April 2007 T4ROTM - Bala de Plata

[Bala de Plata]

5/15/08 Pics of Front Long Travel on last page

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Hey all, Bala de Plata is the winner of the April 2007 T4R of the Month award - congrats Bala! Click HERE to see all the past T4ROTM winners.

GG
04/03/07
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This first photo is only tires and a daystar 2.5" lift.

These pics are with my current setup
DR Coil Overs with TC uca's in front
DR 2" lift Coils and DR shocks in rear

 

[Bala de Plata]

Attempting to show a bit of the range in suspension

 

[Bala de Plata]

And here are some close ups of the front and rear suspension components

That's it for now, I get my bonuses every three months. So expect something new sometime in March!! And for a little review of my setup, you can check out my other post at

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25371

 

[kruton]

I really like your setup! Did you have to do any trimming in the front?

 

[Bala de Plata]

Thanks for the compliment. It has been a work in progress ever since I got it. And it still is, I don't think I will ever be done.

Yes, but nothing to severe. I had to remove all four mud flaps. I trimmed the rear flaps and reinstalled to cover the gap between the chassis body and the plastic fender. In front of the front wheels, I had to trim a triangle out of the plastic that is just in front of the wheel under the bumper. It did rub a bit on the sway bar but I was not worried about it as it was not anything sharp and would not hurt the tire (that was only at wheel lock). I have since installed spacers from All Pro Off Road, they restored lock to lock steering with no rub and plenty of clearance. I know a lot people don't like spacers, but I cant decide on a set of rims that I like at all yet and until I do, I'm running the spacers. I did exactly as All Pro says, drove it ten miles and then took all wheels off and re-torqued until there was no play in them and still check them occasionally.

 

[kruton]

Im in the same situation as you on wheels. Ive been looking at aftermarket wheels for the past 3 months and still cant decide!!
I like the stance that the wheel spacers gave your rig. A set of sliders would look great!

 

[Bala de Plata]

Funny you mention that. Jason at Demello Offroad has been working on some custom sliders for me for the past 3 weeks. Just today he let me know that they would be going in for powder coat by the end of this week and then install by the following weekend (I hope!!).

 

[loner]

That looks REALLY nice! Very well done!

 

[Bala de Plata]

Thanks! Thanks a lot, I take pride in my rig and what I decide to put on it. Its tough though, cause I am maybe only half way to what I want it to be. But I'm not in a rush and I think that is important. I have done everything myself with the help of a good friend that is an excellent amateur fabricator. He has a 83 yota 2wd that he rebuilt from the ground up and a new '05 taco that he is working on making his own LT kit. So, more to come in the future!!

 

[MW 4Runner]

Very Nice!!! Did you have to put the wheel spacers on when you had the daystar lift? I dont see how I'm going to be able to fit 285's without getting new wheels or wheel spacers. I'm already close to rubbing on the UCA with 265/70 tires. What size wheel spacers are those?

Looks like with the DR stuff you got an additional inch or 2 of lift compared to the daystar lift. Looks great.

 

[Bala de Plata]

Actually no. I only had to put in the Daystar's to fit 285's with some trimming. Thats all there is in the first photo. It was very close to the UCA, and we weren't sure if it would fit. But low and behold, there was just enough room. I could fit a fingertip between the space, and hey, that was good enough!!

They only area that it rubbed was on the sway bar and that was only at near wheel lock. I drove this way with the daystars for about eight months and then another six months with the coil overs and new TC arms before I installed the spacers. The new arms gave more in clearance, but there is room for the tires with the stock UCA's. I would say that you would have to at least do the 2.5" Daystar as a minimum though.

 

[MW 4Runner]

What size wheel spacers are they? 1"?

 

[Bala de Plata]

Oh, sorry. 1.5" from All Pro Off Road. And if I was to do it over again (and I might). I would get 1" or 1.25" in the back and 1.5" up front. The from factory setup is with the rear wheels spaced slightly outside the front.

 

[Falls]

Pretty cool looking , nice job !! Looks tough

 

[ajjaaron]

Nice Ride. I really like the 285 tires. What are you doing about the spare tire issues since you have a V8. I was thinking about going up to a 285 tire but I am torn with what to do about the spare tire. I have read a lot of threads about issue, maybe you have some more input about this.

 

[Bala de Plata]

As far as issues with the spare, do mean if I get a flat what will I do cause the spare is to small?

 

[GatorGreg]

Looks great with the lift - that thing would look bad-ass with the shrcokwork bumper on the front.

 

[Bala de Plata]

Thanks, yes that is definitely something that is on my mind and is a priority. Just need to wait until the next bonus check though! When I'm at Demello's next weekend getting sliders, I am going to ask if he would want to do a 1off that is kinda between his and Shrockwork's and some ideas of my own that I have. If not, just gonna wait til my buddy has some time and build one ourselves.

 

[ajjaaron]

As far as issues with the spare, do mean if I get a flat what will I do cause the spare is to small?

Yes, about the spare tire to being to small. I just wanted some ideas as what the V8 AWD guys are doing about this.

 

[Bala de Plata]

Well, at this time I really don't have any real solution to being able to have a full size spare. Some point down the line I would want to have a rear bumper kinda like Good times with a full size spare and all. Or at minimum a roof mounted rack that I can throw one on when I'm doing some long haul trucking (ie surf trips to Mex or some fishing trips or such). But then I may be missing the space on the roof for boards.

Not something I am honestly to concerned about. I am a construction superintendent and have been used to getting nails and screws in my tires for years. I always keep a plug kit in my truck with a little compressor that runs on 12v. In my past two trucks and this one, I have had many a flat and have been able to repair them all to a good as new status or at minimum get me to a shop. I have never and will never use slim. It will ruin the tire air sensor, don't do it!!

But a tire off the rim or some other problem that is worse, I have no real solution except that I try not to be alone in my trekking. If the worst happens, throw the affected tire in my buddies truck and try to find the nearest shop with a used tire or something. I have had to pick up a buddy whos tire popped when he slide in the rain and hit a curb. We just threw the tire in the back of my old truck and went to a shop and had a new tire mounted. I haven't removed the spare cause I like having the weight in the back when I'm not loaded down with gear, but otherwise it is useless.

That's all I got.... what are your thoughts?