ToyTec 3" to be installed this week-end, please weigh-in!

I am installing my lift this Saturday and I'm seeking input. I've done my due-diligence in searching and reading and I keep coming up without a consensus.

This is what I plan to install:

Truck:
2015 DCSB 4x4 Auto. TRD Off-Road

Wheels/Tires:
stock TRD OR 16" wheels, 265/75/16 BFG AT KO2

Front Suspension:
--ToyTec/Eibach 521600 2.5" Lift Coil (I have heard this coil sometimes doesn't quite yield 2.5") (Note: this is not the "other" 1.5" Eibach coil)
--Bilstein 5100 C477 set to 0.0"
--ToyTec 1/2" top-plate spacer (I have heard this often results in 0.75" of lift)

Rear Suspension:
--ToyTec/Deaver ~1.5-2.0" AAL (reports vary on what this AAL yields)
--stock Bilstein HD shocks

(no aftermarket UCA's, no diff drop, no rear axle shims, no carrier bearing drop, no sway bar relocate)

(I will not be purchasing UCA's at this time, I know this is the common recommendation, maybe down the road, but not going to happen right now.)

I am debating whether or not to install the 1/2" top-plate spacer (and I am getting mixed recommendations)

Reason TO install: to eliminate the chance of having a factory-looking rake after the lift

Reason NOT TO install: to stay closer to 2.5" of lift, and potentially achieve better caster numbers during alignment

Projected Lift Measurements given my options:
(I've included two scenarios for the result of the rear AAL, as I've seen posts claiming TW users did not see 2.0" of lift when using the AAL on the TSB leaf pack.)



I'm ultimately seeking:
1) Input on whether or not to ditch the top-plate spacer (if you suggest to leave it out, what do you think the resulting rake will be?)
2) Predictions for what my alignment results will be (primarily, caster w/ or w/out top-plate spacer)
3) Actual lift results estimates with those two options, given the components I'm using and my truck configuration
4) Any general thoughts about this set-up

 

I like the 3" look myself.. I want the truck to sit perfectly level. I would throw the spacer on. Worst case - You dont like it = Take it off. I really dont think you will have a problem with the alignment. My truck sits about 1/2 inch lower than my friends so im going to do the same spacer for the lift i just bought through Toytec this weekend. (Usually measurements are from the center of the hub to the top of the wheel well) Stock Rims?

 

I had that same set up and I used the top spacer for the 3'' of lift. Save yourself the time and just install it the first time. And I had stock UCAs and was able to get my truck aligned in spec. Just depends on where you take it for the alignment.

 

Thanks for the input, I'm personally leaning towards the spacer, ToyTec ships this kit like it is for a reason, and they've recommended I install it. (however, they did warn about alignment concerns/hwy wandering)

Yes I'm running stock 16" TRD OR wheels, original post updated.

 

and make sure you give it a month for the springs to settle..

 

Subd

 

Get UCA's

 

^^^agreed

I had the 5100 set to 1.75 on stock springs and my caster readings were 1.0-1.2. Once I switched to 5100 set at 2.5", caster was 0.1 - 0.2. (Cam bolt adjustments were maxed out). Driving was tough with the caster being so low. The steering wheel felt light and any bump in the road would shift my steering. I got UCA's and never looked back.

If you leave out the 1/2" spacer, you will more than likely sit 1/4 - 1/2" higher in the rear. Any added weight in the bed will make it level.

 

lickskillet seemed to have good results on his truck:

My goal isn't to discredit anyone, I understand the trucks/kits/technician skill has great impact to what is attainable, however I think I'd be satisfied with caster numbers around ~1.5deg

 

And yes i did order LR Uca's with my new setup. I didnt want to get stoned to death by everyone here on TW..

 

Buy what you want haha.... I think TW folks like to speak from their own experiences. People bitch about things on here for a reason.


FWIW, caster at 1.2 vs caster at 2.4 was a huge improvement for me. If you drive on crappy roads or do a lot of hwy driving, you will notice the difference with an upgraded UCA.

 

Haha for sure..

 

I put the same thing except for the deavers but the rest is on my 06 Tacoma and I have the front set at 0 with the top plate spacers and just put 285 70 17 Hankook dynapro mt on with 1.25 wheel spacers and it's great

 

I think UCA's will be in my future, maybe 6 months down the road. I know everyone will recommend to do it now, but it simply has to wait for now.

What does your rake look like without any lift in the rear? (or did you do blocks instead of AAL's)

Did you do UCA's? How's your truck ride?

 

You save labour and alignment costs doing it all at once

 

My lift is installed!

Not without major alignment issues of course...

I brought my truck to Express Oil Change/Tire Engineers for the post-lift alignment. After fooling with it for 2.5 hours they told me it could not be aligned to be within spec for caster.

I asked what the numbers were, to which they told me "really bad, RS 2.5deg, LS -0.5deg". Not only that, but they told me it was going to be $99.99 since it took so long (normally ~$60). They refused to print off the numbers ("we don't do print offs when they're out of spec") for me so I'm not sure what my truck is even at. Visibly looking at the truck from the front, the RS front wheel looks to have extremely positive camber, but they claim camber is in spec. When driving the truck pulls left violently, and if you take your hand off the wheel, the steering wheel "home" bias is about 9 o'clock. So in conclusion, I paid way too much for who knows what at this point, likely nothing.

Now before the UCA advocates say I told you so, I understand UCA's would have made achieving ideal caster (2.4deg) more likely, but 2.5deg cross caster range is unacceptable. They should have been able to achieve in spec camber, toe, and a caster of around 1.5deg both sides. My result is purely a result from technician lack of caring/knowledge. Not only this, but my new truck smelled like cigarettes upon return, and grease smudges all over steering wheel/door panel/kick plates/etc. I'll be calling AMEX to dispute this charge for sure.

So, my plan is to go ahead and order Light Racing UCA's from Fat Bob's, expedited shipping, and put them in the moment they arrive, and take it to Toyota for an alignment. In the meantime I'm worried to drive my truck at all until they get here, but would hate to pay the money to align three times in one week.

Anyway, here are a few (poor) pictures of the lift result:

 

Sorry to hear that! Truck looks good though.

 

I would take it somewhere else and get it aligned before you buy ucas sounds like a sketchy place les Schwab did mine and iy came out awesome I have over 3in of lift

 

subd

 

Just found this thread. I just finished up (like 30 min ago) an Icon Stage 1 install with toytec/deavers and icons in the rear. We did a half ass job of aligning as best we could and it's not too bad. Went with the Light Racing UCA's. Be prepared to bang/cut/grind some metal to extract the UCA bolts, but with tweaking the UCA's we got it aligned by eye and with a level. I've driven with worse alignments before. I think that will make all the difference. Call Toytec too, they are fantastic. I live nearby and bought my stuff in person, they spent an hour with me.