How best to level: 2006 TRD AC 4wd w/steel bumper

Nope. I'm lazy.

 

I actually bought the full kit Add a lead and all. Like BMF It also has 5100 struts up front and they use Eibach springs. It should be noted that I did change out the R shocks when I did my Level. I added the add a leaf after the photos posted before the black grille

 

Here's the truck with about 100 miles after installing 5100 Bilsteins on 4 corners and 884 Old Man Emu coil springs up front. I suppose the 884s could still settle some. Nothing added to the rear suspension. There's about 200lbs of cargo under the Tonneau cover. The tires here are stock size getting due for a refresh and size increase.

 

Looks nice.

Got hub to fender measurements?

 

These measurements are not absolutely precise, did them free hand from center of stock hub cap to bottom of center fender: Driver side front = 22 1/2" Passenger side front = 22 3/4". So now there's a reverse rake of 1/4" on driver side and 1/2" passenger side. It appears the passenger side rear gained 1/2" height from pre-install measurements, no idea why, could be faulty measurement. The 884 coils could settle some still I suppose.

 

If thats with the 200lbs in the bed, thats pretty much level.

The 1/2" could be from the new shocks out back. They're charged/pressurized and will sit a bit higher until worn in.

 

Just what I was aiming for!

It's time for new tires. I'm considering 255/80r17s, 275/70r17s, or maybe 285/70r17s.

 

Looks good, how are you feeling about the purchase, any regrets with not going with 5100/885 combo? I think the lift looks perfect, frankly.

Don't forget to post your 'after' measurements over here: https://www.tundras.com/threads/how-big-is-yours-measure-up.46186/

 

A steel bumper might get added next summer. The question then will be if I need to move up to the 2885 springs and maybe then the progressive leaf pack in the rear.

 

And as far as tires go, you should be able to easily get away with 275/70r17 and no rubbing.
275/80r17 is liable to have at least a tiny amount of frame rub at full-lock if other AC member experience is any indication, but I've only seen it reported at full lock in reverse. YMMV, don't take my word for it.

Add the bumper first, then see how you feel. 2885 is likely going to add another 0.75" of front lift.

 

Thanks, Shifty. It seems you and I flip-flopped on our suspension pursuits.

I'm pleased with this truck's lift height via the 884s and 5100s on lowest perch, will be interesting to see and drive it with bigger tires. Thus far I like how it rides and handles on the new suspension, too. Hard to say if I would like the 2885s more since I haven't experienced them but the lift would surely have been higher, would have required rear lift to level, and probably UCAs. So I chose to keep it simple and as you pointed out, it probably won't break the bank to make adjustments if necessary for changes like an after market bumper.

 

Since you have 884's and 5100's you could just move one clip up for a bit more lift with the bumper, when it comes time.

 

Thanks Assassin. I thought about that, just curious how well the 884 spring rate will carry the bumper off road and on, whether things might get a bit bouncy. The ride now is nice IMO, more soft than stiff I would say.

 

Question: since the coil springs are doing all the lifting now with the shocks at bottom clip, would adjusting one clip up actually lift it further?

 

Manufacturer (or is it one or more vendors? i forget...) warn against doing this when using lifted springs. Not sure if it's due to travel reasons, i.e. limitation of the shock, or ride quality, or otherwise.

There's a grid out there somewhere that shows you clip limitations with stock-height springs too, I think for RC and AC trucks, anything above 2nd is not recommended, but I'm going purely from memory. Members running 5100 on stock springs and 3rd or 4th clip are often bitching about poor ride quality (stiff/rigid)

Quick edit: Based on your numbers posted in the 'measure up' thread, looks like you are about 1/2" higher in front, so you are squatting a little on those numbers. I think once you get your front armor on, that'll probably settle out and you'll be good. Assuming the suspension doesn't settle more than it already has. Take it down a washboard road at 45mph

 

Yes it will.

As it sits your truck has some 'droop' to the suspension, as the weight of the truck settles onto the springs. Moving the clip up means the point the weight settles onto is higher. This may lead to a slightly worse ride due to a bit of increase in 'preload' but it may be a non-issue with the 5100's which iirc are valved a bit heavier.

