AAL Install. (second gen)

Thanks for the replies. Now after doing alot of reading I am debating on saving more money and going for the Dakar leaf packs. I've seen a few posts stating that the add a leaf is just a bandaid and will start to sag after a while.

 

Either that or build your own pack with Chevy springs, and have the lift and load capacity exactly how you want it.

 

Sorry to jump in, doing an install Friday on my new 15' DCLB Sport. I ordered 5100's all around, 2" 3 leaf AAL, drivers side lean 1/4' spacer, and I ordered eibach 590's but got OME 885's. Ordered all from wheelers, I think since I told him I wanted 2.5 inch lift he just sent the 885's so I wouldn't have to adjust the 5100. Also got the shim kit and diff drop kit as well. My question is mostly about my alignment, will I have issues getting my truck aligned with the 885's with the 5100's at 0" in the front? Will I need UCA's to correctly adjust everything? Throwing on 265/70/17 MT's as well on a -10 offset level 8 17x8 wheel. Thanks guys, can't get enough reading all the info on this website, my wife is not liking it!

 

Hey dude! Welcome to TW.

With OME 885 coils in the bilstein 5100 at 0 setting you'll probably get about 2.25" of lift I'm thinking. My reasoning being you have a heavier DCLB so less lift than say my ACLB, which I will be using 885s on soon.

Use the "shim" kit, but which is it? For the carrier bearing drop or is it a leaf pack shim?

DO NOT use the front differential drop kit, sorry you got suckered into buying it, but they do not help with CV angles at all on 2005+ tacomas. They actually greatly increase the risk of damage to your front differential. They're bad news, just do not install it.

I plan on buying new UCAs since I will get about 2.5-3" of lift after 885s and 1/4" spacers on top, you will not necessarily need UCAs, but without them, the shop may not be able to align it and if they can, it will not be a very good alignment. Truck will not be as stable on the ground

 

Thanks MTopp, I'm not sure what shim kit I got, I believe it's the OME one, I was told it was for the rear to prevent any driveshaft vibration, does this sound right? I will not use the diff drop kit, thanks, I had read mixed reviews on this and just got it in case. I guess If the alignment doesn't go well I'll get some UCA's, any suggestions on which ones? And thanks again!

 

You probably got the OME CB(carrier bearing) drop kit, it two spacers, two bolts/washers I think. It lowers your CB to help reduce the driveline angles and reduce vibration. You may still have a slight rear vibration though.

Also to keep in mind, the front differential vibration. You will most likely not get the vibes for ~5000 miles post lift, but you may after that, I think likely will. See here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...nt-differential-bearing-vibration-thread.html

I'd buy the ECGS bushing and install it now if I were you, but its up to you, could wait and see, but if it starts vibing, fix it quick or you may need a new CV axle.

For UCAs, it depends on your budget. I will probably go with SPC's light racing UCA, which are a balljoint UCA just because of price. They've had problems, but have fixed them now.

Could also get other UCAs near that price point, some balljoint, some uniball. Uniball is more durable if you're offroading often, but need to be maintained weekly.

UCA links: Headstorng offroad has the SPC LR for the best price ($375)
http://www.headstrongoffroad.com/ucas-tacoma-05-6-lug.html
Other interesting UCAs:
http://jeepinbyal.com/toyota/jba-upper-a-arms-for-05-14-lifted-toyota-tacoma.html

 

Wow, you're the man MTopp! I'm sponging up all this info haha! I'll def get the bushing, and if I have alignment issues I'll get the UCA's. Hopefully I'll have pics of my beast soon, as long as I can figure out how to upload them lol!

 

Haha no problem, I'm here to help if you have anymore questions or you can PM me on here.

Are you doing the install yourself?

 

Finally got everything on, only thing is my Go Rhino's haven't come in yet, but everything else went on pretty smooth!

 

That looks freakin awesome!!

 

Are you clearing your front flaps?Any rubbing?

 

I clear the mud flaps, but at almost full turns I do hit the little flaps that come off of the front bumper, nothing too bad though. I'll probably either trim them slightly or heat them up and bend em' a lil. Which ever is gonna look the cleanest.

 

Just take them off. They're pretty stupid

 

How much lift did you get with your 885 coils?

 

I got almost 4" with tires and coils, since the tires are 1.4 inches bigger than factory n I swapped them at the same time, I never got suspension only measurements. So I would say I got the 2.5 inches of lift I was supposed to get. The rear was 3.75 inches with the AAL n tires.

 

Not stupid to everyone.People leave them on to protect the sides of the truck.

 

Not the mudflaps...he said the FRONT FLAP thing that hangs from the lower part of the front bumper. I myself still have regular MUD FLAPS on my truck. The front flap is to make the truck more "aerodynamic" which after a lift those don't do shit other than look stupid, they do not protect the front of your truck whatsoever.

 

That sounds good bud, thanks for info!

 

How much weight is in the back? I have the standard 3 leaf AAL from Wheeler's and my factory overload spring still installed, 3 leaf pack (2+1). Here's a picture I took last week with 700 lbs in the bed. My rear dropped about an inch. You should be fine depending on the weight. I think they have an HD version of the 3 leaf AAL which might be something to consider also.

 

Yeah, the 3 leaf progressive aal by wheelers didn't work great for me because my leafs are basically toast. Gonna bandaid them with an extra cheap aal until my frame swap, then I'm adding chevy leafs to the new leaf packs from toyota