1st Gen Tundra HD Coil Spring Options?

[Go4Lo]

As anticipated after adding the ARB style front bumper and winch to my '02 Tundra the front end has dropped about an 1". I've done everything I can to lighten up the front including synthetic rope, aluminum fairlead, and relocating the solenoid box under the hood. The next step is going to be to address the front suspension to compensate for the added weight.

My current set up is comprised of Bilstein 5100 shocks set at the top notch with my stock Tundra TRD coils. My goal is to regain the lost lift for 2.5" total lift. Below are few idea's I'm kicking around and I could really use some input before spending any more $$.

One - Add a set of 3/8" top plate spacers to the current set up. My fear is this will be too much preload on the springs and make the ride even stiffer?

Two - Buy a set of OME 886 coils and drop the Bilsteins to the bottom notch (stock height). From my research the OME coils are just over 15" tall with a spring rate of 660lbs. There is a LOT info on the forums from guys running the OME coils on the adjustable Bilsteins with success, but these are all on Tacoma's, 4Runners, FJs, and NOT Tundra's. This idea came from the fact that Slee sales a 1st Gen Tundra lift kit with the 01-04 Tacoma OME Struts matched to the 885 coils which are for 05+Tacoma's. In theroy IF one could run this set up with the 885s why wouldn't the 886s work?

Three - Aftermarket Coilovers, DR/Icon, SAWs, Toytec. These all come with 650lb springs, which "should" be able to handle the weight. The downside of these is of course cost and possibly harsher ride and continual maintenance.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. :smiley_drive:

 

[ol' scott]

I can't speak for the other options but I do recall reading a thread (on here I believe) where an owner with a 1st gen. used 886 springs on his truck with an ARB and winch and they were still to high.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34556&highlight=ome*+886*+tundra

Correction, he might not have had a winch on there. He doesn't visit much anymore, I got a PM from him last week so he does come by every now and then.

My 885's are going on sometime in the next couple of weeks, depending upon weather.

 

[thecriscokid]

I weighed those options as well and finally decided on the IVD coilovers. With there adjustment range you can get to the lift and ride quality you want. I have the stock chrome bumper at this point with around 1" 3/4 lift. I think the added weight of the bumper and winch would soften the ride perfectly, maybe a few extra turns on the coils. You could always get different coils for them too.

 

[Go4Lo]

I can't speak for the other options but I do recall reading a thread (on here I believe) where an owner with a 1st gen. used 886 springs on his truck with an ARB and winch and they were still to high.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34556&highlight=ome*+886*+tundra

Correction, he might not have had a winch on there. He doesn't visit much anymore, I got a PM from him last week so he does come by every now and then.

My 885's are going on sometime in the next couple of weeks, depending upon weather.

Thanks for the link! I can't believe I've never stumbled across that thread. I'm still leaning towards the 886s since I have the winch and a diff drop already. My fear with the 885s is they will most likely settle over time with the continual weight of the bumper/winch combo and then I'll be in the same boat I'm in now. I may go ahead and give the 886s a try.

I weighed those options as well and finally decided on the IVD coilovers. With there adjustment range you can get to the lift and ride quality you want. I have the stock chrome bumper at this point with around 1" 3/4 lift. I think the added weight of the bumper and winch would soften the ride perfectly, maybe a few extra turns on the coils. You could always get different coils for them too.

I agree with you and the IVD's would my first choice but right now I've spent quite a bit on the truck over the last 30 days so I'm probably going to try a set of the OME coils since they are fraction of the cost.

 

[jsnow]

The problem I ran into with the N91S/886's was the strut topping out when going over a bump, and of course they gave me a little too much lift. I do not have a winch on the truck, but I think even with the winch the coils may be too much. Good luck!

 

[Go4Lo]

The problem I ran into with the N91S/886's was the strut topping out when going over a bump, and of course they gave me a little too much lift. I do not have a winch on the truck, but I think even with the winch the coils may be too much. Good luck!

jsnow, thanks for chiming in! Are you still running the N91S/885 combo? If so how's the ride and have they sagged with the ARB bumper? How much lift to estimate you have now?

