Leaf springs provided too much lift. Which leafs can I take out?

ahh ok yeah that was a decent rake. Definitely hard to tell from that first angled shot.

Yupp, CS018R from wheelers.

 

Someone mentioned to me the Leafs for 95.5-97 are different (obviously) than the 98-04 but more so as in, they're for the Toyota Pickups also so they respond a little different in the Tacomas/Pickups depending on application. My dad has a 1990 pickup, I can't tell the difference in leafs between ours. Maybe that's why they're a little more refined for the 98-04 trucks.

Thank you, very happy now!

Yeah it was a bit too much for me, looked very silly IMO. Just curious, how many leafs come on that pack?

 

Correct. The Dakar CS019R offer the '95.5 to '97, 3" to 3.5" of a lift. I think the '98+ Dakar's other a 2.5" lift.

What was your ground to wheel well measurement before and after the install? I had two 95.5's at the time. One truck had a 37" height, that I think still had stock leaf springs. On the truck I replaced, I had 35" and 41" after install. Probably 500 miles later, it's at 40". I have Kings in the front and still have some rake with a shell on.

 

Before lift I had 35". After I had about 40" maybe 40.5". Now after a leaf gone, I'm at about 38.5" (37.5" in front). I don't plan on moving the front any higher, at all, so I didn't want to just leave them in and lift the front more, I like where the front sits. If it settles a bit then I can throw in the other leaf. One thing that only concerns me now is the top two leafs are resting on the overload, isn't much space between them as there was with the 3 leafs left in as it came.

 

While still somewhat relevant to the thread, anyone know if I can step up to a bigger tire size with minimal modifications? I see 33x10.5 it’s actually measured as 32.5, might work? Or just stick with 31x10.5 in a beefier tread?

 

What Shackles do you have in the back? There are standard greasable shackles and lifted shackles.

 

greaseable OME. They say they’re OEM length but I measure 1/2” longer eye to eye.

 

3 main, 3 overload. I pulled the 3rd from the top. Also have a 3° shim to throw in so I’m debating pulling the bottom overload as well

 

Ah ok. Did your third down have the retaining brackets? I was worried removing it but the overload has one for the upper leafs anyways. Plus the centering pin.

I might need a shim. I’ve got some driveline vibes in the 20-40mph range when on the gas. 25mph vibes a bit on gas or not.

 

Shims are a good idea any time you lift the rear with the springs IMO. Not just for vibes but because the lift changes the angle of your driveshaft going into the pinion and over time you'll develop a pinion seal leak in front of the rear diff. Shims help correct the angle

I tried a carrier bearing drop kit once (just a couple spacers to lower the CB), supposedly achieves the same effect but didn't work for me. Shims did

 

Are you running Bilstein yellows(4600) in the rear? I have a new set and was under the impression they only work for stock springs?

Also the ride, wow. I thought my under body and panels were clean. Yours are unreal, or you have one hell of a camera.

 

Those are the OME Nitrocharger shocks

 

I believe that equates to 1/4" of lift 2:1 (Shackle:Lift) in the back. So I don't think that would account for 1" of extra lift.

I have the Daystar 1.25" Lift shackles and they are 6.3" eye to eye. Which makes me think the factory ones were about 3.8" eye to eye. So yours should be about 4.3" eye to eye?

 

Ok good help. I put in the carrier bearing drop and it didn’t help much. Will try without see what happens but what size shim(s) did you use/try?

it was right on 4” if I remember right. Not much longer than stock.

thank you! Truck gets about 4K miles a year (maybe more now with new goodies) and I keep it in the garage since I bought it. I clean underneath anytime they salt the roads (not often). Also shot with an iPhone 11pro so not a bad camera!

 

Following this!

Has anyone tried the CS018R on an extended cab? Since Wheelers specs them for the standard cab, I'd assume they're softer and provide less lift?

I emailed ARB and the said only the CS019R is specced for the 95-97s and when I contacted Wheelers, they said they don't know the differences between the two springs.

 

I'm looking for as little lift as possible. 2" would honestly be ideal.

 

Man, I thought I had a clean truck. Super nice looking truck. It looks perfect with the leaf removed. Now you gotta decide what tires... and size. 265-75r16 (32's) would look great on there when you get the 16" 3 spokes.

 

thank you! Yours is very clean as well. I’m leaning 265/75-16 just so I don’t have to mess with much (if any) trimming or the pinch weld mod. At only 2” in the front should look good, not sure about the back. Really wanted some 255/85 but.. maybe next truck.

 

You might want to consider a BPV relocation plate for the rear brakes. You can purchase one or make your own if your handy.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bpv-bracket.587862/

 

I got one when I purchased my lift. Along with a diff drop. Did the carrier bearing drop but didn’t help so will have to measure some drive line angles and shim.