"Taco Lean"

After a full day spent studying spring color codes, TW posts, and swapping parts around on the truck, I've determined that the "Taco Lean" phenomenon is real and requires a top plate spacer to correct.

My setup:

2014 DCLB SR5
Bilstein 5100s set to .85 with factory springs

After the initial install I noticed the driver's side was 1/2" lower than the passenger side. I took measurements from 3 locations; floor to fender, hub to fender and floor to frame. All revealed that the driver's side was 1/2" low. The lean is definitely noticeable even without measuring. At first I thought the Billies were set wrong or the springs were installed on the wrong sides. To correct the issue I tried installing Toytec's 1/4" spacer. The spacer raised the driver's side exactly 1/4" leaving it still 1/4" low. I know that sounds petty. However, OCD is just as real as "Taco Lean". As I began to think through the issue, I revisited the idea that the springs could be swapped. To test my theory, I removed the spacer and swapped the strut assemblies. Yet again I ended up with the driver's side 1/2" low. I installed the spacer with the struts in this configuration and again brought the difference to within 1/4". The springs are marked with two painted dots. One is yellow/yellow and the other is yellow/white. According to what I could find on the internet many colors are used, but the spring with two dots the same color goes on the driver's side. I decided to swap them back so the yellow/yellow is on the driver's side. I'm running the 1/4" Toytec spacer until I can order a 1/2" spacer from them.

Hope this helps.

 

Update:

Ordered the 1/2" kit from Toytec. I had a buddy mil the spacer to 3/8", and it worked perfectly. Truck is level side to side.

 

Did it leave enough threads for the top plate nuts to be fully threaded? I punted on OCD and left mine less than 1/4" off because it looked like anything else would require longer studs for the nuts to be fully threaded. I was more concerned with that vs what the tape measure said that was now unnoticeable to naked eye. That was with Toytec 1/4" spacer and oem top plates. IIRC, mine was only like 3/16 or less off from side to side.

 

I pressed in the longer studs that came with the spacers. Factory studs are too short.