Lifting Tacoma and Need Help!

Hey Guys,

So I have an 05 TRD and need new shocks/struts. While I have to do that I decided I would go with the Bilstein 5100 set up and get a little lift out of it. So, I know that I will use my stock coils and go to the 4th setting for 2.5 inches in the front. But, my questions lie with the rear lift options. I am wanting to go with an AAL but the guy at Toytec told me that with the aal giving me 1.5-2 inches in the back, that the rear would still be higher than the front. I hate the factory rake and just want a lift + level appearance. Will the AAL really still make the rear higher than the front? I am just getting really confused with all of this and just want/need to get the right parts soon (can really feel the rear struts bouncing!) Also, with this set up, is a differential drop, axle shims and carrier bearing drop really necessary? Finally, attached is a picture of my coilover. Do I have a leveling spacer? I should know this but Im new to suspension components so I just want to make sure. My Front height (hub center to fender) is 22.5 and rear is 23.5

Hopefully someone can help!

 

A deaver 1.5-2 single aal should settle out and level fine with 2.5 up front

With 2.5 lift dont need to drop anything else, cb drop wont hurt but dont need it

Yes, you have a front spacer. With a spacer and your rear is still higher? You might have an aal, leaf pack, or block back there as well

 

No spacer. 2.5 setting on 5100's are going to be stiff as fu**.

 

Why would anything be stiffer? Moving the perch on 5100s doesnt change preload with stock springs. They are designed to travel accross the range.

 

Get the 5100's and Headstrong off-road's HS2 coil for 2" upfront and the dessert aal in the back.

 

Read what you posted. It makes no sense. "moving the perch doesn't preload the stock springs". Then how do you think you get the 2.5 inches of lift on the highest setting. Fox,icon,kings all use preloading the coils to achieve lift. The other way is by going to a higher rated coil. 600lbs,650,700,. Drop the mic. I am out

 

I should have said spring rate. Preloading the stock springs wont change the spring rate. Common misconception.

 

Springs are cheap, get a pair and put them on your 5100's set at zero and you won't have to wish you would have later. They are seriously inexpensive in relationship to the impact they'll have on ride quality.

 

What happens to a spring when you compress it. It gets stiffer. Stiffer springs rougher ride. The best set up with 5100's is with ome coils. 883,884,885,885x. Depending on the ride height you want

 

Only with progressive springs, linear wont change. Moot point. I agree aftermarket springs are better than oem with the perch up on 5100s. I run 885s.


Theres still an issue here, op has a spacer in the front currently but the rear is higher. His end goal is to level out the truck but doesnt even know what he currently has.

We cant help him unless we know what he has, if he already has a 2 inch spacer, going with another 2 inch lift isnt going to help.

 

I run 5100 and eibach 3 inch coils. Little stiff might try 884's next. True about op. Need more information

 

I just checked and it looks like I have the standard 3 leafs + overload. Definitely no block either.. I just cant see why the rear is still higher. Truck looks pretty level, but the rake is still slightly uneven. Will the 2.5 up front and aal with the bilsteins overcome all of this and make the front higher or level with the rear?

 

Know of anywhere I could pick up some 885s? I know in relation to the rest of the lift they are cheap but money is tight right now or i would be going with the Toytec 3" with the eibach coils.

 

I am also looking to take out the spacer and just run the 5100s w/o it. I dont want to preload the coils even more.

 

Can you measure the front spacer? If its 1 1/4 or so its a 2 inch lift spacer. Knowing that will get us closer. If your rear is higher adding an aal will just make it worse.

Any armor or winch up front?

 

You might be able to find 885s used. 885s on a 4x4 with 5100s at 0 will be about 2.5 lift. If you have a 2 inch lift spacer youll gain .5 inch which will get you closer to level

 

Its 1.25 ish inches (maybe a tiny bit less.) I have a bumper guard up front but it probably weighs 50 pounds or so in total.

 

Okay thats a 2 inch level spacer then. See my post above on where 885s will get you.

That 50lbs is probably causing at least a small amount of sag on stock springs. 5100 with 885 at 0 will more than likely solve your issue. If you end up with a rearward rake, do an aal.

 

So the thing is I think all that I can afford right now is the bilsteins on all four corners using the stock springs. Could I just do the front and see where that gets me and then if it looks fine, leave it? Is it ok to run the 5100s in the rear without any sort of lift? I was told they can bottom out real bad if you take them off road if you do so.

 

In case you're interested- I have a set of ICON AAL that I removed this fall off my 06. I'd love to get em to a new home.