Starting with 5100's - where to go from here?

Did you get the new lift and tires installed? I'd love to see some pics!

 

Did the suspension install yesterday. Unfortunately I don't have any after photos yet. The camber is way off and I couldn't find a place open yesterday to do an alignment and swap the tires for me. So it's currently at NTB awaiting that work to be done.

Here are some photo from yesterday though. Sorry I don't have more. It's difficult to document and photograph at the same time, especially when trying to finish the job as quickly as possible to try to get an alignment done the same day (which didn't happen anyways).

For anyone replacing the UCA, I learned that you need to pry back a bit of the body in the inner fender in order to remove the UCA bold. We also removed a small plastic pin that holds some wiring loom to the inside of the metal body piece in order to back the bolt out as the bolt hit the wiring loom as well.

My truck (Dante) before swapping the factory suspension for Bilstein 5100's, OME 885 springs, and Wheeler's AAL in the rear.



On the lift. It's awesome to have friends who have awesome garages!



My buddy Dean messing with something.



The factory UCA next to the JBA UCA.



The Bilstein 5100, OME 885 and JBA UCA installed.

 

Sorry for the poor photos. Crappy weather here. Hopefully I can get better photos this weekend.

 

Dude it looks incredible!! I'm looking to get those same UCAs when/if I ever get around to getting 885s... How are those tires treating you? Been giving those a hard look as my next set of tires

 

Thanks. Today was my first day really driving the truck. Just commuting to/from work (around 40 miles total). It's been pouring rain here and the tires just grab. I am being cautious though trying to get the feel of the truck with these new components. And I don't want to push new tires too hard in poor conditions.

 

No problem my dude. So did you use the 3/8" spacers for a full 3" of lift or just stuck with the 885s? What were your alignment numbers?

 

Here is a thorough price list with links of everything I did to the truck for the suspension/tire upgrade.

Vendors:

• JBA Off-Road
• Discount Tire Direct
• NTB

Suspension Front:

• JBA Standard High Caster Upper A-arms - $449.95

Suspension Rear:

Tires

• (4) Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx LT265/75 R16 and Valve Stems - $816.92
• NTB Mount, Balance, and Alignment - $169.55

Install

• Garage Time - $50
• Food for my friends - $35

Suspension Parts Total: $1,253.60
Grand Total: $2,325.07

 

I stayed with just the 885's because I went with a 1.5" AAL in the rear. I don't want too much Bro Lean. But I did add the 1/4" spacer on the driver side.

I don't have a print out from NTB. My truck was literally the last vehicle in their shop Sunday night. And they found that we had the JBA UCA ball joint connected incorrectly. Thankfully they were cool. We Google's some videos and discovered the large metal washer site above the control arm with the locknut below. They fixed that on both sides and alignment came in green all around.

 

Why do my hobbies/passions get more and more expensive as I get older? I feel like I work just to add things to my truck.

 

Glad you got that sorted out!! I'm already pushing it with the 884s with stock UCAs. Everything is green, but I would have liked more caster and zero camber. But within spec is within spec

 

Here are the measurements I took of specific areas of my truck before and after my upgrades.

Before: 2014 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road with BFG 265/70 R16 tires
After: Bilstein 5100's front/rear, OME 885 springs front, Wheeler's 1/4 driver side spacer, JBA UCA (not that it matters), Wheeler's 1.5" add-a-leaf in the rear, Cooper S/T Maxx 265/75 R16 tires.

Front driver side ground to fender:

• Before: 34"
• After: 37.5" (so much for the driver side lean)

Front driver side center of hub to fender:

• Before: 20"
• After: 22.5"

Front passenger side ground to fender:

• Before: 34.25"
• After: 38"

Front passenger side center of hub to fender:

• Before: 20.5"
• After: 23.5"

Rear driver side ground to fender:

• Before: 35"
• After: 37.25"

Rear driver side center of hub to fender:

• Before: 21"
• After: 22.25"

Rear passenger side ground to fender:

• Before: 35"
• After: 37.5"

Rear passenger side center of hub to fender:

• Before: 21"
• After: 22.5"

Lower front skid plate:

• Before: 9"
• After: 12"