Goal: Mild 1" to 1.5" lift; 30mm Slee Rear Coil Spacers or OME 2865 Springs?

[VinylSeats]

There are many great threads discussing ways to achieve a mild lift on the 100 series. However, I struggled to find a good source where many members discussed the pros and cons of stock coil springs with 30mm spacers vs. replacing oem springs with ones like Old Man Emu that provide a 1.5" lift like the 2865 springs.

As I write this I both welcome and fear @Trunk Monkey's "Use the search bar" screenshot reply. I've definitely done some digging!

Anyway, as far as I can tell, the following is a great way to achieve a mild 1" to 1.5" lift that can use stock shocks and doesn't require a diff drop kit:

Rear
-30mm coil spacers (Slee link)(~$75)
OR
-Aftermarket coil springs (OME link)(~$175)

Front
-Crank torsion bars enough to raise front end roughly 1" (or enough to produce proper rake from back to front)


I'd love to hear from members who have done each of the above.
-What do you like?
-What do you not like?
-How long have you been running your setup?
-If you could, what would you do differently?

Because the cost difference is so negligible (~$100) I'm not concerned about price. I just want to do what's going to produce the best result for the next few years before I invest in a more significant suspension setup.

Thanks for your help!

 

[gatormark91]

865's. The ride is so much better than stock coils. Spacers on stock coils will not be as good a ride.

 

[Vermont]

865's. But be advised, depending on the condition of your current stock springs, and what you normally have in the back (or not), you may be surprised at how much lift you get out of the 865's. I got about a 2 1/16" increase over my worn stock springs in the rear.

 

[aging fleet]

I've run both so I'll chime in.

I started with the Slee 30mm coil spacer with new OEM shocks and cranked torsion bars. I got the advertised 1.15" lift in the rear, comfort wasn't impacted, and I was happy until I went anywhere that involved loading up the back. Since you retain the stock spring rate, you lose that lift pretty quick with any significant weight. I wasn't really happy with that, so I sold the spacers and picked up a set of 2865 coils.

The spring rate on the 2865 is slightly higher so the ride was a little stiffer in the rear (I'm already on e load rated tires so it wasn't much different). The coils did give me the full 1.5" advertised height (factory bumper, no third row, no drawers) and, for me, they were a better route.

 

[VinylSeats]

865's. But be advised, depending on the condition of your current stock springs, and what you normally have in the back (or not), you may be surprised at how much lift you get out of the 865's. I got about a 2 1/16" increase over my worn stock springs in the rear.

Very good to know.

I really want to avoid cranking my torsion bars too much and lifting the front so much that it impacts the CV boots.

 

[VinylSeats]

I've run both so I'll chime in.

I started with the Slee 30mm coil spacer with new OEM shocks and cranked torsion bars. I got the advertised 1.15" lift in the rear, comfort wasn't impacted, and I was happy until I went anywhere that involved loading up the back. Since you retain the stock spring rate, you lose that lift pretty quick with any significant weight. I wasn't really happy with that, so I sold the spacers and picked up a set of 2865 coils.

The spring rate on the 2865 is slightly higher so the ride was a little stiffer in the rear (I'm already on e load rated tires so it wasn't much different). The coils did give me the full 1.5" advertised height (factory bumper, no third row, no drawers) and, for me, they were a better route.

Thanks for this. I really appreciate the insight.

 

[Zuks10]

There are many great threads discussing ways to achieve a mild lift on the 100 series. However, I struggled to find a good source where many members discussed the pros and cons of stock coil springs with 30mm spacers vs. replacing oem springs with ones like Old Man Emu that provide a 1.5" lift like the 2865 springs.

As I write this I both welcome and fear @Trunk Monkey's "Use the search bar" screenshot reply. I've definitely done some digging!

