Comprehensive 5-lug 2nd gen lowering info.

You can run the XR Bilsteins and the stock springs as they can fit. However, whether they are a good match is a different question, and the answer depends on who you ask - lots of guys run that combo and are more than satisfied with it.

I personally don’t think they are a good match since the stock spring has to be compressed more than 2” to fit in the XR bilstein, which I feel forces the shock to function outside it’s working range, so the shock doesn’t dampen the spring as it should and/or the spring over extends the shock. For me the ride was really bouncy and unpredictable, and the truck would jerk hard left or right if I hit a pothole at freeway speed (50mph+). Pic shows the matching stock springs mounted on the bilstein vs on a longer shock (no preload on the spring) to give you an idea of how much you’ll need to compress them to fit:


For a time I changed back to the XR springs on the XR shocks and while the ride was rough, it was more predictable and did feel like a safer combo. The XR spring/shock combo ran about an inch lower than the XR shock/stock spring combo.

 

Oh, the silver shock setup above is the way to go!
Also I don’t know what trans you have but if you go to taller rubber you may want to look at gears! The 2.7l needs all the help it can get!
That’s why I’m dying to do an LS swap. I just found out that the 5 spd manual R155 is the same trans as the turbo Supra with the R154. Just first & second gears are lower in the R155 then the R154 in the turbo Supra. Over 500 HP they need to be vented better as the rear main seal will start to leak.

 

Is there any way to get a 4.5 inch drop block

 

Yess stack a 4 and a .5 idk how safe though

 

How low it will be once I do the 3.5/4.5 drop

 

If that clean looking truck was mine (my fav color is white) *I* would raise the back up an inch to get the noise down look. Plus it would handle & ride better. But that’s just me…

 

It’s not squatted at all just the angle of the pic

 

I put the X-Runner rear sway bar on my truck and it definitely improved the handling around curves, giving it a more planted feel. I didn't do anything to stiffen the front sway bar. The rear sway bar, along with swapping the crappy stock 15" wheels and tires for 18" X-Runner wheels and decent tires is the biggest improvement I've made to the driveability and enjoyment of my truck

 

May I ask how you attracted the swaybar to the frame & rear end? I used a kit with long U bolts to attach to the rear end, they keep rotating. If I tighten the U bolts it would cause the brackets on the rear end to flatten out. I ended up removing the brackets squared them up, attached them again without the swaybar and drove right down to a muffler shop to have them welded on. The muffler shop charged a whopping $20. I then purchased bolts, clean the welded area with a little ScotchBright, hit the welds with a little rattle can and reattach the swaybar.

 

I bought the rear sway bar kit from https://sosperformance.com/ which came with the u-bolts, parts to go around the sway bar, drop links and mounting brackets for the drop links. The only usable parts to fit to my truck were the u-bolts and bushings that go through the u-bolts holding the sway bar. The sway bar, drop links, and mounting brackets for the drop links were Toyota OEM parts from the X-Runner. I had to drill out one of the rivets on each side of the cross brace holding the spare tire to get the drop link mounting brackets to sit in the right place. No need to drill any holes in the frame

If anyone is looking for drop links (too long for 4x2 Tacoma) and mounting brackets from the SOS Performance rear sway bar kit, I'll sell those cheap

 

LOL… The same kit I purchased less the end links. The kit is for 6 lug trucks and I’m sure you didn’t know that if you contact Tom he will adjust the price accordingly! He’s one of the best for working with customers! Take my advice and mount the swaybar where you want it. Take a silver sharpie mark the rear & the brackets. Now remove the swaybar and polly bushings and mount the brackets back to the same location then have someone run about a inch long weld on four spots on each bracket. Trust me no matter how tight or lose you you have the U bolts they will rotate. I keep moving them back for over 5 years until a muffler shop charged me $20 to weld them. Worth every penny to me, good luck to you and you’re correct the rear swaybar really makes a difference.

Oh, if anyone here is thinking of doing front DIY coilover’s I have a set of used Hypercoil’s they go by Hyperco, 2.5” x 10” 525# springs (a photo of these springs are in post #306) and a NEW set of Hyperco 2.5” x 12” 550# springs I not going to use and can’t return. Swift & Hyperco springs are the top / best two springs on the market for QC.

 

Is that fatal attraction?

 

I talked to them a couple of times before ordering, and was assured the kit I ordered would fit 5 lug trucks. Once I tried to install it, I found the tailpipe and right drop link both wanted to occupy the same space. I contacted them again and was told I'd have to relocate my tailpipe to make it work. So then I came up with plan B, which was to get the OEM X-Runner drop links, which worked like a charm

 

Great suggestion! I'll get under there and mark where it sits and see if it moves over time. The kit from SOS doesn't come with torque specs, so I had to figure it out based on bolt diameter, and it ended up feeling much tighter than I would have expected

 

Hmmm…
Did you talk to Tom? Anyway I would tell him different! The 6 lug lowing kit makes you change the spring location but there’s absolutely no reason you should have to change the exhaust on a 5 lug! That’s BS and Tom or whoever should know better!
Sorry buddy but I call back and say something. I told him the drop links looked kind of long. That’s when he said they were for a 6 lug. I guess sells must be getting slow for him…

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but at this point I don't want to deal with it. If anyone wants to buy the drop links, and the mounting brackets (which don't line up with the holes in the frame despite what they told me), make me an offer so I can get rid of them

 

can someone get me this measurement on a ext cab and let me know what suspension tires you have? I'm in a wheelchair and want to know how I low I can get a 2nd gen before I buy one. I planned to do a 3/4 djm. Thank in advance! This will be my 4th tacoma/pickup but first since injury haha

 

Cody,
First I am sorry to hear about your accident! My body is giving up on me and is just plain wore out after years of hard physical work like throwing garbage by hand for 7 plus years. Was young and thinking w/ hard work I could move up in the city job I had, but found out that I wasn’t related to the right people.
Anyway sorry no one has answered your question, I would have but our truck has 1.8” taller rubber and it’s been only lowered a little over 2 inches. Maybe @mason33x or someone else can answer your question. Come on guys this is Tacoma World we are here to help each other.
Best of luck Cody!

 

I can take that measurement, but it'll be with a bench seat since I'm in a regular cab. No idea if it's remotely close...

 

I have a 2/3 drop on 17s but you can do a 3/4 on 17s or 18s but also you could get the 3/4 kit and get 4x4 leafs and spindle spacers and be at a about 4.5/5.5