Lift Question

I've had my Taco less than a year, and it's my first truck. I'm not really a "car guy" and have always owned little cars and just kept them stock (except for stereo).

I'm the third owner so have no idea what's been done to it, if anything. It seemed a bit higher off the ground than I would have expected, so suspect (hope?) it's been lifted at some point.

All that being said, here's my question: How do I figure out if there's been any kind of lift/spacer installed, and how much? I'm guessing pictures of <something random underneath> would be a good start. Maybe it's stock right now...I just have no idea.

Here's a few pics from my gallery just as an external reference...not sure if anything can be gleaned from them. I can always take more.

Thanks!

Day 1 with 15's:





16" wheels and tires

 

Looks like it might be stock height, certainly doesn't look as high as mine and mine is on the middle setting on my bilsteins with only the slightest rake. There might be a difference between Canadian and US trucks though.

 

Take some photos of the front and rear suspension parts, reduce the size a bit, and post them. Be sure to include the tops of the front shocks.

Then someone should be able to give you a better answer on what you got.

 

Looks to be stock mate! still a kick ass Tacoma

 

I'll see about taking some pics this weekend, but now I'm suspecting you guys are correct and it's stock. Which means there's something else to potentially mod.

 

Looks like my truck, stock

 

Ok, hopefully these pics will be definitive:

Front driver shock, top:



Front driver shock:



Rear shock:



Thanks guys!

 

Looks stock to me?

 

Bone stock suspension, and saggy worn out front shock bushings make your truck lower than it was when new.

 

So...I'm hearing replacement. Bilsteins seem to be popular on this forum. No idea how to do something like that, so would have to find someone that knows how as well...right?

Yay trucks!

 

Next questions:

1. Would Bilstein 5100's all around be a bad choice? I've seen other posts where people have those on the fronts and different ones on the rear.
   
   
2. Is there anything else related that should be replaced at the same time?

Thanks

 

If your looking to get back to stock height then any new shock and stock coil get you there. I'm sure everything is sagging a bit. If your wanting a couple inches of lift then I'd recommend the Bilsteins all around. Just remember only the front shocks provide lift, the rears do not.

for the front you can either adjust the Bilsteins UP TO 2.5" of lift and have a stiff ride. Or you can replace the stock coils with a set of lift coils (eibachs, OME 881,2,3) which would allow you to keep the bilstein at stock ride height. This setup provides lift and a nice ride.

For the rear I'd suggest Bilstein's for shocks with either, new leaf packs, like OME Dakars. Or your go with an Add A Leaf (AAL). The AAL is one leaf that fits between your current leaf spring and re-arches them.

There are many options for you out there, it just all depends on what your wanting. There's even blocks and spacers but I don't recommend that route.

 

Old Man Emu

 

I like the sound of that. This isn't my daily driver, more of a toy. Most of it is street driving, but I do want to try some offroading.

Wow that's getting spendy. I had no idea...I'll have to think on this.

Thanks guys!

 

shock bushings have nothing to do with ride height since the shock is not a supporting member. The shocks sole job is to damp the coil.

 

Springs go bad over time. They get tired as they age. It may be time to get new front coils and rear leafs. If you're looking to add some height, the OME kit or the Toytec Ultimate Lift kit are good choices that give best quality for the buck.

If you think the shocks are bad, test 'em by bouncing each corner. If they don't settle within a cycle or two, time to replace 'em.

The front ones are in a coilover configuration. So to get to them you have to uncompress the spring. This is often best left to a professional shop with a coil press.

Hand spring compressors can be rented from Autozone and the like but if something goes wrong, the amount of compression these things are under coming undone so fast can be very harmful to the health.

 

There is that. I'm kinda leaning towards having a shop do it now instead of the buddy system.