Gen 1, 2005 Tundra DC 2WD - King OEM Performance Coilovers 2.5"

I don't see much info anywhere on the Gen1 Tundra (2005) DC Double Cab and King OEM 2.5 coilovers when I search everywhere. Most people are talking about 2007+ Tundra, Sequoia, 4R.

The info I do find, can be quite contradictory, depending on the source. King, Accutune (forums), forums in general, etc.

First of all, these King, OEMs are great. Love the ride, 650# springs, factory settings. I do wish I had a pro spring compressor, so I could easily pull springs and measure full travel, etc, and adjust accordingly.

As they are, I'm around 2.5" lift out of the box, with about 1/2" higher with an empty gas tank on the driver's side. 1/4" higher with a full tank and likely level when I get in the truck.

What I'm trying to alieve is over compression on the shocks on (bottom out?) / up travel. I'm running 275/70/17 AT tires and they are not even thinking about rubbing or smashing into the wheel wells or body.

I think I can add 2-3 compression turns a side, and If I keep at least 2" of droop, have about 6" of upward travel, assuming all other things are playing nicely. 4" of shock travel = about 8" of hub/wheel travel?

I'm pretty sure I am compressing the shock and using it as a bump stop at 40 MPH in a big street dip currently.

I bought some DuroBumps, but I also think without spacers, I will compress to factory stops, albeit smother hits. As is, the stock bump stops never engage. Lower a-arms are dusty where they would, so has to be shock or suspension limiting up travel - not great if I'm correct.

Although new, I plan on taking them to King for converting to extended travel and maybe some tuning. maybe even 700# springs, we will see. this truck is stock bumper etc, but it is heavier than all those access cabs and tacos I read about.

At 94K miles, this truck is old in years but has a lot of life in it. have a great day.

Erik

 

Mine are potential travel limiters, and old - adding these sway bar link extenders.

https://suspensionmaxx.com/product/SMX-122270T

 

I don't have the correct tools to compress springs or loaded suspension. But, it seems to me that If I know the collapsed length of the shock, I can remove the entire coilover and jack the lower arm to the bump stop, measure the top hat rest/tower to the bottom bolt mount center, and have a pretty good idea which stops first, bump stops or shock. Thoughts?

 

I don’t think this should be bent

 

Enough compression to lift the truck, I’m guessing the collapsed shock will hit first.

 

15.25” space, shocks 15.375” compressed.
Not the perfect diameter, but what I had. 3/8” bumper spacers. Time to measure again....

 

Too much, went to 1/4”

 

Added 1 turn preload to driver, 2 to passenger. Feels pretty good. Probably leave it there until UCAs come in before final-ish decision.

After messing around.

 

Probably going to back those collars off 1 rotation per side. But, more exciting are the TC UCAs that arrived today with the extended sway bar links (separate). Looking forward to Sunday.

 

New parts are exciting, I also have a shop with a Hunter alignment system and DJ alignment recommendations ready to go. Yew!

 

Game on....

 

Like Christmas

 

Oh boy, no one told me I need a mechanic to press this out

 

Hmmmm. Don’t try this at home.

 

Put the misalignment spacers from your TC arms in the freezer for a few hours, they'll slide in easier. Also when you use the ball joint press to put them in, if it seems to sieze up, spin the tool and try again. If the adapter starts to angle at all it won't go further so you have to "balance" the pressure.

I like the thought you've put in so far.

 

Thank you very much @Darkness . I mean it. 6 hours to figure out one side, next side prob 90 min. I had to build a jig as a press, and spent maybe 90 minutes looking for a bushing I put in the freezer. Who does that? LOL

 

The jig...

 

Umm, yeah.....

After 10-11 hours of doing it, I don’t recommend a driveway UCA install at all. If you are a mechanic and can press gnarly bushings in and out at home, sweet. For the rest of us, sit this one out

However, I do have pics.

 

Looks great under there. Nice job!

 

Thanks, Jim. I didn’t realize what I was getting in to. But I’m a stubborn SOB. I wouldn’t do it again, but I’ll be damned if I’m calling a tow from home.

 

It isn't too bad but swapping the upper ball joint for the spacer is hard without power tools. First time I did them was hand tools and it was a 2 man job.

If you did it solo

 

Took DJ specs advice and went to the shop, was expecting a lot to change- steering was feeling more resistant and tracked ok but seemed to want to hunt around. Tech on a Hunter machine was you are almost right on as you came. He tweaked it a bit an now feels perfect as far as a test drive can tell.

 

alb1k: Now that you have had this for some time how do you like the setup? Have they held up? Did you put kings on the back as well? what is your setup in back?