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PRO-TRUCK COILOVER STAGE 2 - Front Coilovers + Rear Shocks + Pro-Lift-Kit Spring

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by Kfish, Dec 12, 2021.

  1. Dec 12, 2021 at 6:04 PM
    #1
    Kfish

    Kfish [OP] New Member

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    Hi all

    2020 SR5 with 3rd row seats here. No KDSS, no XREAS. I've had her for a year and a half now.

    I did this lift myself a few days ago and thought I would do a little review on this set up in case anyone is curious about it like me before. My goal was to upgrade the suspension, get a small amount of lift but nothing too crazy to warrant the UCA replacement. It's my daily driver, I only do light off roading. I tow a couple of light boats in so rear end sagging would be a concern, so I knew going into this some amount of rake would be required in the end. I'm fine with it not being completely leveled, I actually prefer a small amt of rake.

    M737607.jpg

    This was the kit I decided on, but had to piece it from different sources due to back order status. Rear springs would give it one inch lift, and the front coilovers can be fine tuned to desired height.
    Also got my self a pair of Sunex 10ton steel pin jacks stand and a high reach Daytona jack.
    Love the Sunex jack stands, felt very safe going under the vehicle with those.

    I've never worked on or understood suspension before, most I did with cars was to change their oil. After watching a bunch of youtube tutorials I was finally comfortable enough for the job, it's very satisfying to do this yourself and save a bunch of money too!

    Notes on the rear:

    OEM shocks are weak compared to Eibach, I could easily compress it with one arm to get it out but Eibach required my weight to bring it down to fit into position.

    I used a bottle jack to push down on the axle to fit the slightly longer Eibach springs, saw that tip from youtube, made it so easy!

    The rear gained about 1 and a half inch of lift.

    PXL_20211209_043834024.jpg
    PXL_20211209_055549002.jpg
    PXL_20211209_055455769.jpg

    Notes on the front:

    Easiest method is to loosen the front and rear LCA bolts in the alignment cam area, this required me to go out to buy a couple of 22mm sockets. Prior to all this I marked all the alignment cams at all 4 positions on each side.

    With the LCA loosened you can undo the 2 19mm knuckle ball joints and drop the whole LCA down so the entire strut can be slide out under. I was concerned about clearance so I disconnected the sway bar linkage, but it's probably not necessary.

    After both struts in, everything was torqued to specs on the ground and I marked the positions of all the affected bolts/nuts. This way I can tell later down the road if anything moved on me, piece of mind.

    PXL_20211210_014254397.jpg
    PXL_20211210_023939512.jpg

    I ended up lowering the collars almost all the way down to the bottom of the threads to get about 3/4 inch rake. There is only a few threads left, passenger is even less to get rid of the lean. Driver is now only 1/8 in lower than passenger, that's good enough for me :)

    Hearing about spanner wrench breakages I bought a couple of extras but the original one worked great. I used a lot of silicone lubricant spray to ease the turns. Had to use a metal pipe in conjunction to get enough leverage, with the lubricant it wasn't bad at all. Thanks to the guy who gave the tip on marking the side of the collars so you can keep track of how many turns!

    Now the trailer-sag test. I have 2 boats, 13ft aluminum skiff and a 16ft wooden skiff. The tongue wt of the lighter alum boat is about 75 lbs, and this lowered the rear about 1/4 of an inch. With the bigger 16 wooden skiff the rear lowered around 1/2 to 3/4 inch, I don't have a way to measure the tongue wt of this one but estimate it to be around several hundred pounds. I am very pleased with the results overall, love the new stance, it looks like a whole new animal.

    PXL_20211212_162820859.jpg
    PXL_20211212_165629570.jpg

    It looks like the front trailer wheel is touching the ground but it's not :) With OEM suspension before, the rear sag was very noticeable with the 16ft boat hooked up.

    Handling is great too, a firmer more assured ride but it soaks up the bumps way better than OEM suspension. Will be taking her in for alignment next Saturday.
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2021
  2. Dec 12, 2021 at 6:29 PM
    #2
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

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    Congrats! Looks great!
     
