My Honest Review of the Eibach Pro Truck Lift Stage 1 for the 3rd Gen Tacoma
After 5 months of having the Eibach Pro Truck Lift Stage 1 on my 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Offroad I’ve had the opportunity to put some offroad and on-road miles on it to really test my opinion on it. For a budget friendly lift kit, it’s a great option from a trusted suspension company that adds some much needed ground clearance and offroad performance to my Tacoma. Let’s talk about some of the things I love and dislike about the new suspension set up. (Disclaimer: I do have an add-a-leaf installed so my ride may be stiffer than how the kit comes) (This article is also not sponsored or affiliated with Eibach)
Before Installing the Eibach Pro Truck Lift Stage 1
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Installation
Honestly, with no prior experience, the Eibach Pro Truck Lift Stage 1 was super easy to install with the right tools. I did have a buddy to help out to provide an extra set of hands, but other than that we were both out of our element as we never had installed suspension before. The provided instructions were pretty simple to follow and having an impact made it a lot easier since I had some bolts that were pretty hard to loosen. I ordered my kit from Wheelers Offroad and had them assembled prior to shipping so that I could just mount them in as soon as they arrived.
It took roughly 4 hours to install the front and rear (including the add-a-leaf) with someone to help out and access to all the proper tools plus an air impact. I think if you did it by yourself, it would take at max 8 hours to complete.
Price
The stage 1 kit is a very budget friendly kit that still provides some much needed ground clearance and upgraded suspension components. I actually managed to buy my kit during a Black Friday sale and managed to snag a really good deal. The full kit from Eibach comes in at $704 (at the time of me writing this article) and comes with front and rear shocks and front springs.
Honestly after some research after buying the lift, there are some companies such as Dobinsons that offer front suspension for cheaper or the same price, but it’s only the front shocks and coils, unlike where the Eibach kit comes with rear shocks too.
On-Road Handling and Ride Quality
To be really honest, the on road ride quality can be a bit stiffer than the stock TRD Offroad suspension. The Eibach Pro Truck Lift Springs that come in this kit are 742lb/in which is pretty stiff for an everyday driver like mine, but if you do have some weight in the front it will definitely help balance it out and provide a much softer ride.
When hitting larger bumps in the road, it handles pretty well and keeps your tires on the road without bouncing you around in the cabin like the stock suspension but when it comes to smaller bumps and road imperfections, I think it is lacking a little comfort as I can feel most of them when driving around town. Cornering and turns are great as the suspension keeps the tires on the road and reduces body roll quite a bit due to the stiffer springs.
After installing the Eibach Pro Truck Lift Stage 1
Off-Road Handling and Ride Quality
Offroad ride quality is where this kit really excels. For me, I do a lot of my offroad driving through the Ozark National Forest and it handles a lot of obstacles like a champ. From maneuvering over large obstacles and going through larger dips on the trail, the Eibach kit soaks them up nicely.
The only problem I have noticed in offroad driving is on wash-board style roads. It does shake a lot on these small ridge style bumps and things like gravel roads. I have noticed that if you drive a little bit faster than normal, it does greatly improve the feeling on these roads but not totally and I would still expect to be bouncing around a bit.
Issue after installation
Although there were no problems directly related to the lift, there is something you may notice that come from lifting a 3rd Gen Tacoma. The first thing I had to do was replace my driver side needle bearing to eliminate the needle bearing vibration, which is actually a very common failure in lifted Tacoma trucks. I simply had a shop install a Yukon 8” Clamshell Bushing which is the exact same bushing as the popular ECGS bushing.
Read Next: How to Fix Toyota Tacoma Vibrations After Installing a Lift
Final Thoughts
After having my lift on for about 5 months, I can honestly say that this is a great quality and budget friendly lift kit for anyone that is looking for a pretty inexpensive way to gain some better offroad performance and much needed clearance on their 3rd Gen Tacoma. After this time, the front hasn’t settled at all minus the infamous Tacoma Lean on the drivers side. Although it is a little stiff, which may be from my add a leaf, I plan on adding a front bumper and winch which I am sure will greatly improve the quality on this lift. If you’re interested in buying the Stage 1 kit, check out the link below!
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