WELL I MAY BE WORN, BUT BABY I AINT WORN OUT (please help)

Howdy y’all- you may have read my introduction post about purchasing a 2019 trd pro super white (“fastest color” <- did I do that right??) anyway- after a 500 mile trip back up to Michigan she’s home! Love the truck, but hate how difficult it is to keep my foot off the pedal due to that sweet sweeeeet burble the pro exhaust makes.


I, unlike most of ya’ll am a total n00b when it comes to suspension upgrades. I have read hours upon hours of posts/comments in the suspension thread and i think it’s just made it worse for me. There’s so much information and kudos to ya’ll for that, but for someone like me who’s still trying to figure out why the round peg doesn’t fit in the square slot, I need some help below with if my thesis is correct. Oh, and before you ask, yes I ate a lot of elmers glue when I was a kid.



if you’re still reading at this point, I greatly appreciate it and if you send me your address- I’ll start sending my annual Christmas cards in your direction (Pics of me in red long Johns) along with forever being in debt to you for your endless generosity.


Here we go-

this truck is already fitted with what I believe ya’ll call a leveling kit? It has a strut spacer at the top on the front, and a square peg doo-hicky (block?) on the rear leafs. The rear also has a helper spring on it which I’m not so upset about as it seems to be by a reputable company and installed professionally.

1. with the fox shocks already from the factory in this trim- it’s safe to say that the leveling kit is strictly for show, glam, wham bam, eye candy and help in no way whatsoever when it comes to the ability’s the suspension has. The leveling kit is actually limiting the full capabilities of the shocks and has potential to damage struts, springs, UCA, CV’s etc (also changing the angle of rack and pinion?? Eh?)

looking at the pictures of other leveling kits- it looks like I have a 3/1 kit installed. From all the research I’ve done and being someone that’s more function over form I’d like to remove this. That being said, I would probably need to get an alignment once I take it off (looks like from has some camber ever so slightly right now). Lastly- what are the chances that within 16k miles that the truck has on it, damage has been done to parts of the truck. Is it as simple as removing the leveling kit, putting appropriately sized tires for stock height on, and back to the program?


If you’re still reading at this point, I will now be coming over in the spring to take care of any gutter cleaning you didn’t get done in the fall, could also help tackle whatever’s on your honey do list. Again, thanks much,


2. While driving the truck ( have put about 1k miles on now) I have noticed sometimes while slowing down or coasting, I’ll accelerate and there will be an ever so slight delay with a small “thud” then normal acceleration. I’ve read in these threads as well about slack or tranny hesitation (you dirty dog) but never seemed to read a conclusion. Anyone seen or tracked this down? Anyone have a tundra for sometime that’s always done this and hasn’t been an issue (how many miles on ur tundy?) I feel like my FJ started doing this at around 200k miles but I figured it was due to being driven brutally hard for 200k miles and she was understandably, a little tired and worn out. Well I may be worn, but baby I ain’t wore out....

3. Anyone using amsoil oil and do you think it’s worth the extra chedda? I have always ran Mobil one full synthetic but researching oils in this thread puts me in another rabbit hole like looking thru the suspension thread. (Running Mobil 1 right now and will probably just still run it. Simply curious to what you guys run and differences you may have noticed)


4. In conclusion- thank ya’ll for reading and any information biscuits you want to throw my way, I’m a hunnnnnmgryyyy pup. Anything you’d tell yourself to do that you’ve learned since ownin your rig I always enjoy too!!!


Hope ya’ll had a fun holiday and look forward to your comments!!! Woooooohoooooo

 

Nice truck! I can't see why anyone would put that big of a spacer on a Pro suspension, but to each his own. I believe the Pro is 2" , and that spacer looks like another 2, but could just be smoke and mirrors photography. Either way that's in the realm of new UCA's and all that jazz to get the angles back to workable. You could just Keep that same height with a new King or Fox suspension and send me that Pro suspension with your christmas card. I already have my gutter's cleaned, but the dear wife wants to repaint the interior. I'll let her know you're available.

 

White is always the fastest color

 

I read all of that, and I just don't know what to tell you. Except, if that was MY truck I would take that junk off, install +1.5" shackles in the rear, and drive it like I stole it. Those spacers up front really make your CV joints very unhappy. These trucks (PRO) don't need any lift unless you do it right and replace everything.

 

Ya’ll boys are too good to me. Pigeon- that reply is easily worth me not only cleaning your gutters, but hand forming copper gutters in your yard and installing them on your house. In the case that scrap prices jump up that it’s actually worth scrapping, I will come back and tent out in your yard protecting them from theft until prices come back down to “mehhh fuck it, it’s not even worth it” prices.


Appreciate you both.

 

I've experienced it; honestly, every truck I've ever owned (past about 2000) has done the same thing. I chalk it up to sort of 'catching' the transmission off guard, and instead of nicely shifting into place, it just sort of *bam* slams it into gear to ensure it shifts without grinding any gears. Every dealership I've been at tells me that if it's an occasional thing, that's what it is, and it's not anything at all to worry about.

Considering my 2 previous trucks had 140K and 280K on them with the original transmissions (and were both Fords), I'm not worried.

