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freeze
08-03-2009, 02:19 PM
There are a few bolt in options for Tacoma's that will either increase your looks or your capability.

Looks:

These kits are primarily used for increasing the looks of the Tacoma.
Pro's:

Increase ride height
Cost Effective

Con's:

Rough ride with TRD Off-Road Suspension
Top out stock shocks (Run out of travel)
Too much angle in the CV's unless diff drop kit is used
Blocks in the rear will create axle hop on hill climbs and passing on a damp highway

Front:

Revtek 3" Spacer Kit
Toytec 3" Spacer Kit
Toytec 3" Old Man Emu Coil and Spacer

Rear:

Revtek 1" Aluminum Block
Toytec 1" Alumnium Block


Balanced Performance

Old Man Emu is a division of ARB from Australia. They put extensive research into long distance expedition type products that will put up with serious abuse. This is a great system for someone that is wanting good performance without going into the cost of a full coil over system. There is a false notion that OME system is supposed to provide a 3" lift. OME is designed to give only 1.75-2" of lift after the coils properly settle in.

Pro's:

Increase ride height (1.75"-2")
Excellent road ride
Good rebound control
Self Adjust Valving
Proper CV Angle
Very reasonable cost

Con's:

Rough ride if the coils/leafs are not matched with the vehicle weight properly
Shock bodies prone to rust from gravel and rock hits


Front:

OME 884 Coils (Access Cab with NO metal bumper or winch)
OME 885 Coils (Access Cab WITH metal bumper and winch/Double Cab NO metal bumper and winch)
OME 886 Coils (Double cab WITH metal bumper and winch)
OME Nitro Charger shocks
OME trim packer (if the coils don't settle evenly)


Rear:

OME Add a Leaf (Adds an extra leaf to the stock leaf pack 1.75")
OME Dakar Leaf Pack
OME Dakar HD Leaf Pack (Extra load carrying)
OME Nitro Charger Shocks


High Performance

This would be a full coil-over system that provides unmatched ride and performance off-road. Most coil-overs offer the ability to rebuild the shock to replace the shock oil and seals after so many years. Coil-overs offer the ability to fine tune ride height or pre-load.

This adjustability is not meant to be used to crank up the ride height or compensate for huge loads. At load the truck should be sitting in the middle of the shock stroke at rest. When you're ordering your coils you should state the weight of the vehicle in the front so the manufacturer knows what coil rate to send to you.

Pro's:

Un-matched high speed dampening control over rough terrain
Rebuildable
Customize the valving for slow crawling or highspeed baja
Customize coil weight
Adjustable dampening or Self adjusting dampening
Look hawt!..haha


Con's:

High cost
Need aftermarket UCA (Upper Control Arms) to correct caster and camber
Each time the coils are set/adjusted an alignment needs to be done
With hard use shocks will need to be re-built at quicker intervals (Perhaps yearly)


Front:

Walker Evans 2.5 Coil-Over
Fox 2.0 Ajustable Coil-Over w/Reservoir
Fox 2.5 Self Adjusting Coil-Over w/Reservoir
Sway Away 2.0 Coil-Over
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2.0 Coil-Over
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2.0 Coil-Over w/Reservoir

Rear:

Walker Evans 2.0 Adjustable Shocks
Walker Evans 2.5 Shocks w/Reservoir
Fox 2.0 Adjustable shocks w/Reservoir
Icon Vehicle Dynamics Shocks w/Reservoir
Sway Away Racing Shocks
Deaver Leaf Pack
Alcan Leaf Pack
All-Pro 3" Leaf Pack


Additional Suspension parts

All-Pro 1.25" Unibal Upper Control Arms
Camburg 1.25 Unibal Upper Control Arms
Icon Vehicle Dynamics Upper Control Arm
Light Racing Upper Control Arms



The question becomes: What system would be best for what you do?

BeachBoy
08-03-2009, 03:29 PM
I think Icon front are 2.5 and rear 2.0

I didn't know fox and WE made 2.5 for the rear

ed'syota
08-03-2009, 04:17 PM
good write up Nathan....

freeze
08-03-2009, 05:40 PM
yeah sorry just a typo for the Fox... WE did come out with a 2.5 rear.

RedApe
08-03-2009, 09:25 PM
Excellent write up!

Doc McCoy
08-03-2009, 11:31 PM
Nice write-up Nathan ... I would add or change the following;



High Performance

This would be a full coil-over system that provides unmatched ride and performance off-road. Most coil-overs offer the ability to rebuild the shock to replace the shock oil and seals after so many years. Coil-overs offer the ability to fine tune ride height or pre-load.

