3rd Gen, Lift, 33's, CMC, Lessons Learned

I recently lifted my 2017 Tacoma and gained much of the info I needed from this site. After running into problems, I just wanted to share some of my lessons learned.

First thing I would like to address is the Cab Mount Chop (CMC). If your planning on 33’s or bigger and are asking “do I need a CMC”? The answer is yes in almost all cases. In fact, this should be your first mod before you install the first part of your lift (IMHO). A big thanks to @Texoma for hooking mine up!! If you want things done right the first time, he is the man!

If you want your finished truck to drive properly, plan on Upper Control Arms (UCA). It is my opinion that the stock Tacoma has barely enough caster to accommodate the stock height with stock tire sizes. As soon as you lift at all, you start to loose caster and if your adding bigger tires, (33>) you going to need it. In fact, if you want the truck to track comfortably with 33s or bigger, you need at least 3deg positive caster and up to 4 if you can get it. This will generally not happen with stock UCAs at 2” or more lift. Anything less will give you varying degrees of wandering and bump steer. This may also present as a steering vibration as the front wheels attempt to track on uneven pavement.

Trust but verify!! I did most of this work myself but allowed a trusted friend (who owns a well-known shop) to install my UCAs and align the truck. After experiencing severe steering issues, I took the truck home and pulled out the UCA’s. I found the uniballs were so tight that they could not be moved without extreme persuasion. This was causing no return in the steering after a turn. I also found that his mechanic used no grease of any kind in the pivot bushings. I removed the zerk fittings and they were totally dry. I was told that my alignment numbers were causing the problem and “when you lift trucks they all drive like crap”. A little dry lubrication (Tri-Flow) in the uniballs, some PTFE grease in the pivots, and everything works like it should. After a proper alignment with the caster set at 3.1 on each side, the truck tracks better than the day I bought it and the steering returns to center as it should. No, they all don’t have to drive like crap.

Spend the money and get a good balance for your new wheels and tires. This will save you a lot of headache later. My “friends” mechanic did mine and they were completely off.

Proper wheel backspace and offset will help avoid UCA and other clearance issues. Wheel spacers will only create other potential complications/hazards. Fortunately I got this right the first time.

Tire pressure is subjective. 35 psi is a good starting point and adjust as needed.

I am not claiming to be an expert here and I am sure that opinions will vary. I am just sharing my experience for those that may be looking for the information.

 

This should be mandatory viewing for all new members

good write up

 

My friend helped me out a lot by getting me some good prices on parts and I appreciate it. His mechanics caused me a lot of headaches though.
In the end @Texoma set me straight.

 

Good write-up and glad that you were able to get it all sorted, working properly and looking good

 

Excellent write up. I had buddies tell me all kinds of avenues to lift my truck, and many "Trust me"'s thrown in there, especially the friends who want me to do giant spacer lifts....After trial and tribulation with lifting my 4Runner, I decided to build a plan and parts before embarking on my lifting journey. These days I mostly disperse camp with the wife and travel on fire roads etc in the mountains for camping, however we do desert camp in the winter, so we see a lot of washboard and sand roads/arroyos. That being said, I don't plan on doing very technical 4x4 over landing driving just medium duty stuff. When I was younger I had the nerves for double black diamond trails growing up in Colorado, and conquered most of them, but I don't like nearly sliding off cliffs while trying to maneuver on 3 wheels anymore over boulders. I have had a wonderful life so far and have "Conquered" what I wanted in life, and more than most, but I now want to "enjoy" my excursions without the "Conquering" aspect involved. Below is my medium duty daily driver lift plan. I need more clearance! And a pinch more of articulation......Feel free to reply with advice!
1. I bought

$471 B8 5100 Series Set of Front & Rear Shocks fits 1996 2004 Tacoma with 1-1.5" Lift | TrendsAuto Decal | 24-249928 33-247724 33-247717

B8 5100's (2.75" adjustable height) front shocks and 5100's for the rear with 1" lift
2. I have a bad ass Tig Welder and will be doing my CMC myself
3. Bought a set of OME medium duty springs for the rear ( 240# Tepui RTT, camp kitchen and gear in back) ( possibly switching to SloopImports aluminum cab shell with aluminum clamshell tent instead)
4. Will be ordering a set of BFG KM3's 285/75/17 ( love my 265/75/16 KM3's I have now )
5. Will be ordering a set of Method wheels with offset (don't know offset yet, still researching the style)
6. Possibly buying a set of bump stops
7. Will be changing gears to 5:29 possibly?
8. Bed stiffeners

 

I didn't see UCAs on your list. My opinion is do them at the same time and enjoy the more comfortable steering that the added caster will give you.

 

Great write up, would you mind sharing your selected parts for the build out. I’m thinking fox 2.0, total chaos UCAs and aal leaf for the rear with a fox rear upgrade in the future. I will still
Need to do the body chop? I would like to run 285/75/16.

 

This is the set up I have. Of course there are many other ways to go but (IMHO) CMC and UCA's are a must.

My parts list:
Cab mount chop (just get it done)
Fox 2.0 coil-overs in front
Fox 2.0 shocks in the back
1 inch lift blocks in the rear but will probably change out to a Deavers leaf pack in the future.
Icon tubular UCA's with unibal. (Might change out to Icon Delta Joints in the future)
17” Method NV 305’s with 0 offset
Nitto Ridge Grapplers 285/70/17

My alignment:
Camber .2(L) .5(R)
Caster +3.1 (L/R)
Toe .05(L/R)

 

I’ve been working out of town for the past 5 months. I’ve also been ordering parts for my truck this whole time!

Build list so far...

1. Accutune kings 2.5 extended travel front and rear.
2. Archive garage Ubolt flip kit
3. RXT leaf pack
4. Total chaos CMC
5. Low range off road front diff drop kit.
6. ICON tubular UCAs with delta joints
7. Rough country speedo correction module
8. I have a set of level 8 17x9 -12mm wrapped in 285/75 R17 Nitto terra grapplers that I’ll put on.

I’m going home in a few days and I’m gonna install it all.

I want to get method NV bronze rims -12mm offset but I’m having trouble finding them

 

100% on point. I did my truck in the same order and avoided all the head aches others enter. A good peice of mind is to do the ECGS bushing, when installing the lift. Truck looks great.
Did in this order
CMC
Cam tab gussets and regreasing cams and bolts.
ECGS bushing
OME HD Lift w/ Dakar
285 on -10mm
Alignment specs
Toe 0
Caster 3.5
Camber 0
Thrust Stock

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ion-installs-cab-mount-chop-local-fab.606964/

If anyone needs a CMC in SoCal or any welding.

 

That should be a thread. List who does CMCs/welding in the different areas of the country and contact info. That would make it easy for everyone to get started. What do you think?

 

I did the spindle lift to achieve a 4 inch lift. No CMC was required with 33's. The fender flares had to be trimmed at the bottom. After 70,000 on the lift it still drives great! I went with Fox shocks and the Dakar Leaf Pack. I will need new Nitto Trail Grapplers in October as they have 70,000 on them now. By the time they get replaced it will be close to 80,000 miles. I realize 3rd generation might be a little different.

 

@Radio TRD what'd you end up getting for that suspension and what'd it run ya?

 

I listed the parts in the post above. I can't remember off the top of my head exactly how much I paid but close to $3800 for everything including wheels and tires.

 

@Radio TRD well it looks badass, so well done

 

Thanks bro!!!

 

Fairly newbie here. Are there pics of before and after CMC mods?