Ideas to help with rub

I recently bought a set of oem sema pro wheels with 265/70/r17 tires and put them on my 16 trd sport dclb and I get rubbing when making a turn over a small curb or up a driveway. I am more of an oem guy so don’t want anything huge but looking for a small lift in front but most importantly don’t want a level look as I like the stock rake. I also tow a 4,000lb boat so don’t like the idea of notching a 5100 shock up a bit as it would change the ride quality. Thoughts on 1.5” lift for front and back?

 

Bilstein 5100's and a 1" block in the rear would be fine for what you are looking for. The system is designed to adjust height with the different notches with out affecting ride quality. (Or add-a-leaf to get the 1.5" in the rear. I wouldn't go bigger than a 1" block in the rear.)

As for rub, the lift won't prevent it. Just change when it happens. So your best bet is to see where it is rubbing and modify whatever it is rubbing on to solve the issue. Most likely a little grinding of plastic will solve the issue.

 

Let'r rub! That's Tacoma life.

 

5100s all around with airbags!! no AAL!! Are you rubbing the mud flap?

 

I have heard when you notch the 5100 up is compresses or extends the shock and you get a different ride from it. My worry is more the affect it will have with towing as opposed to the feel

 

great question, I do have the mud flaps on but since I only have had the new tires on for 100 miles I have not been able to pin point the rub just yet. Are you saying to put the 5100 up a notch? Also, the airbags would just be for bed sag right? Not for lift?

 

You have heard incorrectly. When you change notches on the strut the spring height is unchanged. The change is in how much of the strut shaft is exposed.

Stock you have 8" of travel and 4" of shaft exposed. 4" of up travel and 4" of down travel.

Lifted 1½" you still have 8" of travel but now you have 5½" of shaft on the strut exposed. This changes the travel to 5½" of up travel and 2½" of down travel.

Changing the notch height only changes the ride height and where the suspension sits in the its travel.

Edit: These numbers are not representative of the actual struts values. They are just numbers to help explain how the adjustment works.

 

great explanation! Really appreciate it. So the notching helps lift the front a bit and then on the rear, just put a block in? Or AAL

 

Lube

 

Yes. At most a 1" block, or an Add-a-leaf system if more is desired. Now it is important to understand that a block does not change the spring characteristics but the Add-a-leaf does. It will make then firmer because it physically arches the spring to obtain the desired lift and depending on the system add more leaves to the spring pack.

 

You should be able to clear 265/70/17 on stock suspension easily, (assuming 6 lug truck) have you taken your truck in to get a high caster alignment?

 

…..with a Fleshlight…..

 

Drive more and your tires will wear down and not rub.

 

I took it in and alignment was all green, said camber was all good and wheels were balanced. is a high caster alignment different? Yes they do not rub 90% of the time but when I turn a certain way going into a driveway or gast station they rub. It is 6 lugs and OEM sema wheels from 4runner pro

 

Yeah, I got all terrain tires on a stock 2012 non-trd, and I ended up having to take off the front mud flaps.

Even then, it still rubbed, so my dad recommended we grind the plastic.

It works great now, and coincidentally, it only rubs when going to a gas station or entering the driveway. It's pretty harmless, so I'd give it a go, unless you think it won't make much of a difference.

 

Totally not true. I have two set on different setting. Bad info ^right there!!! I run 265/70s on my 4runner Pro wheels and no rub, however try an alignment and a good front end mechanic can fix the rubbing, as you shouldn't be rubbing.

 

Yes a high caster alignment forces the wheels forward, typically +2°, your caster will be in the red, that's fine, your camber and toe are what effect tire wear and tracking, caster won't.

That said you may need aftermarket upper control arms for more caster.

I have 3.5° forward caster IIRC and still have "green" for camber and toe.

Otherwise you may want to add some 1/4 top hat spacers for a "level" up front and or trim or remove your mud flaps if you still have them.

 

You probably are rubbing the uca if you’re running the factory offset wheels. Cut the wheel and back up or go forward. Hop out and see what’s rubbing. Then you’ll know what you need. Lift vs less offset

 

Agreed!

My Tacoma causes rubbing every time I think of it in the shower.