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

Before we get into this Dobinsons MRR shock and springs install on a 2022 Toyota Tundra, we wanted to provide some details behind the prior setup in order to show how much gain can be had with a high performance suspenison compared to budget parts.

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).

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.

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