'04 DC Suspension Advice

[aheiser]

Hey Everyone! I've been digging in and searching all the info on the board. I love it here! All the rigs are so inspiring!

Anyway, I have a build planned for my '04 Taco DC and despite searching and reading hundreds of good posts, I'm still going back and forth about what to run in terms of a suspension/lift. I typically like doing things only once, but I don't have loads of money laying around to throw at it (does anybody I guess? lol).

To start, I'm shooting for a 2.5-3" lift, some 285/75's, and an ARB bumper with an M8000 in it. I figure it will be nice to get the weight up front at the same time as the lift so I can get the ride height correct from the beginning. So here comes my point of indecision. Many people seem to say that an OME lift all around with 882s in front will do me just perfect. Simple, performs well, is affordable, etc. Others seem to state that adjustable coilovers perform better, are adjustable, some are rebuild-able, etc. So ultimately, the questions I seem to still have, and would like some input on are:

* How much do you think I'd appreciate the adjustability of a coilover? I like the rear end to sit at least level if not a little higher, like stock. So I'm looking for probably 2.5-3 in front and 3-3.5 in back. Will 882s with trim packers get me there? And allow me adjustment room?

* If I do head the way of adjustable coilovers, and if I couldn't swing the price of say Donahoes, are something like the Toytec COs still very good? I suppose if enough people were to tell me "Yes, the donahoes are absolutely worth 400-600 more than OME coils or low end adjustable coilovers" I would consider them. But I'm hoping to keep things a bit cheaper than that overall.

Thanks for any advice, criticism, trash-talking because of a repeat subject

 

[TEJASYOTA]

It depends on what you plan to do with your rig....or how hard you plan to wheel or expo or mud or DD your truck. It all adds up to what you need.

Not sure if you saw this thread during your searching.
What to ask yourself, before purchasing a suspensions system - click here

It will help ask some of the questions you need to ask yourself.
Then there are links that are very good information on the different IFS systems out in the market (note that Donahoes = Hoes = ICON).

The two you mentioned in your link will do the job, but I if you ready do plan to use the ARB bumper, I would vote for an adjustable CO for the front. Be it ICON, SAWs or FOX.

keep reading and asking the questions.
Hey post up a pic of your truck.

 

[mtnbike28]

Adjustable fronts...

I don't know how the road salt is in N. Colo., but here in NY, everyone who bought the adjustable/rebuild-able fronts said they wouldn't do it again, they are rusting solid.... granted this is a small sample size, 4 people, but I went with OME... not sure/doubt if it would fit 285s, I stopped at 235/85 16s

just my 2 cents

 

[aheiser]

Hey good point! That would be important info! I would describe my usage of this truck as light to heavy-moderate off-roading. Mostly in the rocky mountains in CO, perhaps some in Moab, etc. So not a lot of mud, swamp blasting, or dune jumping.

We do a lot of camping but typically my load out will be two adults, and maybe ~300 lbs of gear including truck stuff, water, etc. We go pretty light.

Sounds like in the rear, something like the OME springs will work pretty well. Is there a good reason to spend the extra on deavers or alcans even if I don't really load the truck down hard?

Here's a pic from last year right after I got it. Not much has changed except of course the removal of the cheesey nerf bars

 

[aheiser]

I don't know how the road salt is in N. Colo., but here in NY, everyone who bought the adjustable/rebuild-able fronts said they wouldn't do it again, they are rusting solid.... granted this is a small sample size, 4 people, but I went with OME... not sure/doubt if it would fit 285s, I stopped at 235/85 16s

just my 2 cents

Hmmm. Good thoughts. Here in Northern CO, they don't use salt, but nearly as bad, they use a lot of Mag Chloride. I'm fairly meticulous about washing my truck and getting the crap off of it as soon as it gets nice, but that's certainly a concern.

 

[seanz0rz]

with that much weight up front, i would highly recommend sonoran steel's lift using the tundra coils.

its a tundra coil with an adjustable bilstein 5100 shock, plus diff drop. you can piece it together your self if you wish to, might be cheaper.

with this front lift you can run 285/75r16 with a little trimming of the pinchweld. its what i run in mine with shrockworks bumper and more recently a smittybilt xrc8 winch with standard steel line. it gives me a great ride and plenty of flex in the front.

i wouldnt go much past 2.5 inches of lift on the front, thats when you really start blowing out cv's at full droop.

cant comment on the rear setup, i know nothing about leaf springs.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Running a near identical 'Radiant Red' 04' DC with a customized OME setup all the way around. The rear springs have beyond proven themselves and the front coils/struts are a great combination of suspension attributes and longevity alike. With the Utah winters the threaded body adjustable coil-overs just don't last and rebuilds can be timely and costly alike.

