REVIEW 3rd gen suspension on 2nd gen

Looks like more then 2k miles. How much is he asking? Depending on the cost you may be able to get a new set of Bilstein 5100s for close to the same price. You also don't need to swap the UCA unless your bushing are worn.

 

Impossible to tell mileage from those pics since the parts are super dirty. That dirt could be from 1 mile or 10k miles depending on conditions and how often they were cleaned. I'd look at the rubber bushings, that's where you'll see the wear starting.

You don't need the UCA's but I swapped mine out when I installed my 3rd gen suspension simple because they had 15k vs the 190k on my truck.

 

He's asking $175 for the set. Yeah I read some more and saw I don't need the ucas.

My truck only has 30k so I'm assuming if the UCAs are the same I definitely wont need them.

 

That price seems fair. Not an amazing steal, but fair. I paid $150 for mine. Supposedly had 15k miles and he included the rear leaf packs as well. Ended up being a very temporary setup when I found some TRD Bilsteins and a Headstrong AAL.

 

I shouldn't need anything else for this swap, correct? Was just glancing through this thread and was reading alot about spacers, blocks, shit like that

 

Nope. Direct swap, you wont need anything extra.

 

you might want to consider the ecgs bushing while you are in there.

 

What does the ecgs bushing do?

Appreciate all of the other responses.

 

Google the ECGS needle bearing issue. TONS of info on it. I lifted my truck an inch in the front and had to replace it.

 

3rd gen shocks + 1/4” headstrong spacer + Icon 1.5” AAL. Truck rides so much nicer from the quick 5 min drive I’ve done so far

 

I'm new to trucks, just picked up an 09 PreRunner TRD with 120k on it. Would I need to look for a 3rd gen take-off suspension that's from a 2wd model vice 4wd. I would assume the spring rates (at least the front) would be higher for the 4wd models based on the extra weight they carry. Btw, I'd prefer not to raise the height at all.

 

Installed front shocks and springs off of an 18 Off Road on my 15 SR this weekend. No spacers. After driving it a few hundred miles it sits 1/2" higher in front. Ride is fantastic. Handling is so much better and the truck feels so much more stable going down the road.
And braking! Doesn't nose dive nearly as bad and much more controlled.
I would really like to find a Sport set up and try them out.

Of course i didn't remember to get a before and after shot. I will snap a picture sometime this week.

Did manage to get one of the assemblies next to each other (i'm sure SR suspension is the same as SR5 but, here it is anyways)

 

Interesting.

Replacing a cheap stock control arm, with another one that is exactly the same part.
And replacing garbage stock pencil-thin shocks, with another set of identical ones

sounds like a productive use of hours

he even put the old ones in his SPC box
Almost as if it could have been taken as a hint of "There's a reason why he switched to SPC"

 

Don't knock it until you try it. 3rd gen shocks removes the floating feeling in 2nd gens. The driving experience is much more pleasant then our original shocks and the price is right too.

 

Ur dick is pencil thin lol

Bet you hit some dope ass jumps and shit huh? with ur expensive suspension. came to this thread to be negative af for no reason. Go home ur drunk.

 

Because.... internet.

 

I'd LOVE to see your evidence backing any upgrade at this price point and ease of install that remotely compares, go ahead.....I'll be waiting.

Don't know if you've even read a single post in this thread but it's a night and day improvement over any 2nd gen stock suspension except the Pro. For many people the UCA's might have been a good thing if his stock ones were worn out or had a ton of miles. Thats the beauty of this setup. You're getting dang near new suspension compnents for very little cost and for the guys with 100k, 150k or more there is no cheaper way to refresh your suspension while also improving ride and performance.

I don't know what you mean by "pencil-thin" shocks. Most entry level aftermarket lift kits use the same diameter shock as the OEM ones for far more money. If you're referring to larger diameter shocks then you're looking at a lot more money. Most of the time a 3rd get set with less than 5k miles is $300 or less depending on your location. Part of what makes these so good is the damping improvements made on the 3rd gen (primarily in the front) and the 700lb springs add a small lift while reducing nose dive during braking and turning while actually improving the ride quality. The spring is only there to suspend the vehicle, the shock is responsible for ride quality. Thats why high quality suspension is so expensive, all the R&D is put into dampening, within reason a spring is just a spring.

I'd venture to say these ride better than 5100's and for the guys that just want a small amount of lift with far better driving driving characteristics then 3rd gen components can't be beat. PERIOD. Especially for the price and simplicity. There's no shock disassembly, thinking about what clip setting you want, screwing with sketchy spring compressors or anything like that. This is a simple bolt in setup with no settings to worry about. No spring compressor needed, just simple hand tools that anyone can do in their driveway. If a person has done brakes before then they can do this upgrade pretty easily. For you or I it may be simple and easy, but not everyone may have our mechanical experience. For some this is a daunting job but extremely rewarding and confidence boosting if they tackle it themselves.

While it may not be for you, it's a worthy upgrade for sure. Just remember the #1 rule in life..... Don't be a dick.

 

I installed mine two days ago mostly to correct the sag introduced by putting the front driveline in for my 4WD swap. Goodness, I know the term "rides like a new truck" gets played out but seriously, in terms of cost, simplicity, and performance this is the best $100 I've spent on this truck.

The number one thing I noticed was the spring rate. If any of you have studied vibration mechanics at all, you will know that increasing the spring constant increases your natural frequency. When I drive over obstacles at a slow speed that would previously cause the truck to resonate side-to-side, the new suspension stays far more planted, as those resonant vibrations now occur at higher frequencies. It just feels more right for how my truck is driven. OP, thanks for the detailed write-up!

 

You might be right.
3rd gen comes with springs whereas if you get 5100's for $400, to avoid changing their perch and worsening damping, new springs would also have to be bought and OME for example is $200.
Maybe it depends on how much the deal is. Hopefully 3rd gen is cheap.
One can always find someone with access to a wall mounted spring compressor and slide them a $20 or something to swap springs.

 

A preassembled set of 5100s with medium 885 coils + Icon progressive AAL would’ve ran me $970 before taxes from Yotamafia. I got these 3rd gen OR takeoffs with 5k miles, an Icon progressive AAL, and 1/4” Headstrong spacers for $550 total. Maybe like $10-20 more. No adjusting anything and netted more than enough lift than I need. And I saved about $400 vs the other route. Not saying this is for everybody but it is a very cost effective way to freshen the suspension on your truck and add some slight lift. I was just tired of hitting my bump stops on a local dirt road by a lake I frequent. So I sold my cap (actually made $200 from that, paid $350) for $550 and got these.