Getting a lift

I was planning on getting a small lift for my truck and was planning on buying four Bilsteins 5100s. Would I need to buy anything else along with these such as new springs, or will they work just fine with the factory ones?

 

if you wanted to lift the rear you could get new leaf springs or progressive AALs. 5100s will be able to lift the front from 0" - 2.5" (2.5" is not recommended and you can still keep the same factory coils. Are you getting a new lift for your truck because you want to fit bigger tires?

 

I just got 265/75/16 so I wont be getting any new tires for a while. Mostly just wanting it for looks. Do the AAL have any advantages over just new shocks?

 

You are able to get both an AAL and new shocks fyi. An AAL will lift the rear anywhere from like 1"-2" but since your not getting new tires maybe just stick with lifting the front to level it out. An AAL will just stiffen the ride. upgraded shocks like 5100s are just better shocks over stock shocks. Below are links to two forum posts here on tacomaworld that provide a basic understanding when it comes to lifting your truck. Its a good read even for experts.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/11282-tacoma-lift-faq-guide-read.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/142677-suspension-lift-info-includes-pics.html

 

2.50 not recommended ? have mine at 2.50 works & rides great

 

I hear at 2.5 you loose travel and its a stiffer ride.

 

2.5" has different results with different trucks. The reason 2.5" will give the truck sloppy handling is because the stock UCAs aren't adjustable. Caster is lost, and no caster means bad handling. Adjustable UCAs will fix this however. Some guys don't have this problem at all at 2.5" on stock UCAs. It's hit or miss.

TRD offroad springs will be quite stiff at 2.5", and the TRD Sport springs will be less stiff than offroad springs at 2.5".

 

Sounds like you don't realize that the rear 5100s do not provide any lift because they are not adjustable like the front 5100s. If you want to lift the rear, you need more than just new shocks. An AAL, blocks or new leafs is also needed to lift the rear. From best to worst in terms quality of lift would be new leafs, then AAL and then blocks.