Here is a great thread on the front suspension options:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30469&highlight=shock
(4Runner & Tacomas use the same basic front end components)

 

[007]

I've had the OME and the Donahoe setup. I prefer the coil overs for baja type driving over long distances because they don't heat up and fade.

If shock fade is not a concern or something that you notice I would certainly go with the heavy coiled OME.

If you do get adjustable coil overs you can spray them with a product called fluid film a couple times a year.

 

[aheiser]

Great help

Thanks guys, this is some great info. I wasn't familiar with the Sonoran Steel lift, I'm going to do some reading on it. So far, it sounds like for sort of "slow crawling" and rocky stuff, I may not reap some of the benefit of something like the Icons, etc. I do like however that the icons and similar CO's are easily adjustable without disassembling.

One last question. Any reason with an OME setup to go with bilstein 5X00 series shocks front and rear as opposed to the OME shocks? At least other than the fact that I don't like yellow?

 

[7wt]

I have Donahoes on my 03 that I put on when I lived in CA. I was worried about the salt once I moved to CT but this has proven to be unfounded. My shock bodies have taken on a dull look to them but no corrosion. They are still completely adjustable. The only thing I do is wash the truck after a the salt is off the roads. When they are shot, I will replace them with a new set because I am too lazy to rebuild them.

 

[Willman]

Love the Color!!

I love my Donahoes! They are worth every penny! I do see many used pairs come up for sale on TTORA..

For the rear....I'm running Deavers....they are a great spring for the most part. They flex great....some people have had problems with them breaking and not holding the weight...These OME Dakkar rear springs are my next set!! Sierra Expedition is selling a package deal on a rear kit.

If i was you....get the Donahoes and the Dakkars!

Hope this helps!

 

[aheiser]

Love the Color!!

I love my Donahoes! They are worth every penny! I do see many used pairs come up for sale on TTORA..

For the rear....I'm running Deavers....they are a great spring for the most part. They flex great....some people have had problems with them breaking and not holding the weight...These OME Dakkar rear springs are my next set!! Sierra Expedition is selling a package deal on a rear kit.

If i was you....get the Donahoes and the Dakkars!

Hope this helps!

Wow, so you're actually interested in replacing the Deavers with OMEs? Seems like people really describe Deavers as the best rear spring.

 

[austintaco]

I am running the tundra coils and red/blue bilsteins from a TRD tundra up front and a pair of 3" ALL Pro springs in the back.
Here's a link to some installs of tundra coils. I have the red/black tacoma at the bottom.
http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=49.0

When I put everything on, I think I gained just under 3" in the front and just over 3" in the rear. The rear settled more than the front and after a few months I had 2.75" up front and 3" in the rear.
The ARB up front dropped me down another 1/4" to 2.5".

However, I didn't think this completely through when I bought everything and the All Pro's don't support all of my gear. With a loaded up truck, the springs flexed significantly and I had about 1/2" before rubbing, but they were designed for flex not carrying a load.

For the front, I want to change to adjustable bilsteins, and I am still trying to decide what to do for the rear. I thought Deavers would be the way to go, but maybe I will look into the Dakkars.

 

[Howard70]

Rear Springs - Axle Position

Hello Guys:

We're running Alcans on the rear of our DC 2004. They were great springs, but have settled under our loads and I'm looking for a replacement that is a better load-carrying spring - thinking about the OME Dakkars several of you have mentioned. When I ordered the Alcans, I had the axle position moved slightly to better fit the 255/85 MT's. That seemed to work great.

So here's the question - as the OME Dakkar's are off-the-shelf and not a custom fabricated spring like the Alcans or Deavers, do they position the rear axle well for the 33 - 34" diameter 255/85 MT's?

Howard

 

[aheiser]

And to add to Howard's question, how much lift do most people see out of the rear OME Dakars? I'm looking for probably 3-3.5", unloaded. But I seem them listed as 2.25". Am I pretty much going to have to beef them up or go with some 1" lift shackles?