HELP! WHICH LIFT!

Hey guys! i'm trying to decide which lift to get between the TTHA-9504 - ToyTec/Eibach 3" lift kit - 95.5-04 Tacoma OR BK9504 - Bilstein lift kit with 5100 shocks for 95-04 Tacoma. I have a 1998 Tacoma 4x4 TRD. I had a 4runner that had the Toytec lift and loved it but the Billstein is cheaper and all i hear is good things about Billstein. Anyone got any advice?

Thanks!

 

There are dozens of threads on the 5100's. There are a few stickies on the subject in the 1st gen forum, too. Lurk around there to find tons of info.

There are two main things you need to answer for yourself before anyone can really give you sound advise: 1) Your budget and 2) what you will be doing with your truck (do you want function over form or are you merely going for a particular look).

If just going for the "look", get some coil spacers for the front, and AAL for the rear.

But for actual performance gains over stock, the 5100's are probably by far the most popular, and cheapest way to go to gain actual performance with little cost. This will be enough to get you ~2.5" of lift, better shocks (even if you have a TRD, the original shocks are warn out, guaranteed). Lifting the front is easy with the 5100's, but for the rear you'd need an AAL.

Down South motorsports has a TW member discount where you can get all 4 5100's for something like $300 (if they still have the same discount when I bought mine that is). Then, all you really need is an AAL for the back, or longer shackles (I went the shackle route).

Depending on how much off road experience you have, do some soul searching on your budget. If you are starting out, or won't be doing a ton of wheelin right off the back, stick with the 5100's (I did). But, if you will be in the dirt a ton, consider looking into a better set of coilovers like King or Icon, and go down that road the first time. I generally adhere to the "buy once" mantra, so depending on what you'll be doing with your truck, you might consider stretching the budget (if you can) and just buying the nicer stuff now.

For some perspective, though, I got 5100's for my 2004 Taco about 6 years ago. It was a daily driver, but with some weekend warrior off roading thrown in. Fast forward to now, I've gotten another DD (4Runner), and my taco is now a dedicated play truck. I just threw down a wad of cash on some extended travel Kings, UCA's, and a bunch of parts (lower ball joints, steering stuff). Even though I'm now in the "mid travel high performance" realm for my suspension, I don't regret buying the 5100's, either. They served me well for 6+ years, and spending $2k on (front only!) shocks for a DD is, IMO, a waste.

 

Save up for kings in the front and a new leaf pack with extended shocks for the rear. I almost pulled the trigger on that TTHA-9504 kit, but for the 825ish plus shipping you're pretty close to a set of Kings and if your 99 taco is anything like my 98 you'll need new leafs anyway so the aal with the toytec kit is sort of worthless.