Leveling questions

Hi all,

I had all previous Tacomas all my life but everytime I modify the suspension to improve my ride quality I mess up everything, I have tried bilteins on my 2010, 2.0 Fox on my 2012 and this time I really don’t what to screw this up.


I bought my truck with 265’/17 BFG Tires with OEM Rims and the only thing I want is to level up the front to be at the same height of the rear, nothing else, that will be a lift of half inches maybe one


Question 1 - What suspension should I need to buy? Let assume money it’s not the problem here (maybe it is but I really want all type of answers)


Question 2 – My buddy have some Toytech on his truck but every time he is on a street bump you can hear the “clap” noise of the front suspension working something I don’t like and honestly not necessarily a big increase in ride quality


I will be using my truck on the city 95% of the time so I prefer street quality over anything.


Thanks.

 

What was bad about your other lifts? What are you trying to avoid from previous lifts?

What do you want from your ride? Stiffer on road for better cornering? You already have a Sport right? So what don't you like about the Stock ride?

 

My truck is Sport 4x2 (I bought the truck in Mexico) and as per today the ride is just Ok, but I want to level up the front with the back because of looks so Im guessing If I do that with the OEM strucks the ride will get stiffer. Im looking for the smoothest ride possible

 

Everyone I know who lifts their truck gets a stiffer ride. Maybe put the TRD OR suspension and springs on it and call it a day.

 

I will probably get flamed on here, but to me it seems like the Toytec top plate spacer will work good for you. They have two sizes, 1/2" lift, and 3/4" lift. The smaller of the two is a much easier install. Your ride should not change much with that small of a spacer. You could also pair that with TRD Off Road front coilovers. That will be a softer ride, compared to your sport. Icons and Bilstein 5100's will have a harsher on road ride.

 

No Flame bud if he just wants to level the front he can measure and plan on installing the appropriate spacer, the smaller the better otherwise he will have to reset his coil over and add longer through bolts, in that case what smitty says would be a better option...

 

Hi Smitty, thanks for your answers, I realize that on a different post you mention that if you will do everything again you will add Bilstein 6112 in front and 5160s, it’s that still your thoughts? I get a quotation and everything is around $1500.00 seems like a reasonable price so at this point Im between that setup or just add the king coilovers on the front and leave everything else as a project, what would be your thoughts? My #1 priority if a smoother ride as possible, so the best option that gives me that is the one I will take.
Thanks

 

Honestly don't know which will give smoother ride because I haven't personally tried either. Just speculating. I'd personally go the Bilstein route to save a grand or two. That's not to say the kings are a smoother or harsher ride.

 

when i first installed my bilstein 6112, i did it for a better ride. i installed on the bottom clip and it leveled out the truck and improved the ride a ton over the stock hitachi shock and coil combo on the trd sport. now i cranked em up to 4th clip to get more lift and still dont find the ride as harsh and bumpy as stock was.

edit:saw you mentioned 6112. dont pay 1500 for them. buy online and install shouldnt be more than like 150, maybe 250 with alignment. i paid 575 shipped off jet after discounts and installed myself.

 

The 1500 was including the 5160s on the back with installation but you might be right, If I get everything from internet I should save around $300 ... I will probably do that, the kings seems like an overkill and since its not 4x4 doesn't seem I need it ... Bilstein combo it is, thank.

 

For whatever it's worth I'll say I just ordered the 6112/5160 combo with a 3 leaf AAL. I have a dclb or and run 265 tires on TRD Pro wheels.

My off-roading is generally to hunt birds, fur or to hike, so I travel lots of pavement to get to gravel washboard secondaries and then lots of BLM and Forest roads. No desert running, no rock crawling (on purpose).

I'll set mine for about 1.5" lift and hope I get a solid daily driver with some increased control and performance off road. I don't think I need to spend a premium to get that, but we shall see. I won't install until after my first 5,000 mile service, so maybe September.

 

Not sure if I missed it or not...The questions that you should answer for us is what Smitty99 asked...

What was bad about your other lifts? What are you trying to avoid from previous lifts?

If you don't mind shelling out the $$, King Coilovers w/ compression adjusters.

If not, stick with Bilstein.

 

The super stiff feeling, when I had bilsteins on my 2010 everytime I pass a small bump I feel the hit as if the truck will break it self, I tough was maybe bad installation or something so I take to a well known 4x4 shop, nothing change and my lift was barely 2" .... Then I change the truck for a 2012 buy the same 5100 and same shit happens!, then after a year I get a 2014that allready had some toytech coilovers and the feeling was just better my complain was again everytime I pass a bump I can hear like the shock metal hit? I dont know how to describe it I guess is normal .... I was trying to avoid the big spend but If the king coil overs will solve my issues so be it,I was just hoping some other cheaper option will be available.

 

Yeah I'd want to avoid that too. I like the smooth cushy and quiet ride of my 2016 TRD OR. I wouldn't mind putting money into a better lift but wayyyyy too many people I think spend thousands on the lift (just like the Tacoma itself) and then feel compelled to defend it by giving it great reviews and making bold statements like "it rides better than stock!" Then I take it for a test drive and it rides like a fuckin Dump Truck. How is that better than stock? GTFOH!

 

You say it was barely 2", but what you are describing would normally be coming from someone who has too much lift on their truck or at least is sitting right close to 3". 2" or less would be considered a great ride almost regardless of what shocks/coils you go with by most people.

 

So lets assume I get the Bilstein 6112 in front and 5160s combo, what will be your suggestion on the height to avoid stiff ride? Do you have a recommendation from another brand?

 

Due to the description of your past experiences it is hard to say any setup will be good. But definitely the less lift you do the better or smoother the ride will be. We think the 6112s are great riding shocks, but I have had one customer who disagreed. Everyone has a different perspective on ride quality.

 

Frankly I've read really good reviews on the 6112 set up on other sites specifically on 4 runner applications. Although this may be a stretch- I'll go out on a limb and say that a lot of 4 runner owners are concerned about 'ride quality', possibly more so than truck owners. By and large their reception is favorable.

Me personally- My last truck was a 98 3/4 ton diesel quad cab. Factory stock with the 'camper package springs'. It rode like a truck, especially unladen in the bed. I had to have at least 1,000 pounds back there to make feel 'comfy'. To me my stock Tacoma feels like there are 4 marshmallows on the corners. If the 6112/5160's and AAL stiffen it up a tad I will not be entirely disappointed.

Now if it rides like my 98 Jeep Cherokee with the OME set-up I have on it? I'm going to be really pissed.