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Tacoma Leveling

FZ1inTX

FZ1inTX

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A few years ago, after buying the truck, Toyota replaced the leaf packs for a "Harsh Ride" Technical Service Bulletin. In doing this, the new rear packs raised the rear 2.5" over stock. The truck had a not-so-nice forward lean. I wanted to level it out and met a local here in NH through TacomaWorld dot com. He turned me on to Hellbent Steel for the correct spacers that didn't require anything else for modifications to level the truck. They were only $79 shipped. They arrived a long time ago and I finally took the time to do this today. Not an easy task, especially for one guy. The instructions say 6 hrs for two guys... I did it in 6 alone. Here's some before, during and after shots. I really like the leveled finished look! Last step is to take it in for a front end alignment and I am done.

BEFORE:
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DURING:
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Driver's side installed, passenger side out:

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AFTER:
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Thanks guys. I did a cut/paste to match the tire and wheel that shows the new height vs the old height. This was a little more than I anticipated but I like it!

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My mother has a 4x4 Tacoma (newest body style, not sure on the year) in red. She had the previous body style in white with black and white checkered splash graphics down the side.

I don't remember any recall on her truck for the rear suspension. I think her truck is level. Maybe her's is new enough it didn't need it.

Your truck looks much better level. I may buy my mom's Tacoma from her in a couple years when my son starts to drive. I want to put the supercharger kit on it. :D I couldn't convince my mom to put it on. :( :disturbed

PS I'm :shame: disappointed :disapproval: that you didn't get the "Michelin" logos lined up in the split photo... :rofl:
 
Last edited:
BDazzler said:
My mother has a 4x4 Tacoma (newest body style, not sure on the year) in red. She had the previous body style in white with black and white checkered splash graphics down the side.

I don't remember any recall on her truck for the rear suspension. I think her truck is level. Maybe her's is new enough it didn't need it.

Your truck looks much better level. I may buy my mom's Tacoma from her in a couple years when my son starts to drive. I want to put the supercharger kit on it. :D I couldn't convince my mom to put it on. :( :disturbed

PS I'm disappointed that you didn't get the "Michelin" logos lined up in the split photo... :rofl:
Click to expand...
All trucks and most Rwd cars have some rake. It's just not always so drastic.
 
yo cobalt looks good my back is hurtin just looking at the work you did I have an 05 frontier which the front is a little lower and they make a similar kit which I was thinking about installing but after seeing all the work you did my truck is not getting anything done till the front end needs work and at 63,000 miles shoudnt need anything for another ten years finally a mod that I don't wanna do:flip: nice truck are you sure you like the color?
 
BDazzler said:
I don't remember any recall on her truck for the rear suspension. I think her truck is level. Maybe her's is new enough it didn't need it.
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This wasn't a recall. ;) A TSB is something they *have* to fix if you come in and complain about that specific issue. There are sticky threads at TacomaWorld with all the TSB articles. Also, any TSB has to be done within the warranty period. They will not do those outside of warranty like they do with a recall. Now, without the TSB done, the truck was quite level. Afterward, you can see the end result.

BDazzler said:
Your truck looks much better level. I may buy my mom's Tacoma from her in a couple years when my son starts to drive. I want to put the supercharger kit on it. :D I couldn't convince my mom to put it on. :( :disturbed

PS I'm :shame: disappointed :disapproval: that you didn't get the "Michelin" logos lined up in the split photo... :rofl:
Click to expand...

Your Mom has excellent taste! :D :tup: You should buy it. These things just don't break (with proper maintenance...) I've had mine since Feb 2008 bought as a holdover. I'm just about to roll 38,000 miles. LOL! As you can tell, the FZ1 gets the majority of the seat time. :yes:

As for the tire, I have to admit, I was slightly annoyed that I did not put it on exactly as it came off to line up the shot. ;) I'm a little OCD in some ways. It was a long HOT day.... :D I LOL'd when I read that!

