Replacing Original TRD Pro Fox Shocks

I have a 2017 TRD Pro with original Fox shocks, coming up on 80k miles and I can tell I'll be needing to replace these soon. I'm sure this is very subjective but for those of you who have already dealt with this, did you go back with the original Fox setup or is there something better for the money that you recommend I be looking at?

 

Rebuild the oem shocks?

 

I haven't looked into that. I just assumed I'd have to ship them out and would need something to replacement them with in the meantime anyway. Have you rebuilt yours?

 

Get yourself a set of OR take offs to swap out during the rebuild process.

 

Yes, you can rebuild them, $126 per shock, plus any additional parts and shipping.

 

Figure 800 for rebuild and shipping if you don’t have any physical damage. New set is about 2400. Probably 2-3 week turnaround. So like mentioned above, a set of OR takeoffs for cheap will get you by. If you want a lift or something adjustable or plan on adding weight, now is the time to go a different route, and you could probably get 4-500 for your set from someone that can get them rebuilt and run them.

 

This is a good option. I'm still undecided on a lift but you're right that now would be the time to do it. It's my understanding that the TRD Pro suspension already adds about an inch of lift compared to the OR, is that correct? If so I would also assume that if a lift kit says 2.75" that would only be 1.75 more than what I have now?

 

Yea, you should be roughly an inch higher up front than the OR model.

 

I’ve been trying to figure out how to go about sending my pro fox shocks for rebuilding but without buying another set to swap in.

Truck is in garage. Should I put it on jack stands for two weeks? Is it safe to put the front wheels back on without shocks?

 

Why would you put the wheels back on?

 

I just don’t trust jack stands alone for two weeks. Had one fall down 20 years ago. Scared shitless since. I was planning to keep it on jack stands in addition to the wheels for extra security.

 

Understandable, I’ve never had that happen, but I’m sure it’s not a fun experience. You could always Jack it down after the wheels are off so the stands aren’t extended

 

Does anyone know how the stock TRD Pro Fox suspension compares to the Fox 2.0? Are they close to the same thing? I can't tell if the higher price of the TRD shocks is just for the name or if they're really that much better.

 

If you are buying new, there are probably better options. If you rebuild or buy new takeoffs, the Trd price isn’t too bad

 

Yeah I really don't want to buy new because for that kind of money I would probably go with something better. At this point I think I'm interested in buying some new takeoffs. Any recommendation where I might find some?

 

Lots of people sell them here. Just need to find a look out for a low mileage set

 

They are very close to Fox 2.5. They are 2.5 with custom valving (for Tacoma) and adjustments removed. Ie there is no need to adjust them since they are dialed in for the Tacoma. BUT that valving is on OEM weight, if you add a ton of weight like bumpers / sliders (or heavy wheels/tires) etc then they are no longer optimal.

If buying new, get fox 2.5, if used and you are close to factory weight then they are exceptionally hard to beat.

 

They are rebuildable for 40 bucks worth of seals and 20 bucks worth of shock oil. You can recharge them via Schrader valve (I think) at a place that has nitrogen (tire shop, moto shop, mtn bike shop...). I don't know if fox posted rebuild instructions.

They use a 2.0" working piston with a slightly larger shock body (2.25" ish) to accommodate the bypass features of the shock. They are good, and if you like off-roading slow they are great. Once you start to go a bit faster it would be much better to have a 2.5" shock which will have a 2.5" (duh) working piston. This is much much more appropriate for a +4,000lb truck as it can be tuned to work for many types of bumps and dips, and jumps and so on.. you can only make that 2.0" piston handle so much shaft speed before it can't control oil flow for a truck that heavy (and no amount of stiff valving will work due to the laws of physics lol).

If you are trying to save money then rebuild them (all shocks should be serviced regularly) . If you want more performance , you need to consider 2.5" -3.0" race style shocks.

 

Not exactly. Shock tuning/ valving is also based off driving style and preference. Fox & Toyota probably considered the average driver who would spend 99.99% of their time on the road and maybe drive on a fire road once a year. If you want to get the most out of the suspension you would probably blow right through all that travel and bottom out constantly. With these trd pro shocks you can't just keep revalving them "stiffer" because there is only so much that piston can handle. they are absolutely not like a 2.5" remote resi aftermarket shocks. The fronts also don't have a remote resi correct? I would think they also have 1/4 or less the shock oil in them, so much less cooling capacity


edit* just ask this guy what he thinks of them TRD Pro shocks:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-curtain-airbags-deployed.696511/

 

Fox 2.5 offer preload adjustment which has nothing to do with driving style and everything to do with weight. (Or you use it for lift if you’re a poser). They also offer a compression/ rebound adjustment (in one, not two) that is driving style I agree. But valving has way more important, and if valving is dialed in you never mess with compression or rebound as all they are really doing is playing with micro adjustment to valving. Unless you race my bet is you never play with rebound/compression and if you do, you wouldn’t be asking about the difference between pro and 2.5.
Agree the extra oil in the front will make cooling better on fire roads, but back is the same capacity.