Suspension/steering rebuild.

After a long search I finally got the Tacoma I was after, it’s a 2.7, 5 speed, ext cab, 4x4 with 161k miles it’s a stock ride height and I intend to keep that way. Seems to run like a top and had the frame replaced in 2017. I intend to keep forever and wanna spend some money to freshen up. Steering is a little loose, shocks/struts look original, and it had a trailer brake controller in it so I decided I want to just rebuild the suspension, steering. I know i will probably never get my money back out of this but here is the parts list, tell me if you think it’s overkill, I missed something, or there is a better value for a component.

Billstein 4600 front/rear and new bushings.

general springs Oem leaf springs
and new shackles/u bolts.

Oem rack.
Oem tie rod ends
Oem ball joints upper/lower.
Mevotech sway arm links and bushings.
Would I need control arm bushings?


I don’t know much about steering or suspension so if there’s any parts that I’m missing for a refresh let me know. Also, on the 2.7, gonna put new belts, hoses, tune up, flush all fluids. Is there any thing else that is common I should check with 161k?

 

There’s a part called a rag joint or intermediate shaft joint that connects the steering column to the rack. It’s had rubber in the middle to reduce transmission of vibrations but if the rubber is shot it could cause it to feel sloppy. During install you will likely have to pull the steering column out at least a little bit and you might consider doing the “tack weld mod” at this time. It consists of tacking the two sleeves in the steering column together eliminating another common area for slack.

 

I think the Billstein suspension would be worth the money and should help with the body roll these trucks have.

 

I’m happy with my 4600s, but I wouldn’t say it “fixed” the body roll issue - it just helped. The roll is really because of how tall these trucks are compared to their width. Shocks won’t change the geometry, but I highly recommend the bilsteins with new springs.

My word of advice (from the salt belt) is that I went ahead and ordered direct from Toyota every single bolt, nut and bushing that I was going to touch on this install. Manufacturers intended for us to reuse a number of parts when replacing shocks and springs, but after 20 years time has told on the stuff, and the extra ~50$ or whatever it was was well worth the headaches it saved me.

good luck on the build!

 

OP,
Check your front wheel bearings before you tear the front end apart. With all you will be doing, this will be a very convenient time to replace them if needed. A member of this board looks to do very fine work on knuckles & CVs: For Sale: 4x4 Manual Hubs, Spindles, Knuckles and CVs | Tacoma World. My front wheel bearings normally last 10 years of off roading torture. But I am now on my 4th set of front wheel bearing in the '97 Taco because the last shop pressed the bearings into the knuckle backwards which caused them to fail in just 3 years of off roading. So make sure to get it done right the first time. .02