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Lift Nightmare and failure, Suggestions?

Discussion in '5 Lug' started by Mishael, Jan 30, 2013.

  1. Jan 30, 2013 at 8:34 AM
    #1
    Mishael

    Mishael [OP] Professional Novice

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    I bit off way too much to chew, and now I'm stuck. My truck has 31x10.5 R15s and it has no lift. I turn my wheel more than 1 full rotation (~30% turn) i rub. If i hit any bump, i rub. curbs are horrible, turns suck, my body is taking a beating (fender flares are going to solve the body blemishes) and i dont know what to do. I bought the coil spacer and AAL from Fat Bob's garage, and also the U-bolts from ToyTec and we ran into three problems when trying to install them.

    1. The AAL was WAY too arched to even mildly look like it would fit, even when we had the truck up on the lift. It was obvious it would not work

    2. The U-Bolts (which were specified for the 2004 5-lug) were rectangular, not actual u-bolts. Since the 04 5 lug is axle over leaf, it requires true U shaped bolts. Wouldnt work there either

    3. I couldnt get my damn springs compressed. We bent a high quality compression tool (30 year old MAC tool, built when shit was really good) and we broke one stud holding my shock in place. We never even saw the top of the coil.

    Ive driven 7000 miles on these tires already, i want to fix this. Im thinking a new leaf pack but what do i do for the front? Ride quality does not matter to me.
     
  2. Jan 30, 2013 at 8:46 AM
    #2
    Large

    Large Red

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    In coil spacer, top spacer? Either will work, you would have to disassemble the coil/strut for the in coil spacer. If you think it's out of your league you could take it to a garage and they will install them for you.
     
  3. Jan 30, 2013 at 8:50 AM
    #3
    Mishael

    Mishael [OP] Professional Novice

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    yes top spacer. i took it to a retired mechanic friend, worked on it with his brother (who is my boss) and me, we couldnt get anything. We couldnt disassemble anything because the bushings for the support arms were mostly shot, so if we took them apart i would have to schell out big bucks to get them repacked. Is there a wedge type coil spacer i can do for the time being?
     
  4. Jan 30, 2013 at 8:55 AM
    #4
    YotaKid62

    YotaKid62 Dirty mall crawler

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    From what i've heard 5'lugs really aren't designed to be lifted, but I don't really know much about them other than the coil springs are alot smaller than a 6lug's, so that's probably your problem with getting them compressed. Sounds like the spacer is simply too big for them and your AAL is probably designed for 6 lug springs , which are probably different than yours. My guess would be that your suspension simply isn't set up to handle a lift.

    Edit: let me rephrase, Your suspension simply isn't set up to handleTHAT lift. You probably have a kit designed for a 6 lug truck, which has a taller ride height, therefore making it impossible to install on a 5-lug truck.
     
  5. Jan 30, 2013 at 9:07 AM
    #5
    Mishael

    Mishael [OP] Professional Novice

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    Everything that i bought was for a 5 Lug, 4 Cyl 2001-2004 tacoma. its not that the spacers wouldnt fit, i couldnt get the coil compressed enough to even fit my finger between the coil and the coil's seat
     
  6. Jan 30, 2013 at 9:13 AM
    #6
    YotaKid62

    YotaKid62 Dirty mall crawler

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    I'd say try a different coil compressor or go to a shop that has a hydraulic or electric one. The threaded ones with the tabs can be a pain in the ass.
     
  7. Jan 30, 2013 at 1:27 PM
    #7
    2TRunner

    2TRunner Snoop Dad

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    Don't typical spacers have a certain number of holes, and then a certain number of studs in the spacer?

    -Should just have to remove the strut assembly. Then place the coil spacer on top the entire strut mount/assembly. There should be holes in the spacer to fit over the studs in the strut mount. Then use nuts that were attaching strut to truck and install them now where the same studs stick up through the spacer.

    The spacer should then have studs on it. They should line up with the holes in the body of the truck. You should have been supplied the same number of new nuts as well. Place strut assembly with coil spacer on top back onto the truck.

    [​IMG]

    -Maybe you have an "in coil spacer" style? I dunno, I'm just assuming on this one. I know this pic has 2 styles of coil spacer lifts, which style are you trying to use?

    -Reuse the Ubolts. Torque correctly and check it again after 250/500 miles.

    -Again, dosen't a coil spacer sit ON TOP of the entire strut assembly?, if so, you do not need to disassemble your current struts, no need to compress the springs.

    -If the AAL came with the "5 Lug" kit, then use it. Get the leafs apart and put the AAL in there and get it all back together. A couple big C clamps would work really well here.
     
