Lift for the Pro

Just posted this in a similar thread that popped up. I won't get into advantages/disadvantages of spacers in a general sense, but there are clear disadvantages to spacers (or even taller springs) specifically for a bypass shock:

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I think maybe what's missing here is a discussion on how internal bypass shocks work... Internal bypass shocks provide position sensitive damping. That is to say - the resistance the shock provides to suspension travel is different at ride height vs at say full compression or extension. According to Toyota:

• TRD Pro Tacoma Front shocks have 8 bypass zones (5 compression, 3 rebound) and are paired with TRD-tuned springs that provide an additional 1 inch of front lift; rear shocks have 11 bypass zones (7 compression, 4 rebound) and are paired with 2-inch piggyback reservoirs.

Any lift that doesn't also relocate the shock to keep it within the factory ride height zone will change the damping characteristics the shocks provide. Typical aftermarket external bypass shocks only have 2,3,4 bypass zones and a fairly large ride height zone. With 8 zones front and 11 zones rear, given the travel of these shocks - I can only assume the ride height zone is pretty small.

Moving out of the ride height zone will move into a zone with effective firmer valving (read: decreased ride quality). Further, as the suspension travels back into the ride height zone under compression the valving will get softer before it gets firmer. The whole point of bypass shocks is to provide relatively softer damping at ride height and increased damping as you reach each limit of travel to slow the suspension down before hitting bump stops / limit straps (or in our case whatever binds in suspension at full droop).

The only viable options to maintain the stock functionality (that for me at least was the primary reason to get a pro - well-tuned bypass damping) are either a body lift... Or potentially some method of relocating shock mounts such that the shock ride height position remains unchanged.

 

An educated response.
Thank you.

And for the record, I’m not completely sold on this Revtek kit. I do have buyers for my stock Pro suspension, and I may do that and go with a Fox stage 3 or 4 kit. I’d do that solely because I know I’ll sacrifice ride quality with the Revtek kit. After the money I make selling my Pro stuff, I wouldn’t be out a whole lot more money vs the Revtek kit. I may still do that.

My whole point here was more stating the fact that people think you’ll blow out a shock base of you hit a bump when you’re running a coil spacer and that’s simply not true.