06 tacoma, school me!!

[chicago]

Looking to do a 3 in lift on my 06 taco for mild trail use. Like to run 33 in tires.
I'll confess that I don't know too much about the Tacoma. Donno what r and p gears. Will 33's tank my mileage? Is this a tire size I should re gear for?
I've read a couple posts re. Coil spacers and they all pretty much said they were bad? Why?

If any one has any pics of their rigs... Feel free to post em.

Thanks

 

[Krust]

Bigger tires will effect your gas mileage. It can also depend on what type of tire it is for example mud tire, rock crawler tire, street tire, etc. tires that are nobly will also sound really loud while going down the road just FYI .

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Is this the same taco that was going to stay stock?


Had to say it.

No taco experience, but when I did my dad's FJ we first used the Icon aluminum uppers and switched to Light Racing UCA's. They use an OEM ball joint and offered great travel. We also went with Fox coilovers in the front and remote res. In back. It was a nice riding rig.

 

[CarbonCruiser]

I am looking at going to OME lift on mine. Currently I have a spacer up front and add a leaf in the rear. Its fine on road but off road I have not been impressed.

 

[CarbonCruiser]

On a 3" lift at what point does it make sense to change out UCAs?

 

[Krust]

I am looking at going to OME lift on mine. Currently I have a spacer up front and add a leaf in the rear. Its fine on road but off road I have not been impressed.

Ya spacers suck. If you are going to be off road get a legit set up like OME or ToyTec.

 

[chicago]

Ya spacers suck. If you are going to be off road get a legit set up like OME or ToyTec.

Right, but why do they suck?
What is the problem experienced w/ them??

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

On a 3" lift at what point does it make sense to change out UCAs?

At 3" lift, there's a good chance your caster will be maxed making alignment difficult, or "Just" hitting the acceptable range with no room for adjustment. If you don't have to, I wouldn't.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Right, but why do they suck?
What is the problem experienced w/ them??

K- a ton of people run spacers on Jeeps, Dodges etc. with no problems. My dad has had a set on his Tundra Crewmax for about 30k miles with no issue. I think people just view them as less because it's a cheaper solution.

I think you'll be hard pressed to find the empirical evidence of a failure of a properly installed spacer. I just think they have that low tech stigma attached to them.

 

[chicago]

K- a ton of people run spacers on Jeeps, Dodges etc. with no problems. My dad has had a set on his Tundra Crewmax for about 30k miles with no issue. I think people just view them as less because it's a cheaper solution.

I think you'll be hard pressed to find the empirical evidence of a failure of a properly installed spacer. I just think they have that low tech stigma attached to them.

I have a leveler spacer on there now.
All I wanna do is fit some more respectable tires on it for the washboard runs like in death valley, once or twice a year.
Just got back from the run in the 40... It's WAAAAAY OVERKILL and not the right tool for that job in ANY respect. Having run the taco stock down there it wad much more enjoyable, better range on fuel and just all around more space and comfort for that type of wheeling/ camping.
I think a 265 in AT tire would almost fit now, but... Just wanna get the opinions of those here who know.

Thanks for all the responses and keep em coming!!

 

[Krust]

Right, but why do they suck?
What is the problem experienced w/ them??

K- a ton of people run spacers on Jeeps, Dodges etc. with no problems. My dad has had a set on his Tundra Crewmax for about 30k miles with no issue. I think people just view them as less because it's a cheaper solution.

I think you'll be hard pressed to find the empirical evidence of a failure of a properly installed spacer. I just think they have that low tech stigma attached to them.

Basically what he said. Not that I'm completely against spacers but there are some high quality ones that are way cheaper still than a full suspension setup. Here is a link to some aluminum spacers. I read about them on the FJ cruiser forum. They make them for tacoma as well.

http://www.extremetrucktoys.com/tacoma2.html

 

[chicago]

Basically what he said. Not that I'm completely against spacers but there are some high quality ones that are way cheaper still than a full suspension setup. Here is a link to some aluminum spacers. I read about them on the FJ cruiser forum. They make them for tacoma as well.

http://www.extremetrucktoys.com/tacoma2.html

Lol... If it weren't my DD and I was not still making payments, I'd do a sas!!
Not really, but I've been fighting the urge to do a lift w/ a little bigger tires for a LONG TIME now.
What are the common failures on these rigs?
I've not had any issues with it since I got it, but... If I were to wheel it a bit more, I'd like to know a bit more about em and weak links to watch out for. Having wheeled it in stock form, one thing I CAN say is that Toyota NAILED the gearing. I was so surprised. Not that I'd take it through the rubicon or anything, but... From any other stocker I've wheeled, this one is set up very nice as far as the factory gears are concerned.

 

[chicago]

Basically what he said. Not that I'm completely against spacers but there are some high quality ones that are way cheaper still than a full suspension setup. Here is a link to some aluminum spacers. I read about them on the FJ cruiser forum. They make them for tacoma as well.

http://www.extremetrucktoys.com/tacoma2.html

Btw, thanks for the link!!
Decent prices for sure.
So I'm guessing the "diff drop" is to rotate the pinion angle one way or another??

 

[Krust]

Btw, thanks for the link!!
Decent prices for sure.
So I'm guessing the "diff drop" is to rotate the pinion angle one way or another??

I'm not so sure of what the diff drop really is to be honest. Gears are not my strong point! Check out this link. It explains it better.

http://www.customtacos.com/tech/index.php?article=101

 

[chicago]

I'm not so sure of what the diff drop really is to be honest. Gears are not my strong point! Check out this link. It explains it better.

http://www.customtacos.com/tech/index.php?article=101

Right, so it's like it sounds in that it will rotate the pinion angle to provide better DS angles.

Thanks again for another link!

 

[Brake Weight]

Right, so it's like it sounds in that it will rotate the pinion angle to provide better DS angles.

Thanks again for another link!

It rotates the front diff down the length of the spacer, 1" usually, and reduces the angles on the CV joints. It adds some slight angle to the front DS, but not as much as it takes away from the CVs. 20 minute project with tools in hand.

 

[CarbonCruiser]

At 3" lift, there's a good chance your caster will be maxed making alignment difficult, or "Just" hitting the acceptable range with no room for adjustment. If you don't have to, I wouldn't.

You wouldnt do a 3" lift or you wouldnt change out UCAs?

 

[Brake Weight]

You wouldnt do a 3" lift or you wouldnt change out UCAs?

I changed out all front end bushings to poly when I put my lift on. I let it sit/settle some before getting it aligned. The tech said it was 'close' to have eyeballed it in my garage but he had to set it to OEM assembly line specs, then adjust it to proper alignment.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

I have an 08 DC TRD sport. I've been pretty happy with the stock suspension so far.
When the stock suspension wears out, I am going to install an OME lift on it and retain the stock UCA's.

One issue I have with the lifts that replace the UCA's is that they all use an exposed uniball rather than a sealed ball joint. Where I live, the DOT salts the roads in the winter time. I've seen a couple of trucks with Uniball UCA's that were a year old and the uniballs were pitted and needed to be replaced. If you live in a place where salting in the winter isn't a concern, then the Uniball UCA's wouldn't be as much of an issue.

 

[Krust]

Right, so it's like it sounds in that it will rotate the pinion angle to provide better DS angles.

Thanks again for another link!

No problem!