taco lean on 2wd

I'm looking at getting a spacer to combat the left front fender being 1" lower than the right. I just had new shocks, control arms, and coil springs installed, and the lean is the same.

This is the only one I found so far listed as compatible. I see it's only half an inch, but that's better than nothing.
https://tacomabeast.com/products/1995-2023-toyota-tacoma-0-5-lean-spacer?variant=40646820167865

Where are these installed on a 2wd 5 lug? Pics below are before the work but show the design. It's not a 4wd. Every install guide I've found is for 4wd.

I'm afraid I might have to remove the control arm, coil spring, etc to get this installed? I just got back from a shop who had to take an extra day to get my new coil springs installed because none of the spring compressors fit right, and even then they needed 2 people to do it. So I'm doubtful I can mess with that safely.

 

Yeah Ive taken my 5lug springs out/in half doz times...

I had to use the oemtool ones inverted upside down, opposite of this picture...

and I had to use bushing spacers, 2 on ea side to get it to squeeze and clear while compressing, definitely a ballet act...

I had to put the bushings in-between the crankdown nut and that first floating clamp with big washers in order for it to hang down enough to crank it and it squeeze enough so everything clears...

 

had to take the jaws off, spin into the spring, and then spin in the screws, spacers, washers while holding the upper and lower jaws in place.

takes several tries to get the alignment right....

the key to it is getting the screw,,,spacer tubes,,,,upside down in a stack under the bottom floating jaw....otherwise as you clamp, the nuts run into the arm preventing you from squeezing further/enough....

those tubes/spacers I had left over from a ceiling fan spacer install kit....

 

those spacers and washers go here....to push the bottom floating grab jaw up enough to clear/work the rachet

 

really a PIA to do with just two hands....
and all has to be upside down so a rachet will fit on bottom to compress/crank it down/up......and clear all the way thru the complete compression cycle....so the rachet and socket fits and rachets...


tomorrow I;ll take some pics and make it more clear...

if the clamps slide or move too much so they are not 180 of each other....you have to unscrew it reposition them 180, and try again...

 

they sell that clamp everywhere...auto zone, harbor freight, ect...
whether they have it in stock is the tough part...
autozone stopped using these on the loan-a-tool few years ago.
but they sell they own brand....and the oemtool one...

$36 OEMTOOLS 25553 Coil Spring Compressor, Safe and Efficient MacPherson Strut Spring Compressor, Strut and Coil Spring Maintenance

Amazon.com: OEMTOOLS 25553 MacPherson Strut Spring Compressor, Heat-Treated Thread Rod Strut Compressors, Coil Spring Compressor w/ Forged Hooks, 9" Threaded Length , Black : Automotive

Duralast Strut Spring Compressor (autozone.com)

OEMTOOLS Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor (autozone.com)

Hover over image to zoom OEMTOOLS Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor - Search (bing.com)


they look pretty scary but with that safety pin, no big deal, just take your time...
make sure they are as close to 180 to each other as possible....if it slips, just redo.

 

I believe that lean is supposed to be there. Whenever the driver's weight is on the LH side, it balances it out. If you put in a spacer, you will be trading the lean when its parked for a lean when its being driven.

 

His left side is already lower. That's what he's trying to fix.

 

Ah, I see. I misread his inital post.

 

Thanks for all the tips!

Once it's compressed, where does the lean spacer go? Above the spring?

I don't think the one I linked will work, because identical ones have those three notches that go around the 3 nuts in the 4wd version. They are advertised as "does not fit 5 lug" like here:

$22 MotoFab Lifts Taco-lean 1/2" Front Lean Spacer Leveling Kit Compatible with Toyota Tacoma Uneven Taco lean

https://www.amazon.com/MotoFab-Lifts-Taco-lean-Spacer-Leveling/dp/B07FYPCVJM

So I haven't seen a single one that is meant for a 5 lug.

 

Post your question on the 5-lug forum

5 Lug | Tacoma World

 

I've tried that a couple times before, but I don't get replies.

I think you're the only person on this site who has done the various things I've asked about on a 5-lug 1st gen and is still willing to share! (Not entirely true of course, but it's gotta be less than 5 people)

 

Yeah everyone has gotten spoiled by this forum.

