Bilstein's or AAL causing rough ride?

First, please forgive me if this question is already answered on this forum. I could not find a specific answer to my question.

I have a 2002 tacoma TRD off-road extended cab.

I installed bilstein 5100's all around, and an add-a-leaf in my OEM leaf springs. The front rides fine, a little stiffer than stock, but not bad. The rear end rides like I welded steel beams in place of shocks. Extremely rough and bouncy.

I have read other users saying the bilsteins rode rough, and they swapped them out. But I also feel like adding a leaf spring would really increase the stiffness. Any advice on how to fix this? I don't want to order different shocks, then find out it's the add-a-leaf causing the stiffness.

thanks!

 

I'm going to say it's the add a leaf. I believe most are talking about the front when they complain about rough ride. Using the shocks for lift instead of different springs. You could remove the add a leaf and take it for a drive see if that fixes it. Then get longer shackles or a block to lift the rear if removing the add a leaf fixes it. I have Bilsteins and an add a leaf my rear rides a little rough. But it is a lot happier when loaded with wood with the add a leaf.

 

What coils do you have in the front and what setting? And what AAL? That doesn't sound right to me, I went from stock worn out 4600's to 5100's all around, 2 inch AAL and the highest setting on the front and it rode wayyyy better. Maybe slightly stiffer but not in a bad way. I wouldn't think any AAL would have that much of an impact on ride quality

 

What tires (P metrics vs E loads) do you have and at what pressure?

 

Would u say the compression is stiff and rebound out of control?

 

This is the exact kit that I got: I have duratrac tires, already tried varying the tire pressure. I believe they are C load, because I didn't want to add the weight of an E load tire as it's my daily driver and I am mostly on highway.

There is a bump on the highway that I travel daily, and it will literally make be slightly lift out of the seat a little when the back end hits it! It's a transition from the road to an overpass. I am confident in the installation and everything is working correctly, it's just really rough!

 

I would say the compression is stiff, not sure if the rebound is out of control. I had the bed off over the summer to do some frame work, and I test drove it before I put the bed back on. It was really bouncy for that test drive since there was no weight on the back end. Felt like I didn't have shocks at all.

 

I thought popping the shocks off and taking it for a test drive. If it's the add-a-leaf causing the stiffness, it will still be stiff, even without the shocks. It will definitely be bouncy, but it might help diagnose the problem.

 

You need to put a 100 to 200 pounds in the bed and that will smooth our the ride.

 

The shocks that came with the kit might be stock length, you would have to check that. If they are stock length they may be too short causing the shock to constantly top out which would lead to a clunky crappy stiff feeling ride over bumps.

 

I have Bilstiens 5100 all around and an AAL also. It is definitely the AAL. I had the front done before the rear and it rode fine. Once I did the rear it soaked up the bumps good but would be bouncy. Im going to upgrade to Deavers JF9 soon and hopefully that will make the difference. I don't carry constant load in my bed so I would really know how it would perform with added weight. I have the stock bumper as well

 

Well my Deaver single leaf rides great and is not bouncy. I also run the toytec boss extended shock instead of the silly stock replacement Bilstein that so many ppl waste money on for a lifted truck.

 

Thread rival, you ever got the bounciness fix? Because I have the same problem on rough road I'll be bouncy in the rear. I have 5100 and Deaver aal as well.

 

Op did you ever figure out any solutions to this? I just lifted my truck and I’m pretty certain the Icon AAL is what’s causing my stiffness. Looking for solutions.

 

I have this issue with Fox Shocks and the Wheeler's single AAL added to the OME Dakar Leafs (I got 10" travel shocks so I need the extra height). You need to add weight for it to smooth out like some have said. I threw some sand in the back for a week, and it did ride smoother, but not amazing. There are also progressive AALs that I hear perform better for a smoother ride.

I'm planning to save up for a custom Deaver pack which I'm hoping will give me the smooth ride I want.