stock spring replacement 04 Tacoma

[njtacoma]

You don't know me...

I am just down the road in Boulder. If you want any help installing the kit, let me know, if it works with my schedule I am happy to give it a few hours.

That way I can see how it looks!!!

No seriously, pm me with some warning and I'll see what I can do.

This is exactly what I want to know for my truck.

 

[RMP&O]

The best thing to do for suspension, in paticular rear on a 1st gen is simply to weigh the truck.

Outfit it how yo would for a trip, load it with gear and fill up on fuel. Go weigh the truck and get weight on front and rear axles. It is best if you have done the front bar, winch, RTT or whatever it is you add to the truck in build up before suspension is done.

Then go find the right rear springs to suit your weight. Deaver can build them and so can Alcan. OME is off the shelf and that is fine just make sure you get the right kit for your weight. Front coils can be bought to suit weight also, most come with a #600 spring. Yet, you can get #650 or #700 and so forth to suit the weight you have on the front axle.

If you do not do this before buying suspension, in my honest opinion you may be throwing money away.

I see a lot of overland Tacos that have the stink bug thing going on, ie lower in the rear once loaded. I personally think it looks bad and hate it myself on my truck. The reason it happens a lot is people buy off the shelf kits without weighing the truck. Then they add things like rear bumpers, RTTs and so forth. Then you stuff the Taco full of gear and the result is a sag in the rear. Suspension isn't cheap, I have well over $3k in mine on my 04 Taco. Do it once and do it right is my suggestion!

 

[flyingwil]

Agreed. ^^^

We see several Tacomas at our shop, and honestly the stock size tires with an OME lift doesn't look silly at all. As long as the spring rate in the front is dialed in it rides well on the test drives, and our customers seem very pleased with the OME.

We've seen several do the OME coils with the 5100's only to come back a bit later and swap to full OME.

 

[RMP&O]

I should add.....

I can't comment much on OME but most of your front coilovers, SAW, Icon, King are sold in a 2.5" lift. Most Deaver off the shelf springs are a 2" lift, again not sure about OME. Right there you are setting yourself up for stink bug! Rear can often settle more than front and you can adjust front but not rear.

Nobody likes a truck that sits a lot higher in the rear or a lot lower. Myself, I like to be 1/4-1/2" higher in the rear before loaded down. Then once loaded be about level, maybe an 1/8" higher in the rear.

I have got some big weight changes from empty to loaded. I can easily stuf 600lbs of gear in the truck, think tools, recovery gear, camping gear, adventure gear, survival gear, water, food, oils and lubes, ect ect ect. Plus I have a 19.5gal tank behind my rear axle! So for me air bags really work well in the rear along with the right spring. I can not only load the holy poo out of the bed with the air bags but I can also stiffen up the rear suspension to change how the truck handles, ride heigth in rear is adjustable with them too. For me it is perfect but I do not need flex.

It is so difficult to get just right because leaves settle different than coilovers. Your best bet though is to get a lift that is either slightly higher in the rear or both f&r the same. And if you do not weigh the truck first, well you will end up with whatever you end up with!

 

[flyingwil]

I have yet to see an OME kit "stink bug."

The OME Dakar Springs will give about 2.25" of lift, although some times a tad more until they are broken in, and the front nets about 1.75". Another note is that you want to maintain the factory rake (lower in the front) especially if concerned about fuel economy.

Here is my take on suspension on the pre-05 Tacoma's. There is basically 4 lift groups:
1 - Spacer lift.
2 - 2-3" lift (OME, FABTECH, Bil 5100's, ETC)
3 - Same as above with Coil-Overs (SAW's, Icon etc..)
4 - 6" lift with drop brackets

Let's break them down:

