Adding Shims to Leveling Kit

Anyone have any experience or see a reason why I shouldn't add two 1/4" shims to my drivers side and no shims on passenger side to get her more level? Right now the drivers side sit about an inch lower than my passenger side, I hear this is normal. TIA.

 

In all the threads I have read while looking, most experienced about a 1/2" difference and installed 1 more shim on the driver's side vs the passenger side. Nothing wrong with installing 2 shims on one side, as that is what I am having installed on my truck now except installing 2 shims on both sides since I don't have the Tundra lean on mine. Every truck seems to be different though.

 

Are you adding anything to the rear?

 

I am adding Bilstein 5100's all around and Toytech shackles in the rear. Once the front is installed, I will decide on whether to set the shackles at 1" or 1.5" of lift, the 5100's alone will not lift the rear.

 

Any input would be appreciated.

 

I set my 5100's in the middle setting (1.57") and added 2 shims to each side. Gave me right at 2.5" after it settled. Had plenty enough room with the bolts on the strut top hat for them. You will be fine with 2 on the drivers side. Just make sure you are measuring from the center of hub straight up to fender to get your true "lean" measurement and not from the ground where tire pressure may skew it a little.

 

Is shim just the new word for spacer?

 

Yes and no, most spacers are larger and the shim is really to correct suspension differences between passenger and driver side, aka, the famous tundra driver side lean

 

No, it's a little bit different, but similar concept. Shims are 1/4" thick each and provides 1/2" lift. Can stack a max of 2 on one side. Basically used to even out the Tundra lean or provide just a little more lift.

Coachbuilder, Toyotech, Boss4x4s sell them:
https://www.boss4x4s.com/boss_4x4s_elevated_suspension_shims_07_and_toyota_tundra

 

So... little spacers? they go on top of the coilover right?

 

Yes...........baby spacers

 

Shims sit on top of the strut assembly where as spacers are inside of them. Shims don't add preload to your coil (don't affect ride quality) where as spacers do.

 

What he said. I have two .25" shims on the driver's side and one on the passenger's side. With my 5100 leveling shocks at the top setting, I'm a tad under 3" of total lift up front.

 

Spacers I'm thinking of go on top of the coilover, I don't mean the ones that go in with the spring.

Thanks TX, I keep seeing shims mentioned and never was sure what they're supposed to be. Baby spacers sounds right lol

 

Shims are those two black spacers in the picture.

 

Did you go with the 1” or 1.5”? What setting did you put the front in?

 

On the front, I went with the middle setting with 2 shims each side (roughly 2.5"). I set the rear at 1.5" initially, but dropped it down to 1" while installing the Firestone ride rite airbags/daystar cradles since it pretty much kept the factory rake at the 1.5" setting. At the 1" setting, it still has a little rake but only around 3/4" or so.

 

If your worried give @Coachbuilder1 a shout out. He's got all your answers. There's many threads that this discussion is talked about.

 

Yes it will work. But I don't think something is right to begin with. I'm aware of the drivers side lean although I never experienced it. 1 inch down on the drivers side doesn't seem right.

 

Since we are on this topic I want to get these bilstein UCAs but it says not compatible lift spacers..... so am I ok to use a .50 shim for driver side tundra lean??? I'm getting 5100s all around with top setting and +2 cb shackles to keep the rake. Idk shim and spacers are they just 2 different words that mean the same thing??? I'm new to this stuff so don't butcher me haha