1st Gen Suspension Install

I could not find an exact match on length anywhere (HD, Lowe's, a couple other local places with great fastener selection). The stock bolts are 4.5 inches long, IIRC, and all the grade 8s I found locally were 4 or 5, and I wasn't confident in the length of the shoulders and threads of either (too much, too little). Also, the one on the driver side doesn't have too much clearance (gas tank in the way). Anyway, I ordered a pair from Wheeler's to be safe. Then my original bolts came out fine (Cali, no rust). So I am hanging on to them to save someone else's ass locally if they need them.

 

I seem to recall them being 4.5", but I bought a shit load of different lengths just to be sure. I had gone to Lowe's to get cutting wheels for the grinder and got the new bolts at the same time, before the old ones came out.

 

Hey John, Thanks for the write up! It took me so long to find what I was looking for; this thread.
Anyways if I wanted to do a 5 or 10mm trim packer up front, is this a simple matter of placing on top of coil and then bolting it all up with the top plate? Just wondered if you could quickly state how to install it as well. And up front, is the sway bar visibly disconnected in any photos of yours? I gotta look into that more to see how I would disconnect them. Also on the rear do you disconnect the e-brake cable? Thanks again

Imagine that, 2 minutes later my own question I believe is answered... It looks like the trim packer is at the bottom of the coil. My only question may be that if I have OME pre assemble the coil over, the trim packer would be on and I would be set, correct?

 

Hey man what size tires do you have. You got a great looking truck.

Adam

 

Hey, John, great write up and thread.

But

TOO BAD YOU SOLD YOUR TRUCK!

 

I'm installing my OME kit tomorrow, glad I found this thread. Now I've just got to find the aal thread haha.

Thanks for taking the time to make this, your truck is awesome btw!

 

Thanks. I am glad that it helped. The AAL is similar, though you do not have to remove the leaf from the truck. You remove the U-bolts and lower the axle out of the way. The leaf pack is then clamped on either side of the center bolt. The center bolt can then be removed, followed (carefully( by the claps. Re-stack the pack with the AAL in the proper place, clamp and install new center bolt. Make sure to use new U-bolts during the install, They stretch on tightening and should not be reused.

Good luck. Any questions, let me know, I will try to help.

 

Did the leafs settle after a little use?

 

A little. Any spring will

 

On the toyotec site they say they come with bushings, did yours?

 

The springs? Yes they did.

 

Thanks. Do you think eibachs and bilsteins in front would sit level with the rear ( dakar)

 

I really do not know. I am not a fan of the Bilsteins, though I have never used them. Will (Tacomaman06) had them and hated them, he loves his OME.

I actually sold this truck a month ago. In a year or so, I plan on building a 4Runner and will likely use the same OE stuff as on the Tacoma.

 

Cool thanks! I got the extended U bolts with my OME kit, but since the dakars were on back order (and I didn't have the extra $$$) I am just going to wait on them.

Will the U bolts I got be too long?

Another q for ya, I picked my aals up from another member here- they seem a bit short. I've never seen any others, but mine are 21" long. Does that seem right?

 

Yes, the U-bolts will too long, but you can just cut them off after they are bolted up. Just knock the sharp edges off with a grinder and you are good.

The AAL sounds right but I would be guessing. What brand is it?

 

The U bolts are about 7.25" long, and the thread goes for 2.5" down, so I ought to be able to fit that and cut them off.

He had no idea- they were on the truck when he bought it. He also sprayed them with black, so the writing is masked.

Some of it is shiny, but this is all I can read on them: "1312" and "1_687" The "_" in that means that # was chipped off, so I couldn't read it.

 

Bear in mind that an AAL is a bit of a band aid for aging springs. It will help, but will not last as strong as a new pack. Being as the AAL is already used, the life will be even shorter.

 

Yeah, by no means I intend for it to be a long term application. But right now I cant afford the Dakar which is 350 + shipping. But I will be installing everything else I need to just toss the leafs in later- bpv, exhaust relocation bracket, extended brake line.

Now down the road in a month or two, I'll be all caught up on finances- then It's go time

Thanks for all of your input

 

Anytime Mike. Have fun!

 

Sure thing, check my build in the upcoming days for pics