dobinsons

Dobinsons MRR 3" Lift Kit Install - 10 Inches of Front Travel on this 2022 Tundra

Posted by Sean Reyes on

Spacer's Effect on Usable Travel

Leveling spacers, lift spacers, spring spacers, leveling kits - all of these similar names for late model IFS (Independent Front Suspension) trucks like the Tundra, Tacoma, F-150, Silverado, and others, accomplish only one thing - taller ride height.

But most drivers don't realize the compromise with these kits, namely actual usable wheel travel - specifically down travel (sometimes called droop).

droop [ drüp ]

verb

  1. to hang or incline downward

noun

  1. the measured distance of downward travel available on a vehicle's suspension (the opposite of compression)

Down-travel is how far your wheel / suspension can lower away from the chassis, based off normal ride height. In the case of the 2022 Tundra we worked on, there was about 7.5 inches of front wheel travel; so at ride height there was +/- 3.75 inches of travel up and down.

Strut & Spring Spacers Reduce Suspension Travel

When introducing a strut spacer or spring spacer, like this Tundra customer had done in order to clear larger tires, comes with a sacrifice to droop travel. More specifically, by using a spring spacer from a popular manufacturer, that preloads the factory coil springs, this added 2.5 inches of extra ride height, at the expense of that much droop travel.

So now the suspension only had about 1.5 inches of downward suspension travel, making the shock the limiting strap. Additionally, the compressed shock length is increased, limiting bump travel as well.

The Dobinsons shocks fixed all of this, not only providing 3 inches of lift the customer desired, but increasing net travel up and down over the factory suspension.

chart showing suspension travel numbers for the Toyota Tundra, stock vs spacer vs Dobinsons MRR Coilovers

This is accomplished with proper rated springs, and longer front shocks that cycle much more travel than stock, while gaining significant ground clearance for larger tires and obstacles.

Installation Steps - Dobinsons MRR Suspension - Toyota Tundra

  1. Start the front coilover install. Remove skid plate.
  2. 12mm socket to remove 2 bolts that hold brake line and ABS bracket to UCA and spindle
  3. 19mm socket to remove lower sway bar end link from LCA
  4. Remove cotter pin from tie rod nut / stud and use 24mm socket to remove tie rod nut
  5. Using a 22mm socket, remove the two bolts from the bottom side of the spindle
  6. Remove lower shock bolt using a 22mm socket
  7. Remove upper shock mount bolts using a 14mm socket
  8. Start with the rear nuts and when removing the final nut, have someone help support the strut assembly so it does not fall out when the final nut us removed
  9. Use a proper spring compressor on the stock assembly, use a 19mm socket to remove the factory top nut from the strut assembly
  10. Assemble the new coilover using the factory top hat
  11. Tighten lower strut mount bolt with 21mm wrench and socket
  12. Loosen the hose clamp closest to the engine with a 10mm socket
  13. Lift up on the intake box to remove, it is only held in place by rubber grommets under the box
  14. Unplug the small grey connector next to the ECU
  15. To unplug the ECU harness, push down on the safety latch and push the lever the opposite way, the connector will then lift up and you will be able to remove the plug completely
  16. Remove factory UCA
  17. Install the aftermarket UCA (Icon Vehicle Dynamics in this case) into position using the OEM pivot bolt through the spacers and the frame
  18. Install the delta joint dust cap with o-ring using the included screws and loctite
  19. Use a 17mm socket to unbolt the 4 sway bar bracket bolts, remove the sway bar
  20. To install the reservoir bracket, remove the smaller frame cap using a flathead screwdriver
  21. Slide the reservoir clamp on the reservoir
  22. Holding the nut in the frame hole, thread the reservoir mounting bolt
  23. Clamp the reservoir hose to the forward hole on the reservoir mounting bracket
  24. Install the Icon sway bar drop spacers in between the frame and the sway bar bracket
  25. The smaller / shorter spacer will be positioned in the front and the longer spacer in the rear
  26. Use the included longer bolts from the Icon and tighten with 19mm socket
  27. Start the rear shock install. Unbolt brake line brackets from the axle using a 12mm socket
  28. Using a 17mm socket, remove the nut holding the sway bar endlink to the frame
  29. With a 19mm wrench, remove the nut from the top of the factory shock
  30. Remove the lower shock bolt with a 17mm socket, remove the shock
  31. Remove the stock spring
  32. Remove the factory spring insulator off the stock spring and install on the new springs
  33. Install the new springs; they are significantly longer than stock so you will likely need two people to get them in, one to put weight on the axle so it droops enough to get the spring in
  34. Insert the lower shock mount onto the shock mount stud on the axle, then the upper shock mount into the frame
  35. With the 19mm wrench, tighten the upper shock mount nut
  36. Then use the 17mm socket to install the lower shock bolt
  37. The rear reservoir will be mounted to the shock body, use a 4mm allen wrench to tighten the reservoir mounting bracket

More To Read

The Ultimate Off-Road Shock Guide for Trails, Dunes, and Deserts
Off-Roading Nuances When we’re talking about off-roading, we’re essentially focused on 3 differen...
Shock & Suspension Buyer's Guide - What is Control, Comfort, and Performance
Our product is Knowledge, gained through Experience. Your vehicle and driving style is unique, wh...
Definitive Shock Guide for Towing & Hauling
How Good Shocks Help Towing & Hauling Factory suspensions are notoriously oversprung and unde...
KYB Truck Plus Complete Performance Assembly
Truck-Plus Benefits From KYB: Complete Assembly Already assembled with the correct sprin...
Bilstein 6112 vs. 5100 Shocks, what are the major differences?
To get straight to the point, these shocks are for different types of drivers and vehicles. The 2...