Rear shock options for 2" lift

I have the Icon RXT leaf pack installed on my 2015 Tacoma at option 2 which has resulted in 2 inches of lift. Yesterday on a rough dirt road I believe I hit the limit of travel of my stock shocks when I heard a loud bang in the rear when the front of my vehicle traveled into a wash. I read that i may need longer travel rear shocks with the lift, but am unsure what will fit. I read that the Bilstein 5125s may be better as they are for vehicles with a 2 + inch lift but also read that 5110s would also work. I am also considering the 5160s as they may be better for the weight I have in the back (consistently carrying 400 lbs that can max to 600) and the amount of rough dirt roads I travel on for work. Not sure it matters, but I also have timbren off road bump stops to dampen bottom outs.

 

If your assumption is correct, you have a few ways of solving the problem.

1) Limit straps - good solution if you like your current suspension and it doesn't need to be replaced soon.
2) Remove shocks and jack up the truck to fully flex out and see if they are indeed limiting your travel. If so, then get longer shocks. As for the specific Bilstein model, I don't have knowledge on which ones provide the correct travel.

 

Not really sure what else could have been the cause of the noise. Nothing loose that I could find. Also heard it while driving on large rocks.

 

Stock shocks are definitely not long enough for rxt's. Unbolt the shocks and lift the truck from the hitch to flex the rxt's. Then measure from top shock mount to bottom shock mount. That'll tell you what extended length to look for in your new shocks. Pick your favorite brand and go from there.

 

This part doesn’t make sense on why the rear would get fully drooped and bottom out the shock.

if you are entering a wash (at least for my many years of desert experience) you would be going downhill somewhat, putting more weight on the front of the truck, causing that to compress. Unless you really took a nose dive, I can’t imagine the rear bouncing up so hard that you would fully extend the rear shock(s) to make a loud clunk.

Have you looked at the GFC to see if it is shifting around?

Some noises are hard to find and not always coming from what you think. This is from personal experience working on my 2003 and 2015 over the past 10 years.

 

Did you upgrade your bump stops? My guess is you still have stock bump stops and you slammed down on them.

FYI I have a 2" rear lift and have the Bilstein 5160s on the back. I believe they are about 1" longer travel vs stock, been 18 months since I got them so my memory is foggy.

I have not had any issues offroading (Note that I do no do anything at high speeds or obstacles that really stress them)

 

I was driving faster than normal to see how the new springs felt, so yes it was quite a nose dive. GFC is attached well. I drove a lot of rough dirt roads with the GFC prior to the new leaf pack and no noises (other than the occasional bottom out from the weak stock springs and too much weight in the rear). That's why the shocks are what I suspect is the noise. Drives really nicely otherwise on roads.

 

The Icon 2.5 RR RXT shocks are designed to go with the RXT leaf pack (came with Stage 8.) I have the leaf's at option 2 and the Timbren bump stops. Been on for a couple years now and have no complaints... love the way it handles.

 

Yep, Timbren active off roads just put on. They were definitely contacted yesterday. I can see the dust marks on the body contact point. Could this be the culprit of the noise? I was assuming they would prevent that.

 

Mine drove good yesterday other than that noise. A little stiff with my bed being unloaded but less bumpy than my add a leaf on the old Taco.

I'll check the travel lengths of your shocks, as that would help me. How much weight do you carry in the back?

 

I really thought I wanted the 5160s, especially as they have a better Instagram vibe. After talking with the good guys at State 48. I was running the 5125s with my stage 2 Icons. You get a wee bit more suspension travel that way, and for where I go they make more sense. I think I also remember them saying the "valving" of the shock is a better match to the 6112 fronts I'll get when I wear out the 5100s. I think, as I'm retired and memories are not my strongest suit.

 

I just did a quick lookup so this might be wrong. It looks like stock OEM shocks are 8" of travel. Billstein 5160 appears to be 11.5". That is what I am running no issues. RXT option 2. You might have about 100-200 pounds more weight though. I have the 3.5" tall durobump bump stops.

Never bottomed with this setup.

 

I was advised to get the 5160 for the heat dissipation with the external reservoirs. My mechanic advised even on a wash-boarded fire road if you have any weight in the back the heat will build up.

I am however far from an expert.

 

Thanks. Do you have the normal length 5160s that claim to be for 0 - 1.5" lift?

 

How did the 5125s compare to the 5100s? Same feel?

 

That is what I have the normal ones for 0-1.5”. I was expecting 1.75” of lift due to the weight I had and my mechanic said these would be fine.

I ended up with 2” but still they are fine, zero issues.

They have the B8 version of these which I think are for 3” of travel.

 

Got the weight of the canopy/ spare and 200lbs of sand in winter months. Curious what your bumpstop to frame measurement is. Mine's 3"... not sure if that good or bad.)

 

Mine's 2.5" but also have a lot more weight so makes sense.

 

While I do a good bit of washboard roads, I feel at this price point that extra oil wasn't really gonna matter as much to me as the extra travel would.

 

They're pretty much the same around town, but firmer than the 5100s on hits off road. I bet they're spot on for the 6112s