1st gen lift

I bought a 2002 perunner that has 265/70R16 on it and the front tires rub a little. I would like to lift it 2.5 inches. Was wondering what would be the best option. I do quite a bit of off road driving in the mud and snow.

 

265/70/16s are stock size.

Do you have aftermarket wheels?

Common misconception, a lift on these trucks will not help with the tire rub. When it comes to IFS lifts, they simply change the position that the truck sits in within the travel of the IFS. Travel is relatively fixed.

That being said, without having given us a budget, Bilstein 5100s are pretty much the goto on the good side of the affordable end, and then Kings, Icon, ADS, etc... coilovers on the upper end. Can't go wrong with the bilsteins. Companies like Wheelers/Toytec or Suspension Lifts will preassemble new coilovers for you with a new shock, coil springs, top hats, etc.. to just install without having to deal with a coil spring compressor etc...

 

Yes. It has aftermarket wheels. Bolstering seem like good choice. If I was on a budget would blocks be good for the back?

 

Full send on blocks and spacers

 

I don’t agree with the “misconception” because if I try and put 33’s on a stock 98 Tacoma it’s gonna rub pretty bad. If I put 5100’s on it with stock coils on the middle notch and put 33’s on chances are it’s not gonna rub. So a lift does help with rubbing.

 

Long Travel or why bother.

 

Oh they will rub, maybe not at that one sweet spot in the suspension travel, and the lift might reduce the frequency of the rub, but those tires will still rub at some point in the range of travel. If they don't rub throughout the full range of travel with a suspension lift then they won't rub stock either.

 

You need to address the wheels- they probably don't have the right backspacing or offset if you're rubbing with stock size tires.

Add-a-Leaf, or Lift Shackles are MUCH better budget options for the back. Blocks promote axle wrap, and your old springs are probably close to EOL anyway. A 3 leaf aal would go a long way to improving them.

 

Worst: Blocks/spacers
Good: Bilstein 5100's, Add-a-Leaf
Better: Old Man Emu Nitrochargers, Dakar Rear Springs
Best: King/Icon
Crazy: Long Travel

 

Crazy is LT? That involve nothing beside bolt on. Solid axle will be crazy.

 

This, and only this ^^

 

I lifted my 02 PreRunner.
Here’s exactly what I did:

I bought the TORCH OFF ROAD 3” front 2” rear leveling kit from Amazon.

$103 TORCH 3" Front 2" Rear Leveling Lift Kit for 1995-2004 Toyota Tacoma 2WD 4WD TRD SR5 - Models with 6 Lug Wheel Bolt Pattern ONLY

https://www.amazon.com/TORCH-Front-Leveling-Toyota-Tacoma/dp/B07NDNW61V

$103 TORCH 3" Front 2" Rear Leveling Lift Kit for 1995-2004 Toyota Tacoma 2WD 4WD TRD SR5 - Models with 6 Lug Wheel Bolt Pattern ONLY

I also bought 1.25” spacers

Spidertrax Inc WHS007

$149 Spidertrax WHS007 Blue Wheel Spacer Kit

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BGRDMOM

I ordered Bilstein 5100 rear shocks, and Bilstein F4-BE5-D558-T0 front shocks from Top Notch Automotive (free shipping is such a bonus when you’re on a rock in the middle of the ocean).

EDIT: I was told that if I wanted bigger tires >16”, I could go up to 19” but the spacers would have to be changed.

 

^ this is bad advice.

Why did you order a spacer ("leveling") kit AND 5100 front shocks? The primary advantage of the 5100 series shocks is that they have adjustable spring perches. Setting the spring perches up a notch or two would have achieved the same effect as the 0 perch + spacer lift. And if you've done something like stack the spacer on top of the 5100 set on one of the lift spring perches your ride must be terrible, and your ball joints and bump stops must be about dead.

 

Not to mention the top hat spacer in that kit which goes between the shock tower and the top of the strut assembly that increases the travel of the front suspension and causes binding at the upper ball joint, which could lead to catastrophic failure.

Thus the reason they make aftermarket uniball upper control arms, and those are only intended to be used with extended travel coilovers that increase travel like a 1/2”, not however much that increases, which is way too much.

 

You need to do the pinch weld mod.

Lifting it doesn't attribute to tire clearance; look at how your suspension works and cycles.

With that said, I enjoyed running 235/85/16 (didn't rub at all) but if you wanted you could go 255/85/16 for a bigger tire after pounding flat that pinch weld.

Prerunners need all the help they can get and quality tires is the best way to go before bothering with a lift.

If I did it again with a Prerunner it'd be Quality tires -> 4x4 Conversion -> Quality lift

 

No blocks or spacers, it's just a horrible option.

 

I didn't realize the 265's were stock, I think the wheels definitely make the rub worse. I definitely need font shocks so I figured I would ad a lift when I replaced the shocks. Im really not on a budget and want something that will help with driving off road. I think I'm leaning towards the Old Man Emu Nitrochargers, Dakar rear springs. Thanks for all the information!!!

 

Maaaan, I'm having a terrible time trying to piece a shock and spring together, I tried to save $100 and build myself the Bilstien 5100 and the Old Man emue 2881 combo.
Amazon bilstien 5100's - $264
amazon OME 2881's - $214

wanted to get new strut mount and insulater(rubber) went to autozone local and 2 for - $64,
doesn't have all the upper bushings to keep space between all the parts (2 rubber bushings, 4 concave washers)

back to Autozone for shock tower bushing set (2 rubber bushings, 4 concave washers) $13, doesn't not fit the Bilstein shock rod.

now bought from amazon KYB strut mount, looks like has upper bushing - $64

and now wait until they arrive to see what else I need to buy so it looks like this:




I should have spent the ~$600 plus shipping and had a complete set and been done.