Stock to 3" Suspension Lift - Advice?

Hello Toyota Peeps!
I'm a girl so please bare with me as this is not yet my forte'.
I have a 2002 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 (TRD package) that I'd like to put a 3" suspension lift on while also leveling it out. I thought I had this all figured out, but it seems that I may not have the correct length shocks for the rear if I want to take it wheeling... None of this is put on the truck yet, so I can't take measurements and I didn't take any measurements before disassembling. (truck is stripped down underneath at present and awaiting new parts assembly)

So, this is what I have....

Rear Suspension:
A set of Heavy Duty Leaf Springs (General Spring) *GS says to expect a 1-1/2" lift over stock
ICON AAL (1-1/2")
Bilstein 5100 series rear shocks (from RCD Suspension) F4-BE5-D560-T0
*I'm waiting to choose correct bump stops and would like to flip the UBolts at that time too.

Front Suspension:
OEM Upper & Lower Control Arms
Stock Original Coil Springs
Bilstein 5100 series Height Adjustable to 2-1/2" (from RCD Suspension) F4-BE5-D558-T0

**Considering Eibach Heavy Duty Coil Springs (600#) for future heavier bumper w/winch AND to get it to a FULL 3" lift on the front (?)..
Yes? No? Opinion?

**Will this rear shock work well for this truck w/a 3" lift if I take it out wheeling as well as a daily driver? Will it have enough travel? I'd rather be safe than sorry, so your educated/experienced opinions would be greatly appreciated...

 

Welcome! So after looking at what you have id say if you can, go with the eibach coils now. It will save you time. As for the rear you want 1.5-2" of lift. The front should be around 2.5" with that set up and should sit fairly level with the rear. You will also want to get a 1" diff drop kit if you dont already have one. Any other questions just ask.
Tim

 

yup. since you have the heaviest 1st gen tacoma the eibachs will work great even with no armor. For the rear just go with the hd leafs. combining the aal wont make you level and will probably ride rough. If you plan on doing the u bolt flip then you should get the longer 5125 shocks as they will have to be relocated anyways (and like you said the 5100s arent long enough). As for the diff drop mentioned its definitely not required as it really doesnt do much but hey... its cheap.

 

Looks all good to me. I'd leave out the AAL's, they aren't going to give much additional lift to a new spring and in general are one of the cheap mods. 1" or rear lift should sit level with 2.5" of the front.

If you're not in any hurry I recommend going with the OME Dakars for the rear. I've never run them personally but they tend to get rave reviews and provide around 2" of lift with excellent load capacity. You would need different shocks with these springs.

 

Hi and welcome. I would also suggest leaving the AAL out cannot comment on icon AAL but i have rode a toytec one and it was awful, you could always use a longer shakle to provide extra rear lift. For 3" in the rear you will need 9-10" travel shocks

Longer brake lines are good and a muffler hanger re locator if you want

 

Thank you all so much for your advice...
After reading through your advice, I did go ahead and get the 5125's (33-18654) for the rear shock; to allow for more travel...
**I now have a brand new pair of 5100's that have only seen my living room for sale!

I also picked up the Eibach 3" lift coil springs (mentioned previously) for the front. They're actually a 620# and not 600# as I'd mentioned incorrectly above.

@TimPall13 and @devinzz1- I do have a differential drop spacer kit sitting here. Will I need it? Not sure, but it's here and waiting if I do. I'd also read someplace about shimming... Shimming what? I can't remember... Ugh..

I'd previously picked up a set of SS braided brake hoses (sitting here in their package waiting for installation) that are apparently standard size and not the longs. That said, the guy that sold them to me stated that they already give an additional 2" of line and he didn't believe that I'd need the long lines for a 3" lift...I'm a little worried that I'll find that I WILL need those longer hoses for lifted applications, so I think I'll send these back and just go with the longer set.

@Clay_916 - I'd already picked up the heavy duty set of leaf springs from (Kansas) before learning about the OME Dakar leafs.. They look very similar in many construction aspects (military wraps, etc.) except it appears to me that the Dakar springs might be thinner and contain more leafs. Yes? No? If that's the case I'd have loved to do that instead due to their being more leafs but thinner construction, (a more flexible and softer ride?) but for now I'll check out this set from General Spring and hope that I love them. From the internet research that I did to inquire about them, it seems that this company has a good reputation for quality springs and I believe they also have a good clientele for custom spring manufacturing.

@SlipperyTaco - As soon as the new leafs arrived via UPS, (it felt like Xmas) the bottom overload leaf was removed and the ICON AAL was installed... The set now sits in the foyer here awaiting installation... It wouldn't be a big deal to simply reverse that and not install the AAL.. The internet research that I'd found (limited) was positive on these ICON AAL's, thankfully... I'll probably install them first to see where these HD leafs take me... The General Spring website states that they'll sit the truck back at factory height... However, when I inquired with GS about this specifically via email, I was told that they would give 1-1/2" lift over stock height, so I guess the verdict here is going to remain mysterious until they're actually installed... LOL!!

Hoping to get this truck put back together within the next week.

 

@SlipperyTaco - A muffler hanger? Where would I get that?

 

Wheeler's AAL is cheaper than Icon for the same spring. I've have them and they ride great. Installed them at 5k mile and I'm now at 20k miles.

 

@JasonU71 - Thanks for the heads up!.... I wished I'd have found this forum prior to my initial shopping spree... I already have the ICONS...
Now I'm going to try and sleep tonight, thinking about what I could have done for the truck with that extra $45... LOL!!

 

not sure how much it is really needed but i do have one and it was recommended from @YotaDan

oh and btw my cousin does have an icon AAL with overload removed and it rides perfectly fine.

 

I didn't need the muffler hanger even though it came with the kit. I don't plan to wheel that hard and doubt it will flex into the pipe where it sits now.

 

If you already have diff drop then you can install it.

They either meant shimming the rear axle (angled shim) or spacing down the axle carrier bearing as you may get a driveline vibration from lifting the rear more than 1.5" (I just put a few washers on top of the bearing as im at 2.5" in the rear)

 

I just had a thought about this....(that should have been obvious to me)... They're obviously referring to the entire leaf spring setup which includes the thickness of the overload leaf when referencing height... I've removed the overload leaf when the AAL was installed into the leaf package... I've been worried about pushing the rear too high over the front and not sitting level.. Not worrying now..

@frizzman - I'll wait on the muffler hanger too, to see if it's necessary.

@devinzz1 - Yes, I'll go ahead and install this diff drop spacer. I'm going to do some studying on the axle and carrier bearing shimming b/c I'm still pretty ignorant about this topic...(gonna change that)....

 

I am running the OME Dakers and nitrochager shocks in the rear. they run great!! I also just ended up cutting my exhaust right after the down turn from the muffler. it's up out of the way and no more hitting when I flex my truck. I also will be doing the diff drop. I am ordering OME 882 coils with the nitro shocks for the front today. people say you don't have to do the diff drop but for as little as it costs and as easy as it is.. why not and have a peace of mind.