time to bring her down

alright thanks

 

I would say that the best way to improve ride quality is to remove the spacers and make sure your body mounts are tight, the body lift could probably stay until you get your smaller tires since the body lift has no relation whatsoever to your suspension. I don't know why everyone claims they make your ride suck if they don't do anything to your suspension. More swaying on corners, sure, but a crappier ride, i wouldn't think so. I would still take it off once you get new tires though. And if you're short on cash, then check out Doug's (4WD) leaf spring rebuilds, or my build thread since i did them. That might work for you too that way you can put that money towards other stuff (ball joints, shocks, etc.)

 

Here's what I'd do...

remove body lift
buy bilstein 5100 front shocks, and replace the crappy stock ones with all the spacers.
remove extended shackle and add a leaf, and buy extended rear bilstein 5100 shocks (check to make sure they are long enough for your lift.)

Then you will have stock leafs, and though they are tired, will ride smoother than with the AAL and shackle in there. the new shocks will help a lot too of course.

then in the front all you have is a regular 6'' lift, with some nice bilstein shocks, you'll have to keep the large fabtech spacer that is on top of the shocks.

then I'd get the front end checked out by a shop, and replace any needed tie rods, bushings, etc etc.

then save for a custom rear leaf pack.
the only cost will be buying 4 bilstein shocks ($350) and any front end work that must be done.

Also, I'm sure those 38's are an E rated tire... try to find a D when you go to 35's

thats just me.

 

well I measured some of the stuff and talked it over with my dad and the block that is on the truck isn't the factory block from fabtech it is a 5" block with an add a leaf and the db is a 6" and thats it for the back and I have no clue what the hell is up front.

but me and my dad thought that for now it would be better to go back to the stock fabtech set up and later when I have more money to then look for bringing up the ride quality.. because that way all i really need to do is buy 2 3" blocks and I could theoretically take it back to the factory fabtech set up.

am I correct?

 

the add a leaf will make the ride in the rear harsher, and shitty shocks make the ride suck, also the big tires and the body lift don't help the ride either.

so yes, take out the add a leaf, take off the body lift, but go here... you can buy front and rear shocks for $350, that will help the ride a lot!

edit: you are going to have to get the current shocks taken apart to get the spacer out anyways, might aswell put the money towards new shocks. bilstein 5100 specifically. what about finding some lightly used tires so you can put a few bucks toward shocks?

 

for some reason my dad is dead set against used tires which I understand but he would rather me buy new ones and know that they are new than buy used and not know what they have been put through. and that's what we are trying to mostly figure out right now is what exactly it will take to put it back to just the fabtech lift kit and then I will slowly change it as time goes on.

 

no problem, can you afford tires and $350 for shocks?

 

not really but they are gonna help me out and i'm gonna pay them back as I save some money cause the grand i saved went towards one hell of a first semester of college but had no job. so there was no replacing of funds.

 

ok, well personally I'd get 35's, they will be cheaper than anything bigger, and the biggest you'll want if you plan on getting back to a smaller lift.

you can also save by going to an all terrain tire over a mud terrain, again that will help with the rough ride.

I'd start by taking the bodylift off, then you can buy just front bilsteain 5100's to start, and see if you can find some stock coils from someone who has removed theirs...

post here to see what you can find for free from members..

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/buy-sell-trade/141819-i-want-free-stuff-thread.html

 

thanks man yea as far as tires I have heard great things about the cooper stt's as far as milage and off-road abilities so I am going to give those a try and I think I can get them fairly cheap. and I'll have to troll that forum some and hopefully all this will help my gas milage some so I'm not spending over 100 bucks of my pay check towards gas.

 

yup exactly, is your truck regeared?

and definitely check out wheelersoffroad.com for the front bilstein shocks.

 

to be honest I have no clue. it doesn't have like a lot of get up and go but it def. can pull my tires pretty well.

and will do man

 

hmm, well going to the 35's it will feel fast

from your pics it looks like a looong shackle, are you sure it's the stock one? it also might just look long because of the body lift.

 

they are 6"

 

gotten any work done on the truck?

 

well I listed it to see if it would sell and i think its going to so if it does i'm going to go that route

 

oh wow, then what?

 

either buy the tacoma I want this time or go with another vehicle.