I'm new to trucks, and need some feedback.

I have a 96 2wd 4 cyl 2.4 liter Tacoma.

It sits very low. Being a somewhat tall person (6'2"), I don't really like driving something that low. Here is a picture.



So, I was thinking I would try to lift it 2 inches and put 15s, or 16s if I could on it to lift it up a little more. Let it be known, I do not plan on offroading with this. I would hate to tear it up.

I'm what you would call, car dumb. I'm 16, and never been around vehicles much, so I don't know much. I HAVE been reading as much as I can, and of course being here has taught me a bunch. My uncle has a shop and put it on a lift and showed me around a bit, but he doesn't have much suspension knowledge. I was thinking you guys could give me some advice.

So, again, 2 inch lift and 1 or 2 inch bigger tires.

I plan on tackling this by adding a 2 inch shackle to the rear leaf springs, and (I guess) a new spindle assembly on the front. I haven't done much research on spindles, and what I have researched didn't teach me much.

Can someone tell me, in their opinion, if my truck would look silly with that little lift?

Also, can someone tell/teach me anything about lifting a truck, shackles, and spindles and how they work?

I've already read over a ton of suspension guides and such, so please don't say "Read a guide [LINK]". I'd prefer some personal tips.

Thank you guys so much.

Edit: I don't even know what this "lug" business is. I guess it's just how many many lugs on the wheel?

 

Man, you don't know how much I appreciate a bit of real advice like that.

I love this place so much. Would you happen to have a link to a build link of his or anything?

 

Just create a private message to mcjosh. simply go to create pm and then type in his username or search his username using the search feature and it will come up with threads he has started. hope that helps.

 

McJosh Build

Here ya go buddy.

 

Thank you both.

I'm thinking I may get an AAL for the back.

These spindles seem to be pretty expensive... so I don't know what to do with the front end.


Would it being an inch higher in the rear than the front look odd?

 

Possibly but most truck sit just a tad higher in the back than front anyways. i might be able to photoshop you a pic tomorrow with a 1 inch lift in the back.

 

Sounds wonderful, thanks!

I'm asking because I was looking and figured I'd get a 3" AAL in the rear, and some kind of 2" in the front.





Does anyone know if a 2" spacer would work on a spindle suspension? Can I just adjust the torsion bar?

 

your truck already sits ass high, putting it an inch higher in the front will make it look even more rediculous. if you are doing 2" in the front it would be better to just do 2" in the back to keep it even.

im pretty sure you cant use a traditional spacer lift because the 5 lugs (2wd) dont have struts like the 6 lug (4x4 and prerunner). I found this link for a 1.5"/2" lift from fat bobs, it says it uses a front poly spacer, which are different from the 6 lug spacers. http://fatbobsgarage.com/i-6765169-...pacer-2-rear-shackle-2wd-1995-2004-5-lug.html

and no, you cant adjust the torsion bars because you dont have any.

another option is....a body lift since you dont plan on off roading at all (or so you say) but watch the hell out, everyone here HATES body lifts with a passion.

 

Should look something like this...without the spindles in the front like you were saying. Just with the AALs on there.

Here they are side by side so you can tell.

 

A friend of mine put a spindle lift on the front end of his 98 extra cab. He use add a leafs in the rear. I think it was a 3 inch spindle up front and a 1 inch add a leaf in the back. The truck sat level afterwards and fit 30 inch tires. The power did suffer a little from the tire size, and the front tires stuck out a little from the spindles. It looked awesome overall. It almost looked like a stock 4x4. Not quite, but it looked tough.

 

Why the hell would you lift a 2wd? Absolutely pointless...






























Actually mine has 3" spindles and 2" shackles. There's a link to the build in my signature.

 

Thanks! Looks good.

How exactly does the poly space work? I was told any kind of space would just spread the spindle arms, not lift the truck. Was I misinformed?

It seems to me that body lifts cost a bit more than I want, then I'd have to extend the skirts and stuff.

To make it look better. I hate it being so low. I don't want to offroad, but I hate low trucks like this. It is insanely short. My friend drives a Taurus and it's about the same height.

 

3" lift spindles are 380ish, plus the rear lift. A body lift is about 250, but its a lot of work. But a 3" spindle and a 2" shackle would probably be the best way to do it on your budget, where as a body lift is poo.


As far as the spacer goes I don't really know, I just looked on the internet for a bit to see what was out there. I never tried to lift my 5 lug, I went the other way.

 

Alright. I guess I'll have to save up for a while and get the spindles and I guess an AAL. Might as well beef up my pretty weak suspension.

I can almost bottom it out by jumping in the bed.

I would get a new leaf package, but I seriously don't have the money. It'll probably be August before I can get the spindles and AAL, if I don't spend ANY money at all.

Then I'd have to find bigger tires so it doesn't look goofy.

Thanks for the information.

Also, do you have any links to where I can buy the spindles? All I'm finding are ones for like 700.

 

this is the one i looked at
http://performancelifts.com/cgi-bin/cart/FTS41307.html

ya the 2wd leafs are bouncy as hell. my friends would always jump in the back of my 5 lug and act like it was a trampoline...then i got the 4wd and told em to do it again and they thought it would be just as bouncy...WRONG, the look on their faces when it didnt move at all was great. as far as an add a leaf goes, if you have a local spring shop they can make you a custom 2" lift spring that will be right for your leaf pack and be just the right amount of stiffness.


dont like how low the truck is...you could always go lower...

 

I think I'll pass.

And your link is broken.

 

DAMIT POST LESS! you keep replying before i finish editing my posts and adding more too them lol.

i added more above ^

and mjb's slammed 95 is the best dam looking static tacoma ever created lol. but i understand why most people would not want it


EDIT: here ya go

http://performancelifts.com/cgi-bin/cart/FTS41307.html

 

Yeah, sorry about that. I was in my web design class and had nothing to do, so I was anticipating your replies

Thanks for the links. I'll look into those!