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Suspension lift or just new shocks?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by prozac, Nov 28, 2012.

  1. Nov 28, 2012 at 6:54 AM
    #1
    prozac

    prozac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey all,

    So after confirming yesterday that I definitely need new shocks and knowing that my truck is going in for a CV axle anyhow (my drivers side is literally missing one!) I am trying to weigh what I should do here.

    So here's a little info.

    The truck is strictly a toy for me, not a daily driver but I have a z71 with a 6" lift that is also a toy and I hate driving it because I nearly have to jump to get into it so I do not want anything ridiculous.

    The truck needs new wheels and tires and I bought it knowing that, I actually bought MO951 wheels but they dont fit over the manual locking front hubs so I am back to the drawing board on that for now so I can get any tire/wheel combo that would be appropriate for the lift and/or just new shocks.

    So if this was your truck what would you do? what kind of shop would you take it to? if I go just new shocks should I go with bilsteins? or does it even matter?

    if I go for a lift (suspension lift Im assuming) that basically just means new shocks anyways right?

    Thanks in advance for the help all
    Zach
     
  2. Nov 28, 2012 at 7:51 AM
    #2
    Tarpon24

    Tarpon24 Well-Known Member

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    front or rear or both. ? what year
     
  3. Nov 28, 2012 at 9:30 AM
    #3
    prozac

    prozac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    looks like both actually ... I was planning on just doing both although i think rear is all they said was necessary

    Zach
     
  4. Nov 28, 2012 at 9:33 AM
    #4
    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    How much money do you have to spend? That is what itll come down to, if your rich why not lift it a couple inches, if the suspension is sagging you might want to invest in it now right?
     
  5. Nov 28, 2012 at 9:38 AM
    #5
    prozac

    prozac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    lol well I am certainly not rich but I'm not opposed to spending money for the right thing either. Will getting nice shocks be as good as doing a 2-2.5" lift?

    I see everyone talking about the bilstein 5100's all the time and Ive also seen a ton about the OME lift kits.

    What can I expect to spend for just shocks or just a suspension lift?

    The shop I took it to quoted me about $100 to install and supply new rear shocks so that seems pretty cheap to me but I'd like to at least do all four and if I can do a suspension lift for not much more I'm certainly not opposed.

    As I said the truck is strictly a toy for me so its about what will look/function the best in this case

    Zach
     
  6. Nov 28, 2012 at 9:49 AM
    #6
    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    Have you priced toytec (for example) thats where I've gotten my stuff, and I'm 30 min drive from them lol.
    how does your truck sit? (is it low) Do the rear springs have any life left in them, maybe you can do a aal? Shocks have nothing to do with ride height but if you decide to get some there so easy to replace you really shouldn't pay anyone to do that lol
     
  7. Nov 28, 2012 at 10:06 AM
    #7
    prozac

    prozac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Since I am pretty much just a novice I figured it would be better to just take some pics and load them up.

    Got some shots of how the truck sits, the shocks and springs and even one of the missing cv axle lol

    Photo 1.jpg
    Photo 2.jpg
    Photo 3.jpg
    Photo 4.jpg
    Photo 5.jpg
    Photo 6.jpg
    Photo 7.jpg
    Photo 8.jpg
     
  8. Nov 28, 2012 at 10:40 AM
    #8
    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    wtf that poor truck needs a new leg lol thats priority for sure.
    Those coil springs look pretty tired, im guessing it bottoms (seeing how close those bump stops are). I cant tell from the picture but do those leaf springs have any arch left on them or are they just flat? Or even negative /s shaped?
     
  9. Nov 28, 2012 at 11:22 AM
    #9
    prozac

    prozac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yea cv axle is happening probably today or tomorrow but I'd like to do what else I need as well when I do it.

    Looks like the leaf springs are basically flat. Wouldn't know how to tell the coils are worn but I definitely believe you haha.

    I'm just trying to get this list so I can have it all done at once.

    Anything else I should be looking at?

    Thanks again!
    Zach
     
  10. Nov 28, 2012 at 11:43 AM
    #10
    4Wheelin4Banger

    4Wheelin4Banger Supercharged Toyman

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    3" OME lift 885s & Dakars riding on 33" KM2s
    Lift it since it's a toy to play with.
    Go with OME.
    Not sure on 1st Gen prices but the full OME lift for 2nd Gens is around $1200.
    New coils, shocks, dif drop, leafs & Ubolts. Not hard to install yourself (except the Dakar leafs are heavy and you'll want another set of hands for them).
    Not sure how much lift you'll get from the coils but you want 881s or 883s (same spring rate, 883s are just a little longer). I went with the 2nd Gen version of the 883s (885s) on my 4Banger AC & got 3" up front & 3" in rear from the dakars with a shell on it.
     
