Hey guys...need help with my suspension.

So, second post. I have a 2021 Limited, with what I can tell is a 6-8" Readylift lift, with Rough Country Coil overs sitting on 37's. I am lowering the truck with 35's and was attempting to put BP51s on the front (they are sitting in my garage after a failed install). I talked to Shock Surplus (great guys they seem) and they have told me the BP51s wont work. So I am left with getting a longer coil over or adding a spacer on top of the BP51's. This is actually what I am leaning toward for two reasons. 1) we bought the truck to pull a small trailer and go camping...mostly fire roads, so not at all any hardcore 4 wheeling. 2) the BP51 seem like they will afford me the best ride.

Now, since the Readylift has already changed the angles of the axles and everything that comes with a 6-8" lift and since the BP51's can provide up to a 3" lift in a stock set up and all my angles should be close to a stock set up, can I just put a 3"ish spacer on top of the BP51s and accomplish the install. I know it is not the best set up, but for what I plan to do with the truck, which is not any hard off roading I should be fine. Why lower it...because it is just too tall especially for my wife.

Thanks for any constructive comments.

 

I’m sure some will chime in and let you know that most are not a fan of rough country products due to questionable engineering, durability and quality. All that aside, your front end looks maxed out. That UCA angle is full droop at rest. Surely you can relax that 2” with a shorter coil over. What was the failed part of the BP51 install?

 

I agree that the current set up looks maxed out. The BP51s were just too short in their stock set up. I didn't adjust them to the max height setting and I didn't put spacers on so they were just a little too short.

 

I will readily admit that before I started this process I didn't know that much about suspension. The last couple of days I've gone down the rabbit hole of suspension, lifts, front axle angles, yada yada yada. So I really think the BP 51s are what I want and I'm okay with the 3-in spacer even though I know that That's not the ideal setup.

 

You won’t need a 3” spacer though. It’s roughly 2:1 lift with a spacer. 1” spacer yields 2” of lift typically. If you’re trying to lower it some, start with a smaller spacer. I’m just not sure how much adjustment you have with that lift.

 

Yeah Roger that. The current rough country coilovers have what looks to be an inch and a half spacer on top of them for some unknown reason. Like the damn lift wasn't already high enough. Anyway I would rather not max out the BP 51s so I'm hoping a spacer of some sort will allow me enough height so that I don't cause any conflicts with the rest of the lift, namely the extended knuckle.

 

I'd ask in our suspension subforum. https://www.tundras.com/forums/suspension.19/

This thread might help identify some other members running that setup also https://www.tundras.com/threads/made-decision-6-inch-lift-question.51810/

 

Would reusing that spacer work with your BP51s?

 

Just looked up the specs for the BP51s. You’re gonna need to ditch those and get some coilovers for a Tundra with 6” of lift. Can you take the spacer off the RCs and reinstall to lower the truck at least for now?

 

I would not use those BP51’s. There is no way they will work.

instead look at the Icon 6” front coil over as a replacement or the 6” King coil over. Either of those will be the shock you want.

If you’re going back to 35’s you won’t need the spacer either.


And lastly is that just a nylock nut holding your ball joint in?

Edit: if memory serves me correctly you need to specify when getting a replacement coil over which lift kit you have. Rough country vs Pro comp. Obviously you know you have the rough country.

 

Thanks everyone for all your assistance. All you guys are awesome...long distance High 5's. I told my wife last night that I was just gonna pull the spacers that are on top of the RC Coil overs and get the new rims and tires on (rims I already have) and see how she rides. Went with 17" rims, so with 35's I will have a lot more sidewall to absorb some of the road/rocks. The spacers look to be 1.5" so removing them should lower the truck approx 3" and going from 37's to 35's should bring her down another 1", so that should make things a little more manageable. You guys are right and the BP51s will not work. I measured and remeasure them last night and the tie rod will conflict. The suggestion for the Icons is the right suggestion and if we just cant bear the RC ride (presently it is not bad at all) then it will be the Icons that I go with.

Juan, is that nylock nut not the appropriate fastener to be using? The Truck came like this, so please forgive my ignorance, but that was how she was when I got her a few week back.

 

Ok so I’ll start with the spacers on top of your coilovers, those should be 1.5 or 1.75”. IF you pulled those off your truck, you “should” have a 6” lift in the front. I think the previous owner bought the 6” kit then added the spacers to get 8”. It also looks like they got the rough country UCA’s. Probably had a really hard time getting it aligned with stock ones.

Now for that Nylock nut holding your ball joint from your UCA to the knuckle, absolutely not. It should be a castellated nut with a cotter key(or that weird Toyota version of a cotter key).

Here is what I would do, take it to a reputable 4wd shop and have it checked out. I wonder what else isn’t quite right.

Then depending on budget and your needs come up with a game plan. You said no wheeling but you will tow with it.

Good news you can do that with a drop bracket lift, bad news you will most likely have to replace some of that setup to do so in a more controlled manor. It could get expensive quick. If you have a shop that sells Rough country and icon you may be able to find the knowledge you need in one place.
Parts you may want to replace would be coilovers, UCA’s. You can source both from Icon. I think the tubular control arm is recommended for that swap. If you get lucky that could be it. Maybe 3k depending on when/where you buy.

If your trailer is heavy then you may want to get rid of your block in the back and match the 6” shocks from Icon. I’m pretty sure smooth ones would work for your application. Then you could choose Coach builder shackles and a set of Deaver/icon leaf springs. Or a set of 6” custom leaf springs. I’m not 100% on what would be the best choice for the rear.

I realize that’s a lot. Starting with having the lift checked and the alignment with your new wheels and tires would be a great starting point. Then build your plan. Remember Black Friday is a great time to buy stuff around here.

And since I missed this before, Welcome from Oregon.

Edit for pictures from RC’s website.

 

Thanks for the extremely helpful comment. I am removing the spacers as we speak, which looked to be close to 1.5" (see attached pic). I will go with no spacers for a while and see how she rides. We pull out trailer from Utah a couple weeks ago (5500lbs ish wet) and the ride was actually fine with the current setup, minus the lack of power due to the 37's, this the move to 35's and maybe a gear change down the road. Also removed the nut on the ball joint and u are correct...it is the wrong one, so will get that replaced. Only good news so far is that the rear is leaf spring lift only...no spacers, so that's a win. Will keep you posted on the progress. I really can't express how thankful I am for all you folks lending a helpful hand. God bless.

Sean La

 

Glad things are working out! You should be in the clear then after the alignment once those spacers come out and the wheels are on.

The back looks like someone did the swap to aftermarket leaf packs with shackles. So that’s cool.
If there is too much rear lift after the front is done it looks like you have adjustment on the shackles.

 

Glad you’re getting it sorted. I’m not sure how I feel about those shackles. Wow they’re long. Looks like you can lower the back with those adjustment holes if needed.

 

It's kinda a bad angle but the shackles do seem a tad bit long. Will have to measure them. Would rather have more leaf spring a less shackle length. That will probably be another adjustment when I eventually go with the icons up front.