Sumo springs on 5-lug base model taco

Howdy. I am new here, new at posting. But I lurked long enough to see 1000 pages on 3rd gen Tacoma Sumo Springs. I thought I'd share my experience of installing them on my base model 2nd gen.

It was easy to do, took longer to figure it out than to do the task. I hope I did it right! Y'all can judge me based on the pics I will upload into the next couple paragraphs or messages.

Tools: jack, jack stands, 12mm deep socket (removal), 13mm deep socket (install), socket wrench.



I put on the parking brake and blocked the front wheels, but I didn't put on safety goggles, as they advised.

Now please tell me if I am wrong, but I THINK the offset goes this way for the driver's side.

And this way on the passenger side, yes? I also slid the Sumo Springs forward within that slot before tightening the nuts.

Set 'er down and the Sumo Springs are lightly touching. I can still slip a piece of stiff paper like card stock into the gap.

So? Am I doing it right? Expect a performance report in little while. Ride height unloaded was altered less than 1/4".

Anyone else has wisdom or critique about second gen 2wd base model with sumo springs?

 

I installed Sumosprings because I haul a trailer frequently. Sorry I can’t help (mines 4WD), but that looks odd the way they are pushed out of shape by the shackles. Here is the 4WD configuration for comparison. I would ask Sumosprings if they are supposed to be like that.

 

For your application (axle on top of leaf packs instead of axle under leaf packs) the slightly touching is correct. As @Nessmuk noted how the sumospring is being pushed out of shape IMO could lead to premature wear and tear on them. They're pretty durable so any wear would be a long time away.

If I may ask, what is your reason for installing them?

 

Watching youtube this afternoon and this video popped up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvmCXbNNKRM&t=201s

 

I know they call them 'springs', but you are replacing a bump stop. So it would seem that they are really a longer bump stop?

I'm assuming they also compress, or they'd prevent your leaf springs from working properly.

Interested in your report on what impact they may make on ride quality.

 

Yes in essence they are longer bump stop and yes they compress. As for the ride quality with my truck it did not change or should I say cause any advere effect. My main reason for installing them on my 6 lug is to keep my truck from bottoming out (like when going over some RR crossing or speed bumps) on the hard OEM bumpstop when hauling around my dirt bikes and camping gear. Now instead of that hard thud, I don't even feel it. The install on a 6 lug is a different install from how the OP did on his 5 lug. If you look at the picture @Nessmuk posted this is way they are installed on a 6 lug Tacoma. Heres' a video that explains how the sumospring works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfYFE0eWiQU

 

It is my understanding that the compression stiffens as they are compressed. I have the highest weight rated ones (yellow). Etrailer recommended them to me for the towing I do. Are they overkill.. Yes. I have about 600 miles on them so far and I definitely notice a difference on rough roads, but they are no worse than some Jeeps and an old Suzuki SJ410 I have owned, better actually. On the highway I have noticed no difference in ride.
I just didn’t want the complications of dealing with airbags. Tacomas definitely need some help with sag when towing. The springs on them are pretty weak.

 

I think he installed the flat washers in the wrong place.

 

I went back to watch the video again and I had stopped watching it right before he put those flat washers between the frame and the mounting plate for the sumospring. Which makes no sense. Always good to take (watch) those videos with a grain of salt and use your own garage knowledge when in doubt.

Good catch @Jimmyh

 

So here is the initial report: I've been driving the truck unloaded, and the Sumo Springs made a subtle difference in the ride quality. The handling is exactly the same as stock when I am cruising, on smooth roads, and at low speeds. I am noticing less body roll in the rear when I am going around long, sweeping curves. There is a stiffer feeling in the rear of the vehicle now when I go over speed bumps. Instead of purely soaking up the bump, I can register the subtle presence of the rear wheels as they place themselves on the obstacle. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED. A more firm and truck-like feeling in the rear end, especially when I am on rough surfaces.

The deeper reason for installing these has little to do with day-to-day driving. This truck is expected to perform some miracles in hauling a camper trailer and a group of fire-spinning dancers cross-country. The dry weight of the teardrop trailer is 700 lbs.. The tongue weight is 69 lbs.. The loaded weight of the trailer is about 900 lbs.. There will be two or three dancers plus the driver, each of them weights 100-200 lbs.. They each have their skimpy costumes, those probably weigh about 3 lbs. for the group. And then there are the other necessities, such as a cooler full of ice and frosty beverages, tarps and tents and puppets and paintbrushes, mangoes and misc..

When we get all that gear together, I am sure we will be towards the upper limit of the factory-suggested 950 lbs total payload. This is when the Sumo Springs will get a workout.

 

On that youtube video, he definitely installed the flat washers in the wrong place. The guy who made the video acknowledges this in the youtube video comments. The Sumo Springs instructions have a clear exploded parts diagram and also written step-by-step directions that made installation very simple to understand.

The only thing that was mentioned in that video and not in the written instructions was the offset of the springs on the mount, and how to determine placement on the driver or passenger side. Consult the photos in my original post if you want to see what I am looking at. Please, forgive my ascii diagram, if you will.

I put the springs like this:

(_o) [TRUCK] (o_)

With the bolt and the spring on the inside, away from the road. I did this the same way the guy on youtube did it. I think if I flipped it, the spring would not be centered between the two shackles. Instead it would be hitting on one of the shackles and not touching the other. So I think I did it the right way.

 

Of the stuff in bold. Not the truck.

 

I will post pics when we get 'er loaded. There will be a test run soon.

 

Is there no bucket or bottom plate that the bag rests on like the 6 lugs have or is it resting right on the axle?

 

Would you happen to have any pics of these fire-spinning dancers.

 

In their skimpy costumes of course...

 

Right on the axle.

 

I think the Sumo Springs helped quite a bit on our recent trip. Here's a picture of the fire-spinning dancers, as requested. They are not in their costumes, alas. But there's our teardrop in the background, and our friend's van.
So we had 4 people in the double cab at all times, camper shell packed to the gills, and the teardrop trailer. But we never felt saggy or bouncy on the rear. I believe our total payload was just about at the 950 maximum carrying capacity. Could of weighed it but I was having too much fun to mess around with those details.

 

Good to hear the Sumosprings worked out great for you. Looks like a lot of fun. BTW-is that Tommy Chong?

 

Hi @Varak, I'm wondering if you can share the height of your springs? I'm trying to figure out which sumo springs to get for my truck. I lowered mine putting the spring under axle like yours which isn't a factory option anymore. Plus I'm trying to gain 1/2 to 3/4 inch in the rear to accommodate my occasional tool load.