taco chaser
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welcome stage 2
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First post and question
- Thread starter STAGE 2
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7wt
Expedition Leader
Welcome brotha! I would avoid TTORA unless you want like your spirit pulled down and spanked. Seriously, that place has a black cloud hanging over it that sticks with you for days. All you need is right here! OME would work just fine, just ask Don aka Schattenjager. The Demello set up works great, I have it on my 03 but couldn't really say for the newer models. I debated long and hard between OME and the Donahoe/Deaver thing and I went the later strickly because the OME Dakars would have lifted my rear too much for the weight I tend to carry. I was also wanting to get rid of the overload leaf. I an happy with my set up, wouldn't change a thing. Seriously, it handles better than my 91 CRX used to and I can jump it farther!
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Jacket
2008 Expedition Trophy Champion
The vibrations are not specific to any particular brand of suspension. If you lift your truck, odds are that you will get some sort of minor driveline vibration. That's not to say everyone gets it, but I think it's fair to say that most do. If you keep the lift at 2" or lower, you can reduce/eliminate it. Others have tried different sized shims for the rear leafs, as well as a swap to a single rear drive shaft. The results continue to be mixed though.
The OME setup is nice; I liked my 885 coils that I ran previously with a stock front end. I upgraded to the 886's when I got my ARB and winch, and it's stiffened the front end a bit, but it is still good. Definitely spend the money on the OME Nitrocharger shocks if you go that route. For the rear spring pack, you could consider removing one of the overload leafs (the Dakars have 2 IIRC) to reduce the amount of lift, but still get the ride benefits. And if you plan on running a trailer, you might not miss any payload loss.
Good luck. Lots of really nicely built 05+ trucks on this board!
The OME setup is nice; I liked my 885 coils that I ran previously with a stock front end. I upgraded to the 886's when I got my ARB and winch, and it's stiffened the front end a bit, but it is still good. Definitely spend the money on the OME Nitrocharger shocks if you go that route. For the rear spring pack, you could consider removing one of the overload leafs (the Dakars have 2 IIRC) to reduce the amount of lift, but still get the ride benefits. And if you plan on running a trailer, you might not miss any payload loss.
Good luck. Lots of really nicely built 05+ trucks on this board!
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
taco chaser said:
10-4 ! This will be a late winter / early spring project if all goes well. It is, after all, a matter of money. And research. Did I mention money???
Photog
Explorer
HMR said:
I looked on the internet, for the items that used to be called "Add-A-Leaf". It was a trade name for a glorified lift block. They were 3/4" thick, and looked like a stubby overload spring. Worthless!
I was not able to find them today (thank God). Most of the items that came up as "add a leaf" are full length springs, to add into your existing spring pack. This IS the type of mod I was suggesting. :jumping:
Folks are suggesting the Coilover fronts and Deaver rear springs. These are definitely great suggestions; but if you just need a little lift, and stiffness to support a little more weight, this is quite expensive.
THat is why I suggested the Tundra TRD springs. THey are a little longer, and designed for a little more weight (front). The rear springs are a toss up. If you want a little lift, and the ability to carry more weight, you will have to make some decisions. If you want it to ride soft when unloaded, and carry a load without bottoming out, you will have a raked rear end. If you want it level at all load levels, you will need a very strong spring-rate, and it will ride very rough when unloaded.
tacollie
Glamper
I just went to RaceRunner coilovers and Alcan custom leafs from a complete OME front and rear. The OME was great. The coilovers are amazing. Both are great, but if you want to drive a much faster over wash board and rough roads go for the coilovers. That aside, the biggest improvement is their ability to hold the weight over the OME. I would totally run OME if I planned on keeping my truck a much lighter.
taco chaser
Supporting Sponsor
Money and Tools and more money always. I will be designing and fab'n the front crossmember and the rear shackle flip soon, the rear first so I can get rid of his lift blocks. So maybe I can help you save some money in those areas to start.Schattenjager said:
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
Me again -
Brian is right on the money re: the Tundra springs being a little stiffer. However, I would suggest you compare spring rates before you add any spring and then hang some heavy accessories like a bumper, which inevitably leads to a winch, lights, recovery points etc. Look and see what rate springs others are using with accessories you are likely to use for comparison.
