How to properly level my 02 Tacoma

Hi all, I have an 02 SR5 4wd Tacoma 3.7 liter V6 6 lug that is currently leveled with 2.5" blocks underneath my front coils. I've gone through 3 CV axels in the past 8 years, for which I'm blaming the leveling blocks.

I'm looking at putting Bilstein 5100's set to the level setting and replacing my coils with new OEM coils the same size as my stock ones. Maybe eventually springing for Bilstein 5100s in the back. Any input or advice on the best way to level out my tacoma and clear 32" tires would be appreciated.

 

for 32s you can get away with 1.5 to 2 inches depending on your wheels... with stock wheels, you may have some minimal rub at full articulation or on bumps and driveways with wheels turned, but it should help save the CVs...

a wheel with 4.25" or 4" backspace should alleviate everything with 1.5 to 1.75 inch lift

 

Toyota only had 3 engine options for 1st gen tacomas. None were 3.7 liters.

881 coils in the front and a toytech aal in the rear. Nitrocharger shocks on the corners.
You'll be golden.

 

Take out the blocks and put a 3-4 inch body lift in









Sorry I had to... 5100's at middle setting plus an AAL is what I'm planning on doing. Plus maybe a little trim/hammer

 

I've got 32x11.5 BFGs on my stock truck. Just trim some plastic, flatten the pinch weld, and get some flush mount fasteners for the inner fender. Also have black pro comp steelies with I think 4" BS. Mine will rarely rub. Mostly when flexed and backing up and turning.

 

My bad, meant to type 3.4 liters.

I'm probably going with bilstein 5100's all the way around with the ride height adjustables set to the 1.25" setting in the front, new stock coils in the front and spydertrax 1.25" spacers. Going to stick with my fairly new 275/65/R16s.

Do I need anything additional in the back in order to replace the stock shocks with the 5100's? If I went for the 2.5" setting in the front I know I'd probably need to aal in the back, but since I'm just leveling it out I'm reading that new stock coils in the front will be fine...not so sure about the back though...

My current suspension is stock (minus the blocks under my front springs which I hate) and has 178K on it. This is my daily driver and I'm never off road...FYI.

 

I don't think you should need anything in the rear since your leveling it out. Once tax returns hit I'm doing exactly what your doing, leveling it out with 5100 all around. Mine has only 121k tho

 

People will also recommend you to get the drop diff bracket too when it's not really needed unless you just up to 2.5+

 

I know this thread is 3 years old, but I’m curious what you ended up doing on your yota. I have an ‘02 that I’d like to level. My question is how much of a lift do you put on the front bilsteins to level the truck if it is stock?

 

You can get away with 2-2.5 before you kill cv boots on the regular. Manual hubs will cure it

 

Im not interested in really lifting the pickup, but I would like to level the front to the back. I was just curious if anyone knew what level of lift that would be on a stock pickup. I don’t want the front to be higher than the back either so I was just hoping to find out if 2” levels from stock or 1.5” or what.