Harry Wagner
Contributor
You don’t often read about this in magazines, but the truth is that lifting your 4-wheel vehicle can be like opening Pandora’s Box. First you install the lift, but that is just the beginning. Next you add larger tires. Wasn’t that the whole point of lifting the truck in the first place? Then you need to purchase lower gears to turn your bigger tires. As long as you are inside the axles, it is a good time to add a locking differential . . .
If you have planned for all of these events, you will not be disappointed in the capabilities of your vehicle when you are done. If you are on a limited budget though, it may be more prudent to install a modest suspension lift and slightly larger tires because they are not only less expensive than larger tires but do not require new axle gears.
No one is on a more limited budget than a high school kid, so when Wyatt’s dad offered to buy him a Skyjacker suspension for his Tacoma if Wyatt got As and Bs on his report card, he had to explain that the budget for the modifications was not endless. Welcome to adulthood, Wyatt.
When discussing moderate lift heights, Skyjacker might not be the first name to come to mind. While it is true that the company makes lifts up to 8 inches tall for a variety of applications, that is not all they offer. Skyjacker has been in business for over 40 years and has a variety of suspension heights and options available for nearly every 4x4 on the market, including Wyatt’s Tacoma. Adding a 2-inch lift to the truck allowed fitment of 235/85R16 General Grabber AT2s.
The stock suspension on the Toyota was shot, so adding inexpensive spacers above the factory struts was not an option. Instead, Skyjacker’s replacement struts were used with the stock coils in the front to retain the factory ride quality. Tacoma’s are notorious for breaking leaf springs, so although Skyjacker offers an add-a-leaf, Wyatt’s truck was upgraded with full replacement leaf springs and Skyjacker M95 monotube shocks. While these were not the least expensive options, knowing that there are no additional costs in the future made it easier to invest in the Skyjacker suspension.
Motivation can come in many forms. Wyatt’s father made a promise to buy him this Skyjacker suspension if he could maintain a 3.5 grade point average.
Since the lift height offered by the Skyjacker suspension is modest, there is no need for new steering knuckles, drop crossmembers, extended brake lines, or sway bar extensions. This allows Skyjacker to offer high-quality shocks and springs at an affordable price.
The Skyjacker S8000 front strut has an adjustable spring seat to offer anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of lift. Skyjacker does not recommend running more than 2 inches of lift unless your Tacoma is equipped with manual locking hubs, where the CV axles are not spinning unless the hubs are locked.
Comparing the body of the factory strut to the new strut, it is easy to see where the added lift height comes from. The Skyjacker S8000 uses a 14mm chrome hardened shaft and a 150-psi, twin-tube, gas-charged design for a firm yet controlled ride.
A spring compressor is necessary to remove the factory spring from the stock strut and install it on the Skyjacker strut. Spring compressors can generally be rented from your local parts store for free.
The stock front struts were easy to remove from the Tacoma, while the longer Skyjacker struts were more challenging to install. The lower ball joint was unbolted from the knuckle to create the necessary space to install the S8000 strut.
Yes, Wyatt got off easy with a two-post lift to install his new Skyjacker suspension. The rear suspension consists of leaf springs though and could easily be performed with jackstands in the driveway if you don’t mind lying on your back.
Skyjacker offers add-a-leaf kits for the rear of Tacomas, but the company’s Softride full replacement springs offer more wheel travel and a better ride. Note that 1995 1/2-1997 Tacomas (like Wyatt’s) used shorter leaf springs than 1998-2004 Tacomas. We learned that one the hard way, and leaf springs are not inexpensive to ship.
Skyjacker Softride springs use Teflon sliders between the leaves, tapered ends, and bolted (instead of clamped) leaf retainers. All of these features reduce friction for increased articulation and a smoother rider.
The rear leaf springs are complemented by Skyjacker M95 monotube shocks that are valved specifically for the Tacoma and are longer than stock to match the height and travel of the leaf springs. The M95 shocks use high-pressure nitrogen and a floating piston for fade-free performance—even when subjected to a teenage driver.
One sure way to spot a truck that never really goes off-road is that the U-bolts hang down and are unharmed. Flipping the U-bolts so they face upward is the ideal solution, but then new lower shock mounts must be fabricated. Wyatt simply cut the excess off the new Skyjacker U-bolts that were included with the springs.
Sam Cothrun at Samco Fabrication mounted up our new General Grabber AT2 tires on Toyota TRD rims. The Grabbers are the perfect tires for this truck, as they are more aggressive than stock while providing great traction in a wide variety of environments from sand to pavement to snow.
The 235/85R16 General Grabber AT2s are nearly 4 inches taller than the tires that are being replaced, but they are only half an inch wider. The pizza-cutter tires maximize ground clearance while keeping weight and rolling resistant to a minimum.
The last step required was an alignment before hitting the road. Then it was back to school for Wyatt. His new Skyjacker suspension and General tires have definitely taught him the value of getting good grades!
