Another Tacoma Build (Brian's 2015 DCLB)

[Adventurous]

I would have to agree with going the Icon route. After having had OME on my past couple trucks I'd go Icon if I had to do it again. The OMEs do have issues with topping out and are most definitely inferior to the Icons I have out back. Good call.

 

[brianjwilson]

Well I have most of the suspension stuff! I just got home and planned to install this weekend, alignment Monday. But I'm still waiting on the upper control arms.
The rear shocks are a couple weeks out too since they were a custom order. I'm trying to decide if I want to install what I have and deal with the alignment until I get the upper arms....



What I have so far is
icon 2.5 extended travel coilovers with CDC valving
Ome dakar leaf springs
Ome add a leafs (probably won't install these initially)
Leaf spring bushings
Carrier bearing drop kit
3 degree pinion shims (rather have these and not need them)
Allpro u bolt flip kit
Wheelers superbumps front and rear
Wheelers front and rear brake lines
East coast gear supply clamshell bushing
Upper control arm bolts

 

[Jerseytaco]

Sub'd:coffeedrink:

 

[MTaco]

Are you going to install the clamshell bushing regardless or will you wait to see if you get the dreaded vibe?

After I lifted my 06 I got the vibe and Toyota replaced my front diff under warranty, luckley, and it never came back. I did have ECGS put in the bushing though when I upgraded to 4.56's last year just to be safe.

It looks like you have your suspension all figured out, should be a beast. I also just acquired a set of the OME Dakars with the extra leaf off of Craigslist. I'm curious how they will ride. I need to get them installed one of these days.

 

[brianjwilson]

I'm just going to install the clamshell bushing I think. At least that was the plan when I thought I had all of my front suspension components waiting for me here...

Then again I may wait and see. If my company actually pays our safety bonus that they are suppose to, I'll probably order a clamshell and 3rd from ECGS with 4.56 gears and ARBs and the bushing won't be needed.

I'm definitely going to wait on the extra leafs for now. A lot depends on how it handles a camper with timbrens, or if I want the leaf springs to carry more of the weight.

 

[brianjwilson]

Didn't get much done before the wife was back home with the baby. I just got off a plane at pdx around noon so time today was limited.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll get an extra hand to help line things up and make faster progress. There will be some tear down to install the upper control arms but this is super easy compared to the JK!

So far just the drivers side coilover mounted. No other adjustments. I didn't install the ECGS bushing yet. If I have the vibration I'll install that bushing when the upper control arms arrive.
As usual I tried removing minimal bolts or separating minimal tie rod ends, ball joints etc, but quickly found that it is much easier and quicker to just separate and remove as much as possible. Measures about 1.25" additional down travel compared to the stock setup. If I set them up for 2.5" of lift, it should leave 2.75" of droop from ride height based on my measurements (okay technically that's with nobody in the cab). I believe that should be enough to maintain a good ride. I'm so excited to have a decent performing IFS. My other ifs rigs have had either cranked torsion bars or preloaded springs on bilstein 5100s, with little droop and almost no rebound control. Lots of harsh topping out off road like that.

 

[Adventurous]

Are you planning to go the topper route or bed bars with RTT? I just put a Leer topper on my truck and will be pulling apart the rear suspension shortly to do the add-a-leaf. After the shell was installed it now sits about level with the front. Just an FYI if that is in your future.

 

[brianjwilson]

I have a four wheel camper coming in June. If I was always carrying a canopy I would install the add a leaf for sure.

I know the add a leaf alone won't carry the camper comfortably though, so I will be ordering a taller softer timbren. When the camper is off I'll run the super bumps instead of timbrens. Right now I'm just not sure if the camper will stay on all the time or not. And if I offload it frequently I don't think I'll want the extra leafs...? Or maybe I'll just throw in sand bags for weight when the camper is off. Who knows. If I really like the way it rides empty with the Dakars I may not install the extra leaf. I figure I'll let the springs settle without it, see how it rides and then make a decision. Either way I don't have the longer rear shocks yet so I don't want to make the rear taller than I need to at this point.

Decisions decisions...

 

[Adventurous]

I have a four wheel camper coming in June. If I was always carrying a canopy I would install the add a leaf for sure.