 

[jsnow]

They ride is good. I haven't taken any measurements to see if it has sagged, but if it has it is not noticeable. I wouldn't mind it if it was a little firmer ride, but you can always use the OME 90004 Sport's to accomplish that. Overall I am happy with it. The next step is to mount the 100 Series Bull Bar!

 

[Go4Lo]

They ride is good. I haven't taken any measurements to see if it has sagged, but if it has it is not noticeable. I wouldn't mind it if it was a little firmer ride, but you can always use the OME 90004 Sport's to accomplish that. Overall I am happy with it. The next step is to mount the 100 Series Bull Bar!

Can you post a current picture of your truck? I look forward to seeing the 100 series bull bar on your truck...that was my first option as well but I ended up getting front and rear bumpers as well as sliders custom built for about $100 more than just the ARB bumper.

 

[ol' scott]

The next step is to mount the 100 Series Bull Bar!

You know you're going to have to start visiting more often, we need more 1st Gen Tundra guys with OME.

 

[jsnow]

I've been after ARB to make more products for the 1st Gen Tundra for a while. If we want them to build products we have to request them. I know that if they offered a Bull Bar for the Tundra it would out sell the Sahara bar probably 3 to 1. Maybe more. A Suspension designed for the truck would be great too. All I can say is contact them, and let them know you want it. I will try to post pics soon.

 

[JCMatthews]

Bump!

 

[Go4Lo]

The wife and I put 800+ miles on the truck this weekend with several off road on the beach running at speeds up 40mph so the front suspension got a decent work out.

As stated earlier I'm running the 5100s set at the top notch with stock TRD coils from 2002 with 120K on them. With the winch and bumper the front dropped about an 1".

The saggy front was killing me! So thursday night before we left I decided to just experiement by adding about a 1/4" worth of washers (actually worked out to be 3 - 3/8" washers per stud) as a top plate spacer to each side. I know it's ghetto but they worked great and added just enough top load to the coil to get me back to 2.5" lift up front.

I "think" the ride is a little stiffer but it's hard to tell as I was running 40psi in the front tires to compensate for the bumper/winch and to gain a little better fuel economy.

I don't think they are a proper long term solution but it's nice to know that in the interim these worked for a grand total of $3 for the pack of washers.

 

[ctapia]

Go4Lo,

Do you have any current pictures of your Truck? I've Pmd you as well with some related questions to this thread. Maybe others are can chime in and update if there's any progress/updates with their setup. My truck 05 Tundra Doublecab 4WD, currently stock. Looking to add LC100 Combo ARB bumper (or at least with some modifications) and winch, beef up with front suspension with either the Bilteins 5100 (however based on your feedback, this is not adaquate). So exploring front suspension options as well. Similar to you, I have thought about coilovers (I've had in the past on other trucks), but this time would like to explore (save money ) by going with a simpler replacement/stiffer spring to hold up the ARB bumper/winch. At this point, it looks like OME 885 or OME886s are the options with replacement coils.
Back on the ARB bumper, front my search I haven't come across with someone that has actually taken on to install a standard Combo ARB LC100 bumper on a first gen. tundra. I wouldn't mine some modifications ect.. but hoping nothing major/drastic. Any updates/thoughts on this matter?

Thanks in advance!
CTapia

The wife and I put 800+ miles on the truck this weekend with several off road on the beach running at speeds up 40mph so the front suspension got a decent work out.

As stated earlier I'm running the 5100s set at the top notch with stock TRD coils from 2002 with 120K on them. With the winch and bumper the front dropped about an 1".

The saggy front was killing me! So thursday night before we left I decided to just experiement by adding about a 1/4" worth of washers (actually worked out to be 3 - 3/8" washers per stud) as a top plate spacer to each side. I know it's ghetto but they worked great and added just enough top load to the coil to get me back to 2.5" lift up front.

I "think" the ride is a little stiffer but it's hard to tell as I was running 40psi in the front tires to compensate for the bumper/winch and to gain a little better fuel economy.

I don't think they are a proper long term solution but it's nice to know that in the interim these worked for a grand total of $3 for the pack of washers.