Best Way to Lift my 2001 Dbl Cab, 4wd Tacoma?

Hey Guys,

I have a 2001 Dbl Cab, 4wd Tacoma and just put new wheels and tires (265/75R16) on it, actually they were a gift from my wife!
The old tires were 265/70R/16

The new tires now rub a little in the front when turning into a parking space or other tight turns so I wan to lift it. Originally I was just going to do a leveling kit but then decided to upgrade suspension. After further investigation it is clear that there was a camper on my truck before I purchased it which I assume killed the leaf springs and probably the front coils.

Measurement from concrete to bottom of plastic trim on the front is 35 1/4"

Measurement from concrete to bottom of plastic trim on the rear is 36 1/2"

This is the kit https://bilsteinlifts.com/shop/toyo...ble-front-shocks-for-1995-2004-toyota-tacoma/ that I was considering before I realized that my leaf springs are DEAD and I assume the coil springs are also dead.

I am now considering this one https://bilsteinlifts.com/shop/toyo...stein-lift-kit-with-5100-shocks-95-04-tacoma/ with the added Dakar Springs for an additional $439.99.

1. Should I also order the front shocks as a coil over assembly for an extra $100.00
   What is the advantage with coil over?
   
2. Will the Dakar leaf spring kit work on my 2001?
   I noticed somewhere on the site that the Dakar leaf springs were for 94-97 only?
   
3. If the Dakar leaf spring will work on my truck, will I still need additional lift kit for the rear shocks as mentioned in the description?

Am I on the right track or should I do a different package?

 

my rear springs are worse than that even... IMHO I would look more at all new springs rather than an add a leaf kit being that the add a leaf with that kit does not really correct the fatigue issue on the main leafs themselves...

 

Do shells actually cause wear to the leafs/coils over time? I ask since I just picked up my first shell (yes, I'm a cap noob lol). BTW, did you re-apply your TRD OR decals? They are way high.

Oh hell, I just measured and my front is @ 35" and rear is approx 35.5"

Here are a couple of pics - should I be concerned?

02 prerunner doublecab w/trd

 

Scottnofx, as in a former band member of the group nofx? Either way welcome here.

 

What does a shell weigh? A hundred pounds maybe? I don't think they cause long term fatigue of the leaf springs.

 

Where's your rub? If it's on the frame the lift won't solve that.

 

I have a 2001 Double Cab and wanted 3" of Lift. I am running the same size tires too, btw. I put on Bilsteins 5100 Shocks front and rear (1" over for the rear, but if I had to do it over, I would use on the rear Bilstein 5125's or 5150's), OME 883 Coilover Springs Front (I have an ARB Bumper with Winch, so this setup maybe too stiff for you, but is great for me) and Deaver's Rear 9 Leaf Springs custom built for weight and lift. I have a Toolbox and Aux Tank with Full Size Spare below the bed. I let them know all the weights and how much lift I wanted and they built it. This is a very good riding truck on the road, that can go off road too. Changing the Shocks, Front Coil overs, and Rear Springs (All NEW, not AAL), was the best money spent to improve the drivability. Moving up over 3 Inches of lift will create CV Axle issues, so that's why I didn't lift anymore with this setup. Highly Recommended and like you, I did all my research from all the knowledge this membership has.

Good Luck with your Truck!

 

On my truck (04 extended cab) I installed the full OME leaf spring pack. It yielded a lot of lift. 3-3.5" and was VERY stiff. So much lift that I ended up taking it all apart to remove a couple of leaves from the pack. I installed Bilstein 5100's at the same time and I agree with WtsTacoma that it would be wise to go with bilstein 5125 or 5150 because the 5100's just aren't long enough to utilize the full extension of the OME springs. I also ended up installing a pinion angle shim. 3 degrees so correct the pinion angle after the leaf spring install.

On the front of my truck I have a set of icons and camburg upper control arms. I can say that my experience of lifting the truck over 2" in the front has been a bit of a frustrating one. Every truck is going to be slightly different, but I had a heck of a time getting the alignment specs I wanted. The front is now set at 2" of lift and even with the camburg upper control arms that I have on it i can't lift it much over this height without giving up good alignment numbers.

cliff notes: lifting over 2" front and rear may very well result in some other problems to you ride that you won't like.

Hope you can gain some insight from my experience.

P.S. I'm guessing your tire is rubbing on the rear of the wheel opening. You may be able to alleviate the rubbing by having an alignment shop align your truck with a bit more caster (i.e. up around the 2.1 to 2.3 degree range). Adding caster will push the tire forward in the wheel opening.

 

Are your Icon coil overs standard or ext. travel? Since you have Camburg UCA's ext. travel is the norm but if you only have 2" of lift in the front maybe not.

 

They're extended travel. But that doesn't have any effect on the alignment numbers since alignment is performed at normal driving ride height.

 

I was just wondering because I just bought some ext. travel Icons and I also have Camburg UCA's right now w/ 3" Eibach coils and adjustable 5100's. My alignment is just fine. My shop teacher & I aligned my truck on the brand new laser alignment machine the college got awhile back. After I install the Icons it sounds like I'm going to have some problems according to you. That's why I was asking. I'm going to go up to 3" on the Icons just like I have now on the Eibach / Bilstein combo. The only complaint on the set up I have now is it rides way too stiff. And I have it on the bottom setting.

 

Like I mentioned, every truck is going to be different. The alignment spec range is pretty broad on these trucks. I'm pretty picky when it comes to handling and alignment so my experience isn't going to be the same as everyone elses. If you're already at 3" of lift, installing the icons at the same 3" of lift isn't going to make your alignment any different (although you'll still want to align again after install).

I don't think the icons will solve your stiff suspension problem though. I found the "digressive" valving to not really be to my taste. Harsh at low speeds but better at higher speeds. Depends on the kind of driving you do. You know what they say about opinions though...haha

I'm jealous that you get to do your own alignments. I'd love to have access to an alignment rack.

 

How much $$$ for you to align my truck, lol

 

That's what I'm saying! I'll pay just to have access to the machine for an hour haha

 

It's all free for me! Tire mounting and balancing too! I just have to buy the parts and we have 4 or 5 vehicle lifts to put out vehicles up on it and we can work on them. It's nice! The school just bought a brake rotor turning machine. Not sure what it's called. It's the new kind that does it automatically. You don't have to do it the old way. The machine hasn't even been used yet. Yeah it's nice to have access to everything.

 

Na...Just a fan!

 

fender well

 

Thank you for the advice!

 

Thank you for the advice as well as all other posters.

 

I have a 2004 DBCB 4x4 and I got the adjustable billstein 51000 and the grey eibach coils. for the rear I got the billstein rear shocks and shackles. from my experience you should order new top hats so you won't have to take apart the old struts (made that mistake and didn't want to wait so I cut up my old struts to remove the top hat). I'm running 33x12.5x15 BFG Allterrains and I had minimal rub (passenger front bumper) so I just dremeled some plastic off.