Toyota Tacoma Skyjacker Lift Kit Install

Upsizing A Trail Taco Single Cab Toyota Tacoma On Rocks

People go off-road for a number of reasons. While most do it for pure wheeling enjoyment, some do it so they can access other outdoor sports, hobbies, and pastimes. Over the years our friend’s ’98 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 has served as a hunting rig, backwoods explorer, surfboard hauler, and all-around trusty pickup. With 160K on the clock and well over a decade of good use, he has finally decided to give the truck a little more off-road prowess.

Like most dual-purpose rigs, the 2.7L Taco needs to be able to maintain good highway manners and stay relatively low slung for practical purposes of hauling. After doing a bit of research, the decision was made to equip the pickup with a 3-inch Skyjacker Suspension lift. The subtle and budget-friendly 3-inch lift offers plenty of room for larger 32-inch-tall tires and will give the truck a great stance that fits both the on- and off-highway needs.

To oversee the Taco’s transition we stopped by the 4Wheel Parts store in Raleigh, North Carolina. The guys at the Raleigh shop are wheeling enthusiast just like us and know what it takes to get the job done right. In just under a day’s time the 4Wheel Parts crew had the Taco lifted, aligned, and ready for the trail. In the end, the mild upgrades proved to be just the boost this Taco needed.

Removing the factory strut from the Tacoma is very easy and straightforward. Getting the stock coil moved from the original strut to the new Skyjacker lift strut requires a coil compressor. A coil compressor is standard equipment in virtually all 4Wheel Parts locations. If you are installing the lift at your house you can take your old and new struts to any 4Wheel Parts location and have the coils swapped for a relatively small fee.
Removing the factory strut from the Tacoma is very easy and straightforward. Getting the s
The adjustable Skyjacker struts are designed to give the Tacoma a range of 0-3 inches of lift. Since this kit was ordered as a 3-inch system, the new struts came set at the highest lift notch. This ’98 Tacoma is equipped with the manual hub option, which helps to reduce wear on the expensive IFS components.
The adjustable Skyjacker struts are designed to give the Tacoma a range of 0-3 inches of l
The Skyjacker struts are a bit longer than the original struts, so they require a bit of prying on the lower control arm to get the bottom of the shock eyelet inside of the factory mounting tab. It’s helpful to have an extra pair of hands when doing this. Once you have all the hardware tightened, be sure to paint-mark your bolts.
The Skyjacker struts are a bit longer than the original struts, so they require a bit of p

Skyjacker offers an add-a-leaf option or full spring replacements for its 3-inch kits. Since the ’98 Tacoma’s springs had sagged over time, the truck’s owner opted for the full leaf replacements. The new springs give the Toyota a solid 3 inches of lift (maybe a little more), without being overly stiff.
Skyjacker offers an add-a-leaf option or full spring replacements for its 3-inch kits. Sin
To damp the ride and control the soft leaf pack, Skyjacker’s Nitro series shocks were installed. Overall, the shock valving felt a touch firmer than stock but didn’t seem too stiff for the lightweight pickup.
To damp the ride and control the soft leaf pack, Skyjacker’s Nitro series shocks were inst
A 3-inch lift might not seem like much, but when you add the new 32-inch Goodyear MTRs into the mix, it transforms the Tacoma dramatically. Sticking with 32s allows the 2.7L four-cylinder and five-speed manual transmission to move the truck adequately.
A 3-inch lift might not seem like much, but when you add the new 32-inch Goodyear MTRs int

Upsizing A Trail Taco Toyota Tacoma On Lift Getting Aligned

Straight Talk
With the suspension install wrapped up the Toyota was tossed onto the 4Wheel Parts alignment machine. The Tacoma’s independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering took a bit of tweaking to get just right (years of rust and lack of service didn’t help). Don’t be surprised to find that your old Taco needs new rack bushings and/or inner tie rods, as these are common wear points.

Upsizing A Trail Taco Goodyear Mtr Tires

Good With the Pros
The Tacoma received a fresh pair of shoes in the form of 32x11.50 Goodyear MTRs. Mounted on 15x8 Pro Comp 8069 wheels, the truck now has a wider stance, a more stylish appearance, and no scrubbing issues at all. The MTR’s tread stagger gives the truck great grip in a variety of terrains, without compromising on-road manners. And since the Pro Comp aluminum wheel is extremely lightweight, the fresh setup didn’t seem to zap away much power.

SOURCES
4Wheel Parts 400 W. Artesia Boulevard Compton CA 90220 877-474-4821 www.4wheelparts.com	Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co 1144 East Market Street Akron OH 44316 330-796-2121 www.goodyeartires.com
Skyjacker Suspensions P.O. Box 1678 West Monroe LA 71294 318-338-0816 www.skyjacker.com	Pro Comp USA 400 W. Artesia Blvd Compton CA 90220 800-776-0767 www.procompusa.com