LONG weekend, but it's done! ARB, Winch, Downey CO's, Pics

3549 Views 18 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Pathtaco, Mar 3, 2005

sagexp

Discussion Starter · Feb 28, 2005 (Edited)

This was not a one man job, but, I did it my damn self anyway.

Started putting things together Friday night, then installed the Downey Coil Overs (easiest part of all), and The NWOR 1 1/2" Shackles and KYB gas adjust shocks (moved inboard 1/2") on Saturday.

On Sunday, Installed the ARB and Warn M8000 winch, along with the Piaa 80 Pro XT's.

The ARB was a gold plated bitch to do by myself, especially since it seems nothing wanted to line up right. ARB's instructions were not that great, and to top it off, at max adjustment, I'm still about 1/4 inch off center on the bumper. Nobody but me would notice, but it irks me nonetheless.

Here's the pre-picture, last weekend out hunting. (Could have used the winch that trip).

Here's the post "wrech-a-thon weekend" pics.

I like it. Ended up with 1.5" lift all the way around. The Downeys are Smoooottthhhhh. I hope that smooth does not translate into soft once I get it back in the dirt though. I don't have an area around to wheel it, so I did a little urban wheeling, hitting speed bumps at speed, and dropping over some curbs. Wow, is this what a real suspension is supposed to feel like? I had a non-trd tacoma, so I had a real bare bones suspension on there. The on road feel is without a doubt superior to the non-trd tacoma suspension.

Dropped the rear tail pipe support down one bolt for a 1" drop. I'm hoping that's all I need, I'll see. Have not done the BPV valve bracket yet, I'll hit that tomorrow. Brake line is pending, as well as a decent washing. All I've done is hose it off since last week, but she's purty to me! It will continue to make for a kick ass hunting / exploring truck.

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Pathtaco

· #8 · Mar 1, 2005

Your truck looks good.!!!
Are you runing the Tacoma Downey springs? If so, you may experience to be a little too soft and probably will drop after a week or so with the ARB bumper and Winch. (lot of weight)

I had the same set up and had to step up and to replaced the Tacoma coils for the Tundra Downey coils and got better ride, and it handles the weight a much better.

FS.

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Pathtaco

· #15 · Mar 2, 2005

sagexp said:
Yes, I got the Tacoma coils. I figured the Tundra coils would be overkill and would sacrafice too much flex or ride too rough.

I will see how it goes. I'm going to run a week with the cable and fairlead in, and see how it goes. Right now, I'm not sure what I'm feeling exactly, but I'm getting an odd sensation while driving. The front is smooth to be sure, but the back is not. So, when I'm hitting bumps, I get a "bump -- BUMP". Again, I've not had it in the dirt yet, but that front suspension sure soaks up some big bumps. I've got a set of them large speed bumps (like 3 feet wide, 8" tall) that I go across every day. Ordinarily they feel like they'll launch me. Now, the suspension just soaks them up. Huge improvement.

It just feels like the stock (except for shackles and KYB gas adjust shocks) rear suspension is now not up to the task the way the front is. They KYBs may be too stiff as well.

I felt better about the set up today, but still have an odd sensation. If it doesn't improve or I don't get used to it by the weekend, I'll take off the cable and roller fairlead for a week and see how things feel. But, it doesn't feel like too much weight, just different spring rates, so removing the weight may not help?

It would kill me to have to buy synthetic line and aluminum fairlead, as I intentionally spent the extra money bought the M8000 with 100' and roller fairlead because I had no intention of running synthetic. If I thought I'd of run synthetic, I'd of just gotten the same damn winch with 80' and hawse for a heck of a lot cheaper. May not have made the financially smart purchase on this one......

I drove the Downey adjustable coil overs for about 1 year before I installed my ARB bumper the ride was good..
Then I installed the ARB bumper with the winch and cable the whole front end drop about 11/4" I adjust the coils to re-gain the previus hight, after a week or so I felt the coils were not taking even street small bumps, felt like the coils were say to soft plus the front end drop another 1/2". I crank again the coils to re-gain heighth and at that point it was too much plus when I pushed down on the bumper the front end bounced too much. :xcrybaby:
After talking to other people in this forum and Jim at Downey off road I decided to change to the Tundra coils and all my concerns went away, now the ride is way better

No doubt that if you run the synthetic it will not weight as much so your coils are not going to suffer as much and the front end will fill much better.

FS.

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Pathtaco

· #19 · Mar 3, 2005

sagexp said:
Thanks for the reply regarding the Downeys.

Don't the ride with the Tundra coils bounce you off the top of the cab? Seems like going from 480 lb coils to 800 lb coils, even after a net increase of 150 lbs up front, would be awful stiff?

I ran without the winch cable and fairlead last night, and it made a bit of a difference I think, but I don't know that it will be enough. Hard to tell because traffic was hell and I couldn't give them a decent work out. But, I'm only shedding 30 lbs between the cable and fairlead. I don't know that I want to spend $200 on synthetic and aluminum to shed just 30 pounds.

I'll try it again tonight and see if in fact the ride did improve as much as I thought it did. It almost felt acceptable if I could soften up the rear just a tad.

Talked to Downey though, and I can get the Tundra coils for $160 if I decide to do that. That would easily allow me the ability to install a second battery as well, which is way out of reach weight wise right now.

Anyone want a set of Downey Tacoma coils, only slightly used?

I know it's hard for you to tell how the ride is or will be because you are coming from stock to Downey coil overs and bumper with winch.
My best advice before you make any changes is, give it some time drive in the city take it off road and give yourself sometime with the set up you have righ now. Test it and mesure test it and mesure and if after the sometime you feel the ride is to soft of bouncy or the weight drop the front end way to much then move to the Tundra coils. I am saying this because you may experience something different.
The ride with the Tundra coils is not harsh at all, in my opinion the Tundra coils rated at 800 lbs do handle the weight on my truck much better than the Tacoma coils did.
But again before you sell them give yourself some time.

Let me know if you have more questions.
FS.

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