3 Link Tacoma Prerunner Build Taco_Sos

I'm starting this build thread to help others explore different options to long travel the rear of these trucks.

In summary, SUA is not your only option. I've put together this 3Link kit from RuffStuff Specialties for you, so no more guess work.

And Im running these King 2.5 x 16" coilovers with these spring rates. Keep in mind these shocks are from Accutune, and they take consideration of your build to help you get close to a spring rate needed. I added +/- 30' of DOM 1.75 x .120 wall for a bedcage and spare tire carrier.


I also added some frame boxing plates and extended brake lines from DMZ Fab, but I don't have that invoice.

That's pretty much it for the kit itself.

As always, I'm not responsible for modifications you make to your truck.

 

Nice. I’m currently shopping around for a rear LT setup

 

Moving on to the installation of this universal 3 Link Kit.

First step was getting the frame ready-


Pulled off all the factory suspension components. Then installed the frame boxing plates from DMZ Fab.



Next up was the $76 axle truss from RuffStuff. This took some grinding to fit.




Next was getting the axle located. For my build, I extended my wheel base by 2" because of the swing from the arms and also because Fiberwerx had a bold mold when I bought my rear fenders and the axle sat too far forward. So I fixed the issue by extending the wheel base. Now the wheel is centered in the wheel well.


After the axle was located the links went up, I sub'd all the correct brackets when I put this kit together from RuffStuff, I chose the outside frame link bracket and it worked perfectly. Knowing that the leaf springs mounted to the outside of the frame this was a dead giveaway when designing.




After the link brackets were installed, the axle link tabs were squared up. Those were mounted to the bottom of the axle. I could sit here and research linked suspension all day, or just look at photos and see how the other guys are doing it. Which led to mounting them below and centered. This should give me some good anti-squat numbers. For articulation they should mounted to front of axle and centered.


As you can see I'm still articulating quite well-


Alright, links are mounted. Moving on to the panhard bar. This needs to be as long as possible to relieve lateral movement. So I chose the outside frame panhard mount and RuffStuff let's you cut your own panhard bar. They don't send one, but they do supply the heims. Mated with the panhard axle mount, this bar needs to be measured and cut when sitting at ride height.


The upper link tower in the parts list worked, but was chopped down. This made better contact to the axle. That was important because that single upper link has a lot stress fighting axle wrap.


So that gets the kit mounted. We'll put some King 2.5 x 16" Coilovers on it next and start cycling the suspension.

 

Now it's time to get the bed cage completed. Gotta get shocks in there so we can see where we're at.





Bedcage is done and shocks are mounted. Shock height was determined from full bump. I wanted my cage to sit nicely inside the bed.

We added some 4" air bumps from Locked Off-road.




Alright, so we're bumped and shocks are mounted. We're starting to find the kinks and working on getting usable travel. We'll be adding a sway bar to this kit down the road to limit some of the articulation. When the passenger side is full bump and driver drooped, the driveline is a hair away from hitting the gas tank skid. Sway bar will fix that.

Anyways, bed is back on and we didn't cut much of it. A hole saw through the wheel well proved to be enough.




Now that the bedcage is done, we can really see the progress.






Put some hardware in it and call it day? Not yet. We added some desired touches to it. Added this tire carrier to the bedcage. Great! Now I gotta buy a spare too!




And a good shot of the Mazzula Off-road bumper. They started building a Tacoma variation, so I picked one of those up and drizzled taco_sos on it. We Tied the bedcage in to the rear bumper. See pic above for that.


That's the build as of now. I'll add some pics for final, but hopefully this thread will help you explore more options. All together the entire kit in the photo below was right at $5k. See more on Instagram @taco_sos.

 

Looks like you can’t run bypasses unless you mess with the cab?

 

I could have fit the CO in there, but would require cutting the corner of the bed. Common issue for SB trucks. I didn't want to cut there so I mounted the CO in the rear mount. If I feel the truck needs a bypass then I will most likely cut that corner. I wanted this to be minimal and still maintain daily status.

 

Forsure. Looking good man

 

Another note, an IBP is always an option too.

 

daily? how do you expect low speed traction on tarmac to be? this is similar to plans I'm considering down the line. i always like to keep my projects DD capable. but i don't have experience with LT and trailing arms on the street. any thoughts?

thanks for posting, this is great to see.

 

That's pretty cool. I recognize that shop.

 

Hey bud, thanks for reading. I'm not expecting much vertical movement on the road. This particular kit is used most commonly in short course, so I'm expecting small amounts of lateral movement on the road. The 3 link is famous for keeping street capabilities and better off road performance. Several kits, like this one, are sold as a DD. I'll keep updating after I drive it. Mainly Pros and Cons. Keep an eye out.

 

Damn good shop. Smith OffRoad and Performance in Carrollton completed all the labor.

 

great! I'll be watching.

 

seriously? as in, 20 miles from me?

dammit where's my leash?

 

Haha exactly! I need to find mine too!

 

Freakin awesome. You know I’ve been following this very closely. How the hell do you measure ride height for the panhard bar? I can’t wait for video and ride reprt...

 

Hey bud! Glad you found this thread! It's important to take a few measurements before taking the truck apart. Measure your ride height so you have a reference when putting it all back together. I knew I would be lowering my ride height, the truck had bad rake. So I accounted for that. It's very important to make that panhard bar as long as possible. The axle is neutral location when at ride height.
Another good measurement to grab is pinion angle. Mine was 4 degrees.

 

Hm. I’m still unsure how to get a good ride height measurement. I can take it now as it sits, and set the axle the same to measure the panhard bar. But that doesn’t mean it’s the same ride height after linking it. Just curious. Are you using the stock drive shaft or did you add a slip yoke?

 

It's gonna be a ballpark number, but you definitely want to get it close. Measure from frame to axle. The TRD model comes with a slip yoke, but im planning on getting the driveline extended because the wheel base was extended.

 

How much drive shaft plunge? And how much lateral axle movement from bump to drop?

Why isn’t the upper link mounted higher on the axle? Don’t you want more squat?