Leveling kits

I'm trying to get a leveling kit very soon and need some advice. I want my truck to squat a little but not ridiculous amount I was looking at a 3" front and 1" rear does anyone have this same setup with pictures? And feel free to put picture of any other sizes just trying to figure out what I like

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/suspension.18/

Over in the suspension section, there's more lift threads, how to's, FAQs, and pictures than you can shake a stick at.

 

If you want it level I believe it's 3 inch front 1.5 rear... If you do 3 and 1 you'll be ass end low, which isn't ideal...especially because it'll compound if you ever tow/haul anything

 

So this is actually considered a lift kit not leveling kit.

 

Can you send me a link to what your talking about?

 

What do you mean when you say compund?

 

Measure hub to fender and ground to fender (parked on level ground). Front and rear.

Then figure out how much you need to adjust each end for the lift and rake you want.

Then you can pick a kit that will achieve the changes you need.

 

Do you stick to the pavement or will you be hitting trails? Also what is your budget for parts?

 

If you are a half inch low in the rear without a load, and you put weight in the back, you'll go to, say an inch low, or 2 inches low in the ass end.

 

I'm on about a $250 budget and more pavement than anything not wanting anything crazy just something to get it a little higher

 

I started out with a Toytech lift kit that had apparently spent a LONG time laying on the shelf before I got it. (From the original owner of my truck, NOT directly from Toytech) Shortly after I installed it, BOTH front shocks blew out. So....I had to come up with something else until I decide what will be the permanent solution.

I've installed several top plate spacer kits on other people's trucks. I had one sitting on my work bench at the time. It is a cheap "Ebay" lift kit. ($80 inc freight) So I put it on my Tacoma for now. The truck I took it off of was raised 2-1/4" above stock in front with this kit. I already had 1" blocks in the rear. I put the spacers in, along with 1/2" poly spacers (home made) and a 1/4" aluminum spacer on the drivers side. I ended up with 2-3/4" above stock height in front, and 1" in the rear. I make my own bump stop spacers too. (Aluminum round stock) I space the bump stops an amount equal to the combined thickness of spacers used. Since I did this lift, I've had the truck off road several times. No coil binding, no bottoming shocks, and no issues. Works great!

Top plate spacers are a nice low budget alternative if done CORRECTLY.

 

I understand the "done correctly" I've seen them screw up. I know a mechanic that has installed multiple spacers and he's charging me 150 dollars to do mine when I get it. But for the most part this is pretty much all you have under yours is the kit I've posted a picture of. Just a homemade version?

 

What damages can be caused by spacers?

 

Could I just put 5100s on front without aal or blocks in back? Like just the 5100s in front and just not touch the back.

 

By the spacers? NONE.....The ONLY issue is bending the front shocks because travel of the shock runs out before travel of the suspension. The "damage" is caused by bump stops being too short..... That can be prevented by installing bump stop spacers of an equal thickness as the top plate spacer. One truck I installed spacers in belongs to a teen ager who lives down the road from me. He managed to snap BOTH front spindles without bending a shock last weekend. He was jumping dirt berms and slammed the front end down very hard. The damage he did would have happened with ANY lift and that sort of abuse.

 

If you don't go off road then a spacer kit should be fine, lots of people run them without problems...just don't go jumping your truck in the desert with them. IMO, if you are always on the pavement there is absolutely no need to dump a ton of money into the suspension. You don't need to install the diff drop, it doesn't do anything. Also, for 3 inches up front you won't be able to get it aligned as well as stock without some new upper control arms, those are about $400.