Questions about spacer lifts on 1st gens?

Hey all, since I finally did what I wanted to do with my front end the next thing Im going to buy is the lift. I really cant afford and dont need a full 3" lift kit with new coilovers and all. What I'm looking at are the Toytec spacer lifts, specifically a 2" block on the front and 1.5" on the rear. Anyone ever done this setup? Will I need longer brake lines or axle shims? I want to be sure before I spend the money.

 

You wont need anything that doesn't come with the kit already. I would save for the 3". Just put on mine and its night and day on ride quality.

 

For not much more you can just get 5100's and an AAL for the rear. Much better and still a decent budget lift.

 

I still need new coilovers on the front if I want to lift it, shocks alone won't lift the truck and the coil overs are what cost the most. I've thought about doing AAL's on the rear but I haven't decided yet. Are spacers really that bad for the ride quality?

 

http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/3-Lift-Kit-wOME-front-coils-and-rear-lift-options_p_239.html

and throw in some shocks.

 

Looks good except for two things. 1st, when measuring the truck, the rake is only about a half inch difference between front and back, the suspension is 10 years old after all. And the second thing is that I've heard of people doing 3 inch lifts on the first gens and getting axle vibes. Thoughts?

 

It comes with a diff drop (if yours is 4wd) and that will eliminate axel vibes on these. I haven't heard to many cases of 3" lift on 2wd with vibes.

 

Don't buy spacers unless you love feeling every tiny bump you go over, just save up for 5100's and do it right

 

How are your leaf springs? are they flat or arched down? fronwing?
if so you should think about replacing them.

 

As I understand it, the diff drop kits are to eliminate cv boot/joint damage in 4x4 trucks. Lifting the truck too much can create too harsh of an angle between the transmission and rear axle, and you get driveshaft vibrations. That's my understanding. My truck is a Prerunner so no diff drop needed.

A full lift is what I would prefer, its just a lot more money and I don't want to end up creating problems with the driveshaft or screwing with the fuel mileage too much. I mean I plan to get larger tires with the lift too so I expect a decrease in mpg's anyway.

My leafs are fine, firm and still have arc. The whole suspension is 10 years old and is probably sagging a little is all I was saying.

 

They are for reduced bad cv angles but eliminate from vibes from happening.

 

No you dont. 5100's in the front WILL lift the truck up to 2.5". The spring seat on the shock is adjustable. Works with your stock springs. That is the setup I have. 2.5" setting up front and 2" AAL in the rear.

 

Well I actually took a good look at my leafs when I got underneath the truck today, and they are pretty much flat. Not sure how I missed that before. Anyway, I guess that means its time for a suspension overhaul so I'll be doing a full lift. Now I have to decide if I need UCA's or not...

 

Do the lift first. Don't worry about UCA's right now. More than likely you won't need them anyway. Get the 5100's and use your stock coils for the front. For the rear get a new leaf pack or AAL at least. If your willing to spend more $ then get lift coils with new shocks front and rear, plus a new leaf pack. If your willing to spend even more money then get Coilovers for the front and new leaf springs on the rear.

 

It'd be worth it to me to save up more money and just do new shocks all around, new coils and new leaf packs. Probably pick up new brake lines while I'm at it. And on the control arms, because I'm going to take it to a DIY shop since my jack doesn't lift high enough, I figure I may as well just spend a little more and do them while I got the truck up on a full body lift but we will see how my finances are looking oh, and nice truck by the way. I wish more people outside of TW actually did things with their PreRunners.

 

Thank you, tacoma prerunners are very capable trucks. When I first bought the truck I didn't plan on wheeling it or even lifting it. But 1 week after I bought it I found TW, that was the end of that. There are times when I wish I had 4wd but as long as I never go alone and have ample recovery gear I've been good to go. Also, gotta know the limits.

Have fun with the lift

 

Stay away from spacer lifts. Poor ride quality, changes the spring rate, and is just another part that can fail, and front end failure can not only leave your truck stuck and un-drivable, but can be catastrophic if it fails at speed or during cornering, or on a sketchy shelf road with a huge drop off the edge. Check out my posts on rear suspension, it took some trouble shooting to get it right, but now it's perfect for my needs. In general coil spacer lifts and leaf block lifts reduce the efficiency of your suspension and keep it from doing what it was designed to do.