Hello everyone! New TRD with shot dampers.

Just plucked a cherry 2003 TRD 4wd from it's second owner. Everything is perfect except a little paint oxidation and it still has the stock strut cartridges and shocks. The damping is shot.



I'll start a new thread on shocks over yonder!

Devout

 

Welcome from Everett!

Save you money and do it yourself! You're welcome to bring the truck and parts over and I'll help you/show you how. It's a very simple job.

 

Thanks David, that is a kind offer. I changed the shocks on my '93, but of course it didn't have struts.

I've messed with spring compressors before and didn't like it.

I'm actually contemplating buying new front springs and the strut top do-hickies. That way, after I pull the old struts, I don't have to drive and wait for the current springs to get switched over to the new struts.

 

That's not a bad idea. I did the same before installing my OME lift last weekend.

Here's the best price around for the strut mounting plates:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1129714&cc=1418453
Monroe Part # 904900

 

Oh YA!!! That IS what I'm doing!



So how much lift did the OME give you in front?

How does the cartridge travel and spring length of the OME compare to stock TRD?

What top bushings did you use?

Thinking of the Skyjacker add-a-leaf in the rear. What did you do?

 

I picked up the complete OME lift kit, plus the 10mm lift enhancer spacer rings. I forgot to get before measurements but it's supposed to be +3" over stock. It's the perfect amount of lift in my opinion.

Ride is tremendous! Love the feel. I've got the 881 coils and the ride is stiff but responsive (note: I do prefer my trucks to ride like trucks, not cadillacs!)

For the rear, I'm using the OME Dakar leaf pack plus the OME nitrocharger sport rear shocks. Looks to be about 2.5" lift so far. It should settle a little bit from what I've read.

I've used AALs on my old 2000 Tacoma and was pleased with them as well. I used the Toytec AAL, but I'm sure Skyjacker is fine too. I opted for the full leaf pack this time because the leafs on my "new" 2004 tacoma were going into negative arch and I was getting gnarly axle wrap when starting/stopping.

 

Man, those guys at RockAuto have just about EVERYTHING, awesome prices AND FedEx shipping!

Just about have my cart full of everything I need to prebuild my struts.

Just need to get springs figured out. I will likely go with OME's or MOOG at this point.

 

1) Good info, that G's up with Wheelers reference for the 881's. That would give me aprox. 2" without preloading the struts. MOOG cites the stock spring at 465lbs VS 500 for the OME. 2) I too want to be a little firmer if I lift, simply for street-ability. I know OME shocks have a firm damping rate, which may be adding a little firmness.

3) If I become dissatisfied with my AAL, I will go that route too.


It's coming together!

 

awesome! FYI, rockauto is a vendor here and sometimes they have 5% off coupon codes. not sure if there's one currently going or not...

i'm a huge fan of rockauto, especially for those harder-to-find parts.

EDIT: There is a current code! http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/rockauto/86042-rockauto-discount-code-introduction.html

 

Missed the code before I ordered. Oh well, it was only a few dollars more.

I made up for it with my Wheelers OME 881 order;

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: When you order anything OME/ARB/IPF, etc, you can have the vendor place it on WILL CALL at ARB in Renton. My auto shop is in Renton, so I'll pick up my springs and then swing by with the Bilstien 5100 struts and get them assembled. Then I''l post the 'posur pics' of the assembled struts.


Tires next......................