Cheap ebay lift?

To the OP I'd ask, what are your plans for the truck. Are you looking for a taller stance for a truck that will be mostly street driven or are you planning on some hard core off-road? For the past 20 years, I've had a selection of off-road vehicles with a bunch of different lifts. What the fanboys won't tell you is that every suspension modification you make from spacers to SAS involve compromises. The more you make a vehicle off-road capable the more you hurt its on road ride. Taken to the extreme for off-road you end up with a vehicle that has to be taken to the trail on a trailer.

When I bought my truck the previous owner had put a spacer lift on. Because of it the springs were rubbing the upper control arms at maximum droop, but the spacers cased no issues on the street. I sold a lifted jeep to get this truck and I was sick of its lousy on road performance and I wanted to enjoy a stock vehicle that just worked, so I pulled the spacers. Having heard all the comments about spacers causing a rough ride I was hoping for something like an old school Cadillac with a soft cloud like ride. If there was a difference it didn't amount to much.

Here's a link to my removal thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/removing-a-spacer-lift.279199/ If you want to buy my old spacer lift I will sell it for $60 including shipping. It is missing the upper bolts for the spacers, but you should be able to pick them up locally. Bottom line, for a street driven truck spacers are just fine, even mild off road you won't have a problem. However, if you flog it off road or hit a pot hole at 60 mph all bets are off for any suspension, stock or modified.

 

That was a piece of shit before the lift

 

This only applies to the poverty gen

 

Oh yeah:

 

Lulz 2nd gen struts suck. Poorly designed

 

I agree with jsi... I unfortunately have had the opportunity to have every type of lift on my old 2010 Tacoma.. first was spacer lift, then 5100s, then I went to full ome.. I learned that each lift causes its own set of issues.. even a body lift causes issues.. once you change the stance..height even weight ..then it wont drive or respond like a factory truck

 

Finally! We've been starving here buddy!

 

Thanks for all the info everyone.. I do want to stress that this truck will never see anything more aggressive than a dirt road or a boat ramp. I got 4x4 because the saltwater algae on the boat ramps here is super slippery and boat weighs 2800. Otherwise it's pavement pusher. I don't understand how spacers can effect the ride at all to be honest. Maybe a bit more body roll due to center of mass but spacers don't tighten or alter anything related to springs. On the front it doesn't effect anything at all. Just sets the strut assembly 3" lower than it was previously mounted. On the rear it does keep the shock out if it's "sweet spot" but a couple of +2 shocks would be pretty inexpensive as well. Is it the new angle on the control arms that makes it ride like shit? Only way to fix that would be a lift spindle or all new control arms.. I can wrap my head around the bottoming of the shocks before it hits bump stops but I can't remember ever bottoming out any pickup truck I've owned. I guess if I do blast a curb or something I call the insurance company. I would imagine there would be damage with or without spacers as said before.

Lift is strictly for appearance and so I can fit a 285/75/16.

 

There is no "ride like shit". That's just something the 5100 fan club says. Your alignment afterwards will play a big part in how it drives. A 3" spacer is too much and WILL drive like shit without aftermarket control arms because the caster and camber can't be properly set, but you'd have the same problem with ANY 3" lift on these trucks. A pogostick 5100 cranked to the max setting will give you the SAME EXACT alignment issues.

Make sure you put a spacer between the bump stop IF you use the spacer. Then you won't have to worry about crashing an killing a family of 7 having a picnic in the park.

 

So any 3" lift I have to get control arms to make it right?

 

To get the alignment where it SHOULD be, yes. SPC makes a fully adjustable set for around $375.

 

I've always figured if it's worth doing it's worth doing right.

All the arguing on this thread has been amusing though...

I installed a full Old Man Emu suspension system on my pickup. I have had no plans to become a serious off-roader. I'm meeting a powdercoater tomorrow to powdercoat an full set of skid plates for my truck as well. Why? Because I consider myself to be a total novice and should I go out to "mud" or hit an off-road trail with friends some day I want to make sure my truck is capable of putting up with my poor choices. Will some think I'm wastefully spending money on a "mallcrawler"? Perhaps. But it's my truck and anything I do to it will be done right - otherwise I figure I can't afford to do the mod.

 

first off I'm not running 5100's. I have a stage 5 icon kit with dakar leaf pack... however I have run both spacer and 5100's as well as other suspension kits like king and walker evans as well as fox. Not sitting here trying to argue. I'm just trying to help the guy with my opinion and you felt the need to name call.

 

Although I will for a change. Agree with you in regards to the caster and amber will be hard to adjust with any type of.lift that puts you at 3" or above. However that won't effect the driver too much other than the amount of money he/she will be spending on tires...

 

Yeah, because you're posts weren't condescending or insulting.

Caster and camber absolutely DO affect the driver. They both affect the way the vehicle drives and steers.

 

Ok moving on with life. This is immature and wasteful of my character. OP if I can help please pm me.

 

@Justinlhc - Read your signature.

@LAoffroadin

The first one of you who stops replying to this post will be the more mature one. I think the OP is pretty clear what both of you advise based on your beliefs and experience. And you'll not persuade one another so there's not much point in continuing methinks.

 

Agreed. Read my last post please. Haha