Lowering first gen 5-lug

Recently I have been thinking about lowering my first gen tacoma and have researched a bit and wanted to get some input on what I might do, whether I might be rubbing or if something better is recommended, any advice helps!

I was looking at the 3/4 DJM drop kit with the upper control arms and the steel blocks in the back. Also doing a ball joint flip. My goal is to have to eliminate the wheel gap, so to have the top of the tire just about where the bottom of the fender is, so not insanely low but low enough to look good. I am also going to be running stock rims and to what I believe is the stock tire size, if that will affect rubbing or anything else. Any tips help!

 

I'm certainly no Taco expert, but I'm getting ready to do the DJM 3/4 kit this week (Apr 20, 21, 2017) on my '02 reg cab. I installed the belltech coils last year, but they're too stiff; I don't like the rough ride. I have 3-inch blocks in back, but I'm going with 4-inch with the DJM kit. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

And, how did it go? I just ordered the DJM kit for my '01 xtracab 5-lug

 

It went okay. The hardest part for me was getting the new UCA bushings and their sleeves to line up properly. The instructions make it sound like it's no big deal, and maybe it's not, but it was for me. I did the bushings a week before I installed them on the truck. Because I want to be able to return my truck to stock, I bought a set of UCAs from Jim's in Colorado for the shafts (a little added expense, but worth it to me).

I followed the instructions but was unable to get grease all the way to the shafts. I wrestled with them for a couple of hours before I was finally able to get the grease to where it was supposed to go. If you have trouble like I did, don't install them until you absolutely see grease squeezing out on the shafts. The polyurethane bushings will certainly let you know if they don't get greased.

Other than that, everything went pretty smoothly. Last year I installed the shorter springs but didn't like them. So I reinstalled the factory springs. That added time to the job that you wouldn't have to if all you do is install the DJM kit since it's designed to use the factory springs. I also installed new upper and lower ball joints while I was at it.

When I was done, I had to adjust the toe-in quite a bit just to drive it to the alignment shop. The manager at Firestone said my truck aligned "much better" than most lowered trucks they see.

I took two days off work to do the job. I spent ten hours the first day and about eight hours the next day working by myself on my garage floor. If you have no experience, you might want to hire someone with experience to do the job for you.

Here are before and after shots. I now have 1.5" of clearance at all four corners. The front tires rub on sharp turns and over dips in the road, but it's not objectionable. I installed the DJM four-inch blocks in the rear.

Left upper arm installed.


Lower ball joint factory position below the arm

Ball joint flipped to above the arm

 

Hey man first of all people love the look of this thing. Im building a 1st gen right now and also bought the djm 3/4 kit. So you dont need lowering springs with the kit then? Also what size tires you running those things look great.

 

I just discovered your post. I haven't been here in a long time. Thanks for the compliments. No, you don't need lowering springs. The DJM kit is designed to be used with factory springs. I did install the 2" drop springs, but the ride was horrible. A year later I removed them and installed the DJM kit.

The tires are Firestone Affinity 215-60-16 in front and 225-60-16 in back. Since then one of the rear tires got a nail stuck on the corner where the tread meets the sidewall and couldn't be patched. So I had 235-60-16 installed.

Last year I had cat-back duals put on it.

I wanted the chrome tips to show, but not too much. Less is more. Since I don't like loud exhaust from 4- or 6-cylinder engines, I bought a Walker muffler that fits a 1985 Chevy truck. I has a 2 1/4" inlet and two 2" outlets.

Then I relocated the spare tire to the bed to make room for the tail pipes. It has a mellow tone that's just barely louder than stock. The only problem is that it now has resonance at highway speeds that's very annoying. I've bought resonators for it, but they're still sitting in the box they were shipped in.

Last week I sent the throttle body (TB) to a shop in Florida to be bored. Since I don't have an extra vehicle to drive, I had to find a used TB with the same number stamped on it as the original one has. I cleaned all of the "goo" from inside the used TB and valve, installed new gaskets, and reinstalled the TB. What a difference a clean TB makes! Throttle response hasn't been this good since I bought the truck 16 years ago.

