OME dakar 3-leaf pack vs. AAL to stock

You can get an adjustable coil over shock that allows you to fuss with the ride height. In general, on stock front control arms, you will max out the travel and likely break stuff going to 4+" of lift. I would keep the front end at or below 3". The dakar hds give you about 2-3" in the rear. My opinion is to go with dakar hds, no add-a-leaf, and a 2-3" coil-over lift with an after market upper control arm and extended sway bar links. The 5100s are a very popular choice on TW for a reasonably priced and reliable performance coil over lift. I ended up going with freedom offroad my self, and bought their upper control arms and extended sway bar links. This coil over is adjustable from 2.5" of lift to 5". I kept mine at 2.5. I have the corresponding 2-5" lift freedom offroad rear shocks too. Like I said in my last post, I have the dakar hds with the add-a-leaf, and the add-a-leaf is way too much. All-in-all my setup goes anywhere. I see people rocking kings and icons and really expensive stuff and I have no issues keeping up.

 

What? no!! Thats dumb. You can absolutely do this yourself. I did mine in an afternoon. If you want I'll send you the list of tools and all the little extra parts you need.

 

Don’t forget to replace the needle bearing while your in there.

 

PM @Wheeler's Off-Road Inc . Those guys set me up with a killer deal on my suspension, and they added all the "little things" I needed to my order. They will 100% help you out with the dakars. You will need longer u-bolts and a sway bar relocation/drop kit... and thats it. I also recommend you buy new UCA control arm bolts too.

Here is my list of parts for the shocks and coil overs from Amazon:

$390 Freedom Off-Road Front Upper Control Arms for 2-4" Lift Compatible with 05-23 Tacoma

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KN2BNG4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$600 Freedom OffRoad Compatible With Tacoma 4Rrunner FJ Cruiser 2.5-5” Lift Coilovers

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KN2UFFE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$110 Freedom Offroad 0-3" Lift Extended Nitro Rear Shocks Compatible For 2005+ Tacoma / 2000+ Tundra FO-T301R

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PISJ24E/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

tools:

1. set of 1/2 drive sockets in metric from 14 to 24mm
2. 1/2 drive long breaker bar
3. 1/2 drive socket
4. 1/2 drive torch wrench (some DIYers say this is optional. If you crank it as hard as you can, many people dont feel the need to torque it to spec).
   
5. A set of metric wrenches in larger sizes are nice to have to how a bolt while you loosen the other side with the sockets. So, 14 for shocks.., 17, 19, 21, 22, and 24 for the other bolts
   
6. Lock tight. Use it up!
7. set of tall, like 21", jack stands
8. standard floor jack. Your truck weights ~3300 pounds, so at least a 2ton jack
9. various lengths of 4x4 or 4x6 pieces of wood (useful for stacking on top on your jack if you need more height or for an extra backup.
10. penetrating oil of your choice for tough bolts
11. Maybe a high temp torch if you have some really stuck bolts. These are like ~$50.

Thats it. Once you have these tools, you can do ~90% of the axle, differential, suspension, cv joint, wheel bearing, and related maintenance on your truck. If you buy my setup (see above), and these tools, the cost will be less than buying a kit and paying a shop to do the install. And you have tools!

 

So I went back & forth - AAL vs. new leaf pack. In the end the Head Strong 3-leaf AAL was out of stock so I got the standard Dakars from HS instead. I wanted less lift so I removed the top overload leaf. That kept the normal operating spring rate and gave the desired 2" lift. Have only a couple of checking it out miles on them as install was over the holiday. FYI, made my own new centerpins (with enough thread) by grinding down the head of grade 8 flange bolts. Here are various pix from the install.

 

Having had both icon aal an now HD dakars. The aal will ride better for DD use but any amount of weight I put loaded it would sag in just talking a full cooler an a couple lawn chairs.
The HD dakars ride stiff but it’s not unbearable had 600lbs of fertilizer an soil earlier this summer sagged maybe 1/4 but rode like a dream. I’d go with the medium dakars it’s a happy medium between the 2.

 

I am about to literally do the same install (with the same dobinsons bushings and u bolts haha). What did your center hub to fender measurements end up at without the larger overload? Also how are driveline vibrations (looks like you put in a 2deg shim in there?)

 

Yes, 2 degree shims. I was 21" hub center to bottom of fender prior to install (TSB springs). Now it's 23". Have only been around town thus far and not having vibration problems. Ran short on cleanup time the other day so I'll get the CB drop in after work one of these nights. Won't take long. Next weekend the ECGS bushing and 6112s go into the front.

 

One item I noted. I put 2 1/2" wide axle shims in. They where a bit to wide for my U-bolts so I used up time trimming them down. Once the factory springs where off the axle it was clear to me the axle seat would not have cared if I had gone with 2" wide axle shims. There was only about 2" width of landing area on my trucks axle.

 

Yes, please do.

 

I'm hating my 6112's, talk about sag in less than 6 months......will be yanking those and going the 886 route

 

What's the diff between 886 vs. 887? I have read mixed reviews.

 

886's are for weight up front. They have a higher spring rate to handle the extra weight.

887's are taller. Same spring rate at 885's but they yield 3" of lift so you don't need a 1/2" spacer like you do with the 885's.

 

Thanks for the update man!

 

See my previous post on this thread (a couple back on this page). PM me if want more details. Once you buy everything, spray all the bolts you need to turn on the truck the night before with pd blaster or kriol, or whatever penetrating oil you prefer. Get started early in the morning and unbolt everything. Break for lunch, install the new parts.

 

Hi I like that you removed the longer overload leaf. I want to do the same, I hear people say you can remove the 3rd leaf if you want a lower lift....is this true? I only need about 1.5-2in max lift for my rear. Curious if it would be ok for me to remove an overload and one regular leaf spring. And then add them back in later after settling if needed.

 

I removed the 3rd leaf and left the overload. Ended up with about 2" of lift over the factory leaf springs.

 

Ok got it, so in this photo was the final set up ? which would be the correct leaf to remove? 3rd leaf down from the top?

 

Hi assume you're referring to the photo in your earlier quote. That's the medium duty pack...not positive which to remove or how much lift that leaf pack will give you. I have the older style Dakar which is the equivalent of the current heavy duty Dakar.