TRD Lift Kit Question

I found a dealer who will sell me the TRD lift sold by Toyota for my Tacoma Sport. From what I have found it looks like they are reusing the stock springs? Can anyone confirm this or let me know if there is another set up springs that will work on the TRD lift?

https://www.oempartsource.com/oem-parts/toyota-tacoma-trd-lift-kit-suspension-kit-pt84k35221

 

Correct uses factory springs with the new struts

 

Stock springs, its basically a 5100 bilstien lift using perch to raise the truck height.

 

As far as I'm concerned the ONLY advantage of using the Toyota lift is that it maintains the factory warranty.
I've heard (but have no first hand knowledge) that the warranty only applies if the kit is installed by a Toyota dealership.

(I've assumed that by "sell you" you are talking about buying and installing yourself, that may be an incorrect assumption).

 

Thank you.

Any recommendations for different springs?

I think the whole factory warranty thing is BS. It's only 1 year unless it comes with the truck and I don't plan on blowing out suspension in year 1. My main reasoning for going for it is to make sure the TSS works 100%. I don't want to go after market and TSS have issues down the line and Toyota to tell me to pound sand. I suspect the sensor is different in it otherwise why would they include a new one + the TRD Pro grille. Just wish it didn't reuse stock springs so I could resell the stock suspension.

 

If you aren't concerned with warranty, that opens up options.
To maintain the factory TSS they install the Pro grill (which relocates the sensor) and relocate the sensor. You can do that without the rest of the Toyota kit.
I have heard of some people having trouble with the "aftermarket" Pro grills and the TSS, so the easy option would be to get the Toyota one.

I'm doing 5100s on all 4 corners. The fronts are coming with 885s and the rears are getting a 1.5" AAL.
I'll evaluate the TSS after that happens.

It shouldn't be hard to find a set of used factory springs for short money, you could either use them on your "new" setup, or replace them on the shocks you take out.

 

Thanks for the input. My only concern is they are including a new TSS sensor with the grille which makes me think it's different than the stock one. From what I have read if you have issues with TSS and not the TRD lift Toyota won't help recalibrate and you just have to disable.

 

It's a valid concern.
Things like https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2018-trd-pro-grille-w-tss-p-radar-info-diy.530769/ make me believe that there is a chance that they just ship the new sensor as a convenience.
The TRD Lift kit also "requires" the disabling of the fog lamps. There's nothing physically about the fogs that makes a difference (but technically they will be slightly too high after the lift).

Of course it's a trade off depending on what you want to spend.
I understand the TRD Kit to be ~$1200.

You should be able to get billies and an AAL for ~$600.
Will the TSS be fine? Don't know, it's a risk. Is the risk worth $600 to you?

 

Fog lights only need to be disabled in certain states and if you tell the dealer to leave many have said they do.

 

Which is why I said "requires".

 

The TRD kit includes the grille so add another $250. Good info on the sensor hopefully it's just an extra. I'll compare just need to fine new set of springs. I figure Toyota removes the fog lights so people don't come in blaming them for a ticket. I plan on leaving them in place.

Thanks for going back and forth here helped me out.

 

This thread breaks down the whole kit. I researched this kit pretty extensively before ordering just the shocks and a block for the rear. Hope this helps

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/toyota-trd-oem-lift-kit.695620/page-91#post-26299467

 

****This is what I posted in that thread*****

A) PRICE- not bad at $1,055. The free shipping coupon code only covers $200 of the $300 freight charge so you’re still having to pay $100 plus tax for this “kit”. For me in CA it totals out to almost $1,300.

B) SHOCKS- can be purchased stand alone for under $400, actually a bit cheaper than 5100s

C) GRILL- it’s OEM (obviously) but it’s the all black lettering version which most people don’t realize and don’t like. To me, it looks like it hadn’t been painted yet and I’m not a fan. I wanted the OEM silver lettering. This black lettered OEM grill can be bought for $139 on Toyota distributors

This particular grill also has the hole and space for the front camera. If your truck doesn’t have a front camera, you have this odd blank spot on the top of your grill.

The garnish cover (TSS sensor cover discussed many times on this forum) is obviously a good deal here. This garnish sells for close to $300 and can’t be had for much cheaper.

D) BLOCK- the rear 1” block to raise the back and the U-bolts can be purchased anywhere from $50-$150 from 100’s of retailers. It’s just a block of billet aluminum or steel

E) EVERYTHING ELSE- the kit comes with fog light covers required by some states if you lift your vehicle. I’m assuming almost everyone would throw these away.

The kit comes with a new “Milliwave sensor” that is supposed to be recalibrated for a lifted truck. I can’t find any info anywhere that says this is different from the OEM sensor on the truck. Also, thousands of people lift their trucks and report no sensor issues. BUT this sensor can be purchased for $280 if you really want.

The rest is just nuts and bolts.

So if you wanted to buy the crucial parts of this kit separately (assuming you want the new sensor and pay top dollar for a rear block) you’d be close to $1400 and wouldn’t have the fog light covers or other little “odds and ends”

But if you buy the shocks from this kit and a 1” rear block (using $100) you’re at like $550.

Same shocks = same lift.

You’d be paying almost $1,000 for a grill and sensor.

Then add labor for install. I was quoted $1,200 by my dealer. I found a guy on this forum that does work for members and he quoted me $400.

For me and my situation it’s a no brainer. I also already have a new grill and OEM garnish cover.

I get the appeal of dealer install, and warranty. It just comes down to your financial situation and how much that’s worth to you.

Hope this helps clear it up some

 

I had it installed at the dealership and I asked if they were going to disable the fog lights (so I could tell them not to lol), they had no idea what I was talking about. They'd never disabled them before for anybody else. Needless to say I stopped talking and was on my happy way.

Also, the kit is $1450 not including labor.

 

Depends where you buy it my brother in law bought it for $1055 and had it installed for $900

 

I was $2,500ish out the door with almost $1,000 worth of KO2s with full install costs included.

 

Thank you for the detail and info on the sensor. I found a dealer local so no freight charges and will also be handling the install. The only real reason I want this lift is to avoid future TSS issues. I am pretty confident I can convince a dealer to recalibrate the sensor or attempt to fix it by pointing out it's the Toyota sold lift with or without warranty coverage. I don't think they'll recalibrate or troubleshoot any aftermarket lifts so if I run into issues down the line I have no options. The TSS is important to me as I won't be the only one driving and have young kids. I could care less about the 1 year warranty they offer on it and honestly I don't want a dealer to install it due to past debacles which is likely why I am so concerned about any TSS issues.

 

Any springs that will fit stock struts, or 5100’s will fit the TRD lift struts. Just remember if you get lift springs, the TRD bilstiens are missing the lowest two notches. So assuming they didn’t change distances between the top three notches, you have 2in., 1.55in., and a 1.1in. lift setting on the TRD 5100. I think when I upgrade my suspension, I’m going with just the shocks from the TRD lift kit, set on the lowest setting with 1in. Dobinsons lift springs in the front, and a 1.5in HS AAL in the rear.

 

I have 2/2.5” lift. Not the overpriced toyo one. You also lose your fogs if the dealer installs. I’ve been lifted for almost 30k miles and just by using a grill that move the sensor down like the pro grill I have no issues. I used to get the stupid brake dash light often at stock height. Rarely happens now.

 

Toyota is legally bound to say the fogs will be disabled, but most dealers don't/won't do it