Why most spacer lifts are bad....

[Imdone]

Originally Posted by climberpm

I like the way you think Imdone!!

This ain' my first rodeo! I've had years of practice with the ol'lady!!!

Only problem is I didn't marry a dumb one, so she has caught onto my game... Dammit

[limitedtundra]

OK... you all have convinced me not to buy a spacer lift. I'm now looking at the complete OME setup for my 4x4 Crewmax... will this system damage the ball joints? Is there any reason to replace the UCAs? Should I still purchase a differential drop? I intend to run 305/55/20s as I really like hbonney's setup. Thanks.

[Imdone]

If the extended length of the OME shock is the same as the OEM shock then you will be fine.

The changing of UCAs provides additional wheel travel, when you get the extended length coilovers and use the Burg UCAs you will get more droop without binding ball joints.

Diff drops don't hurt, but not sure how necessary they are on this truck yet.

[BigZ88]

so, the best way to go is with a full coilover...check...now with those i believe i read that you dont need the UCA's? But reading, your caster will be off and you'll have shopping cart like twitchy steering which is cured with the UCA's... so the best bet solution for a lift/level is about $2k?

[Imdone]

Yeah, full coilover is the best way to go. Who's ever it is, doesn't matter just go route of coilover, not spacer.

The caster will be harder to dial in with a lift, but it's not like the truck is going to fall apart without aftermarket UCAs. Yeah, they help and are great, I had them on my last tundra and have a set in the garage waiting for this tundra. I will also be putting them on my 4runner. Are they absolutely necessary? No, do they make it better, yeah!

The suspension for my 08 CM 4x4 is:
IVD extended length front coils
IVD 2 or 2.5" rear shocks.
Overload replacement rear spring pack
Camburg UCAs
Diff drop

This should all compliment the truck, be able to jam a 35" tire with the correct offset of wheel and some trimming of body mount and front plastics and bumper. I was going for least amount of lift, max size tire and keep it functional for towing my 9000lb toyhauler.

You could keep it cheaper by going with Bilstein adjustable coils and 5100 rear shocks. Good luck on the suspension pics!

[Derek24]

Can you use TC UCA's with a spacer? I know it's a cheap way, but its hard to spend 2k for the coilovers and UCA's when I'm spending $600+ for books every 5 months. Thanks.

[Imdone]

You can use any UCA with any type of coilover/spacer lift, but you still need to watch the over extension of the spacer and OE coilover, this means paying attention to your drooped out suspension and if the uniball is binding on the arm or if the LBJ is binding.

[Derek24]

Thank you.

[climberpm]

I married no dummy either however...she believes in doing things the right way so I could sell the SAWs if I believed they were the best solution.
My big question with the SAWs would be the ride. 95%+ of my driving is on asphalt. I like to go offroad a couple times a year, no boulder crawling or anything like that mostly bumpy fireroads and short jeep trails to get to a climbing crag or trailhead. With that in mind, do you think the SAWs would drive me crazy Mon-Fri?
I hate hearing my truck clunk if I hit a speed bump too fast, like 6mph instead of 5 or likewise hitting a pothole deeper than a couple inches. Bottom line, the clunks need to go away so I don't feel like my 4x4 is a frickin' low rider!
Whatcha think guys?

[Tundraman10]

What category number does my leveling kit fall into? 1 2 3

Tundra Solutions Forum - Tundraman10's Album: Tundraman10's Album - Picture

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum...installed-339/

It came with bump stops too. The ride does feel a little bit stiffer?

[Imdone]

Originally Posted by climberpm

I married no dummy either however...she believes in doing things the right way so I could sell the SAWs if I believed they were the best solution.
My big question with the SAWs would be the ride. 95%+ of my driving is on asphalt. I like to go offroad a couple times a year, no boulder crawling or anything like that mostly bumpy fireroads and short jeep trails to get to a climbing crag or trailhead. With that in mind, do you think the SAWs would drive me crazy Mon-Fri?
I hate hearing my truck clunk if I hit a speed bump too fast, like 6mph instead of 5 or likewise hitting a pothole deeper than a couple inches. Bottom line, the clunks need to go away so I don't feel like my 4x4 is a frickin' low rider!
Whatcha think guys?

