[U.P.TRD]

I've been looking to install a coilover lift on my 02 tacoma, the favorite around here seems to be the OME, but I was wondering about the Fabtech, it's about $300 cheaper for the basic system and appears to have similar components. Are the shocks/struts the weak link or is the whole thing a piece of crap? Is it still better than a spacer lift?

Anyone out there running this lift? If so how do you like it?

 

[KStacoma]

I've got this lift kit and have had no problems with it. It rides great on the road and does great offroad. It definately impressed me for the price.

 

[TexasTRD]

i am running this kit as well as a 2" roger brown body lift...the kit is awesome rides great on and off the road...no complaints at all

 

[tenntaco]

The Fabtech Basic 3" kit comes with adjustable coilovers, which are not rebuildable, whereas the OME kit uses longer coils/shocks in the front. The OME's will ride well, but will sag over time. The Fabtech's will ride like crap (if they're anything like the rebuildable ones I have on the front of mine), but they can be adjusted if they sag, you get a winch, etc... My advice, opt for a little better coilover kit. OME stuff is a pain in the ass. I have a friend on the other side of town who is adding spacers to his this week after we've put trim packers in his set twice already this year. What's the point: Get something adjustable or save your money and get a spacer lift. That's what you'll end up with sooner or later with the OME stuff.

 

[yamataco]

Ive put over 75k on OME suspension (882s, n92s, n85 with an AAL and 1"lift shackles, about 650$, installed myself) with no problems and a great ride. About 1/2" of sag (stock bumpers, no winch). If you want a lift that rides good and is budget friendly OME is a good choice. If you spend more money you will get better performance with any of the high performance coilover setups. What are you doing with your truck? I use mine to haul my trailers around, haul my dirtbikes around and do some mild to moderate wheeling, and I think the OME suspension is one of the best upgrades for the dollar I have ever done. Just my 2 cents

 

[atwinda]

I've been looking to install a coilover lift on my 02 tacoma, the favorite around here seems to be the OME, but I was wondering about the Fabtech, it's about $300 cheaper for the basic system and appears to have similar components. Are the shocks/struts the weak link or is the whole thing a piece of crap? Is it still better than a spacer lift?

Anyone out there running this lift? If so how do you like it?

I was really happy with mine. I beat them up though.. Blew out both shocks, which are not rebuild able. It took two years though. I opted for the move to 2.5 coilovers

Anyway, a full install writeup is on my site. under the "product reviews" section.

the OME kit uses longer coils/shocks in the front.

I believe, due to a recent thread, that the fabtech basic kit shock is a lot longer as well (possibly too long?). At full droop, the spindle was hitting the coil.

 

[tenntaco]

I believe, due to a recent thread, that the fabtech basic kit shock is a lot longer as well (possibly too long?). At full droop, the spindle was hitting the coil.

I was merely referring to the difference between an OME lift and a coilover lift.

 

[tenntaco]

If you want a lift that ... is budget friendly OME is a good choice.

I wouldn't say it's budget friendly. There are tons of kits out there for less than the OME stuff. And about the sagging, I know what you're getting at, but as a true offroad application, OME, IMO, is junk. It WILL sag if you wheel/install an aftermarket bumper. I believe it was actually designed for what you're talking about which is street driving/hauling loads.

 

[yamataco]

Who makes a kit that can lift and improve ride and handling (load handling, offroad and on road) that is less $? I have $650 into mine, complete. The Fabtech kits are a little less but the 2 trucks I rode in with that kit rode rough. Fabtechs are adjustable, thats a big plus. OME springs will sag a little, if I lose an inch of lift over the next few years it not the end of the world to me. My stuff rides and handles way better than the TRD parts I took off (with 3500mi on my truck). Spacers are cheap and ride like they are cheap. If there are tons of kits that are cheaper and ride better, please list them, I would like to have more options for the D-cab Im looking at for my wife. Junk? topload spacers are junk, OME is an upgrade over stock. TRD included.

