Dobinsons 2nd Gen Tacoma Suspension Options

okay, thank you for the info! I think ill go with 111s, and if its too rough/rigid on my typical drivings, ill eventually take out 1 of the leafs until I need it for a trip. that does seem like the best fit. my friend does that with his ICON Rxt Leaf packs. and copy on the the U-bolts, ill be sure to get those are well. one last thing I wanted to ask- if i'm running the Bilstein 5100 shocks front and back, would the 111s be too high/tall and make those over-extend? I bought those shocks about 6 months ago and replaced when before my leaf springs failed, so im hoping to not need to replace good shocks too. the front shocks are adjustable, and I have them paired with the Eibach pro coils. the rear are not adjustable and I think permit 0-2.225" of travel or maybe just 0-2" if memory serves me right.

 

The rear shocks may be a fraction short, but as long as they're good for 2" of lift, they'll be ok with 2.25-2.5", you'll just want to verify their specs before hand. Otherwise you may have to run the 110's so that you don't lift it beyond 2". Some Bilsteins are pretty short, and they sell a few different lengths of them for the rear.

 

@Crikeymike hey mike! Sonny reaching back out here for some help with my Dobinson 110-R leaf springs. my mech at the 4x4 shop is trying to install them but hes saying with the military wrap/Dobinson label going forward, the leaf spring eyelet doesn't reach the chassis mount. so he had to reverse the orientation to put the military wrap in the rear, and that seems to fit. the dobinson usa tech in Doral, FL says that isn't the correct orientation. how should I proceed?
-Sonny

 

The bigger end with the military wrap must go into the fixed end. The other smaller end goes into the shackle end. He needs to manipulate the shackle to move it forward properly so that the springs go on. I always mount the fixed end first, then the shackle end 2nd.

Sounds like he must be doing stuff out of order or something.

The big end can physically go into the shackle end, but that's wrong. At full articulation, the 2nd leaf will bind up in the shackle.

 

@Crikeymike thanks for the above info! my mech was able to sort out the leaf spring and finished up the entire install!
ultimately went with Dobinsons 110-R leaf springs w/Poly bushings paired with bilstein's 5100s. on the front, I went with bilstein's 5100 adjustable struts/Eibach Pro truck coils. for the UCAs I went with Dobinsons tubular arms. for the Lower Control Arms I went with a more stock-type, Duralast Gold from auto zone. I also replaced the CV axels, Tie rods, bearings and rotors. total clean sweep underneath.
as with any time you open a can, you find worms.... I found many worms and it was costly but was worth doing all in one shot.
Last step is to go get the alignment done bc that is way off after the whole new install.

 

@Crikeymike any idea why the mech wouldn't be able to align my vehicle ? I have a lifetime warranty at Firestone. brought the truck there just now to get it done. they were working for 2 hrs and said the truck won't hold the alignment... they said the washer plates keep turning back to after they turn them. any thoughts?

 

Maybe they flattened out the alignment cam tabs. Pretty common on Tacoma's. They're alignment techs, they should be able to tell you what the problem is.

Or they could just be clueless with the process of how to adjust a lifted 4x4.

 

@Crikeymike they were definitely clueless, I left the shop. that was a total crap shoot. I looked under and saw the alignment cam tabs were flattened out. I asked them about it and they didn't seem to even notice or care. they said that shouldn't affect anything.... def not going back there. can those tabs be simply bent back into position?

 

Maybe, if they weren't bent too bad, but most people end up using these if they've had a problem:
https://exitoffroad.com/product/alignment-cam-gussets-tacoma-4runner-fj-cruiser-gx470-gx460/

The first time an alignment guy flattened mine out, he had no idea either. He was the lowest man on the totem pole

 

Marlin Crawler makes a front subframe reinforcement kit that also reinforces the alignment cam tabs and doesn't require any grinding away of the existing tabs. Worth looking into over other kits.

Or you could try bending them back and throwing a few tack welds behind them for good measure.