5 Lug mid travel????

Good to know those UCA cross braces may cause issues even on rigs without a body lift. Truck looking good man! You got a fender for the drivers side yet? I only have an extra passenger side or I would send you mine.

I got my lift mostly sorted out as planned. The inner wheel/hub seals ended up being ruined. I over packed them with grease when I did the job the first time around and the grease had nowhere to go but through the seals. (lesson learned) I bought some Beck Arnley ones that I feel are much more rugged than the ones I got at the auto parts store originally. I'll add it to the parts page since it was a good discovery. That problem was easily resolved by replacing the old seals with the new seals as the hubs still had plenty of grease.

I ended up getting new inner and outer tie rods before getting it aligned professionally. What I noticed when doing a driveway alignment is that by adjusting the tie rods you are adjusting both camber and toe at the same time. This surprised me since I assumed tie rods were just toe adjustment. My camber is still off slightly, but not enough to wear my tires considerably like before. I haven't milled anything off the TC cross shafts yet, but I think it may be necessary to get both camber and toe into spec. On one side I have about half degree positive camber (in spec) and full degree negative camber (out of spec) on the other side with toe being in spec on both sides. I just need to determine how much to mill off of each cross shaft, and then I'll use the shims to bring the alignment into perfect camber spec. New 31" tires are looking good on wear so far, though.

I am going to have to trim some length off of my coilover sleeves. The top of the sleeves are rubbing against the coil at full compression. Realistically there's no way I would ever adjust the coil seats that high, so its not a loss really. The other alternative would have been to have the snap ring groove placed by Bilstein as low as possible instead of as high as possible like I chose. Allstar also makes a 5 inch sleeve that would've worked nicely instead of the 7 inch sleeve that I chose. The original Downey design took these clearances into consideration, it appears. I was experimenting a little with how high the coil seat could go.

I removed my sway bar temporarily. I am deciding what to do when mounting it back on. I have certainly noticed more body roll when driving at higher speeds and around turns, so I feel like it is definitely safer for a daily driven vehicle to have one. I would like to have the best of both worlds by having some end links that can be disconnected. I found the Warrior ones that are custom made, and read a few write-ups about end links of 2nd gen Tacomas and 3rd and 4th gen Runners. I also may convert the lower mount to the 01+ style. This is probably the next thing I will tackle since it's just measuring and bolting up new parts underneath.

I still want to have something fabbed up for limit straps, strut rods, and ball joint brackets too, but its on the back burner for now. I need more time to brainstorm, measure, and research.

I'll try to post pics whenever I have a chance. It'll probably be the last round for a while since I don't know how much work I'll have time for when the newborn arrives.

 

We have a wide variety of thicknesses for our camber spacers, are you sure youd need to have them milled? I didnt know the toe adjustment also messed with the camber but the spacers gave me a HUGE amount of negative camber and once the new coils and uppers were put on. ive got a pretty decent amount of positive camber now. At freeway speeds it definitely wants to move around. The steering wheel is pretty touchy. I'm still impressed at your custom coilover job, if i want going to be pulling the trigger and committing to the ridetech shocks i probably would have gone that route for the height adjust ability alone. I also found out that the shocks offer rebound AND compression adjustments all with the same dial they adjust together progressively so i can still get my front suspension dialed. Next, ill be looking into some 9" TC shackles selling my 10" Fox Resis for some 12" Billy 7100 shortbodys. Later on down the road i'll hopefully stumble upon another Deaver leaf pack

 

Dayum, what have my fellow 5 luggers been up to? this place has been dry with updates. I got my Yota out and stretched her legs for the first time in a bit. I might get some 32" tires soon the fronts are pretty damn bald and i want some more height. I also need to get some new shock mounts welded up. i only have 3" of uptravel with my 10" fox resis

 

No updates since I posted last. I have just been enjoying driving it tbh. I was able to snap a photo at work the other day, though:


Pretty proud I am taller than stock pre-runner/4x4s !!!

 

Hows the rack from front to back?

 

It has about 1/2 in of lean rather than rake with my current setup. I plan on getting some 1 inch shackles at some point to get a good rake going.

 

Do you have measurements from hub to fender?

 

I just whipped out the measuring tape to get a quick estimate. I would have to remove the wheels to get an accurate one. It was ~22-23 inches from my rough estimates, though.

 

On the rear? What about front

 

They are both between 22-23. I don't have exact measurements at the moment. Sorry.

 

This is a really old thread but i just recently doing my research on how to lift my little 6 lugger, thanks for all the info to whomever still uses this forum. What fender flares are u guys using on your lifted 5 luggers?