 

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happy this place is filled with folk like me. I beat on my vehicles for a good 200 250k miles. I want that whammer jammer CAPABLE. I mean, I’m blasting Ted nugent wango tango rippin redlining shitties in a snow covered parking lot in my FJ until the transmission temp light comes on. That truck was bone stock and only ever asked for more.

to each their own- but why buy top tier most capable off road trim and Jack er up with straight from the container ship parts? I got a good deal on her and planned on removing everything since day once. Question though- why the shackles? Appreciate the reply pal.

 

Welcome from a former Michigander living the dream as a Texan in Central Texas! I know stuff but nothing useful. These other guys will take care of you.

Nice Pro!

 

I appreciate you Taquito and your reassurance. Next time I’m in Texas, beer and speedway taquito’s are on me!

 

I’ll keep my ear and eye on er and keep a truckin. Haven’t read much of any catastrophic failure of these trannys, don’t expect mine to be the first. Transmission shifts smooth as a block of butter down a water slide regardless. Assuming it’s just me being in a new truck and not used to the song of her people. Thanks for the reply.

 

im assuming he used the shackles to level it up to match the front end lift. I’m guessing he had a shell or towed , and installed the helper spring for that? Dunno....

 

Yeah first thing I checked was the hitch when I seen the helper spring- hitch is well used. Was maybe going to find a dealer that’s not a group or douche nozzles and have them check transmission fluid and ponder about just having it flushed for peace of mind. Total overkill most likely- but who knows he could’ve been towing a whole circus idk!

I was asking pig why he’d add the 1.5 shackle not why are they on my whip btw

 

He offered me taquitos - we can meet at your place!!

 

I installed longer shackles in the rear to eliminate that dead level stance, and provide the truck with some rake. Could not stand that dead level look, and the "ass squat" when towing my boat. The +1.5" shackles were the best solution for me, no maintenance, cheap, easy to install, no squat when towing, perfect stance all the time.

 

Howdy from Midland.

1)Get rid of that scrap metal on the truck.

2) 0W-20 is always synthetic, so it's the same as other brands. No need for Amzoil or Mobile 1 unless you like spending more than you need.

3) my gutters need cleaned. Name your time.

 

Entertaining thread starter!
Pretty much already answered by everyone else but I have some gutters that are 18’ up on my pole barn, so figured to get in on the deal!

Get rid of the spacer/block lift ASAP. It is detrimental to what is arguably most silky smooth and capable OEM suspensions made (factory Pro is sweet!)

Get an alignment immediately after removing. You may have already sustained some damage from the previous owners install, have the alignment shop check it out.

Leveled trucks, IMHO, are for those that don’t use the truck much for truck stuff. The least load, either in the bed or on the hitch, make it saggy in the rear. The addition of the 1 1/2” or 2” shackles will alleviate this a bit without any real negative impact.

good luck!

 

I can't believe you made me read that entire thread. I think this is the first time I have seen someone put a spacer lift on top of a pro lift. WTF. Nice truck and welcome!

 

Glad we’re all on the same page, including the rest of the responses. The lift was bizarre to me to begin with and everyone here has made me feel warm and fuzzy about getting all that shit the hell out from under the truck. Traveling right now for work- but will be back next weekend to rip it all out. also have a decked system waiting for me woohoooo- trying to keep all my tools out of the interior on this one.

appreciate the reply boys- 18’ is a breeze. Consider the extension ladder already in the truck. Just let me drink beer on your roof please (mayyybe 2, but no more)

 

In my hours of searching the murky depths of this forum- there are MANY people with leveling/lift kits on their trd pro’s. Shit, someone made a thread about “let me see your stock trd pro’s with 295/70/18 tires”- almost every post the trucks are not stock- LOL. Lift kits remind me of Stuart from mad tv “look what I can do”

 

Midland Michigan you say? Bout 100 miles south of you in Lake Orion. Beautiful up there minus the floods- hope you weren’t in that shit.

 

TRD Pros are lifted/leveled 2” higher on the front compared to stock. That’s why 295/70r18 tires fit on a stock pro but not other trims. Coach builder makes a mild lift kit that’s supposed to work with the TRD Pro suspension as well.

 

yeah I hopped on that thread because I was also interested to see everyone’s stock height with those tires, as that’s my tire size atm. Most replies though aren’t even at stock height and are obviously on spacers.

 

Completely untouched by the floods. Thanks for the concern.

 

Mobil is good oil. Ran a lot of equipment with Mobil and never had an issue. I switched to amsoil about a year ago, and the only reason I did, is because a good friend became a dealer, and I wanted to throw some change his way. Either oil is a solid choice

 

I had a 97' Z-71 extended cab, new, at one time and it would do the same thing. I took it to the dealer about three times with them saying they couldn't get it to do it and just greasing the driveshaft and other drive train parts. I finally took the service advisor out with me and he told me it was that with an extended cab, the drive shift was two separate shafts connected together to reach the rear end. He said that was the "take up" between the response of the front shaft turning when the back shaft was hit with the torque.

Now maybe he was full of shit and maybe not, but that sounded like it was probably the issue. It was also 23 years ago....and not a Tundra.

 

Same on my gen one Tundra... the drive shaft telescopes to accommodate changing driveshaft angles as the suspension compresses. After some period of time, the driveshaft would "clunk" upon acceleration. A few healthy pumps of grease into the slip joint filled the free space and quieted the clunk. I assume our 3rd gens are the same, but I don't have enough miles on my truck yet to have crawled under it with a grease gun.

 

Nice thread OP must be related to Red Green somehow. I know, takes one to know one!