Bighead

You might want to PM Andy (bamachem). If anybody has that info handy it would be him.

bamachem

actually, i have a set in my garage now. new, never installed. what measurements do you want?

justinh

First off, thanks! Uncompressed length would be good and the number of coil wraps. I am trying to get the same measurements from some people with the new Tacomas (without having to take mine apart). I want to know if it is a possibility. I had posted several times months ago in the "old" thread but no one ever replied with any measurements so anything would be a good starting point. I loved the way those coils rode with the OME shocks on my 4runner.

sschaefer3

Then imagine how well TRD coils work with a TRD shock.......

And you don't have to worry about too much droop and ripping the cage out of the birf. Yes IFS axles have tiny weenie birfs.

justinh

I have TRD coils and TRD shocks...it leaves a lot to be desired Granted, there seems to be a lot of ambiguity regarding what comes on the different models of the new trucks, for example, the TRD sport and TRD off-road have different coils. Apparently, the Sport's aren't progressive and the Off-Road's are. I will be interested to see what Bamachem replies with, I got the measurements from a TRD Sport Spring elsewhere, i think they are from a Double cab but I am double checking on that.

sschaefer3

You have the stock ones. You have to mix and match to get anything good.

The TRD shock is just a shock, nothing special. It has valving that works well with the Tundra coil, just worked out that way, I doubt anyone ever planned it that way.

Steve

justinh

The only thing that sucks is that I can't use old Tacoma shocks on my new junk Tacoma.

sschaefer3

Ok, this is really drifting way further into la la land than I would like.

Dollars to doughnuts, there is nothing wrong with the shocks you currently have. The coils are the problem.

The 1st Gen Tacoma TRD coils are crap, too stiff and you can't add a spacer lift, well you can but it won't do anything.

For some reason Tundra coils ride perfect on the smaller trucks, no rhyme or reason, just the way it is.

If you want spring specs, please start a thread about that. This is a vendor thread to sell complete lift kits.

justinh

Understandable, I will stop cluttering your thread. It would be nice if my factory Bilsteins worked out as well.

sschaefer3

Yes. This kit contains EVERYTHING you will need. The only thing you provide is the larger tires.

Depending on how large you go, you may need to re-gear and add a locker, but with the kit, the tires will fit and you will have no issues.

This is also the ONLY kit that besides lifting actually increases the vehicles ability off road.

sschaefer3

I put the kits together when they are ordered, the Toyota parts are here the next day and then I build all the other items and dispatch Richard Stubbs to make and send you a track bar.


Also: Breaking News, we are on the verge of a NON-CORE trac bar completely built from scratch that will sell for the same $150.00 that the current stock end link bar sells for. If you have a core to send back, that is fine, if you paid a core charge you will get it back and yes you do need to send your stock bar back as those will be used in emergencies if a vendor can not supply us in a timely manner.



Also an FJ Cruiser trac bar is on the way and well as a full FJ Cruiser lift. Man I loved driving that thing last weekend on the trails at Tellico and will hook up with the FJ Trail Team here in Arizona next month.

bamachem

nice.

AZ4ME

iTrader: (1)

What is the story with the FJ Trail team in AZ. I didn't see an AZ stop on the list.

sschaefer3

I guess the info is here:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=92458

I'm gonna e-mail them and say from my FJ Trail Team experience last weekend in Tellico, Crown King would be one of the worst trails to do this on.

I think DeSoto would be alot better and in the same area.

AZ4ME

iTrader: (1)

Ya, from what I've heard recently, the Crown King trail has been pussified quite a bit. Desoto is always a fun trail with a little rocky creek action. Sounds good.

midiwall

Steve;

I'm "thinking" about System 2 or 2.5 (probably 2) and have 2 questions...

1. I'm currently running ATS upper arms in front. How will this affect the kit (your kit) in terms of off-road performance (stability, droop, handling, clearance, anything...)?
   
   
2. Can you compare/contrast how this setup is "better" than the old SAW/OME setups, _without_ saying "it's just better". I'm looking for a more technical understanding of this setup and why I'd spend $1k to pull out what I have.

Thanks man.

sschaefer3

The ATS arms won't matter one way or another. If you have them or don't have them it does not really matter.

What is it that you don't like about what you have? If I know that, then I could say if this would be better.

midiwall

cool.


Good question, and honestly, _I_ think I'm "fine" with what I have, but I'm VERY much still learning in all this, and will be for a while.

So, the process running through my head is more of "Years ago, Steve (and others) touted the joys of SAW/OME. I said 'okay', and that's what I did. Today, Steve (and others) are saying something else, and I'm curious what I would gain if I switched".

Does that make sense? Basically, for me it's a game of "follow the leader" when it comes to suspension. I don't know what could be around the corner.

It's interesting that you asked "what don't you like about what you have" 'cause I once started spouting about wanting to SA my rig, and a local Mentor told me that I shouldn't think about doing it until I can describe what I CAN'T do IFS. I can answer that now, but I dunno that I want to SAS. hmmm... or maybe I do.

Your question brings up the same feelings for me... I can certainly point to a couple of obstacles around here that I can't get through, but I don't know that swapping in a different spring/shock setup will help. I DO know that swapping in a SA would help.

Crap... maybe I take the money, stuff it in a mason jar, and save for a SAS.

argh. oh gawd. argh.

...it'd be cool though.



So... how's THAT for open babbling on a Thursday morning pre-caffeine?

thanks Steve

sschaefer3

I don't want to sell anyone something they don't need. Maybe you just need the DOM Rubicon Express Super Flex Joint links and the fixes to run the FZJ-80 shocks?

That is if you are happy with the height/lift your current rear coils give you.

"MY" Personal issues with the Sway-A-Way's was:

1. Coils were a smaller ID/OD than stock resulting in them having to use a stiffer spring rate. Resulting in a front end shock/coil combo that was stiffer than I cared for. Keep in mind I never used them as they were intended, high speed sand in Southern California.

2. The test of time. Parts would rip, tear or wear quickly and it was difficult to get replacement parts from Ryan and his voice mail. Also the fact you have to re-build them was sort of a "turn-off".

3. Aluminum corrodes, not the best choice for the rust or snow belt. I don't think snow testing was on the QA list for a high speed sand product.

4. They are the most expensive they have to be the best. The "best" hard core 3rd Gen wheelers all have them, If I want to be the best, I have to buy the most expensive stuff. Wrong - As I started traveling to these events and actually seeing these people wheel in person, it became pretty clear that just because you can type an entire page of words on something, doesn’t mean much.

5. Straight Axle Conversion: Extremely easy and cheap on 1986-1995, Extremely expensive and complex on 1996-2000, after that it gets even more complex. A Dana 44 with quality high straight U-Joints and Aftermarket Cro-Mo axles would be the Bee's Knees. Why go to all the trouble of putting a Dana 44 under a truck and then running 20 year old unhardened factory Dana axles. They did not harden them back then because they did not need to as the tire sizes 20 years ago where considerably smaller. Bottom line SA conversions are BIG MONEY. BIG BIG MONEY for a truck like yours. It can be done cheap, but then you will have things that don't work or don't work the same or not work at all. That's not the way I do things.


Go for the SA if you can justify the cost, if not think about what you don't like with what you have now.

midiwall

{think} {think} {think}

Okay... I've thought myself out of the SAS, but it'll cross my mind again.

I think I've also thought myself out of ripping out what I have.

If I get into a zone where I'm out at least every-other weekend, I'll revisit the undercarriage, but it's fine as it is. I'm just not abusing what I have and I'm okay with having to take the bypasses once-in-a-while.


Thanks Steve.