OME 885 and ARB Bumper?

[Iggy]

Hello Everyone,

First post here, but I've been trolling around for a while. I am very much a beginner when it comes to these things; I have been connecting with some locals and I think I'm ready to do some small expeditions.

I own a 2009 Tacoma, Access cab, 4x4 Off Road, with ~111,000 (I drive this truck everywhere and I try to avoid flying if I can). I was thinking of replacing my stock suspension with something that will give me a small lift and improve performance. The OME kit with rear leafs is exactly within my budget and level of intended use.

My question is, I plan on eventually getting the ARB front bumper, but I don't know how soon/late that will be. I know that it is recommended to get the 886 coils, however without the bumper is ride too stiff. Will the 885 coils be too soft when I get the ARB?

From what I have read, the 884 are for the access cab, 885 are for double cab, and the 886 are for a winch bumper. I just want to avoid the added expense and time of replacing the coils. I also tow a lot so would I need to get the add a leaf for the OME leafs?

My current mods to the truck are:

• Snugtop Supersport Shell
• Weds Adventure Hase Spec 16x8 +0
• Nitto Terra Grappler 265/75/16
• BAMF weld on rock sliders
(Some other cosmetic mods like a color matched bumper and grill. Overall mostly stock.)

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[montypower]

I have the 886 and additional rear leaf. The additional rear leaf helps match the spring rate better with the front 886 springs. It's also good for towing/heavy loads. I'd recommend it if you plan on adding weight (bumper, winch, etc). The ride quality with the 886 and no additional weight will be extremely poor. Primarily because you will have no down travel. The springs will lift you over 3" and essentially max out the IFS which makes for a poor ride, increased CV wear and poor handling. Not recommended.

Replacement springs are only $170. Install the right springs for the amount of weight your truck has currently! If down the road you add more weight then upgrade the springs. Coil-over removal only takes 20 min per side (for me anyway). I had a shop assemble the coil-covers for $40. You're not talking huge costs and you'll enjoy your ride and keep from damaging CVs.

885 springs will sag out with the heavy winch bumper. So definitely plan to upgrade after installing the bumper.

If you want better handling... you can order the Nitro Charger "Sport" shocks. They are just slightly more expensive and offer better valving for handling.

Other items to consider... Recommend: replacement upper a-arms. These will give you slightly more down travel and help with alignment. Should improve handling as well. Also, most lifted Tacoma's will have issues with driveline vibration. You'll want to read up on this. OME offers a carrier bearing drop spacer which helps for some people. I tried everything and ended up having a new driveline built with CV joint after the carrier bearing to fix the vibrations.

 

[Flagster]

Well I am no expert but my 2005 Tacoma is set up pretty much identical to what you are looking at...

886 coils, nitrocharger shocks...rear dakar leafs and nitros in the back...arb bumper with snugtop...no winch

IMO the 886 coils are too stiff unless you have a winch in the bumper and even a second battery under the hood. I don't have either and it rides too harsh for my liking...I was going to put the 885 coils in and see how I liked it but I haven't gotten around to it yet...

With my setup there is very little rebound since the shocks are not compressed with the stiff springs which makes for a rough ride unloaded...

I also have quite a bit of inner CV rubbing from the fins...I have driven 25000 miles on the lift and they haven't worn through but they are pretty grooved...

 

[Iggy]

I have the 886 and additional rear leaf. The additional rear leaf helps match the spring rate better with the front 886 springs. It's also good for towing/heavy loads. I'd recommend it if you plan on adding weight (bumper, winch, etc). The ride quality with the 886 and no additional weight will be extremely poor. Primarily because you will have no down travel. The springs will lift you over 3" and essentially max out the IFS which makes for a poor ride, increased CV wear and poor handling. Not recommended.

Replacement springs are only $170. Install the right springs for the amount of weight your truck has currently! If down the road you add more weight then upgrade the springs. Coil-over removal only takes 20 min per side (for me anyway). I had a shop assemble the coil-covers for $40. You're not talking huge costs and you'll enjoy your ride and keep from damaging CVs.

885 springs will sag out with the heavy winch bumper. So definitely plan to upgrade after installing the bumper.

If you want better handling... you can order the Nitro Charger "Sport" shocks. They are just slightly more expensive and offer better valving for handling.

Other items to consider... Recommend: replacement upper a-arms. These will give you slightly more down travel and help with alignment. Should improve handling as well. Also, most lifted Tacoma's will have issues with driveline vibration. You'll want to read up on this. OME offers a carrier bearing drop spacer which helps for some people. I tried everything and ended up having a new driveline built with CV joint after the carrier bearing to fix the vibrations.

Thanks for the advice! I was afraid that going too stiff at first would provide too much lift. The maximum lift I want is 3", but I would like to stay around maybe 2.5" to avoid the troubles of going higher.

Is the bearing drop spacer you are referring to the differential drop kit? If so I am not going to install that. I have read that it really offers no benefit to the 2nd gen Tacoma and could cause problems. I will however be purchasing the 3* shims for the rear in case that causes some vibrations.

A-arms are on the list, but I want to see how bad the alignment is before I pick up a set.

