One of the most well-liked vehicles for off-road use is the Toyota Tacoma, but let’s be honest: they have rather small tires by default. It is simple to mistake a new 44 Tacoma for a 2WD delivery truck because of the flimsy P-Metric tires that are only 30.5 inches tall when they leave the factory. The good news is that 4 Wheel Parts provides a range of raise kit options to allow your Tacoma to fit wider tires. To be completely honest, choosing a lift kit might be intimidating because there are so many options available. To find out more about the many suspension options and to decide which is ideal for your particular needs, keep reading.
The Tacoma has used independent front suspension (IFS) with coilover struts, upper and lower control arms, and leaf springs to locate the solid rear axle ever since it was first introduced in 1996. Compared to the later second generation (05-15) and third generation (16-current) Tacoma, the first version (95.5-04) has different suspension components. However, since 2005, Tacomas have used the identical front and rear suspension parts. Earlier (95.597) versions actually used the shorter rear leaf springs of the earlier (9095) pickups.
You can easily and affordably make room for bigger tires on your Tacoma by using a leveling kit. Most leveling systems add 2 inches to suspension clearance, allowing your Tacoma to accommodate 32-inch tall tires and giving it greater ground clearance and an aggressive stance.
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Leveling Kits
The simplest and most affordable way to make room for bigger tires is with leveling kits. As the name suggests, when the truck is empty, they just lift the front of the vehicle to remove the factory-installed rake. Many different manufacturers provide them in polyurethane, steel, and aluminum. Leveling kits don’t influence the ride quality of the factory OEM because they attach on top of the factory strut assembly between the strut and the frame mount.
Coilover shocks are available from manufacturers like Icon, Bilstein, Fox, and King and are made to meet the requirements of the majority of Tacoma owners right out of the box. Coilover shocks are infinitely adjustable to tailor the ride to your unique needs if you desire even better performance. To alter the ride of your Tacoma, you can adjust the coil spring rate, compression damping, rebound damping, and nitrogen charge.
Coilovers
Compared to a leveling kit, coilover shocks are much more expensive, but they offer better performance. New coil springs that can be configured with various spring rates are included with coilovers to take into account modifications like a winch or steel front bumper. High-end coilovers are also available in larger diameters, as those made by Icon Vehicle Dynamics, so that a larger shock piston may be used for more accurate valving and a higher volume of shock fluid can be used to prevent fading from heat. For even more heat dissipation, look for shocks that can be rebuilt, have bespoke valves, and have remote reservoirs.
Control arms made by Specialty Products have sealed bushings for long life and are forged for strength. When coupled with longer than standard coilover shocks, the replacement ball joint offers a greater range of motion than the factory arms for an increase in wheel travel. The replaceable ball joint is greaseable and adjustable for camber adjustment.
Upper Control Arms
For a number of reasons, aftermarket upper control arms are helpful when installing coilover shocks. They are made to replace the caster that is lost when the front of the Tacoma is lifted, improving tracking and steering feel. Some control arms, like those from Specialty Products, can even be adjusted to help with alignment once a lift is placed. For greater angularity, some, like those from Camburg, substitute a spherical uniball for a tie rod end. They provide more front wheel travel than a factory Tacoma when combined with a longer coilover.
A four to six inch suspension lift is necessary if you wish to fit 35-inch tall tires (or larger) on your Tacoma. Depending on the extras chosen, these kits are priced at a range of different levels. For greater performance, premium coilover shocks like Pro Comp’s Pro Runner versions can be fitted, or they can be used with strut towers and the factory struts to save money.
Drop Brackets
The front differential must be lowered if you wish to raise your Tacoma more than three inches so that the CV axles may move freely. If you want your Tacoma to have the most altitude (and attitude), Pro Comp, Rough Country, and Fab Tech offer lift kits that range in height from four to eight inches. New crossmembers that lower the front differential and lower control arms and extend the distance to the frame and upper control arms are included with these kits. New knuckles that are stronger and higher than standard, but accept the factory brakes, unit bearings, and axle shafts, make up that distance. Due to the additional components, these kits are not only more expensive, but also far more difficult to install. Beyond four inches, seek for packages that include new, longer sections or extensions for crucial parts like brake lines, sway bars, and bump stops.