The next day I installed a set of Bosch Iridium spark plugs. Another Wow! I had Bosch Platinum Plus 4 spark plugs in it, and they performed exceedingly well for eight years, but I put only 23,000 miles on the truck in those eight years.

With each performance enhancement I do to it, it seems to run just that much smoother. Performance is better across the entire RPM band, especially at highway speeds: push the pedal to the floor and it gets out of its own way.

 

Did you replace ball joint bracket bolts, too?

 

I'm not sure what you're referring to as ball joint "bracket bolts." I installed the four new bolts which came with the kit that hold the ball joint to the lower arm. Inventory the kit when you get it. I did and found only seven bolts. I called the company and told them the kit was shy one bolt, and they mailed one to me the next day.

 

You wouldn't happen to still have those drop springs would you?

 

If he doesn't, I'll have some barely used belltech coils available. My truck is sitting a little too low.

 

I still have them, but I'm going to hang on to them.

 

I haven't lowered a Taco but back in the day I had a slammed GMC S-15 pickup. I used drop springs and spindles in the front and leaves/blocks in the rear with new shocks at each corner. The top of the roof came up to my chest (I'm 5'10"). The only thing I can say to help is use the correct parts. My truck looked awesome and rode even better.

 

Not sure if you are still on this site, but... Is your truck a 4 cylinder, as the belltech kit is only for a V6. I know you used the DJM kit, and i called them and it is designed for the 4 cylinder...

also, curious what was rubbing and where? how has it been 2 years later? thank you

 

The only "reason" the belltech springs are "not for the 4cyl" is due to the spring rate. It still fits and works just like it was meant to fit in the spring pocket, because it is the same suspension (all first gen 5 lugs have the same, even the 95.5-00 5 lug V6 trucks to the 4cyls of all first gens, and the s-runner of 01-04, with slight variations) but everything is cross compatible. The belltech springs on a 4cyl truck just won't yield as much drop and will be slightly stiffer than if they were installed in a V6 truck.

 

I just purchased a lowered 2001 tacoma and want to raise it back to original speded height . Can I simply take out the block in between the nleafs and axle ? do I need to purchase any parts ? Also if they did the back did they do anything in the front ? i donot know what to look for . Also can you tell me why people want to lower their truck ? thank yoj for replying

 

Yes, take the rear blocks out and install new u-bolts. As for the front, it really depends on what was used to lower it. Could be drop spindles, lowering control arms, flipped ball joint, different springs/shocks. Hard saying without seeing it.

As for why we lower them, it gives the truck a unique look compared to all the stock ones. It also makes it easier to load things in the bed of the truck, as well as improving handling if you are somebody who likes to drive spiritedly through a twisty back road. Or even take it to a track/autocross if you're so inclined.

 

thanks for reponding ! did they do anything with the leaf spring in the back ? iI will purchase the correct u-bolts .If i send you a picture of the front , what should i focus on ? does lowering the truck effect how much cargo because of the distance between the axle and bottom of the bed and the axle . And , I have an 1985 4cyl. one ton that could pass smog and the engine has 400000 , could I swap the leaf springs. thanks again for taking the time to respond .

 

It's entirely possible they may have put a leaf pack out of an s-runner in there, but it's difficult to say. Just taking the blocks out should be fine. If you put 1 ton springs in that truck it would be a miserable ride IMO. Way too much spring for a light truck.

Yes lowering it does affect how much payload you can haul before the axle is riding on the bump stops. If you post a pic of the front up here/in the street forum I'm sure somebody can help identify it. I'm a 2nd gen guy, so I may not recognize it.

 

i counted the number of coils on the front springs which are 11 . Stock springs are also 11 . If they did not lower the front , would the truck be un level ?

 

I might have just answered my own question , the lowered front springs have only 7 coils instead of 11