1. Spacer lifts are just that. There is nothing wrong with a moderate spacer lift. They are cheap and some can provide lift with out changing the pre-load on the front coils, however, if going this route it is best to avoid the rear lift spacers. I have seen a few spit out on the trails, and tend to increase your odds of negatively arching the springs from what I have seen. In addition the rear spacers seem to act as a fulcrum point for axle wrap.
2. A lift below 3" seems to keep the CV's, driveshafts, etc.. happy. Although if above 2.5" the Tacoma benefits from a diff drop kit. Of all the non coil over lift kits I think there is only one major player for the Tacoma that gets my reccomendation, and that is the OME kit. The rear Dakar springs (OME) are built with overload springs and its pretty hard to find woe's about them. Pair them up with the front and you have a great set up that is equally matched.
   In comparision to the other lift kits out there, it tends to be one of the only one that does not worsen the ride of the Tacoma. We have pulled off 4 month old kits from other manufacturer's and replaced them with OME, and ever one of the customers has come back to say how great the OME kit is.
   Bottom line: Best bang for the buck is OME.
3. Coilover lifts: Coil over lifts are great for those starting to build up their trucks, it allows the front to be adjustable. If price is not an issue we reccomend Icon's in the front paired with the OME dakar's in the rear. Rear shock depend on the end user, but Icon in the rear is an excelent match with the OME's.
4. 6" lift with drop brackets... You actually gain more ground clearance with #2 or #3 above, so this is more of a lift kit for looks, with occasional off road travel.

Ok, now lets quick talk about rear springs... I have been through 5 Spring packs so far on my truck, so this is my take based upon experience.

All-pro = I had so much issues with my AllPro's they were only one for about 3 days. Search and you can find the threads. Of the All-pro Springs we have installed they allways seem to be off on their spring rate. They might be the right spring for some, but I do not recommend them.

Deaver = Awesome soft spring, but too tailored to the desert / prerunners for Overland use. I broke 2 top springs in an 11 pack. Good solution for high speed off road travel with limited 4L action.

Alcan = Exact opposite of the Deavers tailored to the rock crawler, although again a soft spring.

OME Dakar = Good mix of the above, lacked in the heavy weight department with out having the AAL. With the AAL it now out shines the other two for overland users. The progressive rate springs, and overloads make it great for all around use.

AAL's = Good solution to blocks, but each one has a different spring rate. I have seen some make the truck too stiff in the rear, and some just do not correct negative arching. Its a 50% 50% shot, and when you're done with everything you might as well have just spent the extra money on a new leaf pack IMO.

 

[beerhiker]

Thanks for the responses.
1. Where do I go to get axle weights, Ive been landscape places but its total truck weight. This truck is stock, 100lb shell at most and around another 200lbs in rear when loaded for camping.
2. Really want OME on front, no spacers or coilovers.
3. Rear is sticking point, any idea what Dakars with 1 leaf removed will do? or am Im confused, do we remove a leaf and add a different overload leaf? Who makes Wheeler 5 pack? good/bad? Edit: Wheelers made by Alcan

If I just said screw it and went with 881/ Dakar, anyone have pics of this with 265/70s

njtacoma, standby, this has to be done by mid June. unless I just drive it down to flyingwil have him do it :smiley_drive:

 

[flyingwil]

Thanks for the responses.
1. Where do I go to get axle weights, Ive been landscape places but its total truck weight. This truck is stock, 100lb shell at most and around another 200lbs in rear when loaded for camping.

Truck stops.../dumps. Just watch your wheel placement, they'll have a different front and rear.

2. Really want OME on front, no spacers or coilovers.

Good option for you IMO.

3. Rear is sticking point, any idea what Dakars with 1 leaf removed will do? or am Im confused, do we remove a leaf and add a different overload leaf? Who makes Wheeler 5 pack? good/bad? Edit: Wheelers made by Alcan

If you remove a leaf you normally take out one of the "main" springs (normally around the third one down from the top).

