My plans changed.....

I know this has been asked a million times.

I have a 2000 TRD Xtra cab and have had it since 2003. 254000 miles. Compression is excellent, newer timing belt, great transmission, its been taken care of. I drive a 2018 F150 5.0 now, but want to go back to the Tacoma. I am redoing EVERYTHING suspension wise and wondering what you guys have done with your trucks. This will be my daily again and will see some offroading, but nothing crazy, mainly trails.

I have always wanted to do this and I am just putting my feelers out there. Anyone out there with something Im looking for or have done? I have poked around the Toyotec wesbite. What is a good all around kit? I want it to be new again, but better.

Anyones responses will be appreciated!

 

If you have the money, you can't go wrong buying a good set of quality coilovers from King, ADS, Icon, etc. for the front. Being rebuildable means they'll be the last set of shocks you'll buy. You'll have to rebuild them at whatever interval they need though (50k) just like any shock. For the rear, a nice set of new springs is gonna go a long way. Deaver, etc.. Unless you're doing something crazy Bilsten 5100 shocks are great for the back.

 

I’m on the OME bandwagon, no rugrats. Happy with the value for the money.

Obligatory “replace your lower ball joints” if you haven’t already.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lifted-1st-gens-lets-see-em.296041/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/old-man-emu-setups-on-1st-gens.141055/

 

I went through the "Lifted 1st Gens" and there are some nice trucks in there. Ball joints are on the lust @oldgreg. Is there a kit out there that is a one stop shop for front and rear suspension? Maybe this? To be honest, Im a little lost.

https://yotamafia.com/product/ome-o...GI6OboPH21FXpYtWA2B4YpKeZvQUjxfPKMQ6uzKM2zZzz

 

Yea that’s exactly what I’m running, with the 881 coils and Total Chaos UCAs. Got my kit from toytec but I dont see it listed there anymore.

You’ll also want a BPV extension bracket and extended rear brake line

 

@oldgreg, your going to have to help me with the abbreviations buddy. I got the UCA’s, what is/are BPV?

Edit, nevermind I see your truck.

Your running the stock leafsprings?

 

Bilsteins 5100 with Toytec coils worked great for me. Not too expensive. Paired that with some OME leaf springs.

 

Thats it, eh? Im just trying to get a feel for whats out there and what you guys are all running. Like i said, this will be my daily again, but do want a little more suspension-wise.

 

BPV = Brake proportioning valve Running Dakars

 

Awesome, stock control arms with new OE style ball joints? @oldgreg

 

No, Total Chaos uniball UCAs. Don’t know how necessary they were but they kept my alignment in spec without the shop changing anything, so I’ll take it as a win.

Fixed the screenshot above

 

OP what's your budget? Or rather how much are you willing to spend? Is the performance of this suspension or the cost more important to you? That'll help us recommend what route to go.

I wasted money going with a budget-friendly option first only to later splurge for more premium stuff:



"Buy once, cry once"
- wise anonymous TW user

 

Ah, just saw that, I apoligize.

 

My goal is to upgrade everything with quality parts and do it once. I am going back to the truck as a daily, but I will be doing simple offroading once a month or so. Whatever suspension i go with, I want it to perform and last. This is something Ive wanted to do with my truck for 20 years. The OME stuff seems to be ok, right? Looks like there are alot of companies that sell a lot of kits out there.

 

We went 5100’s with ome coils
Icon aal in the rear.

 

I don't have any experience with OME personally, but a lot of folks on TW praise their products. I'd suggest also looking at the Fox 2.0s for our trucks. A friend of mine has them on his Tacoma and I'm really impressed with how good they ride (on and offroad), and they typically only run about $1200 for a full front/rear set. Pair that with some upper control arms and new leafs and you could be probably under $3500 all in (factoring in tax, shipping, and an allignment).

 

Forgive me, what are/is AAL? Leaf springs?

 

AAL is an abbreviation for Add-a-leaf. You can add extra leaf springs to an existing leaf pack to lift the rear. It's more cost effective, than a whole new leaf pack, and better than a shackle or block lift, but not a great idea if the rest of the leafs are already worn out and sagging

 

also left the overload leaf in with the aal.
it is more rigid in the rear end and handles trailers and loads with out sagging much.
the 5100,s are adjusted to the 2" lift setting and the rear is 2" higher as well with setup we have.
the pics i have are with 33' tires.
no rub and a ride that is firm but forgiving. definitlety not the 'boat ride" feel of stock ride