Need help with figuring out what lift kit is on my tacoma

Invited you Dirtdog1234 to a conversation (Trailmaster strut mod).
Pics and how I modded my McPhearson strut using internet research.
I don't beat my truck, do use it to hunt 3 large game species.
Strut mod is 1 year old and still have not blown struts.

 

Why don't you post it all in here for future readers to find?

 

The post is in a conversation.
I'm trying to figure out how to transfer the conversation into a post reply.

 

You can highlight it all by dragging your mouse over it, then copying and pasting it in here.

 

I will do this when I get home to my computer.
Thanks EatSleep Tacos.

 

Like someone else said. You won big time.

Nice truck.

Rid it of that awful suspension and swap it out with something appropriate and you've got a tits truck.

 

Did you ever end up changing it? I bkutgh damn near the same truck for 3k and it's tits except the suspension. "Trailmaster". Need to replace secondary strut. Bought the vw cartridge struts and need to find the upper mounts! Can you help? How did you go about doing it?

 

This was from just a couple weeks ago, so I doubt he's changed it yet.

 

1. Have you read anything about Gabriel strut insert mod for the Trailmaster lift?
   I'm going to try it. Ordered the strut inserts today. Hopefully will buy me some time to save $ for the Fabtech replacement lift kit.
   The Gabriel strut inserts supposedly will slide into Trailmaster strut tube. Some of the top of the strut body, 1/4", needs turned down to smaller outside diameter. Slide it into tube and bolt strut back on.
   The inserts are for a 91 VW Rabbit.
2. 
   
3. HalfJap, May 8, 2016 Edit Report
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   Grizz_bear Member
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   9 inch lift on nitrogen charged shocks and alcan springs. Halogen headlights . Double roll bar
   I havent heard of it but ill look more into it. Where can i find the parts?
   
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   HalfJap Active Member
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   Tacoma world, search "Trailmaster Gabriel" there are a bomber of posts discussing this mod.
   Sorry I don't know how to copy and paste certain links within website forums.
   
   I just ordered the Gabriel struts online from Autoanything. $50.00.
   Didn't really search for best priced ones
   
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   HalfJap Active Member
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   This is a different topic. Part of another question you had.
   This is what I got from Fabtech when I Emailed them, how do I order separate parts, not a kit.
   Included what part I need.
   
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   9 inch lift on nitrogen charged shocks and alcan springs. Halogen headlights . Double roll bar
   Thank you so much. You are seriously a life saver. Theres nothing i hate more than to see my truck sit.
   
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   HalfJap Active Member
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   So ya, I just called Rocky Mountain Suspension. Ordered parts#FTS70007ds and FTS70007ps.
   Drive and pass sides 6" lift steering knuckles.
   Shipped to my door $1,173.33.
   Hope those knuckles and UCA's fix this McPherson strut problem.
   
   HalfJap, May 9, 2016 Edit Report
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   I'm glad I purchased the Gabriel struts.
   My order through Rocky Mountain Suspension (they said it would ship from Fabtech in California) is on back order.
   I drive my Taco in town, a small town. Hopefully the strut mod will get me through until the knuckles arrive.
   
   HalfJap, May 11, 2016 Edit Report
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   9 inch lift on nitrogen charged shocks and alcan springs. Halogen headlights . Double roll bar
   What all do I have to do to mke the gabriel struts fit? Or do they just slide right in
   
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   Supposedly they will slide right in.
   I believe the top of the main body 1/4" needs to be turned or dremeled down OD to put cap back on.
   
   I will post pics when I do it. Won't have the struts until 5/15/16.
   
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   This is what I have so far. It was a B*tch getting the brass ring out of top of tube needed removed to remove old strut. Also was a C*nt getting old strut out.
   FedEx delivered my Gabriel struts late. Will finish project tomorrow. With more pics.
   Notice the Gabriel strut is a little shorter. Have to remove top mount and (invert) it, mount it under rather than over strut tower.
   
   HalfJap, May 16, 2016 Edit Report
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   Invert that top bushing plate, has 3 bolts holding it on top of tower.
   One side finished. Notice that bushing plate is on bottom of tower now. That is supposed to make up 1/2" of shorter strut.
   Was a bitch getting new strut into tube, had to beat it in.
   Left to right, Gabriel strut with shaft end near threads ground down OD about 3/8" length so the threads will be long enough to put nut on when installed into top bushing.
   New Gabriel strut.
   Old (I think Trailmaster) strut.
   
   HalfJap, May 17, 2016 Edit Report
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   Used a Dremmel tool to grind down shaft end near threads.
   Not perfect but, supposedly this is just a short time fix. The POS Trailmaster lift/Mcphearson strut is a gamble on how long until strut blows out again.
   
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   Not sure if this mod is worth the $ and effort.
   Pretty sure I have blown 1 of the struts while installing. Trying to beat that thing into tube. Suddenly had a slight hissing sound for a second.
   Haven't driven truck yet.
   
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   So drove it. There is no noise anymore! No leaking fluid from struts. Feels stiffer.
   I may have not ground a long enough part on thread end of strut. Looks like the upper and under washers are sandwiching the metal sleeve inside the rubber bushing.
   Oh well. Hope those Fabtech steering knuckles on back order ship soon! When they ship going to order Total Chaos UCA's. Eliminate that stupid Mcphearson strut!
   Good luck to you!
   
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   How is your Taco?
   I'm at about 2 weeks on strut mod still good. Haven't blown out yet.
   Still waiting on uca's, and had to order more stuff from Fabtech, bearing seals and an abs plug. Hoping to install everything to get rid of Trailmaster strut in 2 weeks.
   
   HalfJap, May 29, 2016 Edit Report
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   Dirtdog1234
   
   HalfJap, May 21, 2017 Edit Report
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   Wow! Doesn't look or sound like fun. But, definitely lots of great info on what I might be having to do. What symptoms were you noticing that made you decide to change out the strut?
   
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   when I purchased the truck 05/2016 the symptoms helped me negotiate $1500.00 off of listing price. I didn't know what I was getting into.
   The symptoms were popping sound coming from front end while accelerating from stop and when braking to stop.
   When I got truck home I had a friend bounce on front bumper while I looked for popping sound.
   The struts were blown and sticking in down position and when they released the pop sound would happen.
   
   The Fabtech 6" lift steering knuckles and UCA's i posted about is definitely an option to update the front end lift.
   I have all my parts to do it, just haven't done it yet.
   
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