Help Identify This Suspension Mod

Hello all,

I’ve been lurking here for about a year after my wife’s 2000 4x4 snapped an LBJ and Batmobile’d the drivers side front wheel under the frame. I decided to fix it which had been as fun as it was a terrible idea.

I have been contending with a suspension mod the previous owner installed and I am curious if anyone knows what it is, if it is safe, and should I delete it. My wife likes it, but if it is sketchy, I’ll get rid of it.

Thanks for the help.

Here is the passenger side. I left it almost as it was on the day of the accident:


Here is the drivers side as I’m installing new components:

 

I think your wife likes the extra 4 inches. That’s a 4” drop bracket lift. Unfortunately can’t undo it without welding in the stock brackets that were cut out to install that lift.

 

Yeah, she has definitely resorted to getting that extra where she can get it…on the truck.

Got it. I already have enough sunk into this project.

Looks like the bracket is just bolted in. That explains why the OEM steering rack bolts and steering rod coupler didn’t fit…it’s all making sense now.



Sure does make it a bitch installing UBJs…

Thanks!

 

That is wild.

 

Are you doing all of those ball joints? That lift looks like it really stresses everything. Nice shock choice btw, those ride really nice.

 

After what I’ve been through for a $150 LBJ, you better believe I’m replacing all the ball joints…and everything else on the front end: upper and lower a-arms, steering rack, OTRE’s, etc. Even upgraded to Tundra brakes up front cause I couldn’t find OEM Taco calipers.

Thanks, on the shocks. I’m concerned about the stress you point out. If I delete the drop bracket, with those 5100s still be good?

I’m also hesitant about ripping the drop bracket out and finding something has been cut or is missing…basically finding a bunch of other problems I didn’t expect

 

Not sure on the length of the 5100s, I'm assuming there are different versions, and they are adjustable for lift height.

You should compare your suspension mounting points to a stock frame. Maybe they didn't chop all the mounts off to install that lift.

 

Thanks! It looks like I did settle on extended travel before I knew what situation I was in:

Bilstein Rear Extended Travel 2.5-3.5" Lift Shocks for 1995-2004 Toyota Tacoma (#A463)

I wonder how those would affect the ride or if they are adjustable back to regular travel.

Unfortunately I don’t have access to a stock height Gen 1. Is anyone aware of any resources that would provide me a “stare and compare” target?

 

So what you listed here in this post is the rear shocks, and that's another separate thing to consider. I'd bet you can make those 5100s on the front work, by removing the drop bracket, the huge spacer above the shocks, and that sketchy AF looking steering knuckle coupler/spacer thing-a-ma-jig.

And FWIW, I'd put your foot down and tell the wifey those extra 4" ain't worth the headache. That lift will likely wear out all of the brand new fresh parts you just bought quite quickly.

All that being said, let's see some pics of the lift in the rear, as you're going to need to figure out how to bring the rear down in ride height too (assuming the truck is somewhere near level, front to back, right now).

 

Search for "1st gen Tacoma drop bracket lift" and read any install instructions you can find. Most kits will have a similar install process. That will give you an idea of what might have been cut or otherwise modified.

@Tour991 maybe you can help the OP out? I think you're both in Reno?

 

It's almost certainly the 4" ProComp drop bracket lift. Doesn't look like ProComp even lists the 1st gen version on their website anymore, but did find a picture here:
Pro Comp 4" Lift Kit for 1996-2004 Toyota Tacoma

Re "I'll remove it"... good luck, you need access to a donor frame, and fab skills to remove an intact control arm sub frame and weld it into your truck. It's not impossible, but a lot of effort.

 

100% this/\
That kit destroys new parts very quickly.
You will need a new cross member welded in if you decide to remove it. Everything else is pretty simple to swap out.

 

I’d want that shit outa there as well, lots of weak links, just the drop spacer on the front diff mount brackets look sketchy as shit.

One thing that you might be able to do is find a rusted frame that’s being/been junked and see if the front subframe is in decent shape. A lot of times the rusted out frames are in the rear since that’s where the tires are spraying water/salt

 

Apologies for the delay in responding, thanks all for your inputs.

That steering knuckle is sketchy AF, as the kids say.

I’ll dig in deeper to see what was cut before I pull it out, thanks for the tip on the brand.

Finally some pics of the rear, sorry they’re terrible. Look like this motherfucker didn’t do anything to the back, but I stand ready to be corrected for missing some super sketchy and cheap mod.

 

The rear springs look pretty worn out. Flat and twisted. Might want to replace those too, or get them re arched

 

Does the truck sit level? I expected to see a big 3+" block back there

 

I did as well. I think he's actually got an aftermarket leaf pack or add-a-leaf, which is a much better rear lift solution than one would expect from someone who'd lift the front in the way they did

 

Looks like a PROCOMP 4" drop bracket lift. I had that lift on a 97 tacoma.

 

I'm not quite sure you understand what you have with a drop bracket lift. There isn't really a "pull it out" option without having a donor frame and fabrication ability. I also don't think it's as sketchy as you're making it out to be. It's been on the truck for awhile without anything terrible happening. Drop bracket lifts just aren't as desirable for several reasons. For a 4" - 6" lift, you're just not gaining anything except for a higher center of gravity. The ground clearance under the drop bracket is the same or worse than a stock truck.

100% aftermarket leaf springs, but I can't name 'em off the top of my head. Looks to be a model number at the rear of the drivers side leaf spring that would identify them. If they're not too rusted, they would be probably worth looking into rearching them vs throwing them away.