  11. Nov 28, 2012 at 12:02 PM
    #11
    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    The reason I asked on the leafs is if there arch left you can put on a add a leaf and get a lift like that, its cheaper and works well.
    I think yours coils are tired because of how compressed they look, and the amount of space on the between your bumpstop and where it hits.
    you should look into coil springs either eibach or old man emu (ome). Shock wise bilsteins or ome, thats front and rear.
    rear springs you should get a new set or build your own but I dont think its a option for you (know how)

    You have to get new u bolts (extended if lifting) you will need a bpv ( brake proportioning valve) to make up for the lift, that way your rear brakes work like there suppose to. You can get a extended rear brake line to because of the lift, in my case I bought it but my brake line was rusted/ forever on there and ended up returning it. I "modified" the brake line to keep it from tearing at full droop, I think I pictures in my build if not Ill post some. Make sure you buy new eye bolts for the springs, you are almost guaranteed to have to cut them off and will need to have new ones ready (use a cutoff wheel). Use factory bolts from toyota or use grade 8 replacements, make sure to grease everything if not itll squeak left and right and it sucks lol. I did my own dakars with help from otheres on here so Im telling you from my own experience lol
    pm me if I can help with anything, and were all here to help no one is born knowing anything lol ask away :D
     
  12. Nov 28, 2012 at 1:13 PM
    #12
    prozac

    prozac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Awesome man, this forum is great!

    Thanks for all the advice.

    so it sounds like I need new shocks, new leaf springs and new coils plus depending on what leaft springs I get a brake line extension haha this toy just got way more expensive but at least now I can be prepared.

    Sounds like I am about to learn a ton about this truck whether I like it or not!

    I bought it as a godawful ugly thing so I could mess around and have a 4wd toy/hunting lease truck ... heres some pics from the day I brought it home haha

    2e71d57f-a220-4293-885d-9a16465f5953.jpg
    d4fa18d3-5684-4cc9-a379-c5389167e44f.jpg
     
  13. Nov 28, 2012 at 1:28 PM
    #13
    prozac

    prozac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    just got off the phone with a local shop telling me to install the OME kit with new leaf springs it would be about 2k, ouch! lol he also went on and on about how hard toyotas were to customize etc I just kind of laughed.

    Anyways, looks like OME is the only manufacturer that makes a suspension lift that replaces all the stuff I need so I suppose thats the route I should go?

    Anyone have any other suggestions for suspension lifts that also replace the rear leaf springs?
     
  14. Nov 28, 2012 at 1:40 PM
    #14
    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    Is that seriously how it looked? Thats crazy lol
    Lol toyota hard to customize, does he know what a toyota is lol.
    There other options I think all pro makes leaf springs for our trucks, ome is probably the only complete setup tho. Keep us posted on what you do :thumbsup:
     
  15. Nov 28, 2012 at 1:49 PM
    #15
    JDMcQ

    JDMcQ Well-Known Member

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    Hard to customize huh? 4 fasteners per coilover in the front, 8 per side in the rear. Real tough. :rolleyes:
     
  16. Nov 28, 2012 at 1:58 PM
    #16
    prozac

    prozac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    haha i know I had to laugh when I saw but after I saw it the first time I just had to buy it, I couldnt stop laughing as I was writing the check.

    just got off the phone with 4wp about the OME kit, looks like they sell the whole kit with leaf springs for about $1150 so that seems reasonable, but it also makes me wonder if I should just pick up some add a leafs off of Amazon for like $75 and try that first before going all out here.

    Also anyone have a strong opinion one way or another on their nitrocharger shocks? will they be as good as the bilsteins or should I just got that route and not buy the complete kit from 4wp??

    Thanks and I will definitely keep you in the loop, look for a build thread soon!
     
  17. Nov 28, 2012 at 2:00 PM
    #17
    JDMcQ

    JDMcQ Well-Known Member

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    The OME shocks are better than Bilsteins.

    Don't buy anything from 4wp. They really do suck. CAll Wheelers off road or Down South Motorsports.
     
  18. Nov 28, 2012 at 2:04 PM
    #18
    prozac

    prozac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Oh and yes that is definitely how it looked ... haha I had a pissed off girlfriend to prove it, she told me I was not allowed to park it in front of the house until it was painted lol
     
  19. Nov 28, 2012 at 2:04 PM
    #19
    prozac

    prozac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    whoops my bad I mean Wheelers offroad! that's who I was on the phone with not 4wp
     
  20. Nov 28, 2012 at 2:06 PM
    #20
    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    Try and avoid 4wp, if your rear springs are flat the aal may not do much :(
     

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