Installation of 5100 front and rear + dakar leaf spring

Hi y'all!

Planning to DIY installation 2 inch lift. How long it usually takes? No experience with it, will only follow the installation guide in youtube. I got everything I need.

Does firestone is good for alignment?

Thank in advance!

 

It takes a couple of hours- it always takes a little longer than you think. The rears are easy, the fronts take some time. Youtube has videos that walk you thru the whole thing. Make sure you re- hook up the sway bar links- (I left one broken link off and it took out the CV boot $500)

Highly suggested- buy a pair of something like these. That way you can have your new front shocks ready for a drop in, instead of messing with rusty or difficult reuse of the old ones.

$29 KYB SM5640 - Mount Kit

https://www.amazon.com/KYB-SM5640-M...50354&sr=8-9&keywords=2016+tacoma+shock+front

I haven't done the leaf springs, but it looks kind of straight forward.

 

Thanks you think it will take morethan 5hrs?

 

rear shocks about 30 minutes. Front about 2 hours with two hours of head scratching. (I had a lot of rusted bolts and manual tools)

The rear springs, I am not sure of.

 

@Vjtrey1
how'd you make out? I'm about to do the same: 5100s all around w/OME 887 springs up front and ICON progressive AAL in the rear. Did you use a spacer on the front driver's side? Or shims in the back? Thanks

 

As mentioned, the rear struts are a breeze. The fronts can take anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on your tools and experience. I've done my 4runner before so I'm confident I could do my Tacoma fronts in probably 2 hours. As for leaf springs, never done them. They look pretty straight forward though. I'd say add another 2-3 hours ontop.

 

I got all I need but haventh installed it yet due to weather condition and my availability.

 

Hope your local Firestone is better than mine - they tried to upsell uneeded parts everytime I went in. Told me they could not align one car without spending $90.00 for a bolt... told them no, took it to another reputable shop and had it aligned with no issues.

 

Shops vary depending on who works there or owns the franchise. I've got a Discount Tire by me that's like that too. Sold me a lifetime warranty and then wanted to charge me for an alignment because I changed a bolt. Not even worth haggling for the extra $75 bucks I paid for the lifetime. Same shop told my buddy that because he lost his receipt of purchasing the lifetime warranty, they wouldn't honor his alignment. Just never going back.

 

I found the front to be easier, but I did the YouTube method (vids in my build)

 

Do you really need the receipt? I don't think I kept mine.

 

Whatever you see in a write-up always good to double it. Just from my experience. Once you do one side the second side usually takes half the time. Then when you do a buddy's you tell him she thing and you wind up taking a quarter of the time. Now I always wait for buddies to do something first so we struggle on their rig, not mine. tehehe

 

I've done it twice now, Tacoma and 4Runner, if you can finish it in less than 4hrs by yourself I'd be impressed. It takes me 4-5hrs solo. If your fronts are pre-assembled that can save an hour though. It's not that bad, just make sure you have the right tools ahead of time and take your time so you dont rush and screw up your CVs or stretch brake lines or wires.