Still questions about lift.

So, I’ve done a deep dive over the past few days searching for information on airbags and lifts because I’m going to be pulling a heavier trailer(with 07 4door long bed 4x4 4.0 v6).I have come across A LOT of info and found this to be a massive rabbit hole and I’m still left with questions. Such as (assuming 3” lift/level)

will airbags work with a lift?
Are new UCAs necessary?
Is a drive shaft spacer necessary?
Is a carrier bearing drop spacer necessary?
Does anything need to be done to the steering column?
Why isn’t there 1 website that sells all said parts? Instead of buying from 4-6 to acquire all parts.

this all came about by looking into putting airbags on the truck which lead to well while have all that apart might as well lift it like I always wanted and so on lol!

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Yeah it’s a rabbit hole for sure! Short answer for bags is yes, they will work with a lift. At 3” lift, yes on the UCA’s, very likely yes on the carrier bearing, no on a driveline spacer. No on the steering column.

I would be real cautious lifting much over 2” up front. The CV angle gets a bit steep, and the inner boots will rub through if they are touching. If you stay at the 2” mark, no UCA’s are necessary unless you run an extended length coil over. 2” also lands the suspension in a sweet spot for available up travel and down travel, especially if you go with the extended coilovers. The ride will suffer with a maxed out 3” front.

Here’s the route I went on my ‘15: Fox 2.5 coilovers up front, set at about 2” lift (22” center of hub to fender). They are extended length, so added JBA UCA’s. I preemptively installed the driver side needle bearing replacement bushing (which you will want regardless what lift you use.) My CV angles are great, fins on the inner CV boot are not touching, no vibes or problems. Alignment numbers are spec toe and camber, and 3.5 caster- drives great!

Rear, I went with Headstrong Off-road’s 3 leaf add-a-leaf pack and bilstein 5100 shocks (fox 2.5’s valved same as front coming soon.). For the airbags, I have firestones with the daystar cradles. This allows the axle to droop away from the bags, and this setup has been outstanding. (It’s a daily driver, that gets loaded up on weekends for fly fishing/camping). Overall rear lift with 5lbs in the bags she sits at 23.5” center of hub to fender. The rear pinion angle is perfect, and I have zero shakes or vibes.

I have an ‘01 DCSB as well. First Tacoma. Went cheap full 3”+ back then, and dealt with a lot of vibes, cv boots, shitty ride etc. I ended up swapping ‘97 manual hubs in just to stop rebuilding CV’s every six months. That truck is great, but taught me that “Buy once, cry once” really does apply.

 

Mornin!

I got a 3" lift, so I'll answer some questions

UCA's necessary? Yes if you want to have proper alignment.
Drive shaft spacer? never heard of it, so my answer is "no"
CB Drop? - nope. dont have one, don't feel any vibes.
Steering column? nope, it does not change, your PS Steering rack is not moving, its the tire rod ends that will be angled down a bit more



I've towed with my truck with the lift. Besides getting a bigger drop hitch, I did not do anything else.
as for the airbags... I can't see why they WOULDN't work. they are just sensors on the front of the truck. if the requirements for aribag deployment were met, then the computer should do its thing and deploy them.

my setup is Billy 5100's all around, OME 886's, Icon 3 leaf AAL in the rear ( with factory taco overload leaf left in place )

I had this lift in place 4 months BEFORE I installed the winch bumper and yes the ride was a bit more firm, but I never found it "un-comfortable" it just felt "new" if that makes sense.

YMMV, good luck in your quest for knowlege.

one last thing.

If your set on the lift.... why don't you just do the bare minimum and fix problems as they arise? Not trying to be a smart A$$ but.... do the lift. Do you have vibes? yes? ok, figure out if its the front diff, or the carrier, Maybe its your rear axle angle or worn out U-joints. Look at your front diff and CV's are they angled too much? then consider a front diff drop, or possibly get better boots, or do the boot extension mod....

I get it, you want to do it once and be done. but I think each truck is different enough that while one person needs the CB drop, another wont... that's why (IMO) no one sells EVERYTHING in one shot.

what I have works for me. but may not work for you.

 

Thank you for your responses/input I will definitely take it into consideration.
Did not / would not take your input as A$$holeish, but the main reason is time restraints from work/other responsibilities so when I get a chance to be under the truck its few and far between and I’d hate to get a vibration then next thing I know work puts me on a month of 7-12s… then I probably end up needing a lot more parts lol

 

Also look I to the ecgs bushing to replace the needle bearing in the front diff, when I lifted my truck I had vibes and noise In 2wd and once I put it I 4wd no more vibes and the bushing fixes that.