 70 lbs but the trailgear i think is something like 55-65 lbs and for the coils id go ahead and get the somewhat stiffer ones if you have any thought about adding a winch down the road so that way you wouldnt have to tear it all apart to add new springs later on.

Also, it would be a good idea to go ahead and spend the $35 "insurance" on the ext brake line but i didnt and i have around 3-3.5" lift out back :O, but no issues yet...i just havent gotten around to gettin the new line yet

 

Just last month I installed 880's up front and a wheelers 5 pack in the rear. I've got a 2.7l Xtra cab, and I got about 1.5" of lift in the front, maybe even slightly more. I do not believe that I gained quite 1.5" in the rear, I think the 5 pack gave me more like an inch.... I have a very very slight forward rake.. like one inch or less.

It's a tough call because I think if you got the 881's, you'd be higher in the front than in the rear... For me, it came out almost what I wanted... I kind of wanted slightly less front lift and slightly more rear lift than what I got, but overall I'm happy with it. Definitely good quality components that I feel good about.

 

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Speaking only to the rear suspension, getting an AAL on a 15+ rear leaf is only delaying the inevitable...they will fail/break/crack and you will be worse off than you are now. I went through DSM for a set of Dakar’s with the 880's and chargers all around and am very happy with the set up. It still has a slight front rake to it, which I like. But it's all up to you.

 

I didn't see any leaf packs on DSM's sight...am I looking in the wrong place?

 

I have OME suspension all the way around on 1998 2.7L.

I tried the 881s and they are way to stiff. Changed to 880s and have a much better ride. Once I add more weight from an ARB bull bar - I'll switch to 881 coils.

For the 2.7L 881 may be two stiff.... I got more than 1.5" lift with the 880s

I would go with OME leaf springs.... If you can go all OME. The ride is awesome and wheels good two. I'm really loving my suspension!

http://www.trdparts4u.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=-8447

 

hmmm...thanks. Sucks to see the 881's will be so stiff up front. Guess I can get the 880's and OME's 10mm lift enhancer...but will the spacers take away from the ride quality?

Because at this time I dont think I am going to get a winch, and it seems the 881's will be too stiff without one.

 

^^this man.

Just get the new leaf pack bro. VERY happy with mine.

 

I just did the same on my truck. Sounds identical except I have the v6. I bought the 2.5" OME kit from Rocky-Road with the Dakar rear leaf pack. They sent me the 880 coils and I ended up with less than 1" lift in front and around 3" over stock (5"+ over where my truck was sitting) in the rear. I'm still fighting Rocky-road trying to get my money back for the front coils... I highly recommend spending the money on the new leaf pack for the rear if there's any way you can come up with the money now. Sounds like you're going to need it soon anyway so you'd be money ahead by spending a little more now.

 

yeah, sounds like I will just be getting a new leaf pack. Thanks for the insight guys.

Still stuck between 881's and 880's.

How would it look with 3'' in the front and 1.5 in the back? Don't want to end up with a bro-lean either..

I could do Bill 5100's, eibach coils, and the wheelers 5 pack in the rear..but because I have a 4cyl will the eibach coils make me nose high?

And what is the consensus of ride quality on/off road OME vs Bilstein+eibachs? I know the bills setup will be cheaper.

 

yeah, sounds like I will just be getting a new leaf pack. Thanks for the insight guys.

Still stuck between 881's and 880's.

How would it look with 3'' in the front and 1.5 in the back? Don't want to end up with a bro-lean either..

I could do Bill 5100's, eibach coils, and the wheelers 5 pack in the rear..but because I have a 4cyl will the eibach coils make me nose high?

And what is the consensus of ride quality on/off road OME vs Bilstein+eibachs? I know the bills setup will be cheaper though.

 

The ride is better with OME both on and off road. You should consider the Dakars for the rear. Personally I would go with the 881's on a 4cyl reg cab.

 

What I didn't like about it was it was too high in front and did not maintain factory rake.

It also made the vehicle "tight" where it did not want to turn in corners.

 

Have you ever driven a 4cyl with 881s?

It is terrible

 

all the dakar packs I have seen have been for 98-04 tacomas (I guess the leaf hanger spots changed those years?), do they make them for 97 and newer?

Also, the dakar packs I have seen give 2''+ of lift, I want my truck to be level, not rear-high.

are these it? everything I have read has stated that pre-98 you have to relocate the spring hangers for the dakar packs.

Will probably end up getting the wheelers 5 pack. I dont want to do any cutting/welding on the spring hangers...

 

yea you'd be way nose high. Eibachs give 3.5ish on v6s lol You'd need like 3-4 in the back to make it level.

id get 883s man. Future bumper proof a bit. Only 550 lb springs but still better then nothing.

 

883s?!?!?! I think that's a 4runner spring...

TacoMX, you might find this helpful with regard to OME setups. It's an Aussie outfit (where OME was born), but it gives some good spec for you to chew on front and rear:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/sus_Tacoma.html

Here are some additional spec charts:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/tech_OME_coils.html