Can you offer help with a proven recipe for a level onroad suspension?

Hello all, I sure can use and would appreciate experienced input regarding my 2012 2.7L Prerunner's suspension mods. I am replacing the shocks and rear leaf springs on my 2012 220K 2.7L pre-runner. I had heard or read somewhere a while back that rear leafs 2016 or newer would give me a bit more lift 1.5” +\- than pre-16 offerings.

After having a short exchange with a trusted friend on the subject he told me he thought the info was referring to the front coils and not the rear leaf springs. Not the best news considering my intentions. As I had picked up a set 0 mile set of 2019 TDR rear leafs before hearing this opinion.

So at this point, I am wondering if I have all Thats needed to complete the task properly before I tear into the project. I would like to keep the downtime of my truck to a minimum. And not have it set a week on jack stands while I am waiting on proper parts needed to complete the job.

What I am after is a tasteful lift over stock. It’s not a four-wheel-drive but I have larger all-terrain tires which clear now but I would like a little more height than stock simply for aesthetics 1 1/2” +\-.

VIP! I want to stop short of needing to do extensive front end work or driveshaft lowering etc. etc. What is the limit of the lift before you have these concerns?

So what I have collected up until now has been a new set of Bilstein 5100s and the new used rear TDR 4 x 4 leafs. What I am hoping to gain from the information here is a recipe for a level truck 1” possibly 2” over stock.

I have had a 1 1/2” set of rear leaf blocks made by supreme suspensions in my cart on Amazon for a week now not knowing if I should pull the trigger or not.

So question is, will the new TDR rear leaf springs offer any lift to my stock pre-runner? I plan on using the OEM front coil springs, is this a mistake? As I said I have a new set of 5100s with the front adjustment.

Do I need the set of rear leaf spring lifting blocks to get where I want to be. Any help with this would be most appreciated. I can’t afford to have my truck down as I use it for my work weekly. Keep in mind it is a daily driver that I’m just trying to balance the look of. It has 220,000 miles on it and only taken into cattle fields as to the challenges of Off-Road.

Thanks in advance for any help you might offer. There’s so much information that for a newbie it can be quite daunting.

 

My advice is don’t buy OEM springs. Any of them. They might be level when you put them on. But in 2-3 years, they won’t be. They all say.

I’d personally want about 1.5” higher in the back. But that’s just me.

 

This doesn’t have to be done all at once. Do the front first and then you will know what the back needs.

I got a deal on TRD Pro coilover takeoffs. I then ran 1 inch blocks on the rear for a year until I found a deal on Old Man Emu takeoffs. There’s always someone upgrading.

 

This is where it gets hard on a newbie, Everyone I have talked to has said to try and get new or low mile OEM's

 

Good advice for sure, but in my case, I am replacing everything because it is in bad need of it. I have the new 5100's that are adjustable. From what I understand this gives me control over the front. So hopefully the rear will hit within one of the increments of them and I can forgo rear blocks etc.

 

the front 3rd gen coil over will give you 1" lift. Not the rear leafs. The rear leafs are the same between the 2nd gen and 3rd gen.

as far as i understand it, the 2nd gen came out with 3 leafs, and then there was a recall and then they all came with 4 leafs....and that 4 leaf is the same between the 2nd gen and 3rd gen.

the only lift you will get in the rear if you install the 3rd gen leafs....is if your leaf springs are sagging and worn out.

and from what i understand....all the 6 lug tacomas came with the same leaf springs. doesnt matter if its SR5, TRD sport or Off Road or Pro. The new Pro and Trd trail comes with 1" block.

 

Now, this is useful information! I felt that the info concerning the rear leafs was correct as it was offered by one whom I have yet to see corrected etc., thanks for verifying.
Now I am considering a set of 1" or 1 1/2" Supreme suspension blocks for the rear. I approach this with a little hesitation as I've read that they are a bad way to get lifted. But here I learn that they are offered as a TRD OEM setup. Man, so much information! So would you happen to know where if this is a safe height for a rig without having to undergo drive shaft lowering etc etc
the last thing I want is to cause shake/vibration or the such in my rig when all I am after is a better-looking stance.

 

You probably won’t get any vibration with 1-1.5”
The closer you get to 2”+ the chances go up.

I am still stick with my first response.
But an Add-a-Leaf would be a better option if you plan to run stock springs.

 

ummm blocks are fine, but the theory on this site is that they wear out your leaf pack quicker and are not that great for off roading. Plus when you take off, your rear diff is more likely to “spin or rotate” under acceleration.
It is my opinion that there are no good or bad blocks. It’s just a peace of metal. No point in getting some “fancy” brand. I used to run a 1” block with my first set up, and it was like “$20-$30 from Amazon.

as far as vibrations, you are on your own. Tacomas are all different. Some people lift 1” and get vibes. Some people lift 3” and get no vibes.
I was lifted from 1” all the way to 3” and never got vibrations. I just have a little vibration upon taking off from a light. The rear diff twist a little and I get a second of vibration and then it goes away. Your truck might be different.

 

I’ll consider this a sign, I actually have a friend taking a set of 30,000 mile ones 1 1/2” helpers off of his rig soon and they are promised to me.

One thing I’m considering is just putting it together with the new OEM TRD 4 x 4 rear leafs that I have and see where it sits. I can always add something for height.

The only real concern is what they say about reusing rear U-Bolts on the leaf springs. Their quite expensive if you look at what they are and I hate the idea of ruining a new set only to have to buy another to change the stance of the truck.

 

If the U-bolts are in good shape. I wouldn’t be afraid to reuse them.

FWIW, the torque spec is not right on them in the manual. It’s definitely not 37 ft/lb or what ever. I don’t know the right spec. Mine were installed using an air gun. They are “tight”.

 

Yeah, The guy at down south said the same thing regarding u-bolt reuse. What raised my eyebrows was the fact that I could not run the nuts past their prior torque location by hand. This indicated to me that their threads were most likely stretched a bit from their insishal install. And I agree, I would have flagged 37lbs. for sure. I think Ive seen or read 95lbs. is proper but I will confirm for sure. At this point I think Ive made my mind up to install the New used 0 miles OEM TRD rear Leaf springs, and the full set of frt. adjustable 5100's. The only thing I have to figger out is the front Coil Springs. If my information is correct the OE's that are on the truck are 550lbs. So last thing to learn is, is there a better pound ratting for the 2.7L 6 lug. If so what it is and then to get them coming etc. Your input is much appreciated.