Got some new squishers

[trailfiend]

And will be installing them on my Tacoma shortly. Maybe tomorrow, if I find time in the afternoon.

Lift kit for this thing is shaping up nicely...
(initial iteration)
- Swayaway RaceRunner long travel with Eibach 650# springs
- All-Pro expedition leaf packs
- Poly bushings
- OME u bolts
- diff drop
- BPV relocation bracket
- Tuff Country Nitro shocks (they're cheap...hush)
- I haven't bought them yet, but I need extended brake lines

Second round, once I can afford it, will bring some long travel UCA's and possibly Bilstein shocks depending on how much suck the Tuff Country shocks are.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Hqfb2P4HWJw/UxVmwZYZgsI/AAAAAAAAavQ/xljGHNlDSAI/s640/1622713_10152665180754689_1161836854_n.jpg

[ILuvtheMountains]

Sa-weet!!! Can't wait to see pics!

[trailfiend]

I'm really looking forward to seeing how the ride quality changes from old worn out stock suspension, the stock spring rate feels too soft to me and has too much body roll for my taste. And lifting this thing 3" front and 3-4 rear should make it look pretty mean :)

[ILuvtheMountains]

What year is the taco?

[trailfiend]

It's a 2001 TRD SR5... 195k on it, and the PO kept up on engine maintenance, new belts, etc. before he sold it. Unfortunately he never replaced the clutch, so that'll have to happen before long I imagine; even though this was a highway queen for the guy.

[The StRanger]

Very Sweet !!!

[trailfiend]

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SjMM24efDPY/UxaQguftbPI/AAAAAAAAav4/uxNZM2-MFOE/s640/DSC_0293.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-24hhfwAZpiw/UxaQhPRXj-I/AAAAAAAAav8/sbYZlzyLOBE/s640/DSC_0295.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-51gY0qmtW3E/UxaQghvSu_I/AAAAAAAAav0/EZGvLgLfPcg/s640/DSC_0297.jpg

This afternoon, I bolted the coilovers in... Turns out ordering the long travel ones made it a bit interesting to bolt in, but once I figured out to disconnect the lower ball joint from the knuckle, bolt the coilover in, then jack the LCA up so I could mate the ball joint and knuckle back together, everything went pretty smoothly.


Before...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mxbJQ9m6yRM/UxaQlBUgcOI/AAAAAAAAawQ/ipdkKos9PwY/s400/DSC_0303.jpg


After.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ExTZjdOGhTE/UxaQltAzwcI/AAAAAAAAawU/CW1mm6k5C-w/s400/DSC_0309.jpg


Old vs. new. The long travel has about 2" longer stroke over the non-LT version for greater droop.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-o7_Rc_2i2bE/UxaQkd76bxI/AAAAAAAAawE/YbfvzKN6ln0/s400/DSC_0306.jpg


I've only driven these to the auto parts store so far, but I'm quite surprised that for having a 650# spring rate, they don't ride harsh at all, very smooth and well damped. Granted, I haven't upped the preload to give me the 3" lift that I'll ultimately end up at, I'm assuming that the 650# coils and Expo springs will balance out pretty well in ride quality with each other.


Also, f*ck the stupid swaybar bolts. I was about to cut the stupid thing in half and get rid of it all together.

[SubAlpine]

Looks good.

[Hypoid]

Needs more stickers... :D

[Java]

Also, f*ck the stupid swaybar bolts. I was about to cut the stupid thing in half and get rid of it all together.

:lmao: Looks great!!

[Funrover]

Very nice!!

[Starkman]

Those are sweet, I hate to be a dumpster diver but I have a project in mind to use Tacoma shocks and springs so if you are just through ing away I would love to get them.

[trailfiend]

Those are sweet, I hate to be a dumpster diver but I have a project in mind to use Tacoma shocks and springs so if you are just through ing away I would love to get them.

You're welcome to them all! I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do about getting rid of the old parts anyway.

[trailfiend]

This morning I got an early start to the day with a pile of parts, and a plan.


Well, at least a pile of parts.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eQ7jyOjW49w/UxwNK5uXl_I/AAAAAAAAazA/iGGzHgneldM/s640/DSC_0315.jpg


After some grunting, and some cutting of the main leaf spring bolts, the truck started looking a lot more nekkid.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2dThOSTI8-A/UxwNKyJjXjI/AAAAAAAAazE/m_VyzOpugDY/s640/DSC_0322.jpg


Then, as if by magic (and the whole day later, a trip to Yota Jim's for a shackle, a trip to pick up a new hard line for the brake, and some lunch).... leaf springs, shocks, etc. appeared under the truck.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_3R87XnI8Qo/UxwNLLxa6sI/AAAAAAAAazI/_M6Go0zGhBw/s640/DSC_0324.jpg


Slee gave me some black die-cut stickers. Black stickers don't belong on tinted windows, and I don't want to put stickers on the sheetmetal.


Clearly this was the wisest placement of sticker.


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PsXrP8qePIc/UxwNUUqwEjI/AAAAAAAAazY/pygcwZ4kefs/s640/DSC_0326.jpg


Then I moved on to the front. I didn't feel like dealing with the UCA's today, so I didn't. I'll get around to that eventually. But until then, the coilovers are going to look just as good without the new UCA's.


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yZ1KCG9yLhc/UxwNggpr9zI/AAAAAAAAaz4/9-V8s6BYeUQ/s640/DSC_0337.jpg


From the short test drive I took (up to 80mph) I don't have any vibration coming from the front end, which I'm fairly pleased about... considering I wasn't able to break the bolts free to install the diff drop kit.


Otherwise, I'm really happy with the way it's turned out. The handling is on point, body roll is significantly reduced, the ride is smooth but firm and controlled. I also put on some Spidertrax wheel adapters/spacers to kick the track width out a bit, which added nicely to the aesthetic of the truck being lifted and sitting on 31's :)


I'll get pictures of the truck tomorrow after work.

[Brucker]

:thumb: Looking good

[trailfiend]

Got the chance to get some updated pictures of the truck tonight.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JFR3FE56OKI/Ux0nLPVj6iI/AAAAAAAAa0Y/nZPDlnuJsJM/s640/DSC_0340.jpg


It's really not as raked out as I thought it would look. The coils are cranked to do 3" lift, and the expos are supposed to give 4" lift when unloaded. I think it looks good like this.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6X2KfKtqh9w/Ux0nLTc_CuI/AAAAAAAAa0c/AnMQGTaG_QQ/s640/DSC_0341.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ylvzEVqTd8Y/Ux0nK9RN1xI/AAAAAAAAa0U/9400BAA3TKQ/s640/DSC_0342.jpg

[Shane]

Looks pretty good!

[trailfiend]

Those are sweet, I hate to be a dumpster diver but I have a project in mind to use Tacoma shocks and springs so if you are just through ing away I would love to get them.

Hey! So this has been in the back of my mind and I keep forgetting to actually give you a shout -- I've got the lift on and the springs are hanging out in my garage if you're still interested in 'em.