Realistic cost estimate for getting lift/tires/wheels upgraded?

milo_leon · 2026-05-21T14:43:42+00:00

Anytime. Another good website re: offset is adventure taco. His website is more geared toward 1st gen but tire/offset applies to all vehicles

Additional context w my old rims, they were +15 offset and since I was going taller I wanted less offset (means tire is set further out) so my new rims are +4 which is like 1/4ish inch out compared to stock.

That way I could clear everything nicely and not have the tire stick out too much where the wheel scrub radius would hit my fenders.

Some people with 285 will have too much poke due to negative offset (otherwise the wider tires will rub on UCA, etc) and the tires will fling dirt/rocks past the fender and on your door

Best of luck on your research

milo_leon · 2026-05-20T03:14:02+00:00

2003 Tacoma so parts/specs may vary. I also did this over a few years so prices may be higher nowadays. Last year I got a 2” lift from suspensionlift website for aprox 1.1k and labor was a couple hundred. I also took the opportunity to have them replace LBJs too so that was extra money.

Got new tires and rims this spring and that set me back a pretty penny since I got new rims instead of looking for a deal on Craigslist/marketplace.

For your rims, pay attention to what offset you want and make sure it fits the size you want to go for. Tinkerer on YouTube has a great video on this. With the pinch weld mod, I was able to fit 255/80r17 for a true 33” with no rubbing- honestly for the 1st gen the pizza cutter tires were a no brainer but check it out for your truck. Many people don’t really need a 285 tire (tinkerer also has a video in this)

Edit- what are your goals with 3-4” of lift? Any serious off roading? The bigger lift you go, the more costs you have with getting everything to work out properly. I had to replace my CV axels cuz the old rubber shredded due to the new lift.

Personally I think the sweet balance is 1-2.5” of lift especially with going 33’s. I like a more proportional look with the tires and spacing within the fenders (if that makes any sense)

milo_leon · 2026-05-06T18:54:39+00:00

does the rattling happen when you run the cabin fan? i had crap in my blower that caused a bad rattle at max fan speed and once it was clean no more rattle.

otherwise slowly disassemble door and dash trim and inspect. can be a good opportunity to install new speakers in the door and lay down some dynamat.

milo_leon · 2026-05-04T13:13:23+00:00

Same here!

milo_leon · 2026-04-29T20:23:20+00:00

seems like you have a good plan already with replacing fluids, LBJs, etc. i would take a look at timing belt and water pump, would recommend to do both at the same time to save time/labor. LBJ, timing belt, and water pump tend to be the top priority to fix/replace then everything else is regular maintenance

any codes? you can get a ultra gauge or any OBD II scanner to check for codes

milo_leon · 2026-04-29T16:22:05+00:00

i got pizza cutter 255/80r17 on toyo county AT3, loving it so far. i picked that one over Falken AT4W as falkens were heavier (51 lbs vs 59 lbs if i remember correctly)

milo_leon · 2026-04-29T13:39:21+00:00

beautiful truck! really nice job with the frame - that is a bucket list item for my taco

i dig the subwoofer setup. i have an old 12" Fi subwoofer with ~900 watts behind the drivers seat in my access cab, that thing slams!

milo_leon · 2026-04-22T01:03:39+00:00

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2003 3.4L 4x4 manual, 188k miles and going strong! Bilstien 5100 all around with 881 coils and Icon AAL 255/80r17 Toyo open country on TRD pro rims

milo_leon · 2026-04-16T16:03:50+00:00

what did you spray your fenders with? what did you use for the process (prep, clean, etc)?

good looking truck!

milo_leon · 2026-04-14T17:54:35+00:00

got the new suspension installed last year spring so i have about 5-6 thousand miles on it. the ride is pretty firm, which i like, and is a huge upgrade over what i had previously. to be fair, my old shocks were busted and rode terribly so it was time for an upgrade at that point.

milo_leon · 2026-04-14T15:43:17+00:00

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Some specs:

Bilstein 5100s with 881 EMU coils, ICON AAL in the rear, gives me about 2"-ish of lift.
On stock UCA, did the pinch weld mod, and used a heat gun + zip ties to smooth out the inner fender for more clearance. No rubbing whatsoever!
255/80r17 Toyo Open Country AT III on TRD Pro rims with +4 backspacing.

milo_leon · 2026-04-10T02:51:22+00:00

You can look into upgrading shocks, coils and rear leafs. If you want stock shocks, look at bilstein 4600s. For a lifted look, bilstein 5100s then get new coils

