Typical..."Help me decide which kit to get"

Thanks for the great resource...I've been furiously reading as much as I can over the last few days. I'd like to do the install myself because I was quoted $5-600 locally to install without the UCAs. Seems really high.

First off...2010 DCSB OR, TSB rear, stock everything else. I don't do much wheeling, but get out fishing and hunting a lot so spend a decent amount of time on fire roads. I also have a decently long city commute so spend a lot of time on road.

I'm not wanting to change wheels and tires at the moment and really don't need anything too aggressive suspension wise.

I'm looking at a package similar to http://www.headstrongoffroad.com/headstrong-kits-tacoma-05-6-lug.html or http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/OME-Tacoma-Suspension-lift-kit_p_231.html and have a few questions...

1. I'm pretty set on the OME front springs but torn between the 884 and 885. Is the only difference the length, or will the 885 be stiffer, too? I know the 885 is recommended for the Double Cab, but is that just so you get the 3" lift?
2. Even if I'm only getting 2-3" of front lift, is it worth it just to do the UCAs now and be done with it? It doesn't see like they're that hard to install, am I mistaken? It seems like the Light Racing ones have a good reputation...
3. I have the TSB rear springs. Trying to decide whether to go with Deaver add a leaf or with a 3-leaf like Icon. Which one has better ride quality on road? Off road? What about load capacity/sag?
4. Should I pay the extra $150 to get OME shocks/struts instead of the 5100s?

Is there anything else I'm forgetting? I plan on adding the driver side leveling spacer and not doing diff or CB drop and not extending brake lines based on what I read here.


Thanks!!

 

1. I'm pretty set on the OME front springs but torn between the 884 and 885. Is the only difference the length, or will the 885 be stiffer, too? I know the 885 is recommended for the Double Cab, but is that just so you get the 3" lift?

You will still need the top plate spacers for a full 3" of lift with the 885s.

Here is some good coil spring rate info:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/301699-spring-coil-over-recommendation.html#post7678516

2. Even if I'm only getting 2-3" of front lift, is it worth it just to do the UCAs now and be done with it? It doesn't see like they're that hard to install, am I mistaken? It seems like the Light Racing ones have a good reputation...

New UCAs are highly recommended for anything approaching 2.5"+. That is to say some need them and some don't. Will alignment be much easier to achieve with new UCAs; yes. Love my LR UCAs.

3. I have the TSB rear springs. Trying to decide whether to go with Deaver add a leaf or with a 3-leaf like Icon. Which one has better ride quality on road? Off road? What about load capacity/sag?

I would recommend swapping out the Toyota leafs. No matter what you add to them, eventually will fail. My single AAL lasted only 3k miles and then I swapped in a Dakar leaf pack.

4. Should I pay the extra $150 to get OME shocks/struts instead of the 5100s?

Use OME with OME. Don't mix and match. Do it once, do it right.

 

i can only comment on a couple of things being i didn't buy an OME kit.
the lifts between 2.5"- 3" are where you find the UCA's are pushed past the point of proper alignment. to keep everything in spec its best to get new UCA's.
while i wouldn't say they were impossible i sure didn't find installing my UCA's a walk in the park. i watched a bunch of videos and read as much as i could get my hands on prior to installation but i would say if i spent a total of 14 hours with hand tools installing everything meticulously(front and rear lift and UCA'a) the UCA's were responsible for 6 or 7 hours of it. there is a lot of bending inner fender metal to get the bolt to clear!
i also have the tsb and installed a deaver add-a-leaf into my stock leaf pack. the ride isn't much stiffer as far as i'm concerned and only really notice an extra buck when the rear tires go over speed bumps.
i didn't have to extend brake lines for my lift either so you should be good as well!

 

That's a little dire, isn't it? Did you haul a lot of weight with your AAL or something? Were your stock leafs already sagging when you added the AAL?

 

Bed cap on it 99% of the time. Stock leafs had 5k on them when the AAL was added.

 

OME full 3" kit with UCA and Dakar rear springs.
You will be happy.

 

For the Dakars, are longer u-bolts the only extra thing I'll need? What about CB drop? Is that only if I experience shudder?

What about brake lines?

 

any time you remove u-bolts you should replace them as they're designed to be a one use application. if you stick to just a 3" lift extended brake lines aren't necessary. and finally, spend the time to torque every bolt to spec and a lot of the driveline vibrations can be avoided. worked for me!