When outfitting a trail rig with an aftermarket bumper, winch, and heavy-duty skidplates, things start getting heavy, and heavy can be a problem on your suspension. Our ’04 Tacoma double cab had Bilstein coilover shocks but only 500-pound-rated springs. It worked fine with just an aftermarket bumper but was not up to the task of controlling our now heavyset Tacoma when we added a winch. The folks at Toytec, a company that specializes in lifting and modifying Toyotas, had a solution to our dilemma. They recommended a set of their 600-pound rated Bilstein adjustable front coilover shocks. This bolt-on front coilover lift is similar to what we had before, as it utilizes maintenance-free Bilstein 5100 shocks. However, this one uses a different mounting system and comes with a variety of coil spring rates. These particular Toytec coilovers are available for the ’951⁄2-’04 Tacoma and ’96-’02 4Runner with three different front coil rates depending on front weight and vehicle type. The light 500-pound coils we had are recommended for four-cylinder and standard cab models only. The 600-pound coils are for additional front weight on all models, including the double cab like ours. Toytec also offers heavy-duty 650-pound coils to be used with at least 200 pounds of additional front weight from aftermarket accessories like heavy front bumpers and steel cable line winch combos. The Toytec coilovers come assembled for easy driveway or shop installation, requiring just handtools and no spring compressor. The upgrade was easy, and we were truly impressed with the difference a 600-pounds coil spring can make on the coilover. This set of Toytec 600-pound-rated coilover shocks in silver comes with a nice set of spanner wrenches. The billet top plate bolts directly into the factory frame mounts.This set of Toytec 600-pound-rated coilover shocks in silver comes with a nice set of span With the weight of a winch bumper, winch, and front skidplates, our Tacoma started to sag. The 500-pound springs only cleared 371⁄2 inches at the top of the fenderwell opening on 33-inch tires and struggled to keep from bottoming out off-road. To start, raise the truck on a lift or jackstands, remove the tires, and let the suspension droop out. Unbolt the coilovers at the bottom first and then the top three bolts and remove.With the weight of a winch bumper, winch, and front skidplates, our Tacoma started to sag. Install the new coilovers starting with the top three flared locking nuts on the studs. Use Loctite on all fasteners to keep them tight during abusive off-road driving.Install the new coilovers starting with the top three flared locking nuts on the studs. Us The last step is to install the lower OE bolt through the bottom of the coilover. Tighten all the bolts to the factory spec of 100 lb-ft. Our shocks installed without much fuss, but you may have to pry the lower control arm down if you do not have a uniball joint installed on the upper control arm as we do.The last step is to install the lower OE bolt through the bottom of the coilover. Tighten After the Toytec coilovers were installed, we noticed a change in altitude of about an inch with the same number of threads showing on the prior coilovers. We then cranked it up another 3⁄4 inch to about 391⁄4 inches as measured at the top of the fenderwell opening, to provide an overall 21⁄2 inches of lift over the stock ride height. Toytec claims 0-31⁄2 inches of lift depending on weight and how much the springs are preloaded.After the Toytec coilovers were installed, we noticed a change in altitude of about an inc Once the install was complete and a few miles were under our belt, we adjusted the Toytec coilovers until we had only a slight rake. We then took it out on the trail for a test run and noticed more control in hillclimbs, fast sections, bumps, and off-camber situations. We gained almost an inch at the same adjustment setting due to the 600-pound spring, and then dialed it in to about a 13⁄4-inch higher lift than it had before the install. With the higher clearance, we also noticed fewer undercarriage and skidplate scraping in the ruts and on the rocks.Once the install was complete and a few miles were under our belt, we adjusted the Toytec By Chris Cox Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