An add-a-leaf is a simple, affordable solution to increase the lift of your factory springs by a small amount. An add-a-leaf will typically increase the spring rate as well, making the ride stiffer. To install, it is necessary to remove the rear axle, disassemble the leaf pack, and use a longer center pin, which is frequently included with the add-a-leaf.
Rear Suspension
The Tacoma’s rear suspension is a lot simpler than its front suspension. Leaf springs support the weight and support the solid back axle. Using a lift block, add-a-leaf, or replacement lift spring will raise the rear suspension. To provide lift, lift blocks install between the leaf spring and axle, and they also call for larger, longer u-bolts. A leaf with more arch and a greater spring rate is added to the pack using an add-a-leaf, which necessitates the removal and disassembly of the leaf spring back. Both of these alternatives are reasonably priced, and if a higher lift height is requested, they can even be combined. Full replacement leaf packs, like those sold by Old Man Emu, provide additional height in addition to a smoother ride thanks to the use of diamond-cut leaf springs and Telfon sliders. To match the higher ride height, remember to get longer shocks if you lift the rear more than one or two inches.
Replacement leaf springs cost more than utilizing a lift block or an add-a-leaf, but they also have more benefits, such as better ride quality and weight bearing capacity. Old Man Emu springs feature a two-stage construction for comfort with military covers on the eyes. The vehicle mostly rides on the primary stage when it is empty, with the secondary stage adding extra support when a heavy load is added.
You will need to adjust the cab mount if you are using tires that are taller than 33 inches or wheels with an extremely shallow backspacing to ensure sufficient clearance. The cutting is simple, but to preserve the mount’s strength and integrity, you must box it back in. If you are not comfortable with welding, it is advisable to leave this task to the professionals at 4 Wheel Parts who frequently carry out cab mount chops.
Cab Mount Chop
On a 2nd or 3rd generation Tacoma, tire clearance at the body mount located under the cab at the back of the wheel well becomes the limiting issue rather than lift height when running tires taller than 33 inches. In order to avoid tire rubbing when the suspension is compressed and the tire is spun, it is usual to need to trim the plastic fender liner and the pinch seam at this area, even with 33s. Larger tires necessitate trimming and boxing in the cab mount to prevent friction. Another important consideration is proper backspacing. A fair compromise is 4.5 inches of backspacing; any more backspacing might result in the tire rubbing the upper control arm, and any less backspacing would result in the tire rubbing the fender when spun.
What is the price of lifting a Toyota truck?
You should anticipate spending between $1,000 and $5,000 to elevate a truck for performance-related reasons.
Can I put a lift kit on my own?
Many of you may be wondering if you should hire a professional to install your lift kit or whether you can do it yourself.
A raise kit can enhance the appearance and ride of your car. However, the cost of having it installed can be high. Installing a raise kit typically costs between $600 and $700 in shops. In addition to buying the kit itself, this is required. The answer is straightforward for many people. They do it on their own. An easy lift kit installation can be done. However, it takes a lot of time. The installation of the kits takes a skilled professional between 5 and 7 hours. It typically takes an experienced private individual the entire weekend to work on an automobile.
Even while installing the lift kit is simple, it’s not necessarily simple. Additionally, some extremely specific instruments are needed. It will save time and money if you and your pals already have the necessary equipment. Good jacks and jack stands are required. It is much simpler to reach the necessary pieces once the car has been raised up and the axles have been dropped and supported. Additionally, it releases the strain from the suspension’s springs and other components, making replacement and addition much safer and easier. Installing the lift kit shouldn’t be an issue for those who feel confident with this procedure.
