1st Gen Tacoma Suspension DIY: Old Man Emu & Total Chaos Install
1st Gen Tacoma Suspension DIY: Old Man Emu & Total Chaos Install
Ditching cheap strut spacers for a proper coilover and upper control arm upgrade is the single best way to restore ride quality and gain usable suspension travel in your own garage.
The Short Answer (TL;DR)
Upgrading the 1995-2004 1st Gen Toyota Tacoma with an Old Man Emu (OME) suspension and Total Chaos upper control arms takes roughly 4 to 6 hours. This permanently fixes the harsh ride caused by budget lift spacers. Since you will have the front end disassembled, it is the perfect time to inspect your ball joints and upgrade your worn steering rack components.
The DIY Process Overview
This project requires basic hand tools, a heavy-duty floor jack, quality jack stands, and a torque wrench. You will start by supporting the frame on jack stands and removing the front wheels. Next, unbolt the sway bar end links, outer tie rod ends, and the lower shock mount.
With the lower control arm free to droop, you can unbolt the top three strut mount nuts and remove the factory coilover assembly along with any cheap lift spacers. Since this upgrade includes Total Chaos upper control arms (UCAs), you must also extract the long pivot bolt securing the factory UCA to the shock tower. Install the new Total Chaos UCAs using the supplied polyurethane bushings, making sure to apply adequate waterproof grease.
Once the UCAs are mounted, slide the newly assembled OME coilovers into place. Torque the top three nuts to factory spec, then secure the lower shock eye to the lower control arm. Reattach the spindle to the uniball joint on the Total Chaos UCA, reinstall your tie rods, and bolt everything down to the correct torque values before moving to the rear leaf springs.
Why You Should Upgrade While You're In There
When you are tearing down the front suspension, you have completely unobstructed access to the engine bay's lower flanks and inner fender wells. This is the exact time you should be looking at bolt-on engine performance upgrades. With the wheel liners out of the way, installing a high-flow cold air intake or routing a new exhaust manifold is significantly easier.
Recommended Upgrade: Adding a performance tuner or throttle controller to recalibrate your throttle response. Larger off-road tires and heavy suspension components add unsprung weight, making the truck feel sluggish. A plug-and-play tune restores that lost low-end grunt and optimizes transmission shift points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an alignment after installing OME suspension and Total Chaos UCAs?
Absolutely. Changing the ride height and installing aftermarket upper control arms completely alters your camber, caster, and toe. You must drive straight to an alignment shop once the truck is back on the ground to prevent rapid tire wear and unpredictable steering.
Why replace the factory upper control arms on a 1st Gen Tacoma?
When you lift a 1st Gen Tacoma beyond two inches, the factory upper control arms severely limit downward suspension travel. They also max out the ball joint angle, leading to premature failure. Total Chaos UCAs correct the suspension geometry and utilize a stronger pivot joint for full articulation.
Shop 1st Gen Toyota Tacoma Upgrades Here
