2006 Access Cab Lift Advise

New to the site and owning a Tundra. My Chevy 2500 diesel was killing me on the cost of diesel so I parked it and purchased a 2006 V6 one owner 2WD Access Cab….loving the gas mileage. It’s bone stock and I’d like to install some type of leveling/lift kit to get the front end off the ground. Maybe some oversized rims and tires later on down the road after the new ones the previous owner installed wear out.

Just looking for some general advice and ideas on something simple and cost effective. Maybe a leveling kit and new shocks or maybe just some of the shock spacer kit I read about…heck I don’t really know, there’s just so much info out there it’s really confusing.

thanks in advance, Griff04.

 

Everything you need should be here: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

Skip to the "Suspension" section for the advice you need to hear.

(PS - Don't do strut spacers or blocks)

 

So you are saying just by leveling out the front end and putting some non-stock size tires on it’s going to kill my mileage..now I’m not talking about “large tires” just something a little bigger than stock.

 

Yes. Added rubber is added rotational weight. Added rotational weight == more effort (power) to spin things == lower gas mileage.

Some people see 10%-15% loss in MPG for every inch of tire added.

 

Thank you Shifty

 

No prob, holler back here if you have other questions.

Would be helpful to know how much lift you're looking to get to, and how tall you want to go.

Good place to start may be starting at the last page of the picture thread here, and working back. See if you can find a similar truck whose stance and tire size you love.

You won't see as much hit as others, maybe, being 2WD. Us 4WD guys are already a couple MPG below you.

 

Again thx, a lot of info on both links you provided. All I’m really looking for is to get the front end rake up and leveled out with the rear….really nothing drastic with lift or tire size, I’m enjoying the gas mileage vs my “parked 2500 4WD diesel”. Thx

 

How many miles on your truck, and is it still on the original springs?

Really, if you:

• Want/need "inexpensive",
• you only want to get the front end up,
• you never plan to offroad, which could risk a spacer collapsing,
• your shocks & bushings aren't worn out and you don't plan to install a proper lift later,
• don't have the ability to loads springs into struts yourself or prefer a bolt-in suspension solution...

... then I'd probably tell you to just go buy a good quality set of strut spacers ("pucks"). It's generally a bad idea to offroad with spacers and many would say you really don't want to mix spacers and lifts. You could also do coil spacers if you have the ability to install them safely. If you don't understand lift types, check this. For some intelligently broken down pros and cons, check this.

But, honestly, if I were you and your shocks were OEM/original/never changed/worn, and you just wanted an extra 1"-1.75" lift in front, knowing you're AC/2WD/V6, I'd probably tell you to go with a Bilstein 5100 and OME 2883 spring. It won't have you perfectly level, just a hair under. But if you don't want to or never plan to lift the rear, I think 5100 with OME 2884 spring may leave you squatting a little in the rear after everything settles out. OME 2885 spring would leave your nose up way too high.

Strut spacers still change your suspension geometry, at least a little bit, so you probably want to get realigned after, or do it when you get new tires, if that's not far off, you should always realign with new tires too IMHO. At least one member, @abcinv is running spacers on his truck (pic here) and they let him slap on an extra inch of tire, going from the factory 265/65R17 (30.6") up to 275/70R17 (32.2"). I don't remember if he went with a 1" or 1.5" or other sized spacer though.

I'd take reasonable height strut spacers over a shitty, inexpensive lift kit any day.

 

I second @shifty` on the 5100s. I have the v6 too and I lifted with 5100s. Here is my build page... look through that to see what I have done with pictures.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/a-kids-tundra.89748/
Also check out 1stgenoffroad.com for a ton of suspension equipment.

 

190k miles, shocks have probably never changed but not 100% sure, I’d actually planned on changing those also all the way around. Also I’m not into to off roading, just running around town, back and forth to work, and out to the farm on the weekends.

You’ve provided a lot of info, just need some time to digest it and do some more research on the lifts as you mentioned.

thanks a lot….you will probably be hearing back from me.

 

Hi Andrew, thanks for the reply. You’ve got a nice truck there, cool story, I’m sure your Grandfather is looking down and smiling.

 

So what I can quickly gather with using it as a daily driver the strut spacer may be my best option. The photo link you provided @abcinv is exactly what I’m looking for. Can you provide any recommendations for the spacers and new front end struts and rear shocks or should I just use OEM specs.

 

Maybe @abcinv is able to share exact details or links to the spacer he used in his truck.

If you want to replace your struts and shocks with a more-modern OEM-equivalent, go with Bilstein 4600. Just don't buy any auto parts on scAmazon or fleaBay, you may get hit with very-genuine-looking counterfeits as others have in the past. But the Bilstein 5100 really isn't much more expensive... so if you're replacing your struts and shocks, you may as well go ahead. the budget brands your local auto parts store has probably won't last you more than 40k-50k miles before they fail or bushings blow.

If I'm not understanding what you're asking with this answer, LMK.

 

I sent him a message, waiting on a response. As of now I’m leaning towards a full set of the 5100s. Once I make a decision I’ll do some before and after pics.

thanks for all the replies and advice.
Regards, Griff04

 

It's a great choice, and you should be able to get out the door at $750-$1k if you order while Veterans Day/Black Friday deals are hitting (between now and end of month). Might even be able to get into the 600s if you order it all and assemble the struts. Some vendors pre-assemble the struts if you want plug-and-play, normal fee for that service is $150-190 average, IIRC.

If you go 5100, can't urge you enough to stick with the OME 2883 spring, heed the advice from @2006 Tundra AC above - he went with 2885 1st, it was way too much for his AC/2WD/V6, the proof is in the pictures. The OME 2884 he installed really only works without the ass squatting because he lifted the rear. Access Cabs are already light, 2WD has even less weight up front, V6 is also lighter than V8. You basically have the lightest possible truck, virtually nothing up front to weight down the new springs.

5100 is good for street and light offroad, best of both worlds.

 

Just an update…decided to go back with stock struts/rear shocks and added strut spacers upfront….boy that was a mistake. The spacers come from a reputable company, not calling names. Per the documentation their 1” thick spacer equates to 2” of lift which would have leveled out the front with the rear. Not sure if it was the combination of the new strut assembly and spacer but it had the front higher by 2” vs the rear. I decided to just take them off and I’m happy with the results…it’s pretty much sitting level now but I’m expecting once the new struts/shocks settle some the appearance will change but that will be okay too. Thanks to everyone’s input on my post.

 

Yeah, that's what I meant in the IM but think I was backwards with my wording (smaller spacer provides additional lift).
Glad you got it figured out and dialed in to your liking.

Post up some pictures, we like pictures