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lift decision, gurus beat it up before purchase

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by dr dave, Dec 14, 2013.

  1. Dec 14, 2013 at 3:15 PM
    #1
    dr dave

    dr dave [OP] Active Member

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    It was driving the wife crazy, hours on forum, talking about truck but think I settled on a plan. I invite pros or cons on my plan 2012 quad cab long bed, 4X4, spend 90% time driving roads, then some sand for kiting, flat land mud hunting, once a year in virginia mts. Mostly want looks, do not want to lose factory ride SO plan on billie 5100's all around, no coil change, no leaf change, maybe or maybe not a 1 inch block to be level, 285/70/17.

    If anyone sure this won't work, its now or never. Live in Virginia, no rocks or heavy wheelin, but want the clearance and the look, thanks for reading
     
  2. Dec 14, 2013 at 3:16 PM
    #2
    benbacher

    benbacher Purveyor of Fun Vendor

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    Too many to list now.
    Do an add a leaf instead of the block and you'll love it.
     
  3. Dec 14, 2013 at 3:16 PM
    #3
    95 taco

    95 taco Battle Born

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    If you preload the factory coils with the 5100's you'll lose a little ride comfort.
     
  4. Dec 14, 2013 at 3:35 PM
    #4
    GATORTACO92

    GATORTACO92 Well-Known Member

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    2004 F-350...uh lots of motor work to go fast...er. Way to much to list. 2001: 3" leveling kit, ARB bumper, lightforce 240 blitz, 35" KM2s. SOLD 2008: OME 886s 90000 with dakars, LR UCAs, 5% tint, Satashi. SOLD 2015: Flooded and Gone
    OME 3" 885s or 884s i forget and dakar leafs or the add a leaf option. do it right the first time. i have this set up on mine except i have 886 coils which allow me to put armor and more weight on the front. the price is a little over 1k but well worth it. if you lift the truck also look into extended ss brake lines, there is a group buy on here for them that are cheap and a great product that i am running on my truck as well.

    EDIT: i have spacer up front and add a leaf on my 01 and it is a rough ride. the ride on my 08 is way better.
     
  5. Dec 14, 2013 at 3:39 PM
    #5
    HomerTaco

    HomerTaco also HomerTaco Vendor

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    HomerTaco ...................................................................................................................................................... Core-Hurst short throw shifter & T-handle / Carbon Fiber Interior / custom console light / De-badged / leather interior / Heated Front seats / Red Line Hood Struts / Painted speaker grills /one-off TRD Satoshi Grill with 12-15 front-end swap/ Pioneer AVIC-X920BT HU / Scangauge II / Black LED Tails / Dash Mount for iPad mini / Safari Snorkel / Auto-pilot mode / Leer 100XQ Cap / 4x Innovations sliders / Rear Diff Breather Mod / front windows tinted to 35% / Brute Force Fab Hybrid Front Bumper / BAMF Rear Diff Skid / Budbuilt Skids / CBI Trail Master 2.0 rear hybrid bumper / Fox rr coils/ TC UCA's/ TC spindle gussets/ TC Cam Tab gussets / Dakar leafs / Defined Engineering shackles / All pro U bolt flip / Timbren Rear Bumpstops / BAMF LCA skids / Exhaust re-route / Fog Light anytime Mod / LowRange Off Road extended rear brake lines / ATO Shackle Flip / sectioned Bushwhacker flares / re-geared to 4.56 / ARB Front & Rear Locking Diff / ARB CKMA12 compressor / PrInSu full rack system / 1" body lift / Inchworm 4.7 crawlbox / twin stick FJ t-case / Davez off-road triple-stick kit/
    agreed.
     
  6. Dec 14, 2013 at 3:40 PM
    #6
    darkgreentaco

    darkgreentaco XXXL Member

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    how much are you willing to spend?
     
