Buying my lift today. Last minute questions:

Tacoma VT · Mar 26, 2014

Punintentional[OP] said: ↑

Sooooooo!!

After more reading and deliberation, I decided that stock coils with the 5100s, while doable, wasn't the best option. I called Downsouth Motorsports back and ordered the OME 885 coils to go along with the shocks and Icon AAL.

The person I spoke with advised me against this. He said that the Bilsteins are specifically valved for the stock coils. He seemed a little annoyed (or maybe he was just busy and I'm being paranoid) with me when I told him I wanted to buy the coils regardless.

He quickly told me, "OK, I've got your payment information on file already." I thanked him but by the time I got the words out, he had already hung up. It seemed rather abrupt.

After he hung up, I realized I forgot to ask for a trim packer along with the coils. I can't find one on the website for DSM, and I'm not too keen on calling them back anymore (bugged the guy like 3x today).

Is this something that I really need? It seems like 5mm of "lean" probably won't matter much. How hard is it to fix myself later if I decide it bothers me? Should I just stop being a baby and order it today?
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Yes get it. Toytec sells them also.
Here
http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/OME-Trim-Packer_p_95.html

Agent Smith · Mar 26, 2014

I got that impression when I called them and wanted 884's. The guy tried to convince me that DC's should have 885's, but I explained I only wanted a level look with no bro lean, so send 884's. Glad I stuck to my guns, but he seemed annoyed

I ordered my trim packer and various hardware from Wheelers Off-road. Basically I spread my wealth to three supporting vendors on TW.

josh0351 · Mar 26, 2014

Punintentional[OP] said: ↑

Sooooooo!!

After more reading and deliberation, I decided that stock coils with the 5100s, while doable, wasn't the best option. I called Downsouth Motorsports back and ordered the OME 885 coils to go along with the shocks and Icon AAL.

The person I spoke with advised me against this. He said that the Bilsteins are specifically valved for the stock coils. He seemed a little annoyed (or maybe he was just busy and I'm being paranoid) with me when I told him I wanted to buy the coils regardless.

He quickly told me, "OK, I've got your payment information on file already." I thanked him but by the time I got the words out, he had already hung up. It seemed rather abrupt.

After he hung up, I realized I forgot to ask for a trim packer along with the coils. I can't find one on the website for DSM, and I'm not too keen on calling them back anymore (bugged the guy like 3x today).

Is this something that I really need? It seems like 5mm of "lean" probably won't matter much. How hard is it to fix myself later if I decide it bothers me? Should I just stop being a baby and order it today?
Click to expand...

Josh/Namesake/Fellow Semper-Guy - Call them back, they're good peeps, just extremely busy (I know this firsthand). Ask for Sonny and he'll take care of you. Tell them Josh sent you!

Punintentional[OP] said: ↑

The guy with 40 years (out of Concord, CA) told me that the Tacoma isn't really an offroad vehicle because of the IFS. He said anything other than a spacer/block kit is basically a waste of money for this truck.
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I dunno about this and am actually surprised there haven't been more replies rebutting this. I'm no mechanic with 40 years experience and can't comment intelligently on the independent front suspension under load from a mechanical perspective, but have seen Toyota trucks in action and performing impressively in all kinds of environments throughout the world. If the Tacoma isn't an off-road vehicle, what is?

Good luck and keep us posted, Bro!

LEX · Mar 26, 2014

Punintentional[OP] said: ↑

Sooooooo!!

After more reading and deliberation, I decided that stock coils with the 5100s, while doable, wasn't the best option. I called Downsouth Motorsports back and ordered the OME 885 coils to go along with the shocks and Icon AAL.

The person I spoke with advised me against this. He said that the Bilsteins are specifically valved for the stock coils. He seemed a little annoyed (or maybe he was just busy and I'm being paranoid) with me when I told him I wanted to buy the coils regardless.

He quickly told me, "OK, I've got your payment information on file already." I thanked him but by the time I got the words out, he had already hung up. It seemed rather abrupt.

After he hung up, I realized I forgot to ask for a trim packer along with the coils. I can't find one on the website for DSM, and I'm not too keen on calling them back anymore (bugged the guy like 3x today).

Is this something that I really need? It seems like 5mm of "lean" probably won't matter much. How hard is it to fix myself later if I decide it bothers me? Should I just stop being a baby and order it today?
Click to expand...

I think you did good. I was going to suggest those keeping the 5100s at 0 or Eibachs setting them at .85 to achieve the lift you want. I ran both those setups and they rode pretty nice.

Punintentional · Mar 26, 2014

everyone has been very helpful and encouraging so thanks. I should have my lift kit and new wheels and tires installed next week. I will post pics when it's finished. I also have a front and rear bumper and rock sliders on order from relentless fabrication but those won't be here for at least 6 months.

TacoRob08 · Mar 27, 2014

Beavis0076 said: ↑

why.. would you buy a shorter spring and then preload it? get the longer spring and no preload..
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The spring isn't as stiff. I have no armor or weight to my truck and the 885 are super stiff. But as I read above, he is getting armor so the 885 is a good choice.

braik · Mar 27, 2014

On the spacers, I have them. They give me about 2.25-2.5" of lift. I'm planning on replacing these soon with OME 885 and Nitros plus LR UCA's for the ride quality and handling.

The spacers look nice, just like any other lift, but the ride quality is crap and it's awful squirrely going down a badly maintained road or a regular road with a nice crosswind (stock UCAs). I'm hoping the suspension lift with new UCAs will get that under control and allow me to off-road a little as well while not bruising my spine.

My opinion? Don't go the spacer route. It's cheap, fast, and I don't really trust it to be honest.

TacomaJay09 · Mar 27, 2014

Punintentional[OP] said: ↑

Thanks for the replies. I've definitely gotten the picture that a dif. drop kit is a no-no for my truck. Copy that.

But now two different shops have told me that for what I'm trying to accomplish (about 2.5-3" of lift on a 90%+ daily driver) I should just get a block and spacer kit. I'll call on the tire/wheel size thing to make sure they didn't screw up.

I've read nothing but bad stuff about leveling kits on this site. However, I've just talked to two "professionals", one with 10 years of experience and the other claiming 40 years, both of whom told me a spacer kit was the best bet.

The guy with 40 years (out of Concord, CA) told me that the Tacoma isn't really an offroad vehicle because of the IFS. He said anything other than a spacer/block kit is basically a waste of money for this truck.

Then I talked with a guy from Diablo Offroad in Walnut Creek who seemed a little more open-minded. He said the spacer/block kit was an okay option but that the 5100's with new coils and the spring pack was better. He also recommended a Dif. drop kit and was surprised when I told him that you don't want to put that on a 2013.

In short, EVERYBODY has different thoughts, and some of them are vastly different. And so many of these "experts" at 4x4 shops don't know some basic stuff that it seems like they should.

I'm as confused as when I started, or even more so! At this point, I'm about ready to forgo the lift and just buy rims/tires and call it good. When my current shocks/springs start to wear out, I can replace them with better stuff.

So frustrating. Thanks again for all the help, folks. Despite the frustration, I'm learning a ton about this stuff, so it's worth it in the end.
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If you want 2.5-3" save yourself the headaches and just go with an OME kit with 885's. Everybody seems to love them, you save a few bucks by getting the kit and it's one-stop shopping.

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Buying my lift today. Last minute questions:

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Buying my lift today. Last minute questions:

#21 Tacoma VT Well-Known Member

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Agent Smith Always outnumbered, never outgunned

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josh0351 Californication

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