TRD lift on a 2023 Sport how did it affect ride

Hello everyone, just signed up as I traded in a 2017 ZR2 on a 2023 DCSB sport. About 1 month should take delivery. So debating the factory lift. I’ve been a lurker here so I know all the pros and cons. I’m not a big off roader just like the look and I’ll be adding rims and bigger tires. My question specifically is the ride and handling change from stock sport to trd lift ? I have 30 days or so to decide. Thank you in advance for any advice

 

It rides a little more firm than a stock sport. Have you driven the other trim levels?

It's not bouncy, but you do feel the road more than you would in the offroad or sr5.

 

I drove the off road and liked the ride, no Sports were available to test drive

 

I have a 2022 TRD OR and just loved the way it road stock and was afraid the trade off from adding a lift would affect that. I waited 3 months after buying my truck to install the TRD lift kit. I spent a lot of time on this site and others researching this exact subject and there are a lot of opinions out there on this, especially on the cost vs aftermarket. There is just something about a factory engineered lift kit that's different and that was the deciding factory for me. I love the way this truck rides and handles with this lift kit, I only wish I knew this at the time of purchase. If you have the kit installed at the time purchase it will carry the 3/36 factory warranty, after delivery it will have a 12/12 warranty. Good luck with your decision.

 

Thanks Omen340. Your truck looks great ! I’m leaning towards doing it before I drive off

 

There 2" TRD lift is basically the Bilstein 5100's with fancy TRD stickers. The Bilsteins are a much better ride than the Sports Hitachi shocks. You will love the look and "especially" the ride.

Do it, do it!!

 

There’s nothing about the TRD lift that was engineered by the factory, they just slap their name on the shocks, knowing that people will believe it’s way more special than what it actually is when it has a TRD sticker on it and the dealer sold it to them. It’s a block in the back… literally just an aluminum block. No fancy engineering there, and it’s the very cheapest way of lifting the rear. The fronts are Bilsteins like a million other Tacoma owners run (they just pay a whole lot less than what they cost from the dealer). I’m not saying you shouldn’t be happy with your lift. I’m just trying to dispel the myth that Toyota specially “engineered” this lift to be so great, when as far as actual quality of lifts go, the TRD is at/near the bottom.

 

I appreciate the input , I’m leaning towards doing it but I’ve read enough to know it’s a money maker for Toyota. The usual reasons I’ve seen given are same for me , warranty , move the grill sensor and the grill itself.

 

Tons of people including myself use the 5100s as they are a great deal, nice lift setting up to 2 inches and a one inch block, great ride no matter what setting you choose and then add get a pro grill and be done a lot for a lot cheaper.

 

It’s always nice to hear from Toyota’s engineering department.

 

This. This is the truth. Save your $ and have the Bilstein 5100’s installed . They are the company that makes the components for Toyota . Your factory warranty won’t change if you use the Bilsteins. Toyota warranties the truck they built, not the modifications. Doesn’t matter if a dealer installs the kit, or a specialized off road shop.
You get the identical components to the TRD kit with a MUCH better warranty.

Bilstein offers lifetime warranty and labor coverage is provided by the installation company, vs Toyotas 12/12k mile . There is no warranty issue by not using despite what salesman like to infer.
The identical Bilstein 2/1 lift / level kit/ parts should not cost more than $1k installed , including the required front end alignment. Toyota charges over $2400 for the same thing, again with a weaker warranty. Plus , independents or off road shops do these kits all day long. Dealerships may do one a month, that is if they have ever done one before. Ask the svc advisor how many they’ve installed. Usually the answer is “well, you’re going to be the first one” .

 

If installed with PDI, the shocks retain factory 3 year warranty, a lot of people value this, same with the grill.

OP already says he did his homework and I think peace of mind a big consideration.

 

The ALL NEW Tacoma TRD Lift Kit –
Toyota heard the cry for a true TRD-tuned lift kit for the new Tacoma V6 4x4*, one of the most popular trucks for enthusiasts. Tacoma owners are accustomed to getting off the beaten path and exploring the great outdoors, and the Tacoma TRD Lift Kit is designed to complement and enhance that lifestyle thanks to the added ground clearance and improved approach, departure and break over angles it provides. Now available nationwide as a dealer-installed option, the new lift kit provides a 2-inch front and 1-inch rear lift on most V6-powered 4x4 Tacoma models.

