Im looking for a balanced suspension setup

Hey guys, im having a hell of a time figuring out how to do this suspension stuff.

Im working to figure out how to approach replacing everything suspension related.

~2000 Toyota Tacoma (acc cab), 6-lug 4x4, TRD O/R.
~driven mostly on highway 75-80mph, no weight aside from gas & me
~3" lift, with diff drop
~Current suspension is in-house product from Fat Bobs Garage (performance 8000 shocks)
~leveling kit from Fat bobs Garage
~Lift puck installed up front
~AAL in rear (with 2.5* shim, to reduce operating angle @ rear u-joint)
~New OEM upper/lower Ball joints

Problems:
~Lifetime firestone alignment always comes back "okay", and caster is never very good
~Front tires cup
~front shocks are leaking (time to shit can and replace)
~suspension is very stiff
~tires are also on the way out
~taco-lean is stupid. Drivers side sags .75" lower, and its noticeable.


So heres my ideas, im trying to thresh out:

Obviously my suspension is a piece of shit. This is what i get for being a noob, and trusting a "prestigious 4x4 shop" to point me in the right direction.

The front tire cupping is a problem. I rotate every 3k, and I cant stay ahead of it. That narrows it down to shitty control arm bushings, or fucked up spring-rate causing the tires to skip and cup (due to the tard-puck suspension lift).

The caster is also a problem. I cant ever get them within 2 degrees of eachother. I need to get my caster in check, because I cruise at 75-80MPH all the time, and fucked caster causes instability problems at speed.

My tires are also toast. Cupping has perma-raped my tires, and im just waiting for the weather to get closer to completely crappy, before i swap out.

So i need help balancing my suspension for good alignment numbers, softer compression, lifted stance, and corrected taco lean.

-I'm looking at doing a full OME "light duty" kit, because i dont have a plate bumper, or extra weight. no winches, bars, ect.
-I'm unsure what the end stance height with a OME kit will be. I'm also unsure if the OME kit will have a lower spring rate, so as to not ass-rape my next set of tires with cupping. (looking at hankook dynapro's or yoko geolanders)
-I'm going to replace my upper and lower control arm bushings. (energy susp)
-I'm debating LR UCA's, to get caster in check. But i dont know if the caster will still be far out with a OME kit. (plus the upper OEM BJ's were expensive, and only 4K miles old)
-Im giving Wheelers leaf packs a stern looking at (as they correct for taco lean, and i'm unsure if OME dakars do)
-Will i still need to add a leveling kit?
-I dont know if i'm going to need to re-shim my rear axle for operating angle, because a OME kit will only give a couple inches of lift. Idk.
-I've already got extended lines, hangers, relocated brake pressure valve, ect

I'd really like to do all this in a couple days, in 1 shot, as I have access to a full automotive shop, that would give a off-road shop a run for its money (machine shop, fabrication, presses, work benches, lift bays, various jacks, and every tool that snap-on makes for automotive purposes) (courtesy of .Mil)

So if I do a full swap-over to a OME kit, what should I get? Will I need adjustable upper arms to get everything squared away on a OME Kit?


Thanks guys for reading through this. I generally type as I think, so i may have re-iterated several times, but it's just how i think. I'm trying to analyze multiple aspects at the same time, and i'm mentally spinning my wheels trying to figure it out.

~Nick

 

the OME kit will lift and level your truck. everybody on here that gets it, loves it. is yours a 3.4L or 2.7L?

 

3.4

 

my $0.02 is go with the 881 coils. the 880s will be softer but they'll sag more over time

 

But I'm trying to avoid a high spring rate, because I really don't want tire skipping and cupping.

 

the 880 and 881 are the lower rate ones for the first gens. for like you said, you wont have a bumper or anything heavy on the front. not saying the 880s are a bad choice, theyre just a little softer and I prefer my ride just a wee bit more stiff every one has their own preference.

 

what are peoples alignment numbers with a OMe kit and 881's?
I'd like to know if I need to buy LR UCA's with my OME kit

 

I've had OME's with stock UCA for 7 years now, & no problems. Other than that, I'm not experienced enough to say... Sounds like you got screwed on your original lift. The complete OME kit should sort you out, but I definitely have the taco lean too...

 

is your ride reasonably smooth? mines fairly rough right now, and distance driving sucks to do.

 

Well, I guess I haven't any good luck. I may have to just call wheelers, and have them help me.

 

Mine's pretty rough, but I figured that was the trade-off. FWIW, on the new truck I'm buying in a couple of months, I'm spending more money to go with the ultimate toytec kit, radflos, dakar packs, the whole nine yards...but I wouldn't have dropped that kind of money into my old '01 (in signature pic).