Anyway, as far as I can tell, the following is a great way to achieve a mild 1" to 1.5" lift that can use stock shocks and doesn't require a diff drop kit:

Rear
-30mm coil spacers (Slee link)(~$75)
OR
-Aftermarket coil springs (OME link)(~$175)

Front
-Crank torsion bars enough to raise front end roughly 1" (or enough to produce proper rake from back to front)


I'd love to hear from members who have done each of the above.
-What do you like?
-What do you not like?
-How long have you been running your setup?
-If you could, what would you do differently?

Because the cost difference is so negligible (~$100) I'm not concerned about price. I just want to do what's going to produce the best result for the next few years before I invest in a more significant suspension setup.

Thanks for your help!

Did you end up going with the 2865? How was the ride and lift height? I’m considering reducing my lift due to 3 torn CV boots.

Thank you,

Mark

 

[VinylSeats]

Did you end up going with the 2865? How was the ride and lift height? I’m considering reducing my lift due to 3 torn CV boots.

Thank you,

Mark

Yes, I went with the OME 2865 springs in the rear. I loved the both the height and ride of the truck after that change. This is what the truck looked like with those springs installed and a slight increase to the frontend height via cranking up the torsion bars:

 

[Zuks10]

Oh wow!! Thank you so much for letting me know. I originally went with a tough dog set up and it caused so many problems. It ended up being a 3 inch lift instead of a 25 mm what they listed. Oh perfect, I believe I have the same tires too! KO2 285/75 R 16. Or are those KO3s?

Your set up looks great!! Mine is similar. Stock bumpers and sliders. I don’t get too crazy on the trail.

Just ordered the 2865!

Thank you again!

Mark

 

[VinylSeats]

Oh wow!! Thank you so much for letting me know. I originally went with a tough dog set up and it caused so many problems. It ended up being a 3 inch lift instead of a 25 mm what they listed. Oh perfect, I believe I have the same tires too! KO2 285/75 R 16. Or are those KO3s?

Your set up looks great!! Mine is similar. Stock bumpers and sliders. I don’t get too crazy on the trail.

Just ordered the 2865!

Thank you again!

Mark

Enjoy! I sold my 100 years ago and have since driven a 200, Tacoma, and now a 250.

My 100 series is still my favorite vehicle I've ever owned. Wish I never sold it.

 

[Zuks10]

It’s such a sick rig!! Wow, that’s great to know. I’ve dumped a lot of money into and plan on keeping it forever!

 

[ChroniclerCruiser]

Enjoy! I sold my 100 years ago and have since driven a 200, Tacoma, and now a 250.

My 100 series is still my favorite vehicle I've ever owned. Wish I never sold it.

View attachment 4119520

Your build looked awesome, I can see why you regretted selling it!

Did you end up switching your spring setup once you added the aftermarket bumpers? I'm in a similar boat where I want to keep the lift as low as possible, but I'm also trying to plan ahead. My setup right now is a roof rack and dobinson's drawers with stock bumpers; I do plan on adding sliders this year and eventually a rear bumper.

Did the OME 2865 end up lasting through your entire build? What about the front, did you end up getting a diff drop and/or torsion bars? And finally, what shocks did you run?

Thanks in advance!

 

[VinylSeats]

Your build looked awesome, I can see why you regretted selling it!

Did you end up switching your spring setup once you added the aftermarket bumpers? I'm in a similar boat where I want to keep the lift as low as possible, but I'm also trying to plan ahead. My setup right now is a roof rack and dobinson's drawers with stock bumpers; I do plan on adding sliders this year and eventually a rear bumper.

Did the OME 2865 end up lasting through your entire build? What about the front, did you end up getting a diff drop and/or torsion bars? And finally, what shocks did you run?

Thanks in advance!

The 2865 springs worked for my final build including steel bumpers on front and rear. Roof rack was Dissent aluminum. I never carried anything on the rear and my back setup was relatively light with a sleeping platform and space for clear tubs underneath.

I did not do a diff drop kit. Just a slight increase to the front via torsion bars. I kept the factory rake from rear to front.

I ran OEM Toyota Shocks.