What’s in It?
The lift kit includes:

• TRD-tuned Bilstein

• Monotube shocks optimized for body control and ride comfort

• Heritage-inspired TRD Pro-style front grille

• Millimeter wave radar sensor for TSS (Toyota Safety Sense) integration

• Wire harness and cable spacers

• Fits MY 20+ Tacoma V6 4x4 models

Once these parts are installed, you will increase frame ground clearance by 1.7 inches. The kit also improves the approach angle (+3.1 to 32 degrees), breakover angle (+1.6 to 22 degrees), and departure angle (+0.5 to 24 degrees). TRD Off-Road grades see even further improvement to approach angle that increases to 35.5 degrees (+3.5). All without compromising the performance and safety Toyota is known for.

Designed by the Experts To get the low-down on what it takes to design such an exciting kit, we consulted Jakin Wilson, Development Engineering Manager. He was the leader of the team that developed this Tacoma TRD Lift Kit.


“It all started with a high-level goal: how much lift are people asking for?” Jakin recalls. “This product is a result of listening to owner forums and our dealers. The most common ask to us was to provide a Genuine TRD Lift kit that allowed integration with TSS active safety system.

The design process spanned months and involved over 50 subject matter experts throughout Toyota. Computer drawings turned into prototypes, which turned into test parts, which eventually turned into hours behind the wheel for Jakin and his team—not that they complained. As Jakin noted: “The best part our job is behind the wheel, testing our products"


Jakin added: “The most important goal for my team and me is to develop products that exceed TRD Enthusiasts expectations. We want to make them smile when driving their Toyota vehicles with TRD products installed.”

Toyota Smart One of the crucial reasons the Tacoma TRD Lift Kit is superior to aftermarket products is the new Millimeter wave radar sensor and grille that enables integration with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) system. This system supports several features on the Tacoma, including Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection. Essential to that is the Millimeter wave radar sensor itself, which is constantly scanning in front of the vehicle. If you were to add an aftermarket lift kit, that sensor would raise the height, resulting in an incorrect calibration.


The Tacoma TRD Lift Kit includes a new grille with a new mounting location for the Millimeter wave radar sensor that keeps everything in proper alignment. It may sound simple, but it required precise measurements, development time, and dynamic evaluations everything works as intended after lifting your truck so you can stay secure and enjoy all the features of your ride.

Off-Road Ready If you’re looking to add wheeling capability to your Tacoma 4x4 for rock climbing or heading down those fire roads, this TRD Lift Kit is the answer.


“TRD Engineers sweat the small details,” Jakin shares. “We’ve ensured active safety system function as intended, properly checked proper cable/brake routing, all while providing an emphasis for improved off-road performance as the end result.”

Jakin Wilson

 

I had the dealer do the lift, tires, exhaust, blackout emblems, tailgate inserts, bed mat and anything else I wanted on my truck that was available from Toyota. They did a great job, and if anything goes wrong it goes back to the dealer.

I really like the ride and the handling of my Sport with the tires and lift. The sport suspension is stiffer than the off roads so you feel more bumps, but I like that it doesn't lean or get squishy in the corners. And it looks freaking great!



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Are you saying you paid 2k+ for the trd lift and still have the sport hitachis?

 

I like the body color accent on your wheels. Looks good!

 

Everyone has different goals and ideas on suspension. It's a complicated part of the truck, and everyone wants to tune it a slightly different way.

That said, anything you let the dealer install, and I mean anything, is going to have a 100-300% markup on it. I won't opine on whether the "TRD" is good or bad, but I'll just reiterate that it's a lot of money for not a lot of hardware. You are much better off browsing the suspension forum, reading what others are putting on their trucks, and deciding from the myriad of reviews and budgets on which direction you want to go.

It took me a solid three months of reading, conversing, and comparing before I made my purchase. I feel like I made the right choice for my own personal habits and wants. I'd recommend that path for anyone.

 

I believe they also remove/cover your fog lights with the factory lift install.

 

Depends on your state laws. They "forgot" to cover mine.



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