Rough ride with new lift --- Help!!

hi fellas!,
Very recently installed a lift on my 08 taco and now I dread bumps... Rides like a tank. I expected some stiffness and rougher ride, but this just isn't normal.
Installed the coilovers that come with the toytec ultimate kit in front and old man emu complete leaf pack in rear... I'm getting an overall 3" lift from stock.
Would replacing the rear shocks help with ride comfort? Then what about the front which I feel most of the bumps from.... Would new UCA help ? Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated. (On the other hand taco now looks awesome as I installed new wheels and ko2 tires as well).

 

Yes replacing the rear shocks will help a ton, I advise fox if you are on a bit of a budget, if not King.

YES new UCA's!!! If you don't wheel that hard LR UCA's are fine, if you do then get uniball

Also you can remove a leaf out of the leaf pack, it will just decrease your lift by a tiny bit but ride better. Mine took a few thousand miles to soften up though

 

2x, use billies or even the OME rears, you will be fine...

 

I noticed a huge difference between my billies and Kings, I better have for the money difference haha but you should be good with either. If you have the money go for the expensive stuff, if not billies will be fine.

 

Thanks, I am on budget for sure... Billies may be the way to go.

 

great looking truck

 

Just make sure you get ones that are good for at least 4 inches of lift, I think there is an option for 3-5" of lift.. Last thing you want to do is over extend them and blow a shock or 2, these dakars love to flex.. Trust me from experience

 

Thanks! I've been wanting to do the lift and new kicks for quite some time... Have a few more mods in mind as budget allows but just want the ride comfort managed first...

 

Yeah ride quality is always #1

 

Hey guys don't mean to be rude but I think you are missing what he is putting out there... He is complaining about a harsh ride and that has nothing to do with shocks that is entirely springs front and rear. You ride on springs and your shock absorbers simply smooth out or control the springs. No shocks are going to change the fact that he has new coils that are much stiffer ( higher spring rate ) than OE or leafs that are stiffer than OE AND you all missed the real key ingredient he mentioned which was his cool new wheels and tires... He took the OE " car tires " off and put on 10 ply higher load range BFG's , the change in tires alone will make a massive difference because those BFG's are much much stiffer than stock tires + stiffer coils ( not shocks the coils ) + stiffer leafs...OP that is what is happening, new shocks will not do anything you already have good shocks. If you want to soften up the ride you have to get softer springs for your CO's and softer leaves BUT that will not get rid of the stiffer tire feel...those new tires are truck tires that are 4x stiffer than your stock tires and those will always ride stiffer. If you don't believe me throw your stock wheels and tires back on and go for a drive and you will feel how those soft stock tires absorb shock so much better.

You bought good stuff...it is just a fact of life with this stuff.

 

Yes, if you take the 3" of lift/ Preload out of the front springs you will have a way better ride, but if you drop the front you will probably have a stinkbug...
is this a 2WD or 4WD?

 

That does raise the question, what tire pressure are you running in the new tires?

 

them tires are load E i believe. whats the tire pressure?

 

Actually I think all of the above variables are factors. First of all what spring rate did you order with your CO's? You will feel a major difference from the stock suspension to CO's cranked up to 3"s. I had billies, then OME's and then got Icons. So, I have felt the difference of them all. Next what tire load and psi are you running. If you're Load E then try lowering your psi to soften the tire up. And, you definitely need upgraded rear shocks. The stock shocks are valved to handle the stock leaf pack. They cannot handle the stiffness of the dakars extended at another 3"s. So the back of your truck is basically bouncing around when you hit bumps. And i would imagine that can make it feel pretty stiff and bumpy. I peronally got OME's to match my dakars. They were made and designed for eachother. As far as your UCA's if you get it aligned and everything came out straight then you're okay as long as you don't do any serious wheeling I would imagine. The biggest problem aftermaket UCA's fix is bringing your alignment back into range when you lift the front. But, most people at a full 3" of lift need UCA's. I did. But, once you change one thing then you need to change everything else to match. So, get the rear shocks immediately and then UCA's when you can afford them. Everything else is just fine tuning it all.

 

You will probably need extended travel rear shocks to pair up nicely with the Dakars.

 

Thanks for all the great info, to answer a couple questions it is 4wd, the psi is I'm sure whatever is recommended for the tires as discount tire did the install, I believe it's 35 psi. I'll definitely get the rear shocks replaced first along with doing the alignment... Had heard that you want to drive for about 100 miles before doing the alignment.

Thanks

 

I drove 500 miles before an alignment to let it settle well.

Also my friend who got tires from discount they pumped his up to 45 so check yours.

 

The OME dakars are stiff with no wieght in the bed and as others have said stock shocks cannot handle the dakars. UCAs will not help a rough ride over bumps. I would also get rid of some of the preload on the front coilovers. Maybe lower the truck down to 2.5 in the front. You also can run 32 or 30 psi in the tires and see if you like the ride. goodluck

 

This happens all the time from dealerships, tire shops, etc.

 

I wanted to avoid a overly harsh ride and I knew I wasn't going with heavy armor. I removed the third leaf from the top on the Dakars= lower spring rate, slightly lower lift, and smoother ride. Then match that with lowering the front COs by 1/2 inch or so and you'll be in there like a bad smell.