Upgrading Suspension from Stock

Hey all- first post as I just bought my Tacoma (1999 3.4L SR5 ExtraCab, 206k miles)

This will be my daily driver but hoping to do some light to moderate off roading with a fair bit of camping out of it on the weekends when I get time.

My new purchase jitters has me wanting to throw all the money I have in my bank account into this thing, and I am interested in upgrading the suspension from the stock setup. I am pretty everything is original. I had the upper and lower ball joints replaced last week because there was a shake when it got up to ~60 mph.

I am interested in the 6112 Strut & Spring + Rear B8 5100 Shocks Set w/0-2.8" lift. I looked at the full 5100 front and rear as well, but the two kits I am looking at would be $1000 for the 6112 front with new coils and 5100 rear, vs $500 for the 5100 front and rear, but no coils. I assume I would need to get new coils anyway because the ones on there are stock anyway, and would rather swing the extra 200 bucks for the 6112s.

https://www.shocksurplus.com/produc...2004-toyota-tacoma-4wd-rwd-w-0-2-8-lift-6-lug

https://www.shocksurplus.com/produc...-1996-2004-toyota-tacoma-4wd-rwd-w-0-2-5-lift

I don't want to lift more than an inch or so as this will be my daily, and I am running 265/75/16s which already give me an inch.

Couple of questions-

1) Would I need to replace anything else to make this suspension upgrade work? I read a lot about UCAs, but read that as long as its under ~2.5 inches I should be good, but if they are the original UCAs, should I replace them anyway? New leaf springs?

2) I am planning on eventually getting a bumper and winch, which will add a couple pounds up front, so should I get a higher pound spring anyway? I couldn't find the spring rating on the kit I am thinking about ordering (the first link) but I assume its a 600 lb spring.

3) Am I missing anything/ not thinking about something I should be thinking about with this?

Thanks for the help and excited to be part of the community

 

Man that’s a nice looking truck. Aftermarket UCA’s not needed for an inch of lift.



Replacing bushings in your upper and lower arms would be cheap and effective at improving the handling. Outer tie rods and sway bar end links will help too if the old ones have torn boots and / or are blown out and wobbly.

Here’s a good channel for suspension install / refresh even though it’s a 4runner channel, all the components are the same except for tie rod ends.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kmaZNBp1gZM

3 lead add a leaf or replacement pack for leaf springs are needed only if you’re losing needed ride height when loading the bed with what you want to ride around with in it.

 

Save yourself the headache and DON'T try to change upper/ lower control arm bushings and just buy "Pre-Loaded" control arms with bushings already installed. Unless you enjoy hours of hard work to save a few bucks or absolutely need OEM parts in your ride. I went with Moog Upper/ Lower control arms and after 10k miles of on-road/ off-roading I've had ZERO issues. I also run 265/75/16's and have a 2" front lift from Eibach springs and Bilstein 5150's (lowest clip position).

 

Okay thanks- any thoughts on spring rating? Is the 600 pound spring going to be enough for an added bumper and winch? Any recommendations for a heavier spring? Will any spring weighted at 650 that have the same dimensions as the 600 pound included spring work?

 

I'd run the heavier spring rate for sure if the future holds a heavy steel front bumper. If you're doing the install yourself loaded struts make for a much easier install. As for the rear i started with add-a-leaf in the rear which gave me lift but no addition carrying load. My truck carries an aluminum habitat camper/ RTT combo that weighs 340lbs by it self and when i camp there is an additional 500+lbs of gear and water. I ditched the add-a-leaf for OME Dakar "heavy load" springs from Wheeler's off road for the additional carrying capacity but wish i would have spent just a little more and gotten better quality springs. The OME's carry the weight but have no isolator pads in between the leafs so they creak like a 1900s horse wagon even street driving. I spend a full can of WD-40 on them a month to bring the noise down but eventually i'll get better quality springs.

 

thats what I figured. the topper weighs about 150 pounds and planning on building out the back with a bed/drawer system. looking at the DEAVER 1 1/2 INCH LIFT 8 LEAF SPRINGS (PAIR) set- sounds like those are a bit better with the squeak compared to the dakars

 

I’d think twice about adding a huge plate bumper for a truck on 31’s especially on a nice unmodded truck like yours. 31’s mean you’re obviously not crawling through boulder gardens and you’ll notice the almost 200lbs between winch and bumper combo at the front of the truck.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-stock-bumper-winch-mount.470522/

You can install a hidden winch mount or even a hidden receiver and keep the winch on a mount in the bed and put it in the receiver and tow hitch depending on whether you need it in front or out back.