Toytec TRD Pro Lift Bad For Off-roading?

[b407driver]

How did you buy just the 1" spring seat spacers? And in your signature it says you got 2" of lift? Is that a mistake, or did you stack two of those on top of each other on each side in the front?

The part can be purchased separately:

1" Front Lift for TRD BAJA and Pro Edition Tacoma & 4Runner

It gave an additional inch, on top of the stock TRD 1", resulting in 2" compared to a Trail/OR. They were also both installed on the top perch in order to get rid of the KDSS 'non-lean'...

 

[MaddoxPics]

I appreciate all the feedback guys. I shot them over an email last night and am waiting a reply. Not in a rush, but I'll let you know what they say when I get a reply.

 

[rasber3140]

I have been running the Toytec 1 inch coil seat spacer and have loved it so far. Like has already been mentioned here before, the coil seat gives you the same lift that you would get from running the 6112's at a higher perch. The overall ride quality improved in my opinion after installing.

 

[b407driver]

I'm honestly not sure why a spring seat spacer would improve the ride (as several have noted); I noticed zero difference in ride quality.

 

[Kamalani Mahie]

The part can be purchased separately:

1" Front Lift for TRD BAJA and Pro Edition Tacoma & 4Runner

It gave an additional inch, on top of the stock TRD 1", resulting in 2" compared to a Trail/OR. They were also both installed on the top perch in order to get rid of the KDSS 'non-lean'...

Thanks for the link. I've got the same setup on the billies as you to correct the KDSS "non-lean" as well. Are you wanting to go higher at some point?

 

[b407driver]

Nope, perfect as it sits now. Caster is getting close, and I'd rather not mess with UCAs. Main thing left on my list now is sliders. Maybe airbags someday, as I'm out in Durango now, and with four people, mountain bikes and camping gear, she's riding a tiny bit low.

 

[4runner425]

Seems to me that Slee, despite being a highly respected vendor, is buying into a common misconception I've come to call "pre-load myth."

Once you install a coilover and the vehicle weight is resting on it, it doesn't matter where you put the spacer, whether you "pre-load" the coilover with the spacer inside or "top-out" the coilover with the spacer on top. The amount of spring compression under the weight of the vehicle remains the same either way. Therefore, both types of spacer lift impose exactly the same limitations on droop travel, and neither is more likely to coil-bind under compression than the other.

The confusion arises because of the differing amounts of "pre-load" that may be placed on a spring in an uncompressed coilover at full extension. Once the coilover is installed in the vehicle with the vehicle's weight resting on it, it doesn't "care" how much pre-load was placed on the spring for installation. It will compress to the same height either way. That's why more "pre-load" results in a lifted stance in the first place.

THIS!

I have been considering spacer lift for a little while now and this is how my mind is thinking about it. I had to draw diagrams to convince myself this. There seems to be a lot of people taking information they read and reiterating for others without really knowing the truth and the physics. I'm reading a ton of material bashing spacers and some of the logic just doesn't align. There is a ton of folks using spacers (both top hat and in-coil assembly type) on their TRDP who are satisfied.

Keep in mind that when people refer to spacers as being a bad idea, they are typically thinking of OEM (non TRDP) shocks which was never meant for any type of off-road. You can argue that TRDP Bilsteins can handle it's fair share on rough terrain. The rear TRDP shocks even have an external reservoir which is an added benefit.

A dollar saved is a dollar saved. If spacers gives you what you want, then go for it!

 

[mteolus]

Well I got the TRD ORP because you only get 1 " additional clearance in the TRD Pro and in IMHO that was still too little, so no point in going to a TRD Pro and turning around and replacing the suspension unless you just love one of the colors that doesn't come with the TRD OR.

The Toytec Boss 3" lift does not have spacers and has longer shocks for more articulation. I actually got 4" of additional height at the front skid plate. If you go 3" then I would highly recommend also new upper control arms. I chose SPC but you have other options such as Icon, Total Chaos, and JBA.

If this system is too expensive for your budget, go with the Bilstien 6112/5160 option as mentioned in this topic first and then maybe upgrade later. Less than 3" you can get by without replacing the upper control arms and save money.

Spacers will give you good ground clearance, but in more difficult off-road situations you need articulation that a spacer lift just won't have.

 

[Angelo]

The issue with spacers is that it moves the shock down without changing its travel range. That allows the shock to be able to travel what it normally would MINUS the distance of the spacer.

FTFY. :art:

Seems to me that Slee, despite being a highly respected vendor, is buying into a common misconception I've come to call "pre-load myth."

Agree with this. The trick here is to remember that it's really not "preload", it's "minus (down) travel". The shock piston travels, so since adding a spacer isn't compressing the spring more so much as extending the rod of the shock out further.

Incidentally, I believe there was a failure of the Pro spacer lift during an offroad situation; the user did write it up and then if memory serves ended up going with a BP-51 kit. I searched and can't find the thread I was thinking of but I thought it might have been [MENTION=133021]propain[/MENTION]. Perhaps he could comment, but I could be remembering wrong, my apologies if I am.

OP, the bottom line is that if you're looking for better performance, you'll only get that out of a suspension change. Spacers don't increase performance since they don't really DO anything but provide a different look / stance. Personally, having owned a Pro I'd just wear out the Bilsteins you've got on there and not worry about selling / swapping / messing with the money and time pit until they're worn out and you need to change up. Good luck and let us know what you go with.

 

[propain]

[MENTION=133649]Angelo[/MENTION], It's been a long time since ive posted, but i'll let you guys know the "toytec spacers worked great" from rock crawling to off-roading. My upper shock mounts and my upper control arm balljoint bushing were destroyed during an off-road trip to the Sand dunes in NJ. (Pine Barrens). I was going really fast over moguls, in dirt bike terms, the whoop section....whoop-dee-dos, my front end was going up & down/up&down fast and hard and my "upper shock mounts" and my "Camburg upper control arm ball-joint bushings" were destroyed.

This could of been due to the spacers. I really cant say, but i had to replace the upper shock mounts as they were melted (metal melted into metal) and i couldnt remove them myself, had to go to dealer and shell out a few bucks to get um fixed/replaced. I also replaced my Camburg ball-joint bushings.

I did end up buying and installing the OME BP51's and havent had any issues with them and they are still installed on my 2016 T4R and still are stiff. No leaks, no issues at all.

Hope this answered your questions.