The reason is there's fair number that have mod'ed the crap out of them, and are very knowledgeable....
But border line trolls....

Then there's a steady stream of new comers with issues more than not.

And the old gang start to get burnt out on a constant stream of nothing but problems with the newbee's, who dont listen.
so they end up ghosting.....or become down right hateful.

And to make things worse, there is a bunch that just run the trucks into the ground, and they want a fix that costs them as little as possible.....which just seeds the old timers sour attitude.

So this turns the long timers into cynical people.....they get tired of the people that gets whats coming to them.

I actually try to help the new ones, at least the 2rz, 3rz people.
But I myself have become direct, because most of the time, they are just here for a quick fix, so they can quickly return to running their's right back over the cliff...

And by helping you guys.....I learn a ton of stuff, new angles/solutions, part and tool connections.....maybe even more than the old sour's.

If you're from a 2nd gen or 3rd....they attack....

But to tell the truth......if we didnt have those old timers here, I would be screwed, many times over....
the good definitely makes up for the bad.............I guess get be damn lucky for those old sour puss's.....without whom, the forum would die a slow death...

No offense intended.......WINK WINK....

Go look at toyota nation......nothin but tumble weeds blowing around there...

Sometimes if you cant get action here......post in the classified and see if anybody has left over 5lug lift parts......go left, if you cant go right.

Thanks for letting me vent.....

 

And they dont like 5lug RWD people.....those trucks are BELOW them...
dirt....

Here's the pics of that sketchy setup......





These 5lugs are really small springs, much like a sedan, so you have to use the small compresser's

Auto garage's will be too large a lot of times....and not work well around our upper control arm setup...

As you can see, I had to think thru the looking glass, to make it work...


Make sure you grease those threads.......or you could have a disaster!


If you dont use those spacers, not only doesnt the racket fit from the bottom,.....

......the screw shafts will run into the tophat.....before it fully compress's.

like I said.....small springs.....and a super tight working space....

 

You may have to go buy new springs, that may be your only solution.

If you put a spacer in there, then that side will be too high.

I've welders, cutters, grinders, even a bandsaw mounted as a chop saw,
.....I can fabricate or mod most anything, but where those spring's seat......thats a different story.

 

Is the back end lower by that same amount on the driver side too?

My entire driver side (front and rear) is about 1" lower than passenger side. When I replaced the original coils w/ Belltech lowering springs and 3" blocks in the rear, I was hoping the lean would go away but it's still there. Leaf springs (which are still the originals) are probably shot. I was going to swap out one of the 3" blocks for a 2" block on the driver side so it doesn't get lowered as much as the passenger side and maybe that would help raise the front up a little bit too.

These might do the trick -

$45 Daystar 1.5" Leveling Kit Front Compatible with/Replacement for 1995-2004 Toyota Tacoma 2WD (5 Lug Only)

CLICK ME - coil spring spacer.

 

That link does look right, good find, but actually it turns out the rear driver side is lower too. I guess I didn't check carefully. So this is too much trouble. I'm leaving it alone.

 

You could do always do scuba lead weights on the other side.

Its probably your fuel tank weight.....mines a little low on that side,
but cant really tell unless its on a perfect level slab.

the leafs especially on the 5 lugs are not that heavy duty to begin with,
and then after 2 and 1/2 decades....

 

Would a deep socket work as a spacer?

 

That would take a lot of lead weights!

My leafs are worn, sitting flat. OEM part was 48210-04042 for xcab (some leafs apparently are for standard cab), same left and right. Dorman 90-165 is the only one I can find. I found a few places that sell them cheap, not identified as Dorman but it's the Dorman part#. Must be Dorman, right?

https://www.generalspringkc.com/1995-1997-tacoma-2-wheel-drive-rear-leaf-spring-3-2-1-leaves/
https://www.truckspring.com/products/truck-springs/replacement-leaf-spring-90-165.aspx
https://springworks.com/products/1995-1997-toyota-tacoma-2-wheel-drive-rear-leaf-springs-90-165