 

[Claymon]

I like the fabtech basic lift coilovers. I have had them for a year now and they seem to be worth every penny. Some pics are available in my profile it interested.

 

[U.P.TRD]

Thanks everyone for your input.....since I didn't hear anything really negative about the lift I think I'm going to order one....I'll let you know how it works out when I get it installed.

 

[nvrstuck]

I have a quick question, I just installed a set of adjustable coilovers on my '97 with a 1" diff drop. I have manual hubs and running BFG KO's 33x12.50 with 15x8 rims. How much space should I have between the top of the tire and the fender to clear without rubbing. The shocks have kinda settled and rub when I turn slightly and hit a bump. I was shooting for about 3 3/4" - 4" of lift.

 

[tenntaco]

I have a quick question, I just installed a set of adjustable coilovers on my '97 with a 1" diff drop. I have manual hubs and running BFG KO's 33x12.50 with 15x8 rims. How much space should I have between the top of the tire and the fender to clear without rubbing. The shocks have kinda settled and rub when I turn slightly and hit a bump. I was shooting for about 3 3/4" - 4" of lift.

That's a little too much lift. You need to crank down the coilovers. It might be fine at first, but your ball joints are going to fail pretty quickly with the coilovers cranked to 4". Without a body lift or some trimming, you're probably just going to have to get used to rubbing. 3" isn't quite enough for that size tire.

 

[Peanut Butter]

I'd order the kit in a heartbeat. I just installed the 3.5" kit, and am running them at 3" with RB 2" bl, and 3" AAL. The front is just barely stiffer than stock, and that's with 3" of pre-load. When my AAL straightens out a little, I'm going to run my coils down to match up. I got the rebuildable set, and they work great. Obviously, everyone is going to tout their own gear, but keep an open mind when comparing your modest budget to guys that run triple what you have to spend. Everyone has to start somewhere. It won't be as bad as the guys with 75k in lift will tell you. To them, yes, to you, no way.

 

[nvrstuck]

I know that its a little much on the lift, but right now I don't think that I even have 2". I just want to know how much space there should be between the tire and the fender so I can make sure I don't over do it, if I cant get rid of enough of the rubbing adjusting the coilovers then I will put a body lift on. Right now the coilovers are all the way down while I waited for the springs to settle, and the tires rub with the smallest bump while turning. I have done the pinch weld mod and trimmed the plastic. My truck just looks a lot lower than other's that I see, and I want to make sure that I get as much as I can out of the lift.

 

[atwinda]

I know that its a little much on the lift, but right now I don't think that I even have 2". I just want to know how much space there should be between the tire and the fender so I can make sure I don't over do it, if I cant get rid of enough of the rubbing adjusting the coilovers then I will put a body lift on. Right now the coilovers are all the way down while I waited for the springs to settle, and the tires rub with the smallest bump while turning. I have done the pinch weld mod and trimmed the plastic. My truck just looks a lot lower than other's that I see, and I want to make sure that I get as much as I can out of the lift.

What size tires are you running!? Cause when I had that lift I could run 285/75s with 3.5" of lift no problem!

 

[nvrstuck]

BFG AT/KO's 33x12.50 on 15x8 rims.

 

[U.P.TRD]

Installed the lift over the weekend, I brought my truck over to a friend's garage on Saturday and we had it done in about 4 hours. The rear AAL turned out to be a little more of a challange then we thought they would be, because of the brake line but other than that everything went pretty smooth.

I set the front coils at 2" and the rear is at about 2 3/4". After driving the truck for a few days I'd have to say it rides stiffer than before but it still isn't really that bad. I'm sure after a week or so I probably won't even notice it at all.

The lift makes the truck look a whole lot better and I should have plenty of room for a set of 265/75 16's.

Again... thanks to everyone for your input and thanks to atwinda for posting installation instructions on his website, they were much more helpful than the ones that came in the box.

 

[atwinda]

glad the install went good.