  7. Dec 14, 2013 at 7:16 PM
    #7
    dr dave

    dr dave [OP] Active Member

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    I am not worried so much about the money as I am getting to stiff a ride on hard surface. do not want to spend more than 1200, but if I use billies to get 2.5 inches, can fit 275(285)/70/17 under there without cutting, have my original factory ride and seem happy. Until learning the 5100's go with my factory coils, I was heading to the OME kit, but wanting to avoid AAL and go with new pack, but way to stiff on the road. Then the local shops think my plan for me is good. ? still on the fence, cause everyone has an opinion. I will not be wheelin hard, just hitting some tough roads a few times a year at the most, mostly going to work, hitting sand in the summer, which can do now. just want hot look mostly hate to admit it but true
     
  8. Dec 14, 2013 at 7:27 PM
    #8
    sr5vic

    sr5vic Buy & Hodl

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    Stay away from rear blocks. You'll prematurely de-arch the leaf springs and get horrid axle wrap.

    why do you want to avoid AALs if you find new leafs too stiff?
     
  9. Dec 14, 2013 at 7:32 PM
    #9
    Mainmoe02

    Mainmoe02 Well-Known Member

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    3" lift EIBACH coils w/ 5100's front, OME/ Dakar leaf springs w/ toytec adjustable shackles at 1.5" and 5125's out back. 33x10.5x15 KM2's Relentless DIY steel bumper.
    Billies at 2.5" setting are gonna ride a tad stiff. Best option up front would be a new coil spring like OME/ eibach. Like someone said earlier... Do it right the first time :)
    Have fun
     
  10. Dec 14, 2013 at 7:42 PM
    #10
    dr dave

    dr dave [OP] Active Member

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    as to axle wrap, I was told 1 inch block won't do it. as to aal, told it forces different stresses on the leaf pack, makes new leaf pack better. new pack is way stiff on the road ?? whats a guy to do.
     
  11. Dec 14, 2013 at 7:48 PM
    #11
    EFalco50

    EFalco50 Woah! How did that get here?

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    Everywhere I've read has told me to avoid blocks. I see them on big fords and stuff, but hey if it was my truck I would go for the best. There's a good fact post here about lifts showing positives and negatives about certain types of lifts. I assuming you've seen it but just for good measure here is a link too it.
    http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/142677-suspension-lift-info-includes-pics.html
    Block lifts are just what they sound like – hunks of steel or (more commonly) aluminum that rest between the axle and the leaf spring. Along with a new set of u-bolts, a rear end block lift can be used to add 1-3″ of lift. Unfortunately, despite their low cost, block lifts are the least desirable of all rear-end lift methods because they increase axle wrap…which leads to a myriad of other problems including broken blocks, broken drive shafts, busted shocks, shackles, leaf springs, etc.
    Having said all of this, a small block lift (1″) doesn’t appreciably increase axle wrap and associated risks, and many Tacoma owners have no problems with 2″ block lifts. Still, this is the most undesirable rear-end lift option. Anything else would be better.
     
  12. Dec 14, 2013 at 9:44 PM
    #12
    white08gt

    white08gt Well-Known Member

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    toytec lift, fj rims, a.r.e topper
    i went with Toytec 3" lift, 885 coils and an aal, my truck is a dblcab 4x4 lwb. my son with the same setup except his truck is the shortbed and rides rougher than mine. probably 90% of the people with quadcab have swb, the longbed rides completely different. i orginally put the aal for the weak leafs that came with 2005 and actually rode better to me. tires are going to make a big difference in the ride more than the suspension. try to stay away from heavy LT tires,i went with LT275/70/17 in a load range C. these trucks do not need a load range D or E, will kill gas mileage.
     
  13. Dec 15, 2013 at 7:36 AM
    #13
    dr dave

    dr dave [OP] Active Member

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    thanks guys, hearing what I expected. As to the block, which the local stores say no big deal that small, ICON makes an AAL that is the same shape as the leaf pack, is not really an AAL, as it does not force the shape of the pack but acts like a block without risk of axle wrap. Ain't cheap but not a big deal

    so I wonder, ICON AAL on the back, 5100's, and big tires. Are you SURE that if I keep my same stock coils, that they must be preloaded?
     