Thanks Troy!
 
speeddemon2588 said:
Nice job! Let me know how this turns out. I wonder if the truck will settle a little? I have been contemplating this for my Taco.
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I took it to work this AM... on the way out my street, I nailed the brakes a few times to compress the front... then took a couple sharp turns in each direction to "work it in" so I'll take out the measure when I get home to see if it did settle at all. Plus, I think it will change a small amount when they line it up... After putting in the kit, I definitely have some positive camber that needs to be corrected or I'll wear the outside edge of these tires very quickly. I'm calling today to set up a time/date. Today will only be about 26 miles on them and the rest of the week is bike weather. :D

So far, it was worth it! :tup:
 
Lonney said:
yo cobalt looks good my back is hurtin just looking at the work you did I have an 05 frontier which the front is a little lower and they make a similar kit which I was thinking about installing but after seeing all the work you did my truck is not getting anything done till the front end needs work and at 63,000 miles shoudnt need anything for another ten years finally a mod that I don't wanna do:flip: nice truck are you sure you like the color?
Click to expand...

It wasn't an easy task but it wasn't all that difficult either. The worst part was the sway bar. It should have, according to directions, been able to swing down out of the way. Would have been true for a Tacoma WITHOUT a towing package with transmission cooler! So, I had to move it side to side depending on where I was working.

The second worst task was bolts that had rusted. But I took my time... I used my big cordless drill with a wire wheel and cleaned off each one then hit them with WD40. I then loosened them and kept working the nut back and forth with more WD40 until it came off. After each came off, I cleaned them again with the wire wheel and WD40. They went back on like new. :tup:

The biggest help? The big-arse air compressor and that Impact gun and socket set. What a life saver that was! You still need a good breaker bar to break loose most of the nuts and bolts but then this tool spins them on/off FAST!

I found out I need 4 new items. I need a bigger floor jack that can reach/lift higher. I need taller jack stands for this truck, I need a longer and better breaker bar (had to use a pipe to extend it). And I need a pickle fork for tie-rods and ball joints.
 
Yeah it seams like no matter the job there is always somerhing else i need that i will use once and it will never be used again good job im sure that would have been a few hundred bucks at the shop and wouldnt have been done as good


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Got it in this afternoon and had the alignment done. It's all set and rides very nice! I really like having it back to a level truck. Plus it just looks even more aggressive.

Once these tires have worn out, I'm going to replace them and the wheels... I think I'm going with 18" wheels (currently 16") and go from the 265 to a 285 tire. Those will be 3" taller giving me a net 1.5" more clearance. This is the largest size I can get without having them rub on something.

6 yrs owned, average 6,333 miles per year. A Tacoma with proper care is worthy of at LEAST 250k miles and often more. So, this truck should last for 33 more years! Well, so long as I can still be up on two wheels for the rest of my life! Hahaha!
 
Ruggybuggy said:
Big tires and lifted are great but you do pay a penalty in fuel but with the mileage you put on your won't even notice it.
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;) True! The sad thing is, the Tacoma V6 is already terrible on fuel. I'm lucky to squeak out 16 mpg around town... but baby it on long trips and I can edge it over 20 mpg.

The problem with most people lifting the truck and putting on tires to match is they do not correct the speedo/ODO so they are reflecting even worse MPG than what is actual. But yes, it will put another dent in an already dismal fuel lack-of-economy truck. :D The difference in the two sizes I am comparing are a 12% over... so my OEM tire turning 60 MPH means my new tire will show 68 MPH. Now there's an added benefit of the larger tires if you don't heal the ODO... You travel the same distance and the ODO shows fewer miles. So for every 60 miles on the ODO I've actually gotten to cover 68 real miles.

Something to think of when buying used vehicles . . . 120k on the ODO could actually mean the truck was really driven 136k! :eek5: ;)
 
Interesting point about the OD difference. I'm never really to concerned about the mileage when purchacing a truck. We have a shop truck, 98 Ford Ranger that has 200,000 miles and it runs like a top. Your Tacoma's mileage will certainly help on the resale value.

I use to have a full size Dodge and went all out with a suspension and body lift then through on some big a$$ tires. Mileage went from 16 to around 7. I sold the truck.
 
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