  8. Jan 30, 2013 at 1:33 PM
    #8
    113tac

    113tac Well-Known Member

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    like quaker said. if you got a top plate spacer it should go on TOP of the whole assembly. you shouldn't need a spring compressor.

    as far as the aal goes, if you think about it, in order to get lift you need to have more arch in the leaf since the truck is spring under. I would try the leaf slowly put it down and if it sits fine then its all good. your kit is supposed to be for a 5 lug so it should work

    EDIT: post up some pics of everything so we can see what you are working with
     
  9. Jan 30, 2013 at 1:36 PM
    #9
    aficianado

    aficianado Well-Known Member

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    i think you are biting off more than you can chew. top place spacer..you dont need a spring compressor..

    AAL..yes, the archs are not gonna match..if they matched you would get no lift (except maybe the thickness of the bar)

    tow truck or throw up the bat signal for help. where are you located?
     
  10. Jan 30, 2013 at 3:24 PM
    #10
    Trifenix

    Trifenix Well-Known Member

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    The 1st gen 5 lugs require a coil compressor. It is very difficult to install. Are you sure you have the correct kit? Best of my knowledge only choices are fabtech 3 inch coil, v6 coil, daystar 1 inch poly spacer and downey 3 inch coils.

    For the rear you can also use 2 inch lift shackles.
     
  11. Jan 30, 2013 at 3:25 PM
    #11
    Trifenix

    Trifenix Well-Known Member

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    I bet they sent you a 2nd gen kit or 6 lug
     
  12. Jan 30, 2013 at 6:04 PM
    #12
    YotaKid62

    YotaKid62 Dirty mall crawler

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    I'd first check your part numbers to make sure they sent you the right parts firstoff. Then im not sure. Can you evenn get the strut assembly out?
     
  13. Jan 30, 2013 at 6:17 PM
    #13
    achirdo

    achirdo I Weld!

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    Did you pull the leafs completely off of the truck? You're not gonna get them to fit while they are still attached to the truck.
     
  14. Jan 30, 2013 at 7:26 PM
    #14
    Joels98taco

    Joels98taco Well-Known Member

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    what type of spring compressor did you use? theres 2 different types. one goes inside the other go outside. ive installed 2 sets of those spacers. both sides in a few hours using nothing but hand tools. make sure this is the spacer you have

    IMG00296_186ae736a76ee23a93f4608dad71516ae86678aa.jpg

    if they look different you have the wrong ones. easiest way is to disconnect the uca from the upper ball joint. pull the caliper hang it from the frame pull the spindle and use the external spring compressor from the local auto parts. disconnect the sway bar and loosen the lca and strut rod bolts. grab the jack and slightly jack up the lower arm get the spring compressors on tighten them snug and jack up a little more repeat till the coil look super short and drop the jack. the whole spring should come out. pop the spacer on the top and throw it back together. heres some pics of one install i did.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    hope this helps you! also you can buy a set of fabtech 3" lift spindles and keep a factory like ride
     
  15. Feb 8, 2013 at 5:56 AM
    #15
    fgcutaco

    fgcutaco Fly rod in one hand, hockey stick in the other

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    Stock... For now...
    :rofl:
     
  16. Mar 12, 2018 at 7:07 PM
    #16
    cjwool15

    cjwool15 Well-Known Member

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    How long did installing those spacers take?
     
  17. Mar 12, 2018 at 7:43 PM
    #17
    Sperrunner

    Sperrunner Respect the International Dibs Law

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    Just buy spindles, those spacers will not give you the clearance needed. You will still rub a ton. i had 30x9.5 tires with just the spacer and it still rubbed bad. Solved it a little by using 2” wheel spacers to stop from rubbing on my frame. Taller bump stops on the lca to stop some of the up travel. But it would still rub quiet a bit especially if i had more then me in the truck. I also trimmed alot of the wheel liner and did the pinch weld mod. I got rid off almost all of the rubbing once installed my spindles which actually went faster for me then when i installed that spacer. For the rear just go with shakles its alot better and you get a smoother ride the leaf will stiffen your ride. The fat bob leaf will fit even if it looks to arched you just need to break it in while driving. I have shakles and a leaf in my truck but i was able to tun my tires with no issues with just the leaf installed.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2018
  18. Mar 12, 2018 at 7:51 PM
    #18
    cjwool15

    cjwool15 Well-Known Member

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    I don't want to use bigger tires
     
  19. Mar 12, 2018 at 7:55 PM
    #19
    Sperrunner

    Sperrunner Respect the International Dibs Law

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    If you dont want larger then stock tires then yes the spcer is fine. Best way to do it is to unbolt the upper ball joint, strut rod and push down on the lca. This should have the spring almost fully decomposed which will make it alot easier to remove with a coil compressor. For the rear i would just leave stock. When i sad just the spacer and leaf my rear sat higher then the front.
     
  20. Mar 12, 2018 at 8:06 PM
    #20
    GDT

    GDT Well-Known Member

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    It seems so silly to lift a five lug. All the headaches of a lift and a regear, just so you can end up with what is essentially an inferior, weaker, cobbled together version of a prerunner on stock tires. I just don't get it.
     

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