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Tema 4x4 lift kit

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Marcilla Smith, Jan 30, 2019.

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  1. Matt Cope

    Matt Cope Junior Member

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    Awesome, good to know! I would love to see pictures of the 205/75/15s once you get them on!

    That is incredible that you want to do the Tennessee Gambler 500, I have had the same idea since I saw the Regenerates Prius a little while ago haha.
     
    #21 Matt Cope, May 20, 2019
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  2. w84me

    w84me Active Member

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    Any update on new tires yet? I plan on doing the same for my 3rd gen
     
    #22 w84me, May 27, 2019
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  3. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Not yet, I'm afraid. I have some other work to finish first before I get around to it.

    Incidentally, I got a new job which has taken me out of rural NC and put me in Raleigh. I thought this might have made my "battlecarification" superfluous. The other day, however, I had a client need me to "off road" her to her front door past the parking lot and across the grassy courtyard of her housing project. Not only was I wanting the lift, but also the thicker rubber of the AT's
     
    #23 Marcilla Smith, May 29, 2019
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  4. Dale Denton

    Dale Denton Junior Member

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    I lifted the rear (so far) on my 2013 20190526_182439.jpg
     
    #24 Dale Denton, May 29, 2019
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  5. Dale Denton

    Dale Denton Junior Member

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    That IS excellent news, as I don't want to mess around with a spring compressor. To access the strut mount did you remove the windshield wiper assembly? Or did you maneuver a ratcheting box wrench in there? Seems like a lot of pre-work to get to the mounting bolts.
     
    #25 Dale Denton, May 30, 2019
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  6. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Yes, I removed the wiper arms so that I could remove the cover underneath them. One thing I remember doing was using some painter's tape to mark where the wiper blades fell before removal. This took the guess work out of realigning them properly during reinstallation.

    The more aggravating part, IIRC, was trying to get the torsion bar to agree to the new angle of installation. Naturally I considered leaving it unattached in order to increase articulation over boulders and similar uneven terrain
     
    #26 Marcilla Smith, May 30, 2019
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  7. Dale Denton

    Dale Denton Junior Member

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    Well that didn't last long. Heard a funny rattle like my heat shield was loose. Upon further inspection the spacer had failed, allowing the spring to move out of place. Seriously disappointed and now nervous about the fronts. 20190622_130500.jpg 20190622_131845.jpg
     
    #27 Dale Denton, Jun 22, 2019
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  8. David Wells

    David Wells Junior Member

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    Well, that's not good. Did you use the TEMA spacers or another brand? Nervous as I've ordered TEMA's for my son's car...
    눈_눈
     
    #28 David Wells, Jun 24, 2019
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  9. Toddwilks

    Toddwilks Active Member

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    Welll shit I was just going to place the order for mine on Friday. Guess I’ll wait to see how this pans out.


    iPhone ?
     
    #29 Toddwilks, Jun 24, 2019
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  10. Dale Denton

    Dale Denton Junior Member

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    They're from Tema4x4. I'm nervous as well since I spent a good amount of time doing the fronts as well and they're a little harder to monitor.

    The failed spacer is super brittle and crumbly. Tema responded and said it was probably a bad lot. They said they'll ship another set. I guess I'll take the risk?

     
    #30 Dale Denton, Jun 24, 2019
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  11. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Dale, that's awful! Thanks for letting us know.

    I suppose I'll take a closer look at mine again???...
     
    #31 Marcilla Smith, Jun 26, 2019
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  12. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    So far, the spacers continue to hold up. How did your sitch work out, Dale?

    Recently, I ventured to a primitive camp in the Uwharrie National Forest. The only other vehicles I saw were a Subie and a dual sport motorcycle. I don't know that I would have tried this without the lift.

    IMG_0004.JPG IMG_0002.JPG camphoto_342241519.jpg IMG_0003.JPG
     
    #32 Marcilla Smith, Jul 7, 2019
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  13. Doug Stephens

    Doug Stephens Junior Member

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    Any additional info on the faulty Tema lift spacer?

    I purchased the kit from Tema a month ago and am now reluctant to install it.

    I'd be interested in being able to tell if my kit is robust or that it is going to disintegrate like Dale Denton's.
     
    #33 Doug Stephens, Jul 23, 2019
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  14. Dale Denton

    Dale Denton Junior Member

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    I received a replacement set (at no cost) and have about 1000mi on them so far. No issues to report. Looks to be holding fine.
     
    #34 Dale Denton, Jul 23, 2019
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  15. Dale Denton

    Dale Denton Junior Member

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    2000 miles in and all is well. I installed some booster blocks to 1) gain some additional height and rake to further get my hitch rack out of harm's way and 2) prevent the spring from compressing in a way that might send it shooting out like before.

    The spacer makes putting things back together seem like an impossible task. Imagine you're trying to put a large spring in the mouth of a clothesline pin. The hinge on the pin is fixed, and can't properly accommodate the length of the spring, so the spring wants to bow out as the clamp closes. This is basically what's happening as you re-mount the shock absorbers. I found it helped to push the spring inwards (toward front of car) with my foot as I used a jack to bring the axle back up to mount the absorbers. 20190726_115629.jpg 20190726_115643.jpg
     
    #35 Dale Denton, Jul 28, 2019
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  16. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    I'm glad everything is working out this time, Dale :)

    Thanks for the additional info on the spacers. Would you offer any speculations on using the metal spacer/compressors that adjust with a wrench?
     
    #36 Marcilla Smith, Jul 28, 2019
  17. Toddwilks

    Toddwilks Active Member

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    What’s the info for the ‘booster blocks’? Where does one get them?


    iPad ?
     
    #37 Toddwilks, Jul 29, 2019
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  18. Dale Denton

    Dale Denton Junior Member

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    Generic accessory from O'Reilly or AutoZone or whatever
     
    #38 Dale Denton, Aug 19, 2019
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  19. artrockets

    artrockets Member

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    I installed the Tema lift kit a few months ago without any problems.. I finally got new tires put on 205/65 16 and while it's pretty tight.. They fit! No rubbing on the steering or rears.. I have yet to find some big whoops to bottom the car out on but I don't think it'll rub there either.. Car has about 10-11 inches of clearance now..

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    #39 artrockets, Aug 30, 2019
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  20. artrockets

    artrockets Member

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    Also.. About the lift kit.. I found the bolts the kit comes with are cheap steel. When I snapped the 2nd bolt off tightening it up, I went back thru the whole process replacing every bolt with a heavier grade hardened steel.. My advice.. Get good hardened steel bolts. On the front struts, I tack welded the bolt heads to the strut/spring plate, leaving 2 bolt head edges clean in case I needed to get a wrench on them.

    Recently, I had to replace an O2 sensor which involved removing the wiper shelf etc and I used that opportunity to get back at the bolts to check the torque/tightness and all was good.

    I was running 205/55 16 and now having the 205/65 16 the ride is much better/smoother.. I do so love a good ol' fat tire. Not that I'm a hot dogger lead foot but I can definitely feel a hit on the acceleration
     
    #40 artrockets, Aug 30, 2019
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