Leveling 2004 SR5 4WD Double Cab -- Lowering Rear Instead of Lifting Front

Guys,

I've just joined the Tundras.com forum and this is my first post. I hope I am not offending those who see lowering their 4WDs as blasphemy.

I recently purchased a bone-stock 2004 SR5 Double Cab 4wd. Runs and drives like a champ on its stock 16" wheels except for the fact there was body sway. I replaced the sway bar frame bushings with Moog K80819 frame bushings (I could not find polys anywhere that could be reused with the stock brackets, and sway bar links with Maxx Link SPX-SMX-122260T (for stock front suspension, they offer for lifted applications as well). Now she corners much flatter with minimal body sway, even with the stock 16-inchers.

My tires from ground to fender are about:

Front: 34"
Rear: 36"

Question: Do you know of any companies that make drop shackles (1" - 2" drop) for our Tundra leaf spring set up, similar those found on Chevys, GMCs, etc.? See Belltech pic for C10 drop shackle as reference.

Thoughts guys?

 

SOS Performance makes a kit, but it lowers the rear more than you want.

https://sosperformance.com/products/tundra-racing-lowering-kit-fits-2000-2006-tundra

I lowered the rear of my 2007 using an SOS kit so it matches the front, it's great.

 

I've never wanted to lower the rear so I never searched for dropped shackles. The space between the axle and frame is a short distance and you'll hit the bump stop more frequently. My suggestion is to lift the front 2".

 

$46 Tundra 2000-2006 1"-2" Drop Kit Adjustable Leveling Lowering Shackles

https://www.amazon.com/2000-2006-Adjustable-Leveling-Lowering-Shackles/dp/B073QVNQ29

 

Thanks guys for your insights. Much appreciated.

Assassin pointed to a drop shackle that had a recent 2004 Tundra install review. It was good but I never needed to grind anything but this guy did to ensure fitment. Should be pretty much a bolt on unless the dude did something wrong on his end during the installation.

However, I found a couple more "brands" on ebay, one with zerk fittings, especially good if they are poly bushings, and another without zerks. See links below.

With Zerks: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Rear-Dro...X4/223175718267?fits=Model:Tundra|Make:Toyota

Without Zerks: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-2006-...nsion-Lowering-Drop-Shackles-Kit/283234806023

With respect to bump stop issues, I will need to check under the truck later to see if that will be the case. I've dropped my 1986 GMC SWB, mild 2.5"/4" then slammed 5"/7" with no issues. Different trucks but same thought process.

After this, I'm installing a stainless Magnaflow exhaust system. Still waiting for the parts to arrive.

Again, thanks guys.

 

SOS sold these or ones just like them, but they dropped them.

I would try and find out why they dropped them before ordering them.

 

Roger that!

 

this! The gen 1 has a very low amount of up travel in the rear. Don’t lower it

 

Hbjeff. Maybe you are spot on. Take a look at my spring/shackle pics. Gosh.

 

The issue is the distance of your bumpstop to the frame. Look above your rear axle... imagine taking 1-2 inches of that gap out at rest. You would hit constantly

 

ok. I'll check the distance from the frame to the bump stop once I can bend down. I'm at home nursing an injured foot for the next 2 weeks. The photos shown above and attached were taken when I first bought the Tundra about 2 months ago.

 

So you're after this?

 

So you talking a reverse level like gets done on 3/4 and 1 ton’s?

Total chaos makes some lowering shackles for our trucks. Only drops 3/4 of inch though.

 

Lowering the rear an inch may be fine if the rear springs are a bit stiffer or you add some air ride back there. Lowering 2" would be unbearable to me as others have mentioned, you would be constantly hitting the bump stops on the axle to the frame. A jarring and potentially unsafe ride at times if you were cornering when it happened. Surely the truck you lowered 7" had a C-notch in the rear frame rails. Otherwise it would have been frame to axle.

 

Could you remove the overload? I don't think your crazy by the way. I was going to do the same when I got a super duty way back when. I just happened to fall for one that was lifted and that screwed that plan. I just hated the stock stink bug stance and wanted a cheap level truck that didn't ride terrible. Plus big tires weren't what I wanted for mpg and towing.

 

Thanks guys for your insights and recommendations. Lots to consider still.

 

Hobbled out to my driveway this morning to check the current/stock clearance of the rear bump stop to the frame (bracket?). It is ONLY about 3 inches!
Therefore, I am not lowering my rear using shackles or similar. You guys are spot on. Thanks. If anything, I'll raise my front end 2 inches to level out the truck.
Thanks again everyone for your insights.

 

Next up. Replace existing stock exhaust system. But that's for another thread.