  14. Dec 16, 2013 at 4:53 AM
    #14
    Mainmoe02

    Mainmoe02 Well-Known Member

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    3" lift EIBACH coils w/ 5100's front, OME/ Dakar leaf springs w/ toytec adjustable shackles at 1.5" and 5125's out back. 33x10.5x15 KM2's Relentless DIY steel bumper.
    Are you asking if the stock coils will be preloaded if used with 5100 shocks?

    If that's what your asking then yes. To gain height you adjust the "C" clip on the shock body. The C clip holds up the coil seat plate, so the higher you move it, the more compressed the coil will be. If you leave the C clip on the lowest setting it's comparable to stock ride height and less compression. It all depends how much height your wanting?
     
  15. Dec 17, 2013 at 5:19 AM
    #15
    dr dave

    dr dave [OP] Active Member

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    thanks Moe I have heard preloading is not good. If that is the case for me at 2.5 on 5100's, stock coils, then am I better with spacers at the top, using one of the shorter settings? I am trying to avoid stiffer coils. as to the rear, ICON makes aal , what they call their progressive aal, that adds height but not stiffness, does not force change on the stock pack. better than a block and better than aal in general.

    so, 5100's, spacer up front, c at 1.75, icon progressive aal's in the back, same coils, wonder if keeping stock ride with exception of 5100 improvement and get lift for wheel and tire upgrade? I do not want to stress the stock parts and think at 2.5, not a problem????
     
  16. Dec 17, 2013 at 6:36 AM
    #16
    maykevin5

    maykevin5 Well-Known Member

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    If you lift your truck, Your front left diff needle bearing will go bad. Just look it up on here ECGS bushing.
     
  17. Dec 17, 2013 at 6:38 AM
    #17
    richardbui23

    richardbui23 That guy

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    just go icons
     
  18. Dec 18, 2013 at 7:22 AM
    #18
    dr dave

    dr dave [OP] Active Member

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    richard, you mean go icon progressive aal's or icon all the way. and where is this ecgs bushing story coming from? real or rare, and unrelated to his lift
     
  19. Jan 2, 2014 at 11:25 PM
    #19
    dr dave

    dr dave [OP] Active Member

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    OK guys, this is my confession lift, followed I hope by some responses, good or bad

    I have done my homework here and at taco dealorship where quite a few go out lifted. I admit it, mostly want looks, only go offroad to hit the sand to kite and woods to hunt, very slow, nothing aggressive. I have always wanted but never had lift, and now is the time. I actually like the factory ride, do not want it stiffer, so I am just keeping my coils and bilsteins that came with it, going with a spacer above the strut and yes, a 1.5 inch block in the back. Stuff from low range offroad, where the dealorship buys a lot. They like the better tapered block. Will get some nice fuel black wheels for my crew cab long bed, super white, with 285/75/17's, money will go to wheels and tires. This was not a financial decision. Just did not want the stiff shocks or coils for the whiners in the back seat. How bad was my decision based on my driving habits?
     
  20. Jan 3, 2014 at 10:59 AM
    #20
    Mainmoe02

    Mainmoe02 Well-Known Member

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    3" lift EIBACH coils w/ 5100's front, OME/ Dakar leaf springs w/ toytec adjustable shackles at 1.5" and 5125's out back. 33x10.5x15 KM2's Relentless DIY steel bumper.
    It's your truck. Doesn't matter what any one else says or thinks.

    That being said I've heard OME setups ride like butter compared to the stiffer coils out there. Coil Spacers in the front will make the ride stiffer because the coil is now compressed to fit the spacer. If it were me I'd rather get the new coil.

    As for the rear... I've heard people say that blocks and AAL's are about the same when it comes to stiffness. I went with new leaf springs (DAKARS) and it's nice.

    Either way your achieving the look you want. If you don't like the ride, you can always switch it up. Atleast blocks and spacers are cheap so you won't be out too much $ if you end up not liking it.
     

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