After installing my ARB front bumper, I realized that my existing suspension wasn’t going to handle the additional ~80 lbs.  of weight the steel bumper adds (much less, should I decide to add a winch down the road).

I reviewed the forums, talked to a handful of fellow Toyota folks, and checked with the experts (Kirk @4Wheel Parts, Jason and Johnny @Wheeler’s). I decided on Old Man EMU (OME) 881 coils and Bilstein 5100s all around.  I ordered the OMEs from Wheeler’s and got the Billsteins from Down South Motorsports (thanks Marco!)

Step By Step References

Beginners’ Guide To Lifting Your Tacoma

Inexpensive Lift Secrets – Quick, easy, and cheap clearance with IFS.

Project Blackbean- Old Man Emu Suspension

Excellent step-by-step with pictures.  The tip on the jack compressing the UCA is a major headache saver.

Research

Do I need to upgrade my upper control arms (UCA) with Billstein 5100s at a 1.75″ setting (or higher?)

After looking through the alignment threads it seems that .85″ lift with Billies can be made without swapping the UCA. The UCA swap, however, allows for increased caster adjustment which can be marginal with .85″ lift and needs to be corrected for lifts of 1.75″ and up. (via TacomaWorld forums)

Chatter on OME 881s

http://www.customtacos.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16241

Digesting some good information out of this thread over on TacomaTerritory.

This is covered somewhat a lot, but hey, what the hell. 2.5″ max is recomended for the ifs. You can get 3″ but your UCAs and CVs will hate you.

The 880-881-882 are one family of coils for the ’95-’04 Tacoma & ’96-’02 4Runner, this family of vehicles takes the N91S or N91SC front shocks. The 883-884-885-886 are a different family of coils for the ’05-’09 Tacoma, ’03-’09 4Runner, and ’07-’09 FJ Cruiser, this family of vehicles takes the N140S front shock. I successfully slipped an 884 coil spring over an N91S shock, so theoretically this setup could work. However, I will put this out there ARB USA will not warranty this setup at all, so if you run this and it tears stuff up your SOL. They’re on to you’re shenanigans….

My main concern here is with the varying spring rates between the two families of coils. The 880-881-882 coils all have a spring rate of 500 lbf/in, and they all have varying free heights (unloaded). The 883-884-885 group has a spring rate of 590 lbf/in and the 886 has a spring rate of 660 lbf/in. Again, all of these coils have varying spring heights to deal with loads.

Chatter on Bilstein 5100s

Important to remember here that there are different Bilsteins, depending on the era of your Tacoma!

95.5-04

Front Shock Part #: BE5-D558-T0

These offer 3 height options, 0″ (stock), 1″, and 2.5″

Driver Side Rear Shock Part #: BE5-D559-T0
Passenger Side Rear Shock Part #: BE5-D560-T0

05-09

Front Shock Part #: BE5-C477-T0

Model #x The offer 4 height options, 0″ (stock), .85″, 1.75″ and 2.5″

Rear Shock Part #: BE5-C478-T0

Only the front shocks are height adjustable.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/34124-bilstein-5100s.html

Bilsteins or OME Shocks

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/6928-opinion-bilstein-5100s.html

Chatter on OME 881s and Bilstein 5100s

http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112782

Front Coil Over Installation Instructions (Via AllProOffroad.com).

These easily adjustable 0-3″ coil-overs feature specially valved Bilstein shocks and 550-lb All-Pro coils.

Ordering Bilstein 5100s

http://www.wheelersoffroad.com/9504tacoadjbils.htm