This adjustability is not meant to be used to crank up the ride height or compensate for huge loads. At load the truck should be sitting in the middle of the shock stroke at rest. When you're ordering your coils you should state the weight of the vehicle in the front so the manufacturer knows what coil rate to send to you.

I have to strongly debate the above paragraph. The shock stroke is going to vastly differ depending on the type of driving you are doing. 50% works okay all 'round. However, the rock crawlers want more droop and desert racers need more bounce. I believe, if you have 8 inches of travel in a stock situation (4 bounce and 4 droop) and you order an Icon shock they inform you that you are losing 2 inches of droop and gaining 2 in bounce. This equals the same overall travel in a non-extened/non-"long-travel" setup - 8 inches (2 droop and 6 bounce) so you don't fuxor any of your other suspension components (cvs, control arms and so on). You certainly don't want to over crank the coilover to simply gain ride height but even the "bro-stance" does have it's place in the offroad world.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs012.snc1/2925_78133203277_77904893277_2447084_6772207_n.jpg
As you can see ... the Coilover is no longer than the stock unit. Only the preload on the coil changes, and the more that changes the more you are change the dynamics of the shock travel

Damn they are pretty when they are clean

Pro's:

Un-matched high speed dampening control over rough terrain
Rebuildable
Customize the valving for slow crawling or highspeed baja
Customize coil weight
Adjustable dampening or Self adjusting dampening
Look hawt!..haha


Con's:

High cost
Need aftermarket UCA (Upper Control Arms) to correct caster and camber
Each time the coils are set/adjusted an alignment needs to be done
With hard use shocks will need to be re-built at quicker intervals (Perhaps yearly)


Front:

Walker Evans 2.5 Coil-Over
Fox 2.0 Ajustable Coil-Over
Fox 2.5 Self Adjusting Coil-Over
Sway Away 2.0 Coil-Over
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2.5 Coil-Over
Many available in different "flavours" - Exteneded/Long Travel, 2.0/2.5 OD Tube Size, and Remote Reservoir

Rear:

Walker Evans 2.0 Shocks
Walker Evans 2.5 Shocks
Fox 2.0 Adjustable shocks
Icon Vehicle Dynamics Shocks
Sway Away Racing Shocks
Deaver Leaf Pack
Alcan Leaf Pack
All-Pro 3" Leaf Pack





The question becomes: What system would be best for what you do?

City_Rider
08-04-2009, 11:32 AM
I would toss in Bilsteins 5100 (and therefore Toytec CO's) along with rear 5100's or 5125's in the balanced section.

They aren't a spacer lift nor are they bypass shocks... Plus, I have them!

Chaos
08-04-2009, 07:14 PM
Nathan posted this a while ago on a thread I had about the 1st gen coil-over discussion, I finally read it on the weekend.........well half of it it's wicked long...but learned a lot it's worth the read if you're unfamiliar with all the different types of shocks/coil over systems.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/coilovers/Part_1/

Faskev
10-01-2009, 08:57 PM
I would toss in Bilsteins 5100 (and therefore Toytec CO's) along with rear 5100's or 5125's in the balanced section.

They aren't a spacer lift nor are they bypass shocks... Plus, I have them!

I have the Toytec coilovers too. I am very happy with them so far as I have them set at 3" up front with the TSB AAL in the rear and the truck rides smooth.

FJeff Cruiser
10-31-2009, 11:48 AM
Guys, this is all really good info... and in thread http://forum.ct4wd.com/showthread.php?t=546&highlight=lift+kits. But I'm still on a budget for my FJ (rather buy camera equipment..lol) and feel I could use a bit of ground clearance even on light trails. I can't help but think a Coil Over Lift must be better than nothing... no? Would it be better to spend the money on upgrading the stock skid plates?

Any advice it welcome... thanks.

freeze
10-31-2009, 02:45 PM
Protection is really good to have especially with IFS since everything is somewhat vulnerable if you're not sitting very high. The OME (Old Man Emu) set up is a really great set up especially since it's easy on the wallet. (Wheelersoffroad.com)

Do you have a e-locker? that's pretty important to safe guard if you can above all else. Then a front skid plate that's made out of steel. Eventually if you get more adventurous then skids for everything else.

FJeff Cruiser
10-31-2009, 03:19 PM
Do you have a e-locker? that's pretty important to safe guard if you can above all else.

Thanks for the advice Nathan, e-locker plate first...

FrankG
01-16-2010, 06:48 PM
wow this is a very good write regarding suspension stuff, this helps out alot especially for the new comers such as myself

Dante's Taco
01-16-2010, 08:25 PM
Agreed.

Armor is pretty high up on my list as well.