If I just said screw it and went with 881/ Dakar, anyone have pics of this with 265/70s

http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=page_view&p=gallery&a=gallery&gal_id=6

 

[beerhiker]

BTT. One last shot, looking for real world front lift numbers on OME 880 on 04 Double Cab. ARB is saying 2in, most others say 1in, there doesnt seem to be anyone on this planet who has really done this. All go with 881. Proving difficult to figure out rear springs when not sure where the front is going to land height wise.
Thanks

 

[98roamer]

beerhike,
I've been doing the same research. On YT, I found some info for the 880 in the 3gen 4runner section (since that's what I drive) 1.25" lift is what is expected. So I made a mistake about a two years ago by going cheap with a set of used 99' coils but the rear sagged. So I installed OME 906 in the rear which lead to the hated stink bug look and the ride is stiff without any load. Once it's loaded it rides much better but the front is lacking stability. I'm now installing 880 in the front to come closer to the 906 but still have a factory rack. I don't need a lift but want to improve ride comfort while on and off road. I did go with new Trekmasters shocks on all 4 corners, but the jury is still out. The 881 should give you 1.75' lift but again this is for 4runners- it might be the same, but I don't know. Next I'll focus on the shocks to improve ride comfort.

http://4x4wire.com/toyota/projects/blackbean/ome/
look under Phase One.

 

[beerhiker]

I pulled the trigger on the 880s and Wheelers rear 5 pak. Just came in from garage, failed miserably at install. Front went in perect no problem, rear is another story, going to start a new thread with questions on that. The 880s on front with no break in are coming in at 2", so if settle down another 1/2 to 1 inch all is good. The 265/70 look fine right now so will stick with those. I am running the prerunner look could not get the rear in :smiley_drive: So there you are the 1st ever Tacoma Dbl cab with 880s.

 

[beerhiker]

here it is OME880 and Wheelers 5 pak, 265/70....currently sittting at 1 1/2" before replacement.
The ride is so much better, I should have done this way before now. I love my truck as much as the day I got it!

 

[skrillah]

Thanks for posting pics! The exact same kit came in the mail today, super excited especially now to see ur take on it. So night and day difference in the ride? How was the rest of the install?

 

[beerhiker]

yes no more bottoming out front end on speed bumps, tracks much better over rough roads, much better all around.
Front was cake, did both sides by myself in 1 1/2 hours.
Rear front spring hanger bolt was tough to remove, went though 15 blades on a sawzall and took about 2hrs to get off, otherwise easy swap, for sure want extra person to help set the leafs in place, heavier then expect.
Good luck with yours!

 

[skrillah]

Just installed this same same kit, Wheelers 5-pack and OME 880 with Rough Country shocks.

Install went relatively well, took about 6 hours todo, and I didn't have any prior experience with leaf spring replacement. Had a hard time getting the holes lined up in the front spring perch, mostly on the driver side, I think only because it was a little beefier since the gas tank is on that side. The passenger side was pretty straight forward after that. I found that my drivers side front spring was actually broken, so made the $1200 a little easier to swallow.

Notes to add, I definitely suggest getting the front struts put together for you. I"ve had experience doing this in the past, and what a bear it is. Wheelers assembled mine and they were perfect with all new hardware and bolts, took me only and hour to complete both sides for install. Easier than changing brakes.

I've only driven a few miles on it but what a difference. This is how it should have come from the factory, What a difference in ride, handling, load capacity, its a whole new truck.

I will post pics up later today hopefully. This went on an 04 extended cab trd. Gave me 1.75 up front and 2.25 out back. As I said, though, i had a broken rear spring and this truck sees 85 miles daily commute. Only 94k miles though. Leaf packs and shocks are definitely a replaceable item after 100k miles, max.

 

[pika]

In November 2011 I went with Bilstein 5100 on stock coils and Wheelers 5 pack in rear with Rough Country 9000. So far the difference has been very noticeable with improved ride and handling. The stock leafs were wore out. Here is pic after the install sitting on worn 265/75/16.



I noticed the other day there is a significant amount of rust on the leafs. It is not confined to one area and I live in Georgia where the roads are not salted for the winter. Is this normal? Has anyone else seen rust develop on the 5 pack from Wheelers?

Here are a couple of pics of the rust.