Blocks, add-a-leaf, or air shocks in rear?

My new-to-me 2009 4wd TRD regular cab has 2 inch "leveling" spacers in the front, and is stock in the back. On anything but perfectly level ground, it looks like it has a slight droop in the rear, with absolutely nothing in the bed. I hate that look, and plan to use it as an actual truck. I could take out the spacers, but it looks like the new 265/70-17 tires would probably rub in the front if I did. So I'm thinking lift the rear 1 1/2 to 2", but what are the pros and cons of the three options?

I had an old Hilux that had monroe air shocks in the back and the ride was fine and they never gave any problems ever, over years. I'm looking for the best option, but also cheap.

Oh, and I WILL lightly wheel it at times.

Thanks in advance.
Scott

 

On my 13 reg cab I have the spacers in front, but put in an aal into the leaf pack. Have you done that? If so and it still sags like mine, I put in Roadmaster active suspension and it brought it right back up.

-PyroTaco

 

Depends really on what you want to spend. But in your case, i think AAL is the way to go. You can pick up single AAL's for $120-$150. I did a Wheelers off road 1.5 inch single AAL, and i got right around 1.5 inches. It defiently firms the ride up, but it really isnt anything outrageous.

 

Blocks and AAL are not “shocks” so I’m confused by this. You don’t gain any lift on a leaf sprung suspension with the SHOCK. It is the leaf or the mounting of said leafs that lifts the truck. I’m just asking for clarification because changing shocks will do nothing to fix how the truck sits. If you need more lift do an AAL, blocks or optimally a whole new leaf pack. And then add some new shocks to finish off the setup IMO. Be sure they’re properly setup for the lift you’re using. Most shocks are generally short and people run them all the time with small rear lifts but you need to keep in mind the shock lengths

 

Maybe you meant air bags? Air bags are typically only used when you’re adding a very significant amount of weight in the rear and need the option to level it when you have that weight back there.

 

Thanks Forester. I've never heard of Wheelers Offroad, but just checked out their site and the 2" AAL is damn reasonable at $77 for a pair! Wouldn't I need longer U bolts too though, and maybe even longer shocks? I thought the TRD package came with bilstein gas shocks (which I love) but they don't look like bilsteins. Mine are just plain black shocks.

Singletrack. I'm not talking regular shocks, or air bags. There are such things as air shocks, which are shock absorbers that replace the factory shocks you can also raise with air to compensate for suspension sag with a load in the bed. I would run then pumped up just enough for them to sit where I want them.

 

Hmm...factory bilsteins should be yellow. Did you look under the truck to look at the actaul shock body? Sorry for the stupid question, i just dont want to assume anything. You know how the saying goes . As for U-bolts, i would definetly get new hardware.

 

I know what you are talking about with the air shocks. Personally I wouldn’t run them on my truck. Go with an aal, new leaf pack, or ras. The aal kit I got came with longer u bolts.

 

it looks ass low because not many of these trucks have 2" of rake. it really more like 1" not to say that some may have 2" but that would be more on the less side

 

Yeah, I know. Yellow and blue. and yes, I crawled under and looked myself. Thinking I'll go with the 2" AAL, with longer u bolts. Would the factory shocks on there now be long enough to still work?

 

a 2" lift in the rear would be fine with me because I don't mind a little bit of rake on a pickup truck. It's there for a reason.

 

Any negatives with the AAL? I assume the ride will be a bit stiffer, which isn't a bad thing as far as I'm concerned. Someone told me the AAL would wear out the spring pack quicker, and also limit articulation off road some.

 

Most likely not. Only other advice i would say is get in touch with Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road. She was a huge help when i was putting together my Old Man Emu lift. Very knowledgable people over there

 

Money is the factor here, obviously. If it were me? Ditch the 2 inch spacer and go with a kit like Bilstein 5100 and your 2 inch AAL.

 

I am running that size tire with stock suspension on stock wheels with no rubbing. I thought the offroad models came with 16” wheels?

 

Shop for a used 3rd gen front coilovers and rear shocks to replace yours.

Budget friendly, refreshes your ride. Remove the spacer when swapping out.

Lift doesn't contribute nearly as much to tire clearance as wheel fitment.

Consider sending a PM to this guy. NOT posting in his thread, as he's likely on the cusp of being spanked for trying to sneak an ad in.

 

They may have. I assume this is not the tire and wheel setup that came on the truck originally, although they are factory Toyota wheels. It has 131K miles.

 

OK, now you guys got me curious. These are the 17" wheels on my truck. Are they OEM Toyota, and what are they off of? I assumed they were because they have TMC (toyota
motor corporation I assumed) cast into them. Now I don't know ...

 

^^^that’s a stock Toyota Wheel but may not be what came on your truck new. Not sure but I think that’s a 4runner wheel. Lots of folks on here run 4runner, FJ and even some Tundra wheels in place of stock.