why do my shackles look like this?

Every time I have my truck on a lift I question how much droop my axle has. The ABS wires and brake hoses are pulled tight, so are the e-brake cables. The shock boots get pulled off so often that I don't fix them anymore (zip-ties). I took some pictures today while I was under there to better illustrate the issue.

(the truck is on a lift and the axle is hanging freely)

 

yeah they dont exactly look right

 

What shocks do you have? I would guess your shocks have more down travel than all those things allow for. This is a reason to run limit straps or different shocks.

 

Somethings fucky. you running stock leafs?

 

do you have similar pics when it is on the ground?

Wrong/too short leaf springs? Over-arched spring pulling shackle forward?

 

This is the lift I bought. The only thing I added was some bump stops and a u-bolt flip. I got the medium duty leafs and TC upper control arms.
https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p312/OME_Coil/Bilstein_5100_Kit_w/_Dakars_(HS05BK-1-Dakar).html

 

Those rear shocks are way too long...Have you bottomed out on the bump stop? I ask because the total length of those is 27" and good possibility they are bottoming on the shock. The ones you have look like they are for a 4-6" lift. Go to the link below and click on the different shocks and compare the collapsed and extended lengths.

https://www.ridefox.com/subhome.php?m=truck&make=Toyota&model=Tacoma+&year=2014&position=Rear

Here is the King and ICON versions: To add...if you're positive you're not bottoming out on the shock...at a minimum replace your brake lines with extended ones. That way you don't risk a catastrophic mishap if ones of the lines were to break in an off-road situation.

Here is the wheelers specs the shocks I think you have. Says for a 4" lift with blocks.

 

Seems like you'd hit your shock before your bump stop on those rear shocks. 16.34 inches collapsed with the extended length bilstein, and 14.02 inches collapsed on standard length.

Headstrong usually knows what they are doing though. Maybe talk to Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road ?

 

I have extended brake lines (the ones supplied by headstrong). I had to add a spacer to the bracket on the rear axle which helped but I shouldn't have to add anything.

 

I don't know if I'm bottoming out on the shock or not. I haven't taken the truck off-road after the lift install. How can I test that?

 

Here is the rear shock specs from headstrong:
Rear Shock Specifications:

- Collapsed: 16.34"

- Extended = 27.28"

- Travel = 10.94"

 

The only easy way I can think is to try slowly put the truck into a situation that stuffs a rear wheel into the wheel well. Find a steep pile of dirt or ramp of some sort that you can drive up at an angle. That would transfer the weight to a rear corner. Make sure you are sitting on the bump stop. Should be smushed. Then look at the shock shaft and see if there is still any "travel". Though with the Bilstein you may need to measure the length.

Look at the Jeep in the link below for an example.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramp_travel_index

 

You could always throw some of these on to protect the shock from being smashed when bottoming out. This would most likely resolve any issues that arise from these shocks. The only good way to fix your original request is limit straps or different shocks. Though be honest, other than on a lift, how often do the wheels come off the ground? I would be more worried about hitting a sharp bump in the road with a load, and damaging the shock, then the situation you started the thread with. These are all just my thoughts and I wish you well! PS: it doesn't appear as though Bilstein makes a shock between a OEM direct fit and the longer one you have... that I can find...and I'm bored. Working from home pffft.

 

Bilstein 5160 is in between those two lengths. I run them with my Deavers. They have remote resi's


Shock Length is 14.22" Collapsed and 24.06" Extended

 

Maybe I can jack the R/R up and then measure the shock?

 

a measuring tape and some math will tell you all that you need to know. Put the truck on the ground and go from there. Shock lenghts are measured from center of the eye to where the first washer rests on the shaft at the top of the shock. Measure the distance from the bump to the frame when the truck is under its own weight. Subtract it from the length of the resting shocks. I bet that number is less than the shock collapsed length by around an inch.

I have always said it, the B110 5100's made for tundras are too long for a setup on a tacoma. To get them to not bottom out before hitting bump you will need to space the bump so much that you loose precious uptravel.

 

I don't understand the problem? The leaf is fully extending the shackle at dropped because the shock is allowing it.

The only issue is if you are going to snap a brake line or ABS wire. If they are super tight I would address that.

Other then that, it isn't a problem. Just a tension style shackle doing it's thing. If it were a compression style it wouldn't look that bad.

 

My issue with what I have is that the extended brake lines, e-brake cables and ABS wires are being stretched. I added a spacer to the bracket for the brake lines, left the ABS wires hanging (near the charcoal canister) and unbolted the e-brake cables near the drums.
I don't think anybody else has had to do this with the lift I had. I sent a question to @HeadStrong Off-Road and haven't heard back.

 

They have a message on their site that says they’re gone until at least 8/17