Long Travel w/ drop Bracket Lift? HELP!

She can't pull the spacers off, the shop basically installed a +2 kit with too short of a coilover. Longer springs will not do anything but provide the appearance that the coilovers are not adjusted as they are. The coilovers are just completely wrong for the set up. She really needs to stop spending money on incorrect parts, slow down and do it right and the only way she can do it right now is to drop about $3k on a fully custom built set of CO's. There is nothing off the shelf that will do it in this case, full custom is the only correct solution.

 

Too short coilover? Still limited downtravel now (straps). But yes, LT kit allows more. You are right, these are not designed for this amount of lift, better to change the whole coilovers to the longer ones.

Less preload (little more spring rate)/longer springs would work better. And look better. Not cost much either.

 

BDS's and e.g. Rough Country's crossmembers/mounting points are much thicker steel than OEM mounts. So no worries. And the crossmembers are supported to each other, so there should be no kind of need to reinforce the OEM mounts.

 

I asked the shop about this. He definitely was concerned about the rough ride due to coilovers being maxed out (but I sure did get that height I wanted!). I asked him about custom coilovers and cycling the suspension how you explained (so nicely). He said that I would just need CO's that are 2" longer and no need to measure or get custom ones. He said the longer ones would be correct. What is the difference between simply getting longer CO's and custom made ones (which would be longer too)?

 

That's what we were going to do, or cheap out and add another spacer (which I don't want to do).

 

Yea, you could probably run the TC-recommended LT coilovers up front instead of getting custom ones, and they'd perform better than the current ones you have (longer body and more shaft travel), but you still wouldn't be maximizing the max travel that the drop-bracket lift and LT parts combined would allow you.

Edit: If you're getting the TC-recommended LT coilovers, remember they're not designed for the bracket lift so you're going to ALSO get the strut extensions that the BDS kit normally comes with (unless you have them in the garage somewhere) and mount them to the bottom of the coilover.

Edit 2: They look like this for the Tundras so I'm sure they like alike for the Tacomas; notice the black extension at the bottom of the coilover that's connected to the LCA..

 

Hmm, I will look into the cost difference and then make a decision. Also best to give TC and BDS a call.

 

Lol, I was trying to look them up! So they r not tubular on your tundra? Or maybe I'm looking at the wrong thing.

 

Yeah this is all I got back when they put the BDS on (besides all the big stock suspension parts). Doesn't look like I have them.

 

Oh, you probably bought the 6" lift WITH coilovers option from BDS then. Here is what their 6" lift without coilovers has (and you can also see the different strut extensions the Tacoma and Tundra kits use, which the Tacomas use a top spacer that is worse)..

 

Yes I did. And yes, I was looking for the spacers in the top pic. Nope, don't have.

 

Total Chaos specified coilovers would be maybe even shorter than these FOXes which are now installed. But there is a possibility to get them match, read experience of that here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-dbl-cab-lb-4x4-limited.432838/#post-12663264

 

Sorry,meant the springs on you limit strap clevis. That spring should hold the nut tight against the mount, not pull the strap tight when not in use.

Your shocks are going g to stitch that tiny spring first time the strap gets extended.

 

Look, I seriously don't mean to be a jerk but you need to run the F away from that shop. They don't know what the hell they are doing, they keep letting you make more mistakes and they are completely absolutely wrong about not measuring. These guys are taking advantage of your plentiful checkbook and lack of knowledge and it is disgusting. I wish you lived near me because I could show you in person what I am talking about and it would make perfect sense once demonstrated.

Anyone that would tell you that there is no need to measure and just to get something " over the counter " is a complete moron and has no business wrenching on your truck. Understand this - you have a set up that was never intended to exist and therefore nobody makes a coilover that would be the correct collapsed or extended length for it to function properly. There is no such thing as " just get something close ", the only way you can do this right would be to cycle the system as I described, take the measurements and then have a custom CO built to match those measurements. If that shop doesn't not understand this and does not have the relationships with someone like King to get it done - run away.

 

I think it would be a bad idea to use the BDS 6" spacers because they are designed to handle to loads and angles of a stock set up not a +2 LCA. With the bottom of the CO 2" further out on the LCA the CO would sit at a dissimilar angle to the spacer which would be scary. There is no correct answer for her set up other than a custom built CO.

 

No worries, I don't think u r being a jerk at all. Unfortunately there are very few shops in SE WI that do off-roading modifications and then when u add the fact that it is a Tacoma (and a 3rd gen) the knowledge/experience is even less. I think I will contact BDS and TC to see what their opinions are. I really am taking your advice to heart, I only ask questions to get a better understanding.

Also, u may be right about this shop. But in their defense they did offer me spacers first thing when I mentioned the stance I wanted. And a lot of the $ I have shelled out was for parts, not a crazy amount in labor. And they may just be saying go w/ the cheaper route of longer CO's (rather than custom ones) cause they know I am not a hardcore off-roader. But it is always good to be weary (so no offense taken).

 

In defense of this build, I do have to say this (based on the limited time I have driven my truck post build)...

-the articulation is great (I can zoom into spots like I'm driving my old 2001)

-I got the lift height I wanted (and couldn't imagine going higher!)

-the LT kit is reversible and resaleable (so i'm not out that much $ if I decide it's not working)

-I got the stance I wanted

-even though there were cheaper, easier routes available to get what I wanted (stance, height) I think this was the safest, sturdiest way to get there.

-I think (and hope!) the only thing I need to tweak this build into a really good ride is figuring out my CO's (which would have been maxed out if I wanted more height w/out the LT kit anyways)

-lots of people on TW were informed, entertained, and/or emotionally moved (appalled) by this thread

 

I could only make it to page five before I started skimming.

Why on earth are people suggesting long travel and SAS when OP stated she doesn't really take it off road? I thought I wasted money...

I'm also shocked you are having trouble fitting 35's on a six inch lift. I'm running 35's, mid travel kit, and a 2.5" lift. I finally fixed all my rubbing issues. Save your money and do the CMC, possibly get better wheels or wheel spacers.

As for safety of wheel spacers. As long as they are bolt on they are fine. Oh and you know how to torque lugs I guess. I've run them on my truck with 35's and 33's. A 500 WRX. And a 400hp BRZ. Not once did I have an issue.

If this got covered and sorted over the next three pages I didn't read...

 

You would be better off selling all your front end crap and solid axle swapping the front end, that would be the sturdiest and safest way to do what you want, it's just not reversable