Sport vs Off road OEM shocks

What is the difference in ride quality between the TRD sport and Off road shocks?

Unfortunately in Canada we aren’t able to get an Off Road in DCLB, so I went with the sport. You can feel literally every (even small) bump in the road. I assume the OR shocks are better although I have heard there is a sacrifice in handling.

Anyone have experience with this? Would switching shocks to OR shocks provide a more comfortable ride. Or is it just the nature of leaf springs? It’s not that bad but I wouldn’t mind the ride being smoother.

 

Sports are a more plush ride. It's a truck though so plush is relative.

 

Ftfy

 

Maybe something has changed with the 3rd gens but on all my other Tacomas, my sports have always been more plush than my offroads.

 

So, here's my deal...found the sport OEM stiff in rear unless I had a couple hundy pounds in the box then was nicer. Swapped out the Hitachi factory rears with 5100s and put on OR rims (sport 17, OR 16) for a lil more sidewall. Left front stock...it mellowed out the rear as if I had a couple hundy pounds in the box, but didn't. Still have the front handling characteristics which I like and taming the rear. Works real well for me.

4100 OR stock rears would be a waste of time I think...just go up a bit to 5100 rear only. Cheap and easy swap in the driveway.

 

What do you mean by plush? Soft, right? OR is and has always been much softer than sport.

Neither is more plush than the other when using it's actual definition: "richly luxurious and expensive" lol

 

When I was looking to purchase my Tacoma I was sure I wanted the sport until I test drove the OR and sport back to back ... I ended up with the OR! The OR is a noticeably softer ride.
The OR also has 16” wheels with 1” more Sidewall than the 17’s on the sport.
I now have the pro’s Fox shocks on my OR and they pretty noticeably better than the stock shocks.

 

Already bought 16” rims for winter tires so I could have more sidewall, not as much of an improvement as I had hoped.
I know it’s a truck so it’s not going to be “plush” but I have heard OR’s are softer. Wish I could have gotten it in DCLB.
My best bet is to switch shocks I assume.

 

The OR also has a 28mm swaybar vs the Sport’s 30mm. It’s a shame That you can’t get the OR in a DCLB in Canada ... what is Toyota thinking?

 

Sport has stiffer springs, shocks, and lower profile tires so the ride is firm.

 

It did tame the rear end ride. The 16 OR wheels and tires (little more sidewall) also did a smidgen. But ya, the 5100 rear only on the sport, I cannot recommend enough. Bang for the buck it's a winner...put 300 lbs of stuff in your sport hitachi's and go for a ride, that will give you an idea of the difference it will be with the 5100s

 

I’m carrying a bit of weight now like maybe 150 lbs and it feels like I need more.

 

I swapped my complete Sport suspension with Off Road suspension. It is WAY softer now and I love it. The TRD Sport is “Sport Tuned” which means the handling and cornering is more responsive. However the ride is harsher. Just leaving the driveway is noticeably softer with the off road shocks/springs.

 

could add a shell. I keep mine on most of the year unless I'm moving larger things. Definitely helped the ride, but I didn't find it too stiff to begin with. Permanent solution would be shocks/springs

 

I don’t hate the way my sport rides After all it’s a truck.

 

5100s...it's a cheap transition.

 

What was your previous ride for comparison?

 

The OR is softer with the sacrifice of poorer cornering and increased brake dive. I compared to the SR5 which has similar suspension as Sport.

 

Just got back from a trip up to Roseburg on I-5 in our sport and I LOVE the way she handles on the highway. Hardly any roll and very smooth and responsive. I will probably want a softer ride when off roading, but this ride is the wife's daily driver so will spend a lot of it's time on the road. It definitely is WAY stiffer than my '99 SR5, but that ride does need new shocks. Rides like a friggin' boat right now. : )B

 

I just had bilstein 5100 installed, front at 4th clip. Rear with a 1inch block. The front rides the same as stock in my opinion, but the rear is softer with the 5100