000Doodie000 - 15 DCSB - TRD - OR - Build Thread

Next up I will have to get my weboost installed.

(I’m still waiting on suspension parts from Dobinsons. I ordered them end of November, darn COVID wait times. )

 

Well the Icon’s are off and the Dobinson’s are on. So why Dobinson’s?

I looked at Icon (since I have a stage 3 and liked them), OME BP-51 setup, The Dobinson's, and a few mixed combos Fox Rear + Icon Front, etc.
But bang for the buck Dobinson's seemed to check all my boxes. I also had 3 people highly recommend a local shop (Armorology) and like supporting local folks so I purchased through them and decided to have them do a BMC for me. Jed from Armorology was awesome. It sounds like Mike from Exit Off-road helped get him set up as Dobinson's reseller so far quality folks all around which excites me more about the products from Dobinson’s In general I asked many people a bunch of questions, watched as many YouTube videos about the products as I could find, pulled everything out of my rig and weighed everything to get an accurate assessment of all my gear and how I run empty and full. (I am pretty confident I made a good decision)

So What more did I want that I didn't have...
1. Full adjustability on all 4 corners, and I wanted it to be simple)
2. More OEM style bushings and joints.
3. Longevity in the rebuild lifespan.
4. More load capacity.


What did I order?

• Black Coil Springs (just could not do the turquoise)
• Shooting for 2 - 2.5" Lift Selected the following:
  • 110-240LBS Front Coils (C59-352) (considered the MRA59-A220 but didn't want to end up pushing 3")
  • MRA59-A221 Front adjustable Struts
  • 213MM SEAT HEIGHT (Stock Seat Hight)
  • SC59-001 DOBINSONS STRUT TOP PLATES
  • BS59-560 DOBINSONS ADJUSTABLE FRONT BUMP-STOP KIT
  • MRA59-A940 Rear Shocks
  • L59-111-R DOBINSONS 2.1" LIFT 600LB CONSTANT LOAD HD
  • PB59-110K Bushing kit bundle
  • Greaseable Bolts for leaf bushings
• SPC UPPER CONTROL ARMS (Considered the JBAs and almost went with Red Coils but the deal on SPC was too good)
• Timbren Flipkit with new U-bolts and bumpstops
• I'm also going to do a BMC along with the install (no more rubbing!)

I also run 255/80/17 Cooper ST Maxx, (skinny is the new sexy) ;P


*Last, a quick Note about my Icons... The Icons are great, but with the weight I am carrying now and traveling I am starting to do (last year even with covid and travel restrictions, I put 8k miles on in backroads) I figured I'd pull the Icons and see about getting them in the hands of someone who will appreciate/use them more effectively. Between that, rear springs not cutting it, and November pricing it was time to make the change.
(My Icon Kit sold fast, I probably under priced them a little but the rears did need a rebuild so I think it was a win/win for me and the new owner)

Things I didn't like about the Icons:
1. I didn't like the idea of having to rebuild every 30k ish miles
2. Ihe Icon UCA (uniballs)were noisy and I was meticulious about trying to keep them clean and I even tried the caps on them. This is not Icon's fault, I should have chosen better.( I will never use uniballs again, I should have went with Deltas, but they were not super common at the time )
3. I did not plan for the weight I am carrying now when I purchased them and I was doing some trips about one weekend a month to wheel and some camping on the off weekends. That is far different than where
I am now. (up to 2 weeks at a time on the back roads and exploring, I don't use the truck for much daily driving.)
In short all this just means I did not plan well when I was struck with the TW upgrade sickness and I had to do a fairly spendy re-purchase.


with all that said here are the photos...

 

During the installation I learned a bit about our Tacoma UCAs as well. The bushings tend to rust and seize which makes it very difficult to align. My truck is only a little over 6 years and had just over 50k miles. The bolts came out (barely) the LCA ball bearing was also bad. (I could move it with my pinky) so I replaced the LCAs during the change as well. The shop I used recommended anti seize and I had them use it on the LCA and the rear bolts in the leaf springs rather than the greasable bolts that came with the kit. I also used new bolts. (Why not while its all apart, if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing it right.) I could have cleaned up the bolts but now I have a few spares.

I was a little disappointed in the Timbren flip kit as the U bolts were only 1/2 vs 5/8. In terms of time I went ahead and used them as it seems like a common size for the flip kits and not having a direct bend like the square 5/8 bolts it’s probably fine. (I will see about getting larger ones and replacing them since it’s an easy change to make now that it’s all back together.

here are a few photos of the LCA bushings.

 

We boost was next up... but I need to get that custom steel cap finished up. I’ll update with some photos soon.. (we-boost install will have to wait.)

 

Well I put the pause button on the cap. Might even go for selling it.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/colorado-trading-post.148930/page-1690#post-25616652

If I can find a good powder coater. I have yet to get all of the weather stripping ordered too.

 

I am currently trying to figure out the best way to wire up my new hood mount solar panel so it charges both my aux and primary batteries. Parts are on the way so hopefully soon.
I also have to get my antenna wired up for the we-boost. Ill post some images on where I ran the wires soon as well.

Soooo much to do.