Well I am no expert but my 2005 Tacoma is set up pretty much identical to what you are looking at...

886 coils, nitrocharger shocks...rear dakar leafs and nitros in the back...arb bumper with snugtop...no winch

IMO the 886 coils are too stiff unless you have a winch in the bumper and even a second battery under the hood. I don't have either and it rides too harsh for my liking...I was going to put the 885 coils in and see how I liked it but I haven't gotten around to it yet...

With my setup there is very little rebound since the shocks are not compressed with the stiff springs which makes for a rough ride unloaded...

I also have quite a bit of inner CV rubbing from the fins...I have driven 25000 miles on the lift and they haven't worn through but they are pretty grooved...

Thanks for the heads up! I definitely want to avoid CV troubles as I drive the truck a lot.


It might make sense for me to get he 885 kit and see how everything goes and factor the cost of replacing springs into the cost of the bumper. Right now I have the non TSB leafs in the back and they are soft. I frequently carry heavy objects in the back or tow 4500-5000lbs, and the factory springs are weak and sag pretty bad. Almost all the other trucks I have owned are noticeably stiffer including my old 2005 Tacoma.

One thing I would like to keep in the factory rake ratio. Will the 885 kit with OME leafs keep this?

 

[Flagster]

I just ordered the 885s from wheelers and they should be in by friday...I will post some measurements before (886) and after (885)...
This is going to be an experiment...I may switch over to an adjustable coilover in the future...

 

[Stone_Blue]

Flagster,
Could you post measurements (before and after), of your top of wheel arch to center of wheel hub?
Myself, and a bunch of other 1st Gen Tundra owners are running 885s or 886s, and we've mostly been measuring from these points to get consistent comparisons. I'm just curious how the lift from 885/886s on Tacomas compares to that on the Tundras. IIRC, the 885/886s arent "officially" marketed for use on the Tundras...

Thanx!

 

[Flagster]

I will...I didn't get a stock hub to fender measurement of my Tacoma before I put the 886 coils on about 2.5 years ago and I am away from the truck right now but I think I am at 24.5 right now with the 886 coils...I will confirm that when I get back

 

[Wasatch]

I have a regular cab 2.7L with an ARB bumper and 886's.. WAY TOO STIFF. got a set of 885s ready to be installed.

 

[Wasatch]

Well I am no expert but my 2005 Tacoma is set up pretty much identical to what you are looking at...

886 coils, nitrocharger shocks...rear dakar leafs and nitros in the back...arb bumper with snugtop...no winch

IMO the 886 coils are too stiff unless you have a winch in the bumper and even a second battery under the hood. I don't have either and it rides too harsh for my liking...I was going to put the 885 coils in and see how I liked it but I haven't gotten around to it yet...

With my setup there is very little rebound since the shocks are not compressed with the stiff springs which makes for a rough ride unloaded...

I also have quite a bit of inner CV rubbing from the fins...I have driven 25000 miles on the lift and they haven't worn through but they are pretty grooved...

Flagster, Grab some SS hose clamps and replace the factory boot clips. That way, you can pull the boots about an .5 - 1 '' and separate the fins from touching each-other. Works very well and after a couple thousand miles, still in place, but remember to tighten the clamps pretty well. There is a thread on ttora about this..

(Do it, I tore a boot and it was a pain to fix.)

 

[Flagster]

I was going to do that also but will wait to see if the 885s bring down the front end enough to separate the fins of the cv boots. Even if I wasn't worried about the fins rubbing and tearing I would still be replacing the springs as the suspension is not working properly with my setup...
The inner boots tore last month after about 25K miles of driving post lift...I just replaced all 4 boots and want to get this sorted before I blow through them again.

 

[Iggy]

Thanks for the feedback Flagster. I ordered the 885 kit and have been waiting 6 weeks for delivery

 

[Flagster]

Measured it up this AM and the front is sitting around 24 3/8" hub center to bottom of fender...rear is around 23 1/2"...This is with the 886 coils...so I guess I have the praying mantis...
885 coils/shocks showed up from Wheelers tonight...I am going to use this as an excuse to clean up the frame/rust issues and hopefully get them in tomorrow and will post the new measurements...anyone who wants some 886/nitrocharger coilvers PM me

 

[Flagster]

New front hub to fender measurement is about 23.5 so I lost about an inch up front...CV fins are now open...ride is better IMO...
The 886 coils never settled...maybe the 885s will...but for now I am happy with the new setup...
It was raining all weekend here so I didn't get any pics...

 

[Iggy]

Thanks for the update! It sounds like I went with the right setup. I'm still not sure if I'm going to get a bumper, but now I know it will work if I do.

 

[Stone_Blue]

Yeah, thanx for the update and measurements.
Interesting...I know apples to oranges, but with my 5100s on the 2nd notch and 885s, I'm at 24 1/4" now (I WAS at 25"-25 1/4"). 2nd notch on 5100s is supposedly 1.35" for the Tundra. I was at about 22" stock, so that would mean I'm getting about 1" from the 885s, now....They settled about 3/4" already. This is stock '00 Tundra AC, stock bumper, no winch...Hope the 885s dont settle any more...lol