[ganderboy08]

Hey guys I'm new to the forum, and I'm looking to install a toytec 3" coil spacer lift. I have heard stories about spacer lifts, but they all seem to be second-hand, so I'm looking for input from people with this lift or similar lifts and if you've run into any problems. For instance ball joints, ride, alignment, etc. Thank you in advance everybody.

 

[NegroTundra]

First of all, SEARCH. Lifts are the #1 covered topic on the site. Secondly, save yourself some time and money and go straight to the aftermarket coilover. Trust me.

 

[ganderboy08]

I did SEARCH and i came up with a bunch of second-hand stories hence this thread, but when you say "trust me" does that mean you had problems with a spacer lift, if you did can you tell your story and give me some in-sight. I'm not trying to be rude or a smartass I just did search for threads but none gave me what I was looking for.

 

[Derek24]

The first thing you want to do is get the spacer lift thing out of your mind. I had a 3 inch spacer that sat atop the coilover and it gave me problems. It clunked, bad ridding, and blew my ball joints. Although I have not had any experience with the Toytec and I know you have to compress the spring to install them, so maybe the ride is different, but for about the same price you can get the 5100's. These use different spring perches to lift the front like a coilover just it does not have the ease of adjustability like a coilover. 3 inches is the max lift you want to go on these trucks unless you go for RCD or TC drop bracket lift; different story. NegroTundra is right, lift it right the first time with an aftermarket coilover or the 5100's or leave it stock!! If you have a little extra $ to spend UCA's won't hurt! Good luck, there's alot of options.

 

[kanaduh]

I currently have a Toytec 3" lift and have no issues with it and I've had it on for almost 4 years now.

 

[NegroTundra]

Sorry to come off harsh with the search. Alot of people don't do it at all and we have a million threads covering the same topic. Anyhow, when I say trust me, I mean that depending on how you use your vehicle, you will save time and money by doing a lift right the first time. At first, i had a 2.5" spacer. It clunked bad (UCA contact with spring) and the ride was stiff with no real advantage other than looks. Then i went with the 5100's. For most people, these are fine. Combined with aftermarket UCA's I imagine they are great (Ask Derek24). However, the did not dampen the big bumps to the extent that I desired. I finally went with aftermarket (ICON) C/O's with Camburg UCA and wow, it is the real deal. Really makes your vehicl capable. If you are never really offroad, stick with spacers (clunking comes from bumpy ground). If your occasionally offroad with moderate expectations from your tundra, go with 5100's. If your really wanting to get after it offroad, C/O's.

 

[spennrocks]

I used the toytec 3" for a couple years before going for a 6" RCD.

There was nothing wrong with the toytec lift. there are two types of 'spacer lifts' the toytec being where the spacers install inside the coil pack to put on a preload thus changing the stance of your truck (the bilstien coilovers operate the same way).
and the type that just bolt on over the top of the strut being the one you don't want because you have increased the travel beyond its intended capability making poping noises and wearing out ball joints.

I never had any issues with the toytec kit. only that it wasn't tall enough

 

[tundrunk]

I know there is a difference between top spacers and coil spacer, but for the extra $100, and being that it is the same install procedure, I would get 5100s. Nothing at all wrong with Toytec, I've been sitting on their coilovers for over 20k miles and love them. It depends what you are doing with your ride. I agree with looking into UCA's, the stock upper control arms are not well suited to being at the kind of angle lifts put them at. They will survive for a long while, but it's not really optimal in my opinion. Mine make me feel like I'm on a ticking time bomb and that one day I'll be coming over a rough spot and landing on a disconnected arm. Then again, 5100s don't tweak your arm as hard as mine are tweaked.

Good luck and thank you for doing research first, I and others here appreciate that.:tu:

 

[RadiantRedTRD]

Well if its anything to you, i did a toytec 2.5/1 lift on my 07 Tundra DC 4x4 and have had it installed for about 8K. No porblems at all, as long as the diff drop is installed there is no reason for the lift to give you problems. Bt dont buy the cheepo lifts off ebay, thats were your gonna have problems. Toytec is a well trusted and well respected company, in fact my Toyota dealer (Pauly Toyota in crystal lake IL) is a licenced toytec dealer and installer. They did a great job not a problem so far.

