Looking to Replace Spacer Lift UPGRADE

Hello Fellow Tundra Owners.

Just bought a 2014 Tundra 4x4 Off-Road with a stick Bilstein suspension (4600) I assume. Previous owner put a 3-1 spacer kit on the truck and 35” tires. Been hearing some clicking, thunking and creaking coming from the front suspension.

I think the ball joints are binding, the Upper control arms are also rubbing the coils on the front shocks.

All that to say, I’m looking for a better option, thought replacing with Bilstein 5100 (adjustable ones) but that won’t quite maintain the lift I have I don’t think.

@Toytec Lifts what would you suggest?

I don’t wanna continue putting my suspension under harsh angles and tear more stuff up…

 

I have the Toytec Alumas on mine along with the Toytec shackles in the rear. You need to replace the seals on those flares and put the bolts back in those holes. I would hate to see what the paint damage looks like under the flares.

 

@Tundra234 How much did that run? 2k? How do they ride compared to stock?

 

It was somewhere around that when I bought mine. They have pricing on their site. It rides better than stock and a hell of a lot better than spacers....been there and done that.

 

@Tundra234 stock UCA’s? Any other aftermarket parts?

 

I went from a spacer lift to King 2.5s it was a world of difference but addictive. I’ve had the kings on for 4 weeks and I already bought a LT kit and ripping the king 2.5s off. I highly recommend upgrade if you can afford it

 

@jojo9878 thanks for the response. Do you have stock control arms still? Front diff spacers?
Did you go from a 3 inch spacer and a block in the back? Did the King 2.5 left it the same amount?

 

I have the SPC's on mine.

 

@lukedias00 I have a brand new diff spacer, choachbuilder shims which I was going install but didn’t. I also had some JBA control that I had powder coated blue never installed either. The rear I kept stock for the most part. when I measured it the front was about 1/4 inch lower on the front then the rear so it sat nice and leveled

 

I got toytec coilovers with coachbuilder shims and powder coated SPC's UCA's...pretty critical to change those if you get up to 2.5 inches or better. Added a leaf in back with 3 inch shackles....Important to put dif drop kit on as well.

 

@dkrou thanks for the response. What’s different about the leaf spring compared to stock? Imma start with UCA’s and see if that keeps my suspension from bottoming out and helps my ball joints from binding.

I just had an alignment done.. will I need an alignment after I change UCA’s??

 

You will need an alignment after UCA...if you don't have differential drop kit I'd add that while you are at it. The leaf I added in back was just to level the truck. your stance may be fine without it.

 

@dkrou i assume these are the diff spacers from the pics of kits I’ve seen.

 

I will say, I'm in a slightly similar scenario. I did a 3-1 coilover spacer when I first bought my truck, rides okay, I dont have the same issues you do as I only went to 34in tires and added +25 SCS wheels which helped push the tires out a bit more so no creaking or rubbing. It looks like you have the diff drop which is good. I've been doing a ton of research on suspension and in my price range (around $1500) it seems like the Toytecs are the way to go. Seems to be a nice combination of good road performance with offroad capabilities as well, although I am debating between the 2.0 and 2.5's as I don't really off-road (also waiting for a sale). They sell the total kit as well which adds a rear spacer or rear shackle depending upon your preference for leveling it out. You will need UCA's and rockauto actually sells SPC UCA's under the Dorman brand for a very reasonable price (there's another thread about it on this forum). If you are willing to spend a bit more, Fox and King's are the best of the best, but that's much more than I am personally willing to spend at this time.

 

@Nbab23 well I just bought blue powder coated UCA’s JBA HD’s so now I have to get the King Blues to match

I have a 1.5inch shim under my leaf spring right now. So 3 inch in front and 1.5inch in back still gives me an 1-inch rake. Not to worried about the back.. although I’ve heard shackles are smoother and help bed bounce.

 

That’ll be a nice look and feel for sure! And yeah having had both the shackles and blocks, the shackles help the back feel a bit better and help with bed bounce but not necessarily a huge difference.

 

@Nbab23 thats good to know cuz I don’t care to much if it’s not a huge difference. I mean a truck is still supposed to feel like a truck not a Cadillac

 

I have been very happy with 2.5 toytec front and back...I didnt get their 3 inch shackle since I got that and shims at coachbuilder. Some controversy on front shims to level but Dave is fan of using his shims to level driver and passenger side rather than do it through shock settings. I got one of his steering kits as well. I pushed him on UCA's and he recommended SPC's since had less caster than JBA's and I did mostly road driving with a little offroad each year.

 

Once my other kings come back from service I’ll have my oem king 2.5s for sale that are basically brand new just for future reference

 

Yeah that makes sense as far as the Toyota lean goes, I would think having two different shock height settings might differ the shock absorption on each side causing a rougher ride.

 

That little but of adjustment for a lean wouldn't cause a noticeable ride difference.

 

Can't remember the specifics of shim vrs shock setting but it also may have had something to do with the shocks themselves....UPDATE just found this from a 2021 post from Dave.

Excellent example Elduder We have a small window of opportunity that will allow us to dial in stance by using a shim without over cycling the coilover/strut assembly. The key is to not exceed center line of stroke, all of this is done without adding any additional preload and still giving us the option to correct driver side lean. Resulting is identical ride quality in the driver seat and passenger seat.

If you have added preload to the driver side wanting to correct the lean a simple test is to take a ride in the passenger seat and see how nice it feels compared to the driver seat
https://shop-coachbuilder.myshopify...ilder-strut-coilover-shim-provides-50-of-lift

 

Makes sense.....Is that what the common lean amount is 1/2 inch? Or does it vary just like the stock ride heights do.

 

It varies. If I recall, aren't there 1/4 and 1/2 inch shims?

 

I think I got half inch...but again it depends on total lift...I think you can go clear to one inch on drivers side and add half inch on passenger. I think the difference is half inch to get to.

 

I’ve always liked Bilstein 5100s for a nice riding budget friendly lift

 

Would there be a way to get 3 inches using the 5100's? probably would have to use a spacer with it. I think 5100 give you an extra 2 or 2.5?

 

Choachbuilder shims is what you would want

 

How much would i need to get the 5100 to 3in?