 

Broski just get fiberglass fenders if you going with spindles to give more clearance and tire coverage. Otherwise i think we can use 4x4 fender flares

 

Hopefully some of you guys are still around after a few years of a dead thread

I just picked up an old '96 2.4L 2WD 5 lug and want to join the club.

I've been reading all the 5 lug info I can find and the general consensus seems be either:

1) Buy the ready lift for some more height and a shitty ride
2) Buy the fabtech spindle lift
3) Upgrade to long travel

But because I'm an idiot I want to try for some mid travel. I called Doestch and they have the UCAs and struts, but no springs or spindles. Were you guys using their spindles in conjunction with their UCAs? (that would give like a 5" lift right?) or will the stock spindle work with their UCAs?
If I buy their kit should I also buy their struts or are there better ones out there for their UCAs? Also, any luck on finding coils that work with either their struts or a better replacement strut?

I am ready to pull the trigger just looking for a little insight.

Oh and before I do, I just want to verify nobody makes a uniball UCA kit anymore right?

 

I would pick up those UCAs from Doestch, the Spindles from Fabtech, and grab some Moog coil springs for the v6's. Maybe some coil spacers from Daystar... (don't have a good shock recommendation)

I think that's going to be your best bet as far as a front lift from what I am aware is in stock and produced these days. You will get about a 4" lift with those parts, maybe a tad more. 3 in from the spindles, and maybe another inch from the coils and spacers. The UCAs, i think, just correct geometry fro 3+ inch lift.

Not aware of any uniballs... sorry.

 

I will add that.. if you find any updates on available parts... please let us know. Thanks for the update on Doesch and the spindles and coils... its just too bad to hear.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/qa1-3”-spindle-lift-help.721040/#post-25692774


post #3 has a tid bit on option for mid travel

 

Has anyone ran the fabtech spindles with the doetsh UCAs?

Also, I remember reading the fabtech spindles required aftermarket sheels, how much backspacing is needed to fit with the spindle.

Also, would you guys recommend the doestch struts, or bilstein 5100s? I guess what strut works best with the fabtech spindle? I know fabtech makes a strut with their spindle kit, is that the way to go?

Right now I am thinking Doestch UCA, fabtech spindle + strut, and moog v6 coil springs?

 

you can run stock steelies with the spindles

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/trdchriss-build.161543/

 

I am running Fabtech UCAs with Doetsch tech spindles... lol

They are all the same pretty much. iow: Fabtech parts=Doestch tech parts. They can be interchanged and used together.

The fabtech shocks are gonna take some work to fit and are not ideal but install can be done. I think Bilstein 4600s are gonna be direct bolt-on but may want to confirm that.

Also, make sure to read this thread as most of this has been discussed but I'll try to summarize:

QA1 coilovers upside down will work (not sure on size or spring rate)
Fabtech shocks (with zip tie method used)
2nd gen Frontier Bilstein 5100s (mods needed, this was my stage 2 install)
Ridetech (with correct ends and stroke)
Bilstein 4600s

I have personally fitted the Fabtech shocks with stock LCAs. Using zip ties in conjunction with spring compressors was sketchy to say the least. It may prove difficult to find a spring compressor that works without needing zip ties. This is because the Fabtech shocks are too wide in diameter to be installed from the bottom, and spring compressors either attach from outside and don't fit mounted in the vehicle or attach on the inside and take the space the shock needs to be mounted along with the spring.

I would bolt it all up and measure shock size needed and then source a good shock that meets your requirements. Then make sure to select eye-to-stud (stock t-bar reused) or t-bar to stud with correct compressed length and extended length to suit your needs. This is how I arrived upon 2nd gen frontier bilsteins, but there's probably a lot more options out there.

 

I just read up on and watched a few videos of the mjbfab adapters
Pretty good video here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur61jLKcXa0&t

Now obviously I would want different struts and springs based on upon my needs vs his, but the install should be the same. Looks pretty straight forward.

What do you guys think about converting to QA1 coilovers? Seems like it would making matching the strut and spring much easier and very easy installation. I think I am leaning towards this setup

Fabtech spindle
Doetsch UCA
MJfab adapters
unknown QA1 strut and spring coilover (the linked IG post in the other thread used this one

$677 QA1 (GS501-10550A) Single Adjustable Pro Coil Kit, Aluminum

https://www.amazon.com/QA1-GS501-10550A-Single-Adjustable-Aluminum/dp/B00FSBCXH4)