Suspension Upgrade, no lift?

Well hello everybody,

Long time lurker here. I've learned a ton from you all over the last 6 months and I really appreciate everything. I grabbed a 22 TRD Sport with 12k miles for a song off a used Ford lot. I swear they didn't know what they had....

Anyway, it's my daily driver hauling the kids and random crap to random places now. My boys and I do the upgrades and maintenance on it, bonding time and all. Not off-roading, but we camp and backpack and end up at trail heads that are definitely not paved or gravel. I've got new Michelin Defenders on now and the ride is so much better. And the snow handling is fantastic this last week.

My question is: Without lifting, what suspension upgrade should I consider? I'm really just looking to continue to improve ride quality, especially that little jump the bed does sometimes...

Thanks,
Jara

 

Welcome!! What’s you budget? Lots to choose from

 

There is so much you can do on these trucks. It really comes down to budget. If you want to ball out you can run full 2.5" extended travel coilovers up front at stock ride height and beef up the rear shocks to match and support a loaded bed better. Can't really upgrade leaf packs without lifting any unless maybe you get a custom pack made by Deaver.

With the bed issues you commented on, the real way to fix them is to replace the leaf spring hangers. That's where the shimmying effect comes from. The install is a bit of a beast, but not too bad with the right tools. It also results in a pretty huge comfort increase as well as handling. My review on them here: drizzohs '21 off-road build | Page 11 | Tacoma World

Also installed their bump stops a bit after doing the hangers and those are amazing as well. Review here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drizzohs-21-off-road-build.748190/page-12#post-28871527

If you're just looking for a ride quality increase with better off-road performance, take-off shocks from a Pro or Offroad will suit your needs nicely and will be fully pnp.

 

Welcome to the madness!!
I ran stock suspension (Hitachi shocks) on my '18 for a year and a half. As my mileage was approaching 75k (bought it used) I figured it was time for shocks. I went with the Billstein 5100s (stock height) at all 4 corners and the truck handles MUCH better. Significantly reduced body roll (better cornering) and it does not feel like a stiff ride at all (to me). For a lower end budget that will allow you to adjust ride height in the future (if you want), I'd recommend the 5100's.

 

I have the TRD Sport and always thought the ride a little too stiff for me. Found a guy in the area that took off the TRD Off Road shocks from a new truck. So I put them on mine and a much improved ride for just a few dollars. Can't say you will be able to find the same situation, but the TRD Off Road shocks you could buy and I think you would be pleased.

 

I hadn't really considered it yet lol

My life experience has taught me that just getting the cheapest isn't always the best, do I usually delay a bit and get a step up / middle of the road option.

 

@drizzoh

Your build is insane!!! Those hangers look amazing, I'm not sure I'm ready (or capable....?) Of that level of work though.

@memario1214
Thank you, the 6112s were what I found on my own, but I don't know enough about things just yet. Like how do I find a shop that can do this

 

That's very good to know, thanks. What do you put on the rear wheels for the 6112? What I keep finding is that they're fronts only?

 

The matching rears to that setup are usually 5160's (with reservoirs) or 5100's (smooth bodies). Personally I find the Billies a little on the stiff side, but they're a very popular option on these trucks. IMO if you're looking at a setup like that, the Eibach Stage 2 rides really nice for the money, but some have had issues with the sway bars hitting. So much to research.

 

I've been in the rabbit hole for an hour now and my head is spinning.

Is there an online vendor recommended? I found this

I'm going to save the Eibach reading for tonight

 

Hotshot Offroad who has already been commenting in this thread is one, along with Headstrong. Both have been good to the forums. I was originally planning on the 6112 setup but after riding in a truck with them I quickly changed my mind. Glad I went with a customizable setup, but the Eibach S2 really does ride nice, much better than the 6112 setup IMO. I'd avoid Eibach's Stage 1 though, I'm fairly sure it's just 5100's rebadged. I also forget the spring rate it comes with but it's something way overspring for these trucks.

16-23 Tacoma Full Kits – Hotshot Offroad
Complete Kits - Tacoma 2016-2023 (headstrongoffroad.com)

Vendor section: Vendors | Tacoma World

 

I’m going to tell you something you don’t want to hear. There is very little you can do to a Tacoma to “improve ride quality” without spending a lot money to turn it into a car.

There are many design features of a Tacoma that help it do truck stuff that are at odds with your goals. For example, the solid axle leaf spring rear suspension that is likely the cause of your “little jump the bed does”.

Replacing the shock absorbers isn’t likely to help much as the stock ones are already engineered to give you the best ride quality while still letting your truck do truck stuff. The aftermarket options are primarily targeted at people either wanting to improve aesthetics (eg ride height) or those that are beating the crap out of their shocks off-road.

You have to realize that shocks alone do not determine ride quality. Rather shocks in coordination with the rest of your suspension determine ride quality. You want shocks tuned to your particular suspension, weight, and driving habits.
Your driving habits appear to line up well with what the truck was designed for from the factory.

Another thing to realize is that more expensive shocks tend to have a greater capacity for damping force, heat dissipation, and maintaining damping under extreme dynamic loads. None of these things improve ride quality during normal driving.

In any case, one thing you can do is reduce the rate of your springs. You can buy both coil springs and leaf springs on the aftermarket with reduced spring rate that will also keep your ride height the same.

There might also be shocks with reduced damping, but manufactures never publish their damping curves so it’s a crap shoot, so you would likely need to get tunable shocks and have them tuned.

None of this is going to be inexpensive. You’d likely be better off trading in your taco for a truck with a linked coil spring rear suspension or a car/suv with an independent rear suspension.

 

@drizzoh @memario1214 Thank you so much! I'll hit Hotshott up when I'm ready to order.

@gudujarlson , very well written post. Thank you for your help and thoughts. I've been rocking an AWD Sienna for the last 6+ years and it has quite an adjustment moving into such a stiff ride. Buuuuut.... I love my taco and I live in pothole country (rural Indiana). Sometimes my roads here I swear could be trails lol

 

I don't think Eibach is a truck related company. Buddy has some and doesn't like it, but IDK what model.

6112/5160 rides better than stock, 4600, and 5100
Archive HH rides better than stock
Icon RXT rides better than stock

uwotm8

 

Another vote for Bilstein 6112/5160's.

 

I picked up Trd off road from eBay the fronts and rears shocks and springs in front. Rides much better added sumo springs upfront for even a better ride.

first truck I had ever had I have the sr5 2020 I thought it was the worst ride ever coming from SUV’s hit a bump on the interstate it was harsh. This setup has made me happy still not a suv ride but it’s not bad now.

tried trd in rears only at first that didn’t change a thing.
Almost went and traded it in thought the ride was crap. I only like the truck for the bed grabbing stuff from the store or recently the snow other than that I drive my suv. But the truck I see as a work vehicle pretty much crap ride but better now.

Something like this with sumos is what I did.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1857282486...JNh27VKT_K&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

You are not the first person to say their roads are worse than the rest of the country. I hear that all time on here. Unless you live in a place like the Australian outback or the African savanna, I suspect your roads are well maintained and nothing a stock Tacoma can't handle.