Help! Finally lifted my 05 and it didn't turn out as expected!

Yes please take it back, and educate them.. I hate to see "professionals" fuck peoples shit up.. If you're taking on the job you should know how to do it, or at least google it..damn

For future reference Glamour shots don't show anything about the parts installed. Take pictures of the problem areas/parts involved.

 

Thanks guys, glad I figured this out right when I got home from the mechanic. Getting it corrected tomorrow and will post some pics. Gonna be sad to see the monster 5" lift go away, but i think the true 1.75 bilstein will look good.

 

Yep good luck OP on getting this resolved. Good thing you asked as you could have had some serious problems quickly. The instructions are included in the box. Sad that the shop didn't bother to read them.
Don't forget to adjust your headlights after the lift. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-do-u-move-headlights-down.183937/#post-3910013

 

You would have major suspension issues down the road if you had 5 inches if lift that way. Glad you caught it so early.

 

Beat me to it by a few seconds..

 

Yes something nobody ever does.. then they put in higher wattage bulbs/other upgrades because they can't see the road...

 

Thanks for the headlight tip - didn't think about that.

Well now the question is - since I got 2.75 out of my 2" tuff country AAL, should I set the front bilsteins at 2.5 so I don't get too much rake?

I feel like after seeing everything flexed out at 5" maybe 2.5 isn't that bad with stock UCAs and cv boots

 

Going to need a new alignment after they fix their fuck-up.

 

If you're having to redo it anyway, I'd go for the 2.5 setting to get rid of some of the rake. Everything will settle a bit, but looks like you got quite a bit of lift in the back. Also keep in mind that the higher setting will put more preload on the springs, so it will be a FIRM ride.

 

From what I've read, 2.5 will be a little stiffer than 1.75 but better than 5.5 I would think. Btw, how did they align it that way?

 

They didn't align it, I was going to bring it in for alignment tomorrow, now I'm just driving it back to the shop in the morning and they are going to fix it. Kind of glad I get to re do it because I don't think I would have been happy with the 1.75 setting.

If anyone is curious, here are some pictures of an 05 tacoma with 2" rear tuff country AAL with the recall leaf pack and Bilstein 5100s with the spring perch installed incorrectly, upside down, giving me 5" of lift in the front

 

Took it back today to get the bilsteins installed correctly - love the way it came out. Taking it in for an alignment tomorrow, hopefully they can get it aligned. Any recommendations on a good alignment guy in the Colorado front range area?

 

Glad you got it fixed. What height did you end up setting the Bilstein's at?

 

I planned on setting them at 1.75 to avoid alignment issues, but since I got 2.75" of lift out of my 2" Tuff Country AAL I decided to set them at 2.5 so I didn't end up with 2+" of rake.

Hope I don't run into any issues.

 

I think you'll be just fine. Might look at doing the UCA'S one day or swapping the stock springs for some lift springs to get rid of the preload and make for a little softer ride.

 

Right on, probably should have done that to begin with but was being cheap. Now I realize it's actually more expensive to do it cheap and then go back and pay for more labor to do what you should have done in the first place. Anyway, thanks so much for the help man!

 

Glad to see you got things fixed, just in time for the snow too! Crazy ass weather.

 

I know! Just took off the snow tires last week and put on the BFG ATs. Luckily the BFGs are great in the snow.

Just realized I have brand new snow tires in 245/75/16 - wonder if they will look silly with the lift.

 

I'm going to try to save you some grief.

When you take it in for the alignment, specifically request the maximum amount of caster available with around ~.5° positive camber. While +.5° camber isn't "perfect" it also isn't horrible and should allow you a reasonable amount of caster. I'm guessing you'll be at ~1.8° caster.

Let them know you don't want the "toe&go" alignment and that the caster/camber NEEDS to be adjusted. If they argue with you just take it to the next shop.

 

You guys are the best - thanks for the tip.