Lift Help

Can someone do a rundown on suspension lifts? What's good and what's not? What to do and what nots? I have an 02 4 dr tacoma that i want to lift.

 

You are already on the right track, stick with suspension. For the rear the best option will be add a leafs (aal) avoid the blocks. I do however have blocks in the rear for my truck and have never experienced any trouble. Others here will give you better and more info.

 

Def. go with Toytec lifts! I love my Coilovers and AAL. I also have a 1" block in the rear and am doing just fine. But I wouldnt go any higher then that for blocks. IMO

Stay away from spacers, and do a coil lift, or get Coilovers for the front. Im assuming you want to go with a 3" lift?
So dont forget that diff, drop kit If 4x4....

 

My understanding about the problem with blocks is that they increase the leverage on the springs from torque at the axle, causing what they call "axle wrap". It makes your rear hop, lose traction, and can bend leaf springs under hard use, but that is really only a problem with a high-horsepower engine under hard use. I suppose it could be a problem with the 3.4 under a hard load and low gears, but I really doubt it. If you had a 350hp small block under the hood, I might worry.

On the other hand, blocks are ugly. Go with the leaf pack.

Come to think of it, though, seems like somebody on another thread said his Toy dealer told him anything but a specific brand of lift blocks would void the manufacturer's warranty. If warranty is a consideration, better check it out.

 

is your truck 4wd or prerunner?

what kind of wheeling are you into?

or is this truck sticking to the streets?

 

It's a prerunner. I take it to the dirt sometimes go up the mountains and what not, but i mostly do a lot of street driving. My front struts are really messed up. So I might as well replace them with something better at the same time getting a lift. I talked to the guys at off road enterprises in Pomona, CA and they told me to get Rancho Quick Lifts, but apparently those aren't the best. I want to get Bilstein 5100s. Esp with the buy 3 get the 4th free deal right now. But yeh I want to try and avoid blocks. My friend has a frontier with a 3"inch body lift on it and he thinks that he might have some problems. But again.. its a frontier.

 

After trying them all, I would go with spacers int he front (above stock coils) and AAL in the rear.

 

well to answer your original question: How big are you wanting it to be? what size tire do you want? Do you want to regear? How much do you want to spend? But just making an educated guess, the Old Man Emu kit is probably a good choice for you, they ride nice and work well offroad. The full kit includes everything including new struts upfront that are valved specifically for tacomas.

Do NOT get that rancho thing you mentioned, or Skyjacker premium struts or any of that crap. That kind of stuff SUCKS. And the fact that they recommended that to you makes me believe you should look for a different shop....

Here you go, two great options: Everything toytec makes is good, including their base line $300 spacers for your stock strut assembly. But of course, if you spend more you get a better ride. The complete OME kit is at the bottom of the wheelers link.

 

yah, if it doesnt see much action, then i say go for something simple and affordable..

preload coil spacers are ok... a bit stiff, but cheap on the wallet...

better ride would be some higher end adjustable coilovers

 

Yeah, I got spacer's at first bc I dont do much offroading just to the mountain and here and there. But I hated them just for on road use bc it was too stiff of a ride. Waste of money, IMO. If you want a better ride, go with OME or coilovers.

 

cool thanks for the feedback, i went ahead with a fabtech kit with adjustable shocks in the front 0"-3" and add a leafs and shocks for the rear also :] getting it done this wednesday @ Gary's Sport Truck in Ontario, Ca.

 

Cool, Let us know how they ride.

 

I will im excited to get it. They were putting on fabtech lifts onto some toyotas while i was there.