2000 TRD OFFROAD MT (Black Betty aka Black Hole aka Tamiya Bruiser II) Rebuild Thread

I guess if I did this I could reuse the front shocks. I assume I would still need to use the fabtech rears?

 

Oof...still wouldn't recommend spacers.

 

I bet you could score some super cheap.

A Bilstein pair for the rear are less than $200.

Could find a set for maybe $50, I know I have when I was posting some. Hell maybe even free since they're non-serviceable (if talking 4600 or 5100).

I gave away my Fox 2.0 rear Tacoma shocks just months ago with less than 9k miles.

 

This is kind of what I was thinking. Just another point of failure. I will wheel this truck with the bracket lift before I can get to removing it.

 

The Fabtech rears are super cheap. I'm just going to throw those on so I'll have "consistent" damping all the way around.

I called Fabtech earlier today and no answer. I left them a VM.

I also just dropped ~$600 on new OEM Toyota Ball joints, new shock mounts and a couple of transfer case seals. I did not buy tierod ends or the power steering rack... I am hoping these are good... I will inspect them when I am in there. I hope what I just ordered plus shocks, F springs, tires and some elbow grease get me streetable. I will need to weld together a skid system for the front end before I really try any difficult trails.

Reccomendations for springs? I'm wanting stock ride height springs with a higher than stock rate to compensate for the extra weight on the truck. I will probably go with 5100s when I remove the drop bracket and I'll want to reuse the front springs. I'm expecting to replace the rear pack when I remove the drop bracket.

 

Front springs can assume they're old.

880 for no weight, 881 with some weight.

A beefed up skid won't make a difference, but a steel bumper and/or winch would.

 

What is 880, 881? lb/in?

1 lb/in doesn't seem like enough of an increase. What is the uncompressed (Uncompressed length being the length of the spring by itself not installed on a strut or in the truck. How they come when you order them.) vs compressed length (Compressed length being a completely empty truck on a level surfsce with nothing in it, the length of the spring in this state) of these springs? 4 maybe 5 inches being optimistic? So 2 springs x 1 lb/in x 5 in is 10lb. I bet that bumper alone weighs 50.

Im going to pull the bumper and paint it so I can weigh it then. Anybody know the weight of the stock bumper? What is the uncompressed length of a new factory springs? What is the compressed length on a stock 2000 V6 TDR OR? These are easy questions right? Someone has this info on hand.

Actually any spring company that makes springs for our trucks should know that stuff.

Who is a good spring company? Eibach?

 

Sorry, OME coil part numbers.

880 are for stock height, 881 support more weight and add a bit of height.

Just look them up and you'll see...but I forgot you have an ARB so you could need 882 possibly.

Like I said, there are threads dedicated to Bilstein 5100's paired with OME coils so you'll find what you need there.

 

I screen shoted this from fabtechs website, it looks like a long ass shock with a stock coil spring, no spacer.

 

Yes the Fabtech kit is designed to be used with stock springs. I am concerned the stock springs will sag due to the weight of the bumper, winch, skids etc.

I called Fabtech and the were zero help. "Uhhh springs? We only suggest stock springs. You'll have to talk to a spring company..."

I have been looking up the OME stuff and all of their springs seem to be designed to provide lift when replacing a stock spring. I do not want any lift on the current Fabtech lift. I just want it to sit where it is supposed to. I will want a slight ~1.5" lift when I delete the Drop Bracket.

Seems I can't have it both ways but it also seems I can't find a factory ride height spring for adding a bumper & winch.

Guess I'll keep digging...

 

Thats what old man emu 880 springs are basically for is keep stock height.

 

So, some quick research; ARB bumper 210lb, Warn Winch 55lb, just gonna add another 35lb of Air compressor/winch cable/etc. = 300lb. The 880s are 1.5" lift on a stock vehicle and 500lb/in. So 500lb/in x 2 springs x 1.5in = 1,500lb.

So I would still see 1.2" of lift.

Not the end of the world by itself... I'm afraid even factory springs are going to significantly raise the front of the truck (it's nearly sitting on the bump stops now) and this will put another inch or so on top of that.

None of that by itself is so bad. As the truck sits now the ass could be sitting a bit higher for my taste... (When compared to the front. The whole truck should be lower.)


I don't want to raise this truck anymore!!!

 

How much did you pay for it?

 

I guess I just need to Jack it Up! and just be Ridin' High! for a while.

I don't really have other options...

Sell the truck? Bad Idea. Truck has almost no rust (on the important parts), is low mileage and has many desirable options that would cost an arm and a leg to put on another truck. The body is in bad enough condition, rust spots, dents, dings, I won't feel bad about hacking it up to make those 35s fit. Plenty of opportunity to develop my welding skills. Now that I think about it, Damn, this is near a perfect truck!!!

 

$8,000

 

Shit...$8k...

 

Don't feel bad. I paid only a little less than that for my reformed rustbucket

 

The springs are cheap- Get the 880s and the 881s. Get some new Fabtech shocks (and new top plates and mounting hardware). Install them with the 880s and see where you're at. If you're not happy with the height, pull the coilover out, take it to a shop and have them swap the 881s in. Repeat. Resell whichever coil you don't want. Someone will buy them.

You are WAY overthinking this. Start making moves.

 

I

I way over think everything! Unless it actually is very important. Then I quickly make rash decisions.

I'll probably go with the 880s. Just need to order them and the shocks. I believe I have ordered most of what I need to get to work.

 

I don't feel bad. I think I got a killer deal... (In today's market...) once this thing is together and road worthy I've got one hell of a Bro Truck. At that point I'm certain it will be worth more than it will once I drop it and tub the fender wells. Bro's have all the money.