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Spacer lift

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by Quincyq, Apr 17, 2019.

  1. Apr 17, 2019 at 6:02 PM
    #1
    Quincyq

    Quincyq [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I’m curious how adding a 2” leveling kit would affect ride quality. I’ve heard just doing a Bilstein lift is better cause the ride is still good, but it’s not really in my budget at the moment. Any thought on whether I should wait to do Bilstein or if the level would be okay?

    CB74F21A-DD54-4D5A-A898-9003A3600591.jpg
     
  2. Apr 17, 2019 at 6:10 PM
    #2
    Vacationgangster

    Vacationgangster Well-Known Member

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    Don't half ass several things, whole ass one thing. Save and buy a real lift.
     
    Paul631 and EndlessOverland like this.
  3. Apr 18, 2019 at 8:49 AM
    #3
    Roddy13

    Roddy13 Well-Known Member

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    There is a 1.5" front lift (Spacer) on Amazon for like $48. It takes 2-3 hours to install while drinking beer and trying to figure out where all of your wrenches are and how the cat got in the garage.

    Rides like stock. Alignment is within spec.

    Try it yourself. You'll need to provide your own beer, wrenches and cat though as well as other stuff mentioned like a garage and the spacer and the $48.

    You can always remove it later when you go full retard on an Ikon set up that needs a rebuild in 10 months....
     
    pat's taco, boostedka and DW85 like this.
  4. Apr 18, 2019 at 8:51 AM
    #4
    geekhouse23

    geekhouse23 The "Liftman" - @DrFunker

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    Save up for a bigger budget. You can get 5100 shocks and reuse the stock coils. This will ride MUCH better than stock; especially if your shocks are up there in miles.

    Whatever you do, make sure you hit up @Tretiak30 for all your suspension needs!
     
    Tretiak30 likes this.
  5. Apr 18, 2019 at 9:00 AM
    #5
    Tretiak30

    Tretiak30 Well-Known Member

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    Definitely save up. Spacer lifts are well known to cause catastrophic failures over time.

    Just search in throughout the forum.

    Steer clear from spacer lifts.

    5100s should be the only budget option you consider.
     
    geekhouse23 likes this.
  6. Apr 18, 2019 at 9:03 AM
    #6
    TACORIDER

    TACORIDER Just another statistic

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    Save up for what you want. Dont waste money on things to help get you the look for now and then buy what you want later
     
  7. Apr 18, 2019 at 9:09 AM
    #7
    DansSr5

    DansSr5 Well-Known Member

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    those failures are only if you use a spacer that is too tall. For example on a 3rd gen there is someone on this forum that cut away the boot of the front shock and measured 2.5 inches of shock travel left at full compression. putting in a 1" spacer = 2" lift would leave 1/2 of shock travel left.. so technically anything over 2.5 " of lift would crush the shock on a hard hit because the bump stop would no longer do its job as it would be too short. hence stick with 2" max on a third gen. 2nd gen I'm not sure as its height is different.

    Hopefully this info is helpful.
     
  8. Apr 18, 2019 at 9:13 AM
    #8
    geekhouse23

    geekhouse23 The "Liftman" - @DrFunker

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    It is still a question of ride quality from the OP. 5100's beat a shitty spacer lift on ride quality 24/7/365.
     
  9. Apr 18, 2019 at 9:15 AM
    #9
    DansSr5

    DansSr5 Well-Known Member

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    I agree.

    I think most who use spacers probably have brand new shocks. Like me. When they wear out I'm going in a different direction.
     
  10. Apr 18, 2019 at 11:33 AM
    #10
    Roddy13

    Roddy13 Well-Known Member

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    Bullshitzle!. Over time? no. I ran one on my last tacoma for 90,000 miles. No issues. I even off roaded it to the cabin many times per year and never once called any part of that overlanding... I wouldnt rock crawl with a spacer lift... but for hunting, hiking, camping adventures no issues.

    I also got a metric fuck ton of thumbs up over my levelling kit in the 'bucks drive through if it adds cred.
     
    71tattooguy likes this.
  11. Apr 18, 2019 at 11:34 AM
    #11
    Roddy13

    Roddy13 Well-Known Member

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    Post back in 2026 when they wear out. You have plenty of time for planning. Grab a coffee and a crumpet.
     