You will be fine on road. If anything instead of hitting that speed bump at 5mph, you will likely hit it at 10 just to hear the really cool squish sound that a B/A shock makes when it's working. It won't clunk, actually the opposite. A lot of spacer kits are putting the suspenion under preload which will make them droop out really fast because the shock was not designed for that extra preload. The SAW/IVD/King, etc, shock is however designed for your truck and designed to carry it at a different ride height so you will have a better handling.

You will like it.

I will tell you this, my wife's 2004 4runner has 2.0 SAWs set at 2.25" and she likes the ride on road better than the OE suspension. She also knows very little about vehicles, but you bet your @ss that she knows what she likes, and she loves them. I am getting them for the rear with an extended lenght coilspring since she likes the fronts.

[TundraSkyline]

Originally Posted by climberpm

My big question with the SAWs would be the ride. 95%+ of my driving is on asphalt. I like to go offroad a couple times a year, no boulder crawling or anything like that mostly bumpy fireroads and short jeep trails to get to a climbing crag or trailhead. With that in mind, do you think the SAWs would drive me crazy Mon-Fri?
I hate hearing my truck clunk if I hit a speed bump too fast, like 6mph instead of 5 or likewise hitting a pothole deeper than a couple inches. Bottom line, the clunks need to go away so I don't feel like my 4x4 is a frickin' low rider!
Whatcha think guys?

Get the coilovers- they are well, well-worth the $. I installed a spacer lift on a Saturday and replaced them with IVDs on Tuesday. I really wished I learned before I installed the spacer what I learned the day after I did.
I drive on southern Ca freeways 90% but shoot around off road trails, camp, etc. Driving what I think is my great truck over large speed bumps made me feel like I had a POS. The springs were preloaded so much the shocks reacted like pogo sticks and finished off with a nice collision between the spring and knuckle. Hearing that noise and understanding why it was happening really got to me.
Going over the same speed bumps at 20 with IVDs is no problem. And I'm adding UCAs this weekend so it'll be even no-problemer! The significantly noticeable improvement in on & off-road handling totally outweighs the slightly firmer ride. The crappy part is the right way really does include UCAs so you get use of full susp. travel & the thing'll drive in a straight line.

[socalenduro]

Originally Posted by Derek24

Can you use TC UCA's with a spacer? I know it's a cheap way, but its hard to spend 2k for the coilovers and UCA's when I'm spending $600+ for books every 5 months. Thanks.

Why not get the uca and the 5100 with the adjustable perch. The shocks are roughly the same price as the spacers, and your gettting new shocks.

As for the wife just tell her the truck needs new shocks. Its true, it just happens that the shocks also lift the truck 2.5"

[Derek24]

Originally Posted by socalenduro

Why not get the uca and the 5100 with the adjustable perch. The shocks are roughly the same price as the spacers, and your gettting new shocks.

As for the wife just tell her the truck needs new shocks. Its true, it just happens that the shocks also lift the truck 2.5"

I do have the 5100's up front. When I took them over to Pepboys( i know stupid mistake, but I was in a hurry) they were unable to install the shocks to top notch. They said that they're spring compressor can't compress the spring far enoughf to install the top plate. This really pissed me off since alot of TS members have these shocks set to top notch. I had them move the perch down to stock setting and I installed the spacer back on so I could drive. I guess I will tear down the front end again and bring the 5100's to a 4x4 shop where they know a thing or two. Maybe I'll go ahead and order a stearing bushing kit and some UCA's while everything is off. Anyone have this problem in the past? Thanks.

[mtrent]

Do leveling kits such as the one available from Readylift fall into the bad catagory as well since it uses a spacer?