I have no experience with coil overs offered for the Tacomas, but in my experience with upgrading older Porsches, the adjustments WILL in fact freeze up to corrosion and sometimes the adjustments you made will not last if you are fully expressing the range of articulation in the suspension. They are spendy too...
Brian is right on the money re: the Tundra springs being a little stiffer. However, I would suggest you compare spring rates before you add any spring and then hang some heavy accessories like a bumper, which inevitably leads to a winch, lights, recovery points etc. Look and see what rate springs others are using with accessories you are likely to use for comparison.
I have no experience with coil overs offered for the Tacomas, but in my experience with upgrading older Porsches, the adjustments WILL in fact freeze up to corrosion and sometimes the adjustments you made will not last if you are fully expressing the range of articulation in the suspension. They are spendy too...
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
taco chaser said:
*sniff* your the greatest, dude!!! *sniff*
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Wow... thanks for all the responses guys.
Its funny that some of you mention TTORA because I'm a member there and thats the reason I came here. Apparently asking questions over there is verboten.
So from what I've heard so far, there is a real possibility of driveline vibrations from going with the OME setup.
If so, it seems my only option is with coilovers and a custom leaf pack. I was kind of trying to stay away from coilovers as they (rightly or wrongly) seem a litle finniky for my tastes. I also don't want to give up any payload capacity in the rear or have a mushy sand cruiser, which is what coilovers seem to give.
Do you folks think that driveline issues would be as prevalent with say an OME front suspension and a custom leaf pack that doesn't jack up the rear as much?
Its funny that some of you mention TTORA because I'm a member there and thats the reason I came here. Apparently asking questions over there is verboten.
So from what I've heard so far, there is a real possibility of driveline vibrations from going with the OME setup.
If so, it seems my only option is with coilovers and a custom leaf pack. I was kind of trying to stay away from coilovers as they (rightly or wrongly) seem a litle finniky for my tastes. I also don't want to give up any payload capacity in the rear or have a mushy sand cruiser, which is what coilovers seem to give.
Do you folks think that driveline issues would be as prevalent with say an OME front suspension and a custom leaf pack that doesn't jack up the rear as much?
crawler#976
Expedition Leader
STAGE 2 said:
Quite the contrary, the ride is much firmer than stock, firm enough to eliminate the sway bar and still have less body roll. The pavement handling is much "sportier", the off highway ride excellent...
Photog
Explorer
The vibrations will start, when you reach a certain amount of lift, regardless of how you get there.
One of the previous replies modified the tranny cross member, to improve the driveshaft angle. Others have cahnged the axle angle, with wedge shims.
Theoretically; if you can retain the same axle angle, there should be no vibrations. You are not lifting it above the u-joint's abilities. Sometimes the rear axle is rotated because of the lift. It has to do with the way the springs are curved, and the length of the shackles. Measure the angle of the rear axle before installing the lift, and after. If it is not the same, add a wedge-shim to correct it.
The OME springs are definitely stiffer than stock. You may find you no longer need the sway bar. You may also find you want to carry a little more weight, on a regular basis, to soften the ride.
One of the previous replies modified the tranny cross member, to improve the driveshaft angle. Others have cahnged the axle angle, with wedge shims.
Theoretically; if you can retain the same axle angle, there should be no vibrations. You are not lifting it above the u-joint's abilities. Sometimes the rear axle is rotated because of the lift. It has to do with the way the springs are curved, and the length of the shackles. Measure the angle of the rear axle before installing the lift, and after. If it is not the same, add a wedge-shim to correct it.
The OME springs are definitely stiffer than stock. You may find you no longer need the sway bar. You may also find you want to carry a little more weight, on a regular basis, to soften the ride.
Streakerfreak
Jan-Kee
crawler#976 said:
Right on. My Tacoma rides even better with Camburg 2.5 (Saws) coilovers and alcan custom leafs then it ever did stock, on pavement and off-road. They are wonderful. They are a good investment. Plus they were very easy to install. Took me an hour tops.
Yeah many of us came to this site through TTORA. You will find this forum much more excepting. Very rarely someone will yell "NOOB" at you on here for asking a question. Try asking this question on TTORA.
