2.5 in. Spacer question

My son has a '98 Tacoma and wants to put the 2.5in Daystar spacer up front and the AAL on the rear to get some lift. I've read that the spacer makes for a crappy ride. If so, is that on rough terrain or normal driving? He'll basically be on the pavement and hardpacked logging roads.
My original plan was Billsteins up front and rear AAL but, he has a little cash and is a typical 16 year old with little patience. Thanks

 

On here you'll get a vast majority in opposition to spacers/blocks. Especially big ones. Billy's would be an upgrade. Spacer, downgrade. Shock + spacer will ride stiff on and off road from what I've read

 

It will give him a rough ride on both pavement and off road.

Safe up the $$$, not much more, and get the Bilsteins up from and rear AAL.

With the spacer, you're preloading a stock spring and strut that won't have the dampening capabilities to handle that amount of preload on the spring. With the bilsteins, even though you're preloading the strut by setting the bilstein 5100 strut to 2.5 of lift, you'll have a much smoother ride because that strut can handle the preload with relatively superior dampening characteristics.

 

Only downside to 5100s - they are on backorder till probably mid-June/July... I am waiting as well.

 

X2

this is most unfortunate..

 

X10000 on what people have said about spacers. Tell him to save up and do it right the first time, or go back later to fix the mistakes he made.

Bilstein 5100's are actually only slightly more expensive than a spacer kit.

There is always OME if you dont want to wait. Its a bit more money, but many say those kits ride better then bilsteins.

 

I have a 2in spacer only up front that i bought off of ebay, it gives a decent ride, i like my ride better with the spacer cause its stiffer, but to some they may not, i go off road just about every weekend, not bad trails, but some mud holes, and 4-wheeler trails, it isnt bad plus its my daily driver. there is some things that worry me, and thats breaking the strut, or busting shocks, cause the spacers are bad about causin that.

 

He chocked, haha. Ordered the 2.5 inch daystar spacer and a 2 inch AAL. Says he rode in one with spacers and liked it. I say BS, he's going for cool. I'll post a picture when it's installed. Oh, they did say a few more months if you're waiting on the Billsteins.

 

Im 16 with not much cash too, I got 3" spacer lift on mine just for a couple months until i can afford 5100s all the way around. Paid $60 with shipping on ebay Rides fine, couldnt tell much of a difference.

 

damn..oh well..he will come around..

you obviously need to ride in a properly lifted truck.

 

I have a revtek 2.5 spacer with a block in the rear. It was cheap and gave me what i was looking for in ride height and that thing has sen many snowy trails

 

Do it right the first time, you and your kid will be glad you did Just wait until june and save up some more money and get the 5100s for all 4 corners from Downsouth Motorsports. New front 2.5" lift shocks and new rear shocks for $295 shipped (with TW discount) with the 2" AAL lift for the rear. Pretty cheap but still pretty decent lift.

 

true for just lifing it works just fine. Offroad..not so much.

Your stock shocks are limited in travel. Thats whats the big inprovement over the 5100s set a 2.5''. Do they do the same thing as a spacer? yes, they precompress the coil BUT the 5100 shock is made for lift applications and can take the extra height.

You spacers + stock shocks..do not do that..

your jepordizing your suspention much more then if you had the proper length of shock.

its cheap for a reason..will it work for a while? yes..but you should really get rid of it ASAP especially if you wheel a lot.

Top mount spacers are the same story for the most part. Here you tend to over compress them with these type of spacers..other then if you use them on a properlly built shock. But even then, you shouldn't get to crazy with them.

AALs are fine for lifting...for a while..AALs are basically just a bandaid for bad leaf packs. Our trucks leafs are notoriously bad after a time..and there are manny options for getting new packs. But a Good AAL will hold you off for up to over a year of hard driving and hauling sometimes. But again..it'll still wear out and you'll have flat leafs again. Only a bandaid


as for my shocks leaking Ben..those are 5150s and that is also due to the wrong length of shock. So yes, perfect example. They are to short. So i over compressed them. Much like how you are over extended your stock shocks. Im already am lined out to fix them after Moab.

 

they aren't popular..not on any toyota forum i am on...lol

and i wouldn't put em on a truck with a 16 year old driving..that kid is just gonna push that truck so hard past its limits anyways...not a good idea..

 

Ive had blocks..same damn thing. SUCKED!!

and id say that the risk of breaking a shock is much higher then what MTs do or a lift does to the wheel bearings..

and the 5100s alone will give you more articulation then a stock shock with a spacer..for not much more money.

and yes, i suppose i will see...im not riding in you truck on a trail again tho..hahahaha

 

ben, you got spacers now you think they are freakin perfect! You are the new TW advocate for spacer lifts. You dont need high end suspension parts for a better ride, upgrades shocks/coils is a great medium.

 

thats BASICALLY what you are saying. every spacer thread that comes up you are in it advocating spacer lifts and saying how all of the negatives are just panic responses and isolated incidents (like body lifts) lol. And that whole subjective ride is better argument is so tilted and you know it haha!

 

i hope you are not getting mad or defensive. you have had them for what? a month or two? So how much experience do you REALLY have with them. Let me know how great they are 2 years from now and if you would keep them over some new shocks or coils. Its subjective but its still comparing crap to slightly improved crap.

 

k good, this is supposed to be a friendly debate.

i dont really want to ask how many miles you have driven on what nor do i need to. Its just a fact that new shocks and,or coils are better. If not then why were you FREAKING out when you first got them. Its a chunk or metal stuck on top of the coil...the worst lift after body lifts...im secretly waiting for the proverbial foot in mouth when some fluke happens and you snap a shock.

 

well its the long term that the ride gets real bad due to the stress the stock coils have been put on and the stock shock.

and i better not break down lol and im sure you will make it over stuff i wont, that locker is a pretty big advantage..although who knows..

i sure hope you don't have them on in 2 years..your trucks coils and leafs were soggy enough last year..this bandaid ain't gonna last that long..