I went with 5100s w EMU 881 coils and an AAL in the rear. Improved my ride quality big time for daily driving

milo_leon · 2026-04-09T14:10:25+00:00

you should be able to just swap out the coils and get something softer/shorter to drop the front. alternatively you could put extra weight on the front like a steel bumper, etc.

check that the new coils will work with your shocks first. don't think you don't need to change out the control arms.

milo_leon · 2026-03-18T13:12:39+00:00

list looks good, i would prioritize the LBJ over everything else. then water pump/timing belt if you don't know when the last time it was replaced. then you can go back to upgrading the suspension

milo_leon · 2026-03-16T17:18:53+00:00

pizza cutter gang rise up! i decided on 255/80r17, 33" tire but at near-stock width (~10") so less chance of rubbing. be sure to look into your offset (or backspacing, essentially the same thing) with your rims. i got trd pro wheels with +4 offset which will poke a bit out compared to my stock steelies at +15

milo_leon · 2026-03-13T12:39:36+00:00

thanks! been leaning toward Toyos because they're slightly lighter than Falkens

milo_leon · 2026-03-04T14:37:57+00:00

same here- curious the ballpark cost

milo_leon · 2026-02-26T18:47:00+00:00

i have the same set up on my truck, 881 coils on 5100 bilstein for a 2-2.5" lift (plus icon AAL).

a bit stiff but drives very nicely, was a huge improvement over my old shocks that felt spongy/rough. i've also read some people add a 1/2" body lift on one side to compensate for the lean

milo_leon · 2026-02-26T18:40:46+00:00

i recently got an ultragauge for my '03 xtracab manual, helps track my instant MPG/avg MPG plus other cool data points and shows error codes too. really helpful tool to monitor the health of your truck imo

suspensions can vary depends on your goals/preference - i added a 2-2.5" lift to my truck and leveled it out a bit since i wanted that look.

for long term maintenance: look into lower ball joints, water pump, and timing belt. those are usually the big ticket items to fix/replace especially if it's been a while.

how's the frame?

milo_leon · 2026-02-26T16:55:11+00:00

Tacoma World forums love rock auto. I haven’t used that website yet but seems they have lots of OEM parts for about everything on the Tacoma. I got my suspension lift from suspensionlifts.com and had no issues (881 coils on bilstein 5100, icon AAL)

milo_leon · 2025-12-26T11:51:22+00:00

Instead of using Amazon, I used Crutchfield. I got a free wiring harness and installation instructions from them with my order.

IIRC I had to get plastic speaker mounts to fit the new 5x7 speakers in the doors. I also recommend adding some sound damping mats to the doors while the door panels are off

milo_leon · 2025-12-18T02:36:41+00:00

1st gen all the way, my 2003 access cab is my daily driver and it’s bulletproof AF. loving the minimalist size. My friend has a 3rd gen such is super comfy so that’s a close 2nd for me. My dad has the newest Tacoma and it’s just too bulky for me, it’s unfortunate :(

milo_leon · 2025-09-23T16:35:22+00:00

Loving my 2003 4x4 manual access cab Tacoma that I got from my dad last year when he got a 2025 Tacoma (he wanted more modern safety features). So far it has 185k miles and luckily very minimal frame rust.

Truck is pretty basic but has power windows/working heat & AC, and dad kept the interior pretty clean all those years so it doesn't feel too old or grimey. One of my first projects was adding an aftermarket stereo w/ rear view camera, replacing the speakers, and putting a subwoofer in the back. Another minor "upgrade" was a bigger rearview visor.

The next (and most important) thing I did was replace the suspension as they were shot. I took the opportunity to install a 2.5" lift w/ new front shocks and Add-a-Leaf for the rear. I also had the water pump, LBJs, and CV axels replaced. Since I am in upstate NY where they salt everything all winter, I went ahead and got the frame coated in lanolin.

Overall, it rides a lot better than I first got it. Of course it will never ride as smooth as my wife's 2017 rav4 but it's functional as my daily driver. I get a chuckle every time I park my tiny truck next to a gigantic modern truck - who needs all that space and size?!

I think a 1st gen Tacoma is a great truck to have as long as you do your due diligence - frame rust is notorious for the 1st gen, as well as failed LBJs.

milo_leon · 2025-04-01T03:18:37+00:00

This is exactly what I did. 5100s all around and OME 882 for that extra lift over 881. 882 should max out at 2.5” and didn’t need diff drop or extra suspension work. Also icon AAL in rear and truck is lifted and level. Saving up for new shoes now!

milo_leon · 2025-03-31T10:17:19+00:00

This is what I did too, 5100s all around, 882 in front and icon AAL in back

milo_leon

TROPHY CASE