 

[ganderboy08]

thanks for all the info guys, it really helps me out. Where would be the best place to get bilsteins from? Did yall install them yourselves, my guess is you just need a spring compressor and it's cake after that but really appreciate it guys. BTW this is just gonna be for looks it's just a 2wd anyways haha and all we have around here is mud

 

[Timberline]

thanks for all the info guys, it really helps me out. Where would be the best place to get bilsteins from? Did yall install them yourselves, my guess is you just need a spring compressor and it's cake after that but really appreciate it guys. BTW this is just gonna be for looks it's just a 2wd anyways haha and all we have around here is mud

ShockWarehouse

http://www.toyteclifts.com/3.html

 

[dubktrd]

go with 5100's ,diff drop, and hose clamps on your axles

 

[integraGSR]

had toyotec 3/1.5 kit and it work really well. ended up with 5100's because of the stiff ride. just too stiff for me. loved how it looked and all though. no problems in the 2 years i had it. kept everything else on, diff drop and AAL.

 

[tundrunk]

He don't need no stinkin diff drop! 2wd! No stinkin hose clamps either! There is one downfall, 5100s will likely be on back order for at least a month, they normally are. It will be worth the wait. Nothing wrong with 2wd, just don't slow down! HA HA HA! :heh:

 

[Priority_Tundra06]

I got the 3" toytec coilover lift as well, I really like the lift I just wish my tires didnt rub on the control arm. But thats my fault cause the rims I bought are a diffrent offset. I'm looking at going to the 5100's simply cause I drive on the beach a lot in the summer. don't know if I will add them just in the rear or redo my whole setup. reckin thats a bridge I will have to cross when the time comes. I really wanna go 6" but thats starts tweaking all sorts of crap. But the typical ******* I am its all about whos higher and whos got the bigger tire But all said and done toytec has got the best setup for any toyota suv or truck. We use them at my work as well ( Priority Toyota in Chesapeake, Va.) love the lifts and they do wonders for our trucks and customers.

 

[tundrunk]

I got the 3" toytec coilover lift as well, I really like the lift I just wish my tires didnt rub on the control arm. But that's my fault cause the rims I bought are a different offset. I'm looking at going to the 5100's simply cause I drive on the beach a lot in the summer. don't know if I will add them just in the rear or redo my whole setup. reckin that's a bridge I will have to cross when the time comes. I really wanna go 6" but that's starts tweaking all sorts of crap. But the typical ******* I am its all about who's higher and who's got the bigger tire But all said and done toytec has got the best setup for any toyota suv or truck. We use them at my work as well ( Priority Toyota in Chesapeake, Va.) love the lifts and they do wonders for our trucks and customers.

Wait, are you saying you want to go from Toytec coilovers to 5100s?:confuseda:
Toytecs coilovers have 5100 shocks, so why do that? Or were you saying you want to put 5100s in the rear?

 

[NegroTundra]

Wait, are you saying you want to go from Toytec coilovers to 5100s?:confuseda:
Toytecs coilovers have 5100 shocks, so why do that? Or were you saying you want to put 5100s in the rear?

Based on his sig, I think he meant 3" spacer lift...:gossip:

 

[Priority_Tundra06]

sorry for the confusion I want to do them in the rear cause my stock rear shocks are pretty stretched out as is right now and talking with toytec the even suggested adding the rear shocks if you are an off roader and didnt want to spend 1000 bucks are there all out bad *** lift that they have. All in all I would have accomplashed what i wanted to and only spent 500 bucks not to bad in my eyes.

 

[tundrunk]

Ahh ok. Makes sense. I noticed after lifting my front end, my rear end felt weird, as if the angle change didn't agree with the rear shocks. I didn't expect it since I left the rear alone, but going to rear 5100s made it feel like a new truck. I think you will be happy.