'17 TRD Pro - coil spring question

I recently installed the C4 Fabrication Lo-Pro winch bumper on my '17 TRD Pro including Smittybuilt 9.5 winch and 20" Baja Designs lightbar. Estimated weight of the 3 products is roughly 125 lbs. - most of that is added over the minimal plastic and aluminum parts that came off. I love the bumper, it's sweet and added a lot of function for the weight. It has a great clean yet tough look too.

While the stance is still solid and very acceptable, I can perceive the additional lbs dropped the front end 3/4 inch or so, perceptible enough (to me at least) to look into options.

I'd like to avoid spacers even though it may never be an issue, I'd prefer not to lose the piece of mind. I'm curious if you agree the best option would be replacing the coil springs with a heavier load rated spring? If so, I've had trouble finding a spec on the TRD Pro suspension and could use some help on what rating to upgrade to and options to consider. If this is the right direction . . .

Thanks for your help,
Brandon

 

I think toytec makes a 1/4" spring perch spacer designed to sit on top of the Pro coils giving 1/2" of lift. And they don't preload the springs by design (like "normal" spacers do).

I'm not a suspension guy but I've been seeing something about this in the thread(s) about the 2015 TRD Pro suspension that lots of guys are installing on their 3rd gens.

Hopefully someone will jump in here and give you the details.

 

Here's the thread where they discuss the spacers. You'll have to just scroll around until you find the info. Or ask someone to point you in the right direction. But I know it's in there somewhere. Lots of guys are using them.

I'm not sure if they are made specifically for the 2015 Pro suspension or if they could be used on the new Fox set-up. That will be what you want to figure out.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...pro-kit-upgrade.530072/page-109#post-17257959

 

This is one thing that's been bugging me and keeping me from adding additional weight to the front end. It's already got a rake to it and adding that weight will definitely make it more pronounced

 

I was hoping there might be a simple upgrade to the coil spring to solve the issue on the front, say like going from a 600lb to 700lb, but that solution doesn't seem findable thus far.

Thanks for the input and link NMTrailRider

 

I had a conversation with a customer support/sales agent at a reputable suspension company - and while I think he was surprised to hear himself say it, given my circumstances (just wanting to compensate for the 1/2" or so drop from the bumper add . . . NOT add a bunch of lift and change the dynamics of the vehicle, he thought a pre-load spacer might be the best option. I'm weighing it out mentally and wondered if anyone has had success with a product like this?: Seems like it could get the job done

 

Have you considered Bilstein 5100's to get an extra 3/4" up front? Seems like a pretty simple way to go and get a better ride at the same time.

 

Would that not be a step backwards in performance from the Fox 2.5's that it came with?

 

Yes. I would say stock coils are 600 pound and 700 pound should fix the rake.

 

Haha yeah forgot about that.

 

Here's that top plate spacer I mentioned.
https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p31/HS_1/4"_Top_Plate_Spacer_-_TT05514-TPS.html

 

I believe I did uncover that the coil spring that comes on the Pro suspension is not actually made by Fox, and is rated to 550 lb. I’d rather live with the slight rake than spend thousands to swap it out for an at least equal performer with some lift.
So it comes to a 650lb-700lb coil spring or a preload spacer. Not sure if the Daystar above will fit but I had a real hard time finding one that says it will fit the Pro.

 

And the 1/2" version
https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p30/HS_1/2"_Top_Plate_Spacers_-_TT05512-TPS.html

 

Good stuff there I spent a couple hours over the weekend searching the web and didn’t find those. I’ll look into them and maybe give a call. Thanks!

 

Nope you don't want to swap out the Fox. That's what you paid for. I think those top plate spacers might be the ticket. Again, I'm not a suspension guy. Just trying to point you in the right direction. Ask someone that knows more than I do.

 

top plate spacers would be the best option without effecting ride.

 

The advantage to these is that they don't preload your coils, thus maintaining the ride quality and performance of your Foxes. Personally, I wouldn't want to change the OEM performance of the Fox's by using coil spacers.

 

Is that headstrong product basically the same product as this but by a different maker:

http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/TOP1-T--Front-Top-Plate-Spacer-Kit-_p_333.html

I have no brand bias - terminology around the different types of spacers is pretty subtle and I can’t tell if I’m looking at essentially the same thing or not

 

Saying it "becomes" a 650-700lb spring is an oversimplification. Yeah, it sorta does. But the shocks themselves will no longer work as designed. You'll hear of shocks being "valved and tuned". They're built to work in tandem with the springs and weight of the truck.

Keep in mind that the shocks are moving in two directions. Up and down. When you use a spring spacer, the "start" or static position of the shock is changed. When you hit a bump, not only is the spring playing a part, but now the shock itself is beginning its travel from a different spot than intended, rendering the factory "valving and tuning" moot. I think this is the reason for the reduced ride quality.

That's my understanding anyway. Probably an oversimplification in itself (and quite possibly incorrect all together). But that's what I've kinda learned from reading posts here on TW.

 

Hmm. Not sure about HS vs Toytec... maybe someone else will jump in.