Your vehicle’s age and kind are important factors as well. Installing a raise kit on a vehicle with two wheels as opposed to four requires a somewhat different procedure. When you need to fabricate or weld parts for an older car, the process becomes much more difficult and intricate. Some people hire professionals to complete that type of work if their car needs it. However, you and a friend can do the entire process yourselves if you are confident in your abilities and can follow directions. Simply remove the coil spring with caution.
A lift kit installation takes time. It only requires drilling out and replacing rivets once the structure of the car is supported by individual jacks for each axle. A longer driveshaft can be required if the suspension of a four-wheel drive vehicle is being raised significantly. The transfer case’s angle may also need to be changed. Additionally, independent suspension vehicles are a little more labor-intensive and time-consuming. However, you can build your own raise kit as long as the steering linkage, sway bars, brake lines, and shocks are long enough.
How much does a truck lift of 2 inches cost?
If you want to have more tire space and ground clearance, or if you just like the idea of driving a big truck, lifting your truck is a great option. But lifting your truck will cost you money, as with the majority of vehicle modifications. You’ll need to spend money whether you decide to lift your truck yourself or hire a professional. The type of vehicle you own, the amount of lift you want, and whether you hire a mechanic to install the lift for you all affect how much your total lift kit will cost. Find out more about the cost of lifting or leveling a truck.
You must choose between a lift kit and a leveling kit first. A leveling kit raises either the front or the back of your car, typically by about two inches, to give it a more level stance. A lift kit raises the body of your truck anywhere from two to twelve inches or more. If your truck has a lot of heavy accessories on one end, like a winch or a plow, you may want to raise that end to give your truck a more stock appearance.
Given that lift kits raise all four corners of your vehicle instead of just the front or the back, they are typically more expensive than leveling kits. Although most customers just want to boost their truck a few inches, lift kits cost more the higher the lift is.
- The price range for smaller truck lift systems, which raise the body by two inches, is typically $400 to $12,000.
- Costs range from $11,000 to $4,000 for larger truck lift kits, which raise the body by six inches or more.
- Even less expensive leveling kits often range in price from $200 to $1,000, depending on the make and model of your car.
Several kit distributors and manufacturers, including Superlift, have financing options so you can spread out the cost of the kit over time rather than paying it all at once. You can often spend anywhere from $20 and $120 every month, depending on which kit you select.
Let’s now proceed with installing the kit. Only if you have experience installing them should you try to install the kit yourself. Although it may seem like a straightforward task, if you don’t know what you’re doing once you get started, you might quickly harm your car. You’ll have to spend more money on repairs than the package itself.
In a matter of hours, an installation kit may be completed by an experienced mechanic. Once you’re finished, it’s a good idea to check with your neighborhood mechanic to make sure everything is working properly. You could have to spend $75 to $200 or more to have your steering components changed or your wheels straightened.
You should contact a professional to install your raise kit or leveling kit if you want to ensure that it is installed correctly. Instead of stressing over whether or not you installed it correctly, you’ll feel more at ease knowing that your car is ready to drive.
The price to install a lift kit or leveling kit is entirely dependent upon the make and model of your car and the body shop you choose. Typically, the installation fee is equal to the cost of the kit.
Therefore, if you spend $200 on a relatively cheap leveling kit, it will also cost you $200 to install it. Installing a larger lift kit, which costs several thousand dollars, may easily run you $2,000 or more. This could cost more if the mechanic additionally needs to realign the wheels, adjust the shocks, or work on other components of your car.
In conclusion, the cost of purchasing and installing a leveling kit ranges from $200 to $1,000 if you do it yourself and from $400 to $2,000 if you employ a professional.
If you install the kit yourself, ordering and installing a lift kit can easily cost between $400 and $4,000 depending on the size of your lift. If you work with a pro, it might cost between $800 and $8,000 per hour.
Your understanding of the price of installing truck lift kits should have improved. Make sure you find the appropriate kit for your vehicle by conducting research and asking questions.