  12. Apr 18, 2019 at 11:37 AM
    #12
    dangeroso

    dangeroso Just float along and fill your lungs

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    Big difference between top plate and bottom spacers. Most of the negative comments are associated with bottom spacers, which compress the coils.
     
    71tattooguy and Roddy13 like this.
  13. Apr 18, 2019 at 12:55 PM
    #13
    Tretiak30

    Tretiak30 Well-Known Member

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    Most spacers that go on top of the strut push the strut down past the point where it can be protected by the bumps, while also adding a slight arch to the shaft and the whole shock body, which over time leads to failure in the welds, but I guess yeah, if it’s strictly on road and you don’t hit any. If potholes you’d be fine, but off road, spacers are the last thing you want to use.
     
  14. Apr 18, 2019 at 1:00 PM
    #14
    LukeD

    LukeD Well-Known Member

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    I currently have a rough country 2 inch spacer leveling kit on my ‘15 prerunner. I’ve put about 30k miles on them and run it pretty hard off-road in the process and have had absolutely no issues at all. It drives just like stock, maybe a little bit tougher. I installed myself and it was very doable. That said, I’m now about a week away from ordering 5100’s to go up front. While in all honesty there’s nothing wrong with the spacers, I’ve read a lot about how the 5100’s are so much better and improve handling on and off road so that’s why I’m about to upgrade. Cost wise the 5100’s aren’t too much worse either. I’m looking at a pair on Amazon with prime shipping for 98$ a piece so 200$ total compared to the 60$ for the rough country kit. In the end it’s all about what you use the truck for. If you try to drive your truck like it’s a sports car (I do) and take it hardcore off-road then the 5100’s would be worth your money. If you’re easy in the corners and stick to light trails then the spacers are going to be more than enough for you.
     
    71tattooguy and Roddy13 like this.
  15. Apr 18, 2019 at 2:27 PM
    #15
    Roddy13

    Roddy13 Well-Known Member

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    You read about this or tried it first hand? I personally did a trial without any sponsorship just for this forum. I am an independent tester of the Amazon spacer lift, and am not affiliated with the company in china that makes the thing.

    Year after year I just drove my truck. On roads. Not on Roads. Some days I exceeded posted speed limits. I towed shit and hauled fire wood and sod.

    Spacer lift did good son. $48

    This is not a paid advertisement for spacer lifts.
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2019
  16. Apr 18, 2019 at 3:16 PM
    #16
    Tretiak30

    Tretiak30 Well-Known Member

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    Everything I've come across working on Tacomas for the last 7 years, nothing but bad things. Just my luck, I guess.
     
  17. Apr 18, 2019 at 3:25 PM
    #17
    71tattooguy

    71tattooguy Well-Known Member

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    Well said
     
  18. Apr 19, 2019 at 6:11 AM
    #18
    Quincyq

    Quincyq [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for all the feedback guys. It really sounds like a mix of both. I think I would be fine with spacers, but seeing as my truck is 13 years old I think I’ll just wait to do the whole suspension because I’ll probably need it soon. It’s just not riding like it used to.
     
    geekhouse23 likes this.
  19. Apr 19, 2019 at 6:52 AM
    #19
    CMillTacoma

    CMillTacoma Well-Known Member

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    One other option is a mix of spacer and 5100 or 6112 shocks, I did this on my Tundra and it rode great. I always hated the lean on the Tundra and this Tacoma so I did a 1/2 in spacer on driver and 1/4 inch on passenger to level side to side then did the 3rd notch instead of the 4th on the 6112's and the truck just rode great.

    For the Tacoma I have now I did just the spacers on the stock yellow TRD 4600 shocks for the side to side lean but the truck still dives when braking and wollows a bit. I will be upgrading to 5100 or 6112's when these tires are done.
     
  20. Apr 19, 2019 at 9:11 AM
    #20
    JT@Bajakits

    JT@Bajakits Well-Known Member Vendor

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    The biggest issues with Spacers over time is the Ball joint wear. It works for looks but if the ball joint goes, youll have more bad than good come out of it when it gives. In turn costing you more money and time as well as damage to the truck. The simplest way to have long lasting performance on a budget, is an upper Control arm paired with a set of kings. The Kings are adjustable and tune-able in several ways which also last a lifetime due to its ability to be rebuilt.
    The Pasted link will give you an example of whats available. :cheers:

    https://www.bajakits.com/i-26380448...d-upper-control-arm.html?ref=category:1415159
     

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