2003 Tacoma TRD Pre-Runner Body Lift Install

Now it's time for us to remove the steering shaft. Before we did though, we made sure that the wheel would not turn by strapping it with some baling twine.

You need to make sure that when you take apart the steering assembly that you are able to line it up exactly as it was, so you will need to get a Sharpie and mark the steering shaft, rag joint and rack and pinion shaft.

<- Click on image to enlarge

There are 6 sets of bolts, washers, bushings and nuts that attach the Tacoma cab to it's frame. The spacers that came with the kit will install on top of the factory bushings. Two are located in the rear of the cab, two under the front of the cab and two are located at the very front of the cab on the core support

<- Body Mount behind Rear Seat - Just had to pull up the carpet, no need to remove any panels or anything.

Loosen all 6 cab mounting bolts then remove ONLY the passenger side.

Start by positioning your hydraulic jack on a wooden block under the passenger side of the cab. As your buddies walk around and check for any cables binding go ahead and start jacking up the cab. VERY SLOWLY. Watch and Listen for anything out of the normal and stop jacking immediately if something is caught up. Check the brake lines, you may have to bend them slightly. Only go high enough to insert a spacer and a bolt, washer and nut. Once the three on the passenger side are in place, lower your jack slowly and do the same for the driver's side.

^ Here is how we setup our jack and blocks ^

Now that the cab is complete, make sure the cab is the same distance from the bed as it was before, then tighten all of the body nuts 55 lb ft torque.

Now it's time to start on the bed. Same thing, loosen all bolts, then remove one side, lift, install the spacer and set back down. We found the bed to be light enough that I just lifted it while my buddy put the spacers in.

About this time we were getting pretty tired of working on the same truck for so long that it made this next part suck even more than it did. You have to remove the gas filler assembly from the vehicle. (It's held in place with one bolt) You need to remove all the clamps and hoses from the filler assembly to get it out. Now here, we ran into problems cause nothing that came with the kit was the right size to extend the vacuum hoses....clamps were too big, they gave us a 1" pipe extension to fit 1" hoses around....that just didn't work.

So we ran to Wal-Mart (thank god it's 24 hours now) and bought some hose clamps and some uh...some aluminum knitting needles

We used the knitting needles as a hose extension and got all the hoses extended using our new hose clamps.

We then used a 3" bracket to install the filler assembly back in place. Make sure that when you close the gas cap that it is able to close fully (click-click-click...).

After that we used the four radiator brackets supplied with the kit to lower the radiator 3" (to line up with the fan shroud's height).

After you get that done, it's simply the tedious task of putting everything back together.

Double check everything: wires, bolts, cables, don't forget to reinstall the cotter pin and key if you've got a 2wd auto. Next thing to do is just start her up and test everything, steering, left and right, all of your gears, all electrical systems, etc.

That's it! You're done!

Disclaimer: This is not an installation guide. It is only an informational demonstration to be used in helping you make a decision to purchase a body lift or to install one yourself by outlining all the key steps that are involved when a body lift is installed onto a vehicle. In no way can this site nor the author be held responsible for any propery damage or bodily injuries that can occur if you do attempt to use this as an installation guide. DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! 02-16-2005