I know the add a leaf alone won't carry the camper comfortably though, so I will be ordering a taller softer timbren. When the camper is off I'll run the super bumps instead of timbrens. Right now I'm just not sure if the camper will stay on all the time or not. And if I offload it frequently I don't think I'll want the extra leafs...? Or maybe I'll just throw in sand bags for weight when the camper is off. Who knows. If I really like the way it rides empty with the Dakars I may not install the extra leaf. I figure I'll let the springs settle without it, see how it rides and then make a decision. Either way I don't have the longer rear shocks yet so I don't want to make the rear taller than I need to at this point.

Decisions decisions...

Ever thought about a set of air bags? Some come with internal bumpstops so you could run minimal PSI when the camper wasn't on yet have the support you needed when it was on.

 

[brianjwilson]

Yeah I couldn't find any airbags for the tacoma that came with internal bump stops. Also I didn't really like them for off road use. They seem to rebound very hard due to the small volume of air. I like the idea of running air bags with internal jounce stops and either a cradle or just a longer bag, but I just haven't ever been that impressed with them (other than the adjustability). I used them on my f150 and they were great with the camper, otherwise I didnt care for them much. Plus the bracketry usually sucks, and it is more stuff to fail. If I can get a good ride out of a set of timbrens with nothing to break I will be very happy. We'll see. I'm not opposed to trying something different if this doesn't work out.


I did make progress today. In the past I always just keep going until I finish a project. But after travel home and my baby only allowing my 3 hours of sleep last night it is slow progress. I don't have a time line so it is no big deal to leisurely work.

The front is done aside from the upper control arms when they arrive, an alignment and brake lines. I set them for 2.25" of lift over stock. Just over 3" of droop from unloaded ride height. I installed the wheelers super bumps with 1/4" spacers until I fit tires and check for rubbing. The ride is amazing. Normal driving feels, well normal. But I blasted through a couple of rough sloped driveway entries and the front just smoothly soaked it up without a peep. The rear bottomed out hard, but the front felt so smooth and controlled!

I'm in the middle of installing the dakars but my buddy had to leave. If I can get them in myself without messing up my neck more I will tonight.

 

[Jerseytaco]

More Pics

:ylsmoke:

 

[brianjwilson]

:ylsmoke:

Hah this has been the slowest short project ever. Last night I installed one of the dakars, but did not torque anything down because I want to weight until it is sitting at ride height. I got in trouble for making too much noise when my wife was putting the baby to bed so I stopped. We had company over this morning. I was just about to finish but the baby is sleeping again and I've been warned!

All I have for pictures right now is the front together with superbumps, and one leaf spring mostly installed....





I'm glad I order longer than standard rear icons. These springs will handle several inches of droop beyond what the factory shocks provide. I need to definitely replace the brake lines before I install longer shocks.

 

[brianjwilson]

Here it sits with the front Icons set at 2.5" over stock, wheelers superbumps. Rear with OME Dakar springs providing 2.75" lift over stock, with all pro u bolt flip kit and wheelers super bumps installed. The timbren will bolt in the same location as the super bumps when the camper is loaded.

Hopefully I'll get the upper control arms and rear shocks before I leave again. There is a lot of positive camber but I don't want to align it now and do it again when the control arms get here. Based on the amount of movement of the driver's side CV at the clamshell I think I will install the ECGS bushing when I install the upper arms. I may even wuss out and have a shop install the brake lines so I don't screw up bleeding them without a helper.

Tires are at least a week out it sounds like....

I definitely have more driveline shudder from a stop. I need to look at the driveline angles. It seems like the first section out of the transfer case is already at a fairly high angle, so I'm not sure I want to drop the carrier bearing without checking. Although it is an easy thing to try and see what it does I suppose.

 

[brianjwilson]

We went to dinner and drove around a bit. Aside from the shudder below 15mph, everything feels smooth up to 70. At 70 there may be a tiny hint of vibration somewhere buts I can't even say for sure. If anything it's probably the driver's side CV moving around in the clamshell. That is all great news to me that it's smooth at speed, especially after dealing with all of the driveline issues on the jeep.

And the dakars ride surprisingly nice as far as I can tell. Just driving on rough roads with potholes and stuff, I would say as smooth as the factory 4 leaf pack. I think the ride would still be ok if I decide to install the extra leaf and removed the upper overload, retaining the same ride height. I don't think the overload is even really needed as long as either the superbumps or timbrens are installed.

 

[Jerseytaco]

looks great lookin forward to see it with the new tires