5 lug 95.5-04 Lowering info for newbs

You wanna send me those KYBs?????

 

Thanks for the compliment!

I dont think you can go wrong with either of these shocks and are likely some of the best choices on the market.. just depends more on your budget and what you are looking to do with your truck. Can't wait to see some drop on your ride!

As a tip I picked up for the install, I used the factory bottle jack to compress the shock into place to allow me to bolt it in on the fronts, and didnt need to remove the front tire with my "smaller" 245/45/17's.

 

Seriously.....

 

They are good still, however I plan to mount them on to my Mom's 2002 regular cab - her shocks are pure crap!

Yeahp, even Mom's like these little trucks, once she saw and rode in mine she had to have one. I am actually stunned at how many looks, compliments, and folks asking if I want to sell this truck gets!

 

Same for me man. My dad borrows mine for long drives cause it rides good and had great MPGs

 

Wow, those wheels look awesome... like a factory package.

Toyota/Lexus...…. Texus Package?

 

Hahha, my Dad is taking over my Mom's Tacoma too!

 

Thanks! I love OEM stuff and these 2012 IS250 wheels reminded me of the factory wheels... kinda!!

 

does anyone have home alignment instructions for once you've flipped the balljoints?

 

I'm looking to do a 5/6 drop preferably without bj flip. Looking at the djm 4/4 kit and i need to figure out how to get the extra 1/2. May even be ok with 5/5. 4x4 leaf spring and a 4" block. All new struts are going to be purchased at the same time. What springs should i go with?

 

The DJM kit is a 3/4 that basically does the ball joint flip to give you the drop on the front and a block in the rear. Then they add control arms you dont need to raise the price while not dropping the stance!

To get a 5" drop up front as far as I know you will need to do a bj flip and get drop springs from either Belltech or Chassis Tech to get you close depending on your cab and engine combo. Belltechs ride a bit nicer, but only ChassisTech lists a 3" drop spring if you are looking to drop as much as feasible. If you drop beyond 4" in the rear, you are going to have to c-notch your frame too or it will bottom out. Dont forget you will need to run shorter diameter tires as well, around the 25" range or be prepared for lots of rubbing...

Let's see some pics once you are done please!

 

Thanks for the reply! I have planned the c notch route. Just wasnt sure if there was a way to get a decent drop without flipping the ball joints only because, lets lets be real, they arent meant to be used that way. I also like to do a bit of spirited driving and trust becomes an issue haha. Btw its the 2.4 standard cab. Was my grandpa's before he passed several years ago. 96 with 140k original miles!

 

Sounds like you got a truck with some history in your family and you plan to have a bunch of fun in it, I like what I am hearing!

For any type of spirited driving which is normally how I drive my "fun truck build", the wheels and tires are going to be the parts that will transform the way your truck handles and rides the most. Some drop will lower the center of gravity and help as well of course. I am with you on the ball joint flip and will be avoiding that method, I have read some stories about bump steer which would actually make the truck handle worse and get twitchy on rougher canyon roads.

This all said I am waiting for some custom ordered springs for the front from Deaver that will give me a 2.65" drop and adding just 25% rate to bring it down yet leave plenty room for my 245/45/17 tires and keep some street manners in the process. Also it should stay within more performance minded alignment specs to get even more traction by keeping the most tire on the ground. For the rear leafs I will have them re-arched to get ~3.5" drop and maintain the stock spring rate. More spring rate up front and more drop in the rear to put more weight on the rear axle for better balance and traction = handling.


I can tell you my truck is already waaaay funner to drive with my wheel and tire setup, and I dont expect the drop is going to yield as much improvement as the tires but should definitely help the cause!

 

Keep me posted! I'm not sure if the qa1 kit for the front is still availableor not but i would like to go that route eventually as well as a full 4link and coilover in the rear. Worst case is i have to custom fab everything. I do CAD work for a waterjet for a living so shouldnt be an issue. I'm only doing small stuff for now i.e. wheels and tires, suspension work until my son gets a little older. I'll eventually swap the motor and turn it into a full show truck so uniqueness will come with time. I will get a post going as soon as i i g started so all of you folks can watch the truck transform while trying to maintain the toyota base.

 

Looking for some 2” drop spindles for my 98. Anyone have a link?

 

From what I know there is no spindles made for 96-04 Tacoma's, even though some Belltechs for sale on ebay are mislabeled to fit up to 2000. Belltech's site says they are up to 1995 only.
https://www.belltech.com/belltech-84-95-toyota-pickup-2-drop-spindle-2000.html

There are 2" spindle "relocator kits" that are basically a ball joint flip that costs you way more money than coil springs even and gives you no benefit over the flip I am aware of, and I scarcely recall reading about many negative comments before on other forums.

https://www.x2industries.com/produc...coma-hilux-lowering-spindle-relocator-2-drop/

Found a diagram of these installed on images to illustrate how you are simply relocating or "flipping" the lower ball joint above the lower control arm to get drop. You can do a flip on your own for way cheaper.

 

I saw the Belltech does to 95. I know I wanna drop it but something that’s gonna preserve ride quality.

 

Just got my Belltech 2" Front, 3" Rear kit.
Springs, Blocks and Shocks.
#443SP



Contains:

2 Front Shock #10101I
2 Rear Shock #2210HH
2 3" Blocks, U-Bolts and Nuts #6200
2 Coil Springs #4260



I'm gonna do the Ball joints at the same time.

Does that help with access to change the springs?

I've never done springs before

TOY 96

 

How much did that kit run?

 

#443SP - $450

Belltech Lowering Kits