Will a 1/2” Spacer lift damage the shock?

Depends solely on personal preference. I didn’t mind the “sportier” ride of single leaf AALs when I was unloaded, but they generally lift the rear about 2”.

3-leaf progressive AALs lift the rear 1.5”. They replace the overload spring and don’t ride stiffer than stock.

 

As stated already, top hat spacers lengthen the whole coilover assembly relative to the top mount on the frame.

From what I have read, knowing or finding out the extended length of a vehicle specific coilover by itself is needed first, and then what the total length of that coilover + actual spacer width is.

For example, Bilstein 5100 for 3rd Gen are 22.22" (published). A 1/4" spacer makes that total assembly length, 22.47".
A 1/2" spacer makes that total assembly length, 22.72".

To my knowledge from this site and looking for manufacturing specs, King makes or made the longest coilover for Tacoma at 22.6". Some others are in the 22-22.5" range.

My 2016 OR stock coilover was an inch shorter than Bilstein 5100 for 3rd Gen, see below. Therefore, a 1/2" actual width tophat spacer would be fine length-wise. On the the upper compression end, the bump stop always needs to engage fully before any limits are reached. Big spacers will probably need longer bump stops.

 

Correct, top hat spacers do not effect spring preload while spacers within the strut assembly do, likewise adjusting the clip on 5100s will also increase spring preload depending on the height setting. The issue with spacing above the strut mount aka “top hat” is it will change overall height (overall length) of the strut assembly and at a certain point you will bottom out or bend the strut before the suspension utilizes the bump stop. But, a 1/2 spacer is well within the limits of the factory suspension. Also, you might get lucky and have long enough studs for the spacer, if not you’ll have to disassemble the entire strut assembly and knock out the old ones. Mine were close but I opted to keep my factory ones instead of using the cheap garbage hardware that came with my kit. They were close but worked out just fine for the past several years. If you want the least expensive, easiest way to bump up the nose of your truck just try the 1/2 spacers, if you don’t like it you can pop them out and throw them away. You can see witness marks from the factory bump stops as well.

 

It can also strain the ABS sensor and brake line.
6112+1/4thick spacer and JBA HC UCA put my abs sensor wire pretty close to its limit, I had to adjust the guide on the UCA a bit

 

Did your UCA’s bump into your coil springs with a 1/4” spacer on 6112’s?

 

I'm only lifted about 1.25" at the moment but so far no to both.

 

Pictures don’t always look like it does in person but that’s how my truck sits. Tires are 265/75 Duratracs, definitely need new ones by summer but overall I’m pretty happy with it. I think the TRD OR should come like that from the factory. Just a little extra height and because it’s the “off road” model.