Old Man Emu setups on 1st gens

Your rear license plate is asking to be ripped off ^

 

well i got a fat bonus check from work coming in and ill be ordering a complete kit any day now. I've got a 04' trd dc v6 with a full time topper, after reading this crazy long thread i think ill be going with the 882 coils (no plans of adding bumper) along with the AAL for the dakar leaf pack along with all the other goodies. my question is there some kinda write up on how to install all this yourself. the front seems easy (ill have it pre-assembled for the extra $120 along with the $30 to pre install the AAL into the leaf pack) but i have no clue about messing with leaf springs. i have tons of wrenching under my belt its just only been on drift corollas, never wrenched on my truck yet. just looking for a quick run threw of the steps. i do look forward to working on my truck which seems so much easier then my slammed drifters.

 

Well the rear is one of those things you kinda figure out as you go along. The main things IMHO is to make sure you have some low jack stands to rest the axle on and keep it from shifting forward - mine did this and it was a pita.

The first time I installed the packs, I used just two stands on the frame. When the axle shifted forward, it was a bitch to align again. Took us several hours on the last leaf alone.

The second time I removed to install he aal, it took just threeish hours total to remove, AAL and install.... just one week after my apendix was removed I attribute it to the ADDITIONAL stands supporting the axle. You can use your jack to help align things from the pumpkin and use your factory bottle jack to push down between the frame and leafspring to align shackle bolt.

Just pm me your cell if you get stuck and I'll help you through it best I can.

 

I agree pretty much with what John said. Have a friend near by to help wrestle the leafs into position. Will make it go a lot easier. One thing I do is only do one side at a time. This will limit how much the axle moves around. I put the frame on jack stands and remove both rear wheels and use a floor jack to manipulate the axle as necessary.

And plan on having to cut off the front main spring eye bolts. Have a new set on hand. Wheelers sells the stock replacement bolts.

 

+1 to all of this. Especially one side at a time

 

Like he said, definitely want to have a friend on hand for extra hands, and I tried for a few hours to get the driver's side frame mount bolt out. Ended up just grinding it off on both sides and hammering the leaf out. Mine was super seized. Good luck, you'll love the setup!

 

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm actually doing all this cuz of you JohnboyTRD lol. I saw you not to long ago on the freeway in Petaluma. I was in my wife's camry but the second I saw your taco my jaw dropped. Right then I said I'm putting some money into my truck to make it look that good. It's the same truck I got color and all done right. You and box rocket always catch my eye. I spend so much money and time on my drift corollas that my taco feels left out. This will change that! I'm excited to get this going!

 

How many of you guys take the extra overload out. I just want to upgrade my suspension. But don't want full 3" of lift and I don't ever haul anything either. Dan and I talked briefly but I'm just getting some ideas. I loved the Dakar on my old DC. But I had toytec CO in the front and did more offroad than now.

 

Drift Camry??? That sounds like a lot of fun, especially in the rain glad to hear you like the rig - we were out that way for the TW Xmas tree hunt. You coulda come too! Oh well, next year. If you aren't subbed to the NorCal wheeling trips or NorCal bs thread, might want to do that so you know about meets and stuff.

 

You won't get 3" out back with the dakars. I had the 882 and dakar pack and it sat lower in the rear. I'll try and post a pic up after I did the lift. Was dead nuts level when I added the 1.5" lift shackle. Again I'll try and snag some pics from the build thread.

 

lol I was in my wifes camry. I drift old 86 corollas. I don't take them out in the rain, its just too easy to get sideways lol. yea ill have to get in that group your talking about so I can start trying out some other kinda fun besides drifting. where do I sign up for that nor cal event stuff?

 

I was barely level with my dakars and AAL with 883 coils. I added 2" shackles to get a rake going. I also have a shell on all the time though.

 

I was pretty much going off what I remembered from my DC. Was you using factory shackles beforehand?

 

I used the OME stock length shackles that came with the kit - note the lean:

Then I installed toytec 1.5" lift shackles, and it came out even:

From there it would sag with weight in the back, so I installed the aal and moved to 1" lift shackles. It has about 1" higher in the rear now, which is perfect for me. But I have a lot of weight back there...

 

Hey guys, just got my whole OME kit.

I also got the dakar aal and plan on installing it on friday. I know the aal goes under the 2nd or 3rd leaf but when i have the whole thing apart is there anything that I should be doing to it like painting?

Thanks!

 

day 2..finally got to cutting out those seized rear leaf bolts!

 

Here are the threads you should subscribe to:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53517

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=312017

 

I didn't but curiously to see what others have to say.

When summer rolls around I'm gonna deep clean everything, probably pulling leaves out for a good makeover.

 

Looks pretty good John. What size tire where on it in the first pic.

 

I think 265/70/16? Now I'm on 15" wheels running 33x12.5"