Lift spacers question

Hi everyone,
I have a 2012 Tacoma DC off-road 35k. I'm the second owner and the first owner had front lift spacers applied I believe they are 2inches. By looking at the truck I can tell that it is higher at the front, I decided to keep them since I was going to install the 4 leaves pack thinking it will level out. Now after the 4 leaf pack on it is still higher at the front. Also the front tires have a positive camber.
My questions are:
What is the proper way to measure/ compare front and rear height?
Anyone has the rear higher then the front after installing the 4 leaves with stock front?
Would removing the spacers fix the camber?
The 4 leaves pack installation was part of the drive terrain vibration TSB. Now if I remove the spacers will that make any imbalance and causes the vibration again?
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for the answers and inputs.

 

Proper way to measure.....The most COMMONLY accepted way to measure is center of hub to edge of fender opening.
I don't have same suspension components, so I won't speak to that.
Removing the spacers would no doubt CHANGE the camber, but the only thing that will FIX it is a proper alignment. BTW, I had 2-1/2" lift spacers (1-1/4" thick) for a while and my alignment wasn't very far from what it started with, and was easily adjusted without any major changes. (ie, no new UCA's)
The drive line vibrations issue is something I've never had to deal with and cannot speak to the specifics of that issue either.

 

You can check my signature for my lift link below that may help with some of you questions. One thing to note that the thickness of the spacer is not the same ratio to your lift. (at least not a top plate spacer) It is more of take the spacer thickness and double it for the amount of lift. So a 1" spacer would be about 2" of total lift. So if you can measure that spacer you can estimate the amount of lift you have and about how much more you need to level or how much drop if you remove. If it is spacer that "preloads" the spring I am not use that math works but it is probably close.

 

When I looked through your link, I noticed your interest in extending the front bump stop. I dealt with that by putting a spacer between the frame and stock bump stop that is exactly the same thickness as the top plate spacer. I make them myself, from sheet poly. My spacers were 1-1/4" (for a 2-1/2" lift) and I put 1-1/4" thick poly spacers under the bump stops. 44,000 miles with a fair amount of off roading and I never had an issue.

I recently went with new shocks (Bilstien 5100's) new coils, OME 885X's, and a new 2" Deavers AAL in the rear. The suspension didn't provide any additional front lift (did gain 1" in the rear) but the difference in the RIDE QUALITY was incredible. I did my spacer lift for $80. New suspension lift was $733. Quite a difference in price, but the results were night and day improvement.....

 

I need to go an update that post I have 1200 miles on the rig since then- I did the wheeler bump stops so i could have a smoother transition into the bumpstops than stock- but your are right when I pulled the oem out there was room enough to space them down and give protection. I am really like the AAL I have- have bought them before but this long length just gives a really good ride- I have noticed very little change from stock.

Hopefully this is not considered a thread jack but maybe it will help the OP too- Tell me more about the change to 5100's. Does it give you a longer shock in the rear? The lift is function as is but I know that I could get more rear articulation from the rear having longer shocks. I have no complaints about the front and by my calculations have gain a little more travel. I suspect that going your route adds yet more travel? Is that translating into the better ride? At some point I will need to change shocks when I do i will probably modify my lift, height is an addiction.

 

Thanks for the replies. I will go ahead and remove them.

 

Those look similar to mine so you have about 2.5" lift up front. So you could go with a smaller spacer, ditch it all together or a lift block in the rear could bring arse up pretty easily too if you want to keep the height. It just maybe that the truck was not aligned after the lift because you should be able to bring the camber back into spec. at least with mine I was able too.

 

Yup, I'm going to remove them and see what happens.
Thanks all

 

So when you installed your spacers, did you have to get rid of any original parts from the strut spring assembly? Or the spacers just sit on top of the assembly?

 

The spacer is installed right on top of the strut nothing is removed and its easy to go back to stock. (it will need an alignment again)

 

Like you said the spacer just sits on top, actually bolted on top of the shock/spring assembly-using factory hardware. Then the spacer comes with a couple more bolts to mount to the truck. 100% reversible. If you pull it there is no need to find bolts to replace what was done.

 

also the strut will be turned 180° to line the bottom hole and top plate bolts of the strut up after you take the spacer off

 

Thanks guys