There is a caveat though, if you already have higher lift/heavier springs and move up too far, you will possibly top out your shock travel. That will lead to a terrible ride and noises, as another member found out

Travel and ride quality.

Going from the bottom most clip, to one up and only after adding weight to the front (which will drop the height) should be fairly negligible. I think.

 

OP's post-lift center-to-fender #s after lifting weren't clear to me above, but made more since in the measure-up thread:

FR LF @ 22 3/8"
FR RT @ 22 3/4"
RR LF @ 22 1/4"
RR RT @ 22 1/4"

Typical left lean up front. Rear is level, but front-to-rear, the driver's side has 1/8" rear squat, pass side has 1/2" rear squat, so he's definitely squatting even with the shorter 884s. I suspect adding the weight of armor up front will bring him to flush on the passenger side and ballpark ~1/8" rake on driver's side, which I think is where he was aiming.

I think it'll look a lot better with more, gnarlier rubber all around, help fill out that fender gap a bit. Once the bumper goes on, it'll look killer.

(granted, it's not all about looks, but looking good never hurts)

 

Here is said chart.

I'm running TRD coils on 3rd clip spot on 5100s I think it rides just fine. I have heard people say it's a bit stiff but I don't think it's too bad. I don't really even notice it.

 

Don't forget his rear has about 200lbs in the bed when he took the measurements. Without that the rear would be at least 3/8" to 1/2" or more taller.

 

Thanks for the assist!

Yeah, that chart is with stock springs. I'm still struggling to find where it was written or filmed that you should always use the bottom circlip with lifted springs. I have this nagging thought it was either on a vendor website, or more likely it was in 1st Gen Offroad's video where he was plopping Dobinsons springs into a 1st Gen.

 

Yep as I mentioned above, there's a "reverse rake" as it sits now. @Assassin pointed out that the weight in the bed could make the difference between perfectly level or not. I'll update after zooming a washboard road. Either way, I'm happy with it so far.

 

Just for S&G I took a gander at the OME's spring specs just to see if the 2883 could be a better option for RC/AC drivers who aren't planning to armor up. it's 15mm shorter, so I'm thinking the answer is "YES".
1stGenOffroad is showing the 2883 will give a V8/2WD/AC truck about the same lift you got out of the 2884. Stranged, they don't tell you what the 2883 would do for 4WD, makes me wonder if they don't recommend it...

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Interesting to see these specs, including how little difference b/w 884 and 885s, just 5 mil length and nothing else. I had thought the 885s were built with higher spring rate.

 

Yeah, it's not much, but IIRC, there's math involved and the 5mm translates closer to 1/8" or 1/4" once you factor in geometry, but I've always been pretty shit at math and geometry so don't expect me to explain. No point in sugar coating it, it's my unfortunate truth.

884, 885, and 887 are what normally get reco'd for 1st gens. 883, 888 are available options too but are rarely mentioned. If you weren't installing armor, or were 2WD, or wanted sportier stance, 883 would've been perfect. I saw someone say they ran 5100/886 on a 1st gen, but not sure if they were for real.

 

Mine is an old coil over with fox shocks set at 2", seems pretty level and rides like stock if that helps

 

Mine was higher in front for a while too. It'll come down a bit.

When we finished:



A few weeks later:

 

It looks to me like the 884 coils have indeed simmered down a bit. Here's the truck with newly added tires and no weight in the bed. Pretty close to, if not level. The "tyres" are the new Nokian Outpost ATs, so far I'm pleased with them, quiet on the highway and grippy on the dirt/gravel.

 

what size tires did u go with here truck looks great

 

275/70r17, Nokian Outpost AT

https://www.tundras.com/threads/how-big-is-yours-measure-up.46186/page-5#post-2927321

 

this dude (white '06) has kings suspenion, but if you have questions i can ask. The 2nd truck is mine and stock, but worn out, and the 4th truck is dropped 2/4 on 18" lexus wheels.