Not an XR owner, but want to lower my RC

[Bowers86]

Hey guys. Hopefully I'm allowed to be here as a lowly RC 5-speed base model owner. Just been having a hard time getting information on 5-lug lowering and performance related suspension setups.

I would like to drop my truck about 2" (1.5" from XR spec I believe), or the most I can without having to notch the rear frame. And based on my desire to autocross and drive spiritedly, seems like there are only a few options available. XII makes a nice looking kit, but I have not been able to get in touch with them via online or email. Are they still around?

I think my ultimate vision is to run their 2" drop springs up front (with QA1 shocks) and the Flex Form composite spring with QA1 out back, with a rear swaybar coming later to fine tune the handling. Is the composite spring good for more than lowering? XII says it can handle the OE load rating, but many people have said its purely cosmetic. I'd like to still have the ability to tow haul stuff so that is a concern.

Please, any information is much appreciated.

Alan

 

[NHXRUNNER]

Are you on Facebook? If you are try to reach out to them there, unfortunately they're not on here as much as we'd all like.

 

[Bowers86]

So looks like I'll be going with the XII kit once funds allow. However in talking to them, they said that my base trucks front shock may be too tall for the lowering spring, making it difficult to seat it properly whenever the truck is lifted into the air.

Now my knowledge of suspension is primarily centered around cars and not trucks so I am having a hard time picturing this. Is the 5-lug Tacoma a coil over spring, double wishbone setup in front? How would shock length then dictate the spring coming undone when it's jacked up off the ground? Or is there no top hat, relying on the shock tower to hold everything together?

Either way, they mentioned getting a shorter XR Bilstein to keep everything tight. Only problem is I can't find a specific part number for replacement shocks. Anyone know if off the shelf 4600's are the same dimension? What do you all use for replacements when one goes bad?

 

[BondXII]

So looks like I'll be going with the XII kit once funds allow. However in talking to them, they said that my base trucks front shock may be too tall for the lowering spring, making it difficult to seat it properly whenever the truck is lifted into the air.

Now my knowledge of suspension is primarily centered around cars and not trucks so I am having a hard time picturing this. Is the 5-lug Tacoma a coil over spring, double wishbone setup in front? How would shock length then dictate the spring coming undone when it's jacked up off the ground? Or is there no top hat, relying on the shock tower to hold everything together?

Either way, they mentioned getting a shorter XR Bilstein to keep everything tight. Only problem is I can't find a specific part number for replacement shocks. Anyone know if off the shelf 4600's are the same dimension? What do you all use for replacements when one goes bad?

There has only been one reg cab guy that has contacted us with the issue. i spoke to him for a while and he sent me pictures with everything assembled and he did put it together correctly. LOL

Anyway, the shock extended length of that customer's Taco was about 1/2-3/4" too long. Our trucks (including yours) is a non-adjustable coilover assembly with the coil supported between the spring perch and top hat. Using a spring press, you relieve the tension on the spring and remove the top hat. Then replace the OEM spring with the XII spring. There is tension (preload) after you reassemble everything using the XII spring, so it will stay aligned as you put the truck back together and get it off the jack stands and onto the ground. With the shocks the customer I mentioned to you, since they were longer than X-Runner (and almost all other 5 luggers), the XII coil would not stay aligned in the spring perch because the top hat was not giving a preload to the spring.

I haven't personally tried to go to a local parts store (Advance, Auto Zone, etc) to get OEM shocks for X-Runners. But their OEM part numbers are:

Passenger - 48510-A9640
Driver - 48520-A9310

You can usually find these on Toyota parts websites for 60ish bucks each.

Hopefully that clarifies what I was talking about the other day to you. :blurock:

 

[Bowers86]

Thank you very much once again for your response Buck!