    Kfish[OP] likes this.
  3. Dec 14, 2021 at 8:38 AM
    #3
    afret

    afret 2022 ORP, KDSS, Toyo AT3

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    Nice job and looks good! So with the adjustment almost all the way down the front was up about 1.5"?
     
    Kfish[OP] likes this.
  4. Dec 14, 2021 at 9:00 AM
    #4
    Kfish

    Kfish [OP] New Member

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    Yes, the front is lifted about 1.5 inch with the collars almost at the bottom.

    This is driver side:
    PXL_20211214_165721063.jpg

    Passenger side:
    PXL_20211214_165750817.jpg
     
    nimby likes this.
  5. Dec 14, 2021 at 10:40 AM
    #5
    auspilot

    auspilot Old Member

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    Dobs IMS, lots of small stuff
    Nice write-up, thanks for sharing!
     
    Kfish[OP] likes this.
  6. Dec 14, 2021 at 11:57 AM
    #6
    afret

    afret 2022 ORP, KDSS, Toyo AT3

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    Thank you for posting the photos. I guess the 0-2.5" lift range the Eibach claims isn't very accurate. Good info to know. Thanks again.

    And did it make a significant difference in body lean and nosedive with the new setup?
     
    Kfish[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  7. Dec 14, 2021 at 12:09 PM
    #7
    Kfish

    Kfish [OP] New Member

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    Yes I was surprised by that too, that's why I wanted to share it.
    Nose dive is mostly eliminated. I love the fine adjustments on both sides, my driver side is about 1/8 inch lower than passenger currently.
     
  8. Dec 14, 2021 at 12:27 PM
    #8
    afret

    afret 2022 ORP, KDSS, Toyo AT3

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    Oops, I should have been more specific about the change in body roll/lean in the curves on the highway.
     
  9. Dec 14, 2021 at 12:37 PM
    #9
    Kfish

    Kfish [OP] New Member

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    I have not done too much freeway with it yet but there is a little less body roll around curves, feels more firm all around.
     
  10. Dec 14, 2021 at 12:42 PM
    #10
    afret

    afret 2022 ORP, KDSS, Toyo AT3

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    Thank you very much for posting all this great info!
     
    Kfish[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  11. Dec 14, 2021 at 12:54 PM
    #11
    travelinscout

    travelinscout New Member

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    Great info and write up! Thanks! This is the same kit I am considering.
     
    Kfish[OP] likes this.
  12. Dec 19, 2021 at 9:28 PM
    #12
    Kfish

    Kfish [OP] New Member

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    Update.

    Been a week since the lift, took her in for alignment, here is the result.

    PXL_20211220_014357681.jpg

    But the steering wheel is crooked! She drives straight as an arrow, but my OCD would not let this stand. Rather than taking her back I decided to adjust the tie-rods myself. Shorten the Driver, lengthened the Pass by 90deg and she's now perfect! Got lucky and hit it spot on, didn't have to do it twice.
    This is how the steering wheel looked like before tie-rods adjustment.

    PXL_20211220_011355277.jpg
     
    nimby, DIRTRCR13 and Dabigono like this.
  13. Dec 20, 2021 at 4:18 PM
    #13
    SYTY

    SYTY New Member

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    THE ARM PIT OF AMERICA NY STATE THE ROTTEN APPLE
    They never centered the wheel bring it back to alinement shop have them fix the alinement the wheel should have been strait after alinement. NOT EXPECTABLE.....
    Make sure all the bolts for the alinement are tight if they didn’t get the wheel straight they might have also left something loose.
     
    DIRTRCR13 and Kfish[OP] like this.
  14. Mar 23, 2022 at 8:29 AM
    #14
    Hautian

    Hautian New Member

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    @Kfish This is one of the lifts I am considering. Are you still happy with it and has it sagged any?
     
  15. Mar 23, 2022 at 9:20 AM
    #15
    Kfish

    Kfish [OP] New Member

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    Hi there,
    Yes I am still very happy with this kit! Has not sagged at all, ride is still great as day 1.
     
    21TOR and nimby like this.

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