How exactly is my rear lift being created?

That's a pretty standard layout on 1st gens. The further out they are on the axle, the better handling characteristics there will be.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-1st-gen-tacoma-rear-shock-relocate.540417/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ear-travel-without-cutting-up-the-bed.663001/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-shock-relocation-outside-frame-rails.573407/

https://archivegarage.com/products/...kGbnpcB4b8wAyZglR-ulZVPXWKSS9Hpd1crmyE49zKzwc

 

Probably need to clean my coilovers

 

You can remove some of the preload from the coilovers.

 

Cool rig
Someone spent some time and money on her once upon a time.
Love that rear by
Per set up.
Uniball Uca and icons up front.
Ad to the bone rig
Enjoy man
Good looking rig
What size tire is in their now?

 

How much should I remove?

 

Yes im trying to enjoy and maintain her as much as I can. This is my first truck and my daily for now, once I get older ill get a new daily but thats not for another 4 years I think. I'm trying to put the respect and love back into her with proper maintenance, repairs, etc. Im the 3rd owner, the 1st owner did ALL the work while the 2nd only used and didn't do much. 160k miles, bought for 16.5k, I waited 2 months for this truck and i get happier the more I find out about this truck.

I have 285/75/16, I would've got 35s but I don't want to regear (i should anyways) and my mpg is already pretty meh (decent for a tacoma)

 

You could go a little at a time and keep the fins of the CV boot from rubbing as much and bring the front down to where it's level when the rear is loaded with whatever you normally load up on trips / work / etc.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cv-angle-ok.683002/page-2

Where are your alignment cams - take a picture of the front and the rear... your wheel looks a little pushed back in the wheel well. Might be able to get more caster out of your setup also.

 

I have no clue where my alignment cams are because I've never heard of those and google doesn't show me, sorry. I'm new to this completely

Would changing my cv angle help with the seals? I've had 1 seal go bad and leak gear oil somewhat bad. I replaced the seal and slowed the leak but but it's still leaking. I wouldn't mind but when my car gets hot it smells of gear oil on the outside

 

I see! Very cool

 

i just bought new tires so I won't be getting 35's anytime soon but when the time comes I always have an angle grinder...

 

Gotta find where the oil is leaking out of. It may be gear oil out of the front diff, HOWEVER, common other places oil will leak from will be:

Valve Cover Gaskets (this is the main one where dripping oil lands on the exhaust and burns and smells up the cab through the HVAC intake on the passenger side hood cowel)

Power Steering Lines (I had a leak that looked like a CV but it was dripping onto the CV from a PS line)

There are a bunch of them, but those are the main sources of dripping oil up front usually in that area.

Get to know this channel inside and out - I'm not recommending you carry out a bushing swap, but it will name off a bunch of the parts and let you see how they fit together. FYI 3rd Gen 4runners and 1st Gen Tacomas are identical in their layout for front suspension parts (not identical in the parts themselves - mainly tie rods and ball joints, although they do share most / many parts).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmaZNBp1gZM&ab_channel=TimmyTheToolman

Also more info on the alignment cams.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-do-an-alignment-at-home.252256/

 

Nope, it's 100% from the front diff where the cv axel meets the seal.

 

I see! Thank you. I have a free day tomorrow so I'll try to improve everything you've suggested

 

I respect your enthusiasm and willingness to get it started. That said, I've been wrenching for a bit, and I'd say just drive it and go slow with the changes to the truck.

See if this is the right wrench for your coilovers - you can email / DM / call Icon to figure it out.

https://iconvehicledynamics.com/acc...W-FFx0uoNZn7ug2GoZ_ZQ6Yr8oSo0vJuLMeCVMOMDV3nl

The generally recommended way to change preload is to droop out the truck, spritz the coil threads with some WD40 and even use a stiff nylon brush to clear out any debris in the threads. It's pretty easy when you have the right wrench, just be careful to not strip the holes in the coil nut.

I would 100% get up in there with a flashlight and find any leaking oil and follow it up as high as it you can see it and take pics and post them back here. It'll help identify the source of the leaks. Sometimes it's easier at night where your flashlight is the only source of light imo.

 

Of course, this is my daily and I also off road with it somewhat heavily. I need to make sure everything is the best it can be because I can't afford a break due to negligence on my part

 

Some one put a decent amount of money into that truck. You have a good setup there. Lowering the front down an inch would be the only thing I would change. You will go through CV axle boots with the fins rubbing together like that. If you ever want to lower the rear of the truck it looks like those shackles on the rear are longer than stock. Making those longer will lift the truck, shorter will lower the truck.
Other than that fix any issues like the oil leak and just drive it for a few months. You will find what you really need after using it, but it's setup really good already.

Did it have 33s on it when you bought it? It looks lifted like someone had 35s on it at one point.

 

Thank you for the compliments, I appreciate them. I would lower it by just screwing with the preload, right? The oil leak is actually just a cv axel leak because the seal wasn't put in wrong/lift makes it leak ig. I do have a valve cover leak but it's not enough for me to care about, I haven't noticed any oil actually leaking out.

It came with 33's, I know this because my spare tire is from 2004 and is 285/75/16. I replaced my tires 2 weeks ago and they were 2014 and also 285/75/16.

I don't think I need anything else really besides new housings, a bumper, lights, and small shit like that. I don't buy into the overland gimmick because why spend $800 on a RTT when i can buy a $800 ultra light ultra durable backpacking tent lol.

 

Yes you would screw that nut that the coil spring is resting against up and it will lower the truck. Dalandser linked you to icons wrench to do it with. Clean the threads on the coilover and spray some lube on them before adjusting. The correct way to adjust them is to remove the coil over and adjust them. A lot of people get away with jacking the truck up from the front cross member so the suspension is at full droop and then either reaching over the tire to adjust them or removing just the tire and adjusting them. Put jack stands under the frame rails when in the air. That isn't technically the correct way because the nut is still under a little bit of tension from the coil over being compressed. If you can turn the nut without slipping with the wrench it works though. It lets you adjust them some, set the truck back down to check the height it rides at and readjust quicker than removing the coilover 20 times. Again not the correct way so I'm not telling you to do it like that, it is just how I've done it and seen others do it.

 

Yep that's what I thought but I wanted to make sure. I talked to an off road friend of mine and he said I could use a chisel to adjust the rings. What do you think about that?