Softer suspension setup recommendations

lol not plush on the tacoma.

 

I have a question to all who've lifted their truck and are looking to smooth the rear shock on sudden kickers.
I have a 2018 TRD Pro with the Fox Shocks and after I added 2" blocks above leaf springs to lift truck, I believe I've hyper extended the shock, my tech says the "thud" is the take-up of air space in the shock prior to reaching dampening stage.
Is this a known symptom ? and can some one recommend shock extension units to possibly solve issue.
looking forward to some data form experience.

Thanks

John.

 

I have the rough country 6" lift with adjustable coils in the front with vertex resi shocks and same shocks in rear and let me tell you it's nice to be able to adjust your shocks on what terrain your driving.

 

no. not true from your mechanic. the shock should have to "air pockets" in them. if they do, that means your shocks are blown.

shocks are meant to travel a certain ammount. i think its usally about 10-12 inches. so they can go up 5-6 inches and down 5-6 inches. thats why they make shocks specific for the lift that you have. like my bilstein 5160 in the rear is rated for 1" lift. meaning that at 1" lift, the shock can travel the same distance up and down. but if i lifted my truck 5" then the shock wont have that much down travel. instead of having 5-6", it will now have only 3-4" but still. there shouldnt be a thud or a air pocket.

you need to buy shocks that are made for your lift. i know bilstein 5100 has a couple options when you buy them, you choose if you have 0-1" lift....2-3" lift etc.

 

Thank you for your insights.

 

I find my front 5100's set at 2" pretty comparable to my stock OR shocks. Not much softer, not much harder. Just right!

 

I have the same. Rides very plush compared to ome or bilstein setups.

 

Not sure where you live but I will have some OR stock suspension take offs available soon. Only have 2k miles on them.

 

I’m going to keep researching but appreciate the offer.

 

Remove the blocks. Get full leaf packs, extended shocks, u bolt flip and wheeler bump stops. Maybe brake lines depending on leaf choice.

 

I for one very much appreciate the diolog that is taking place in this thread. I need a truck, I want a truck, and I enjoy my truck. I now spend 70% to 80% of my Tacoma seat time on the highway. The remaining 20% to 30%, as far as I'm concerned more than validates why I drive a truck. But I want my truck to look sharp but handle and ride quietly, firmly, smoothly, and comfortably.

What I'm gettting out of this thread is there are far better and less expensive ways (compared to what I did in the way of mods) of maintaining the impressive off-road 4X4 motorsporting capability of an OEM Tacoma without turning a great trunk into a grocery getter.

I knew nothing about modifying a vehicle for off-road use but I have tried to learn as much as possible from TacomaWorld experts here. I know its may not be for everyone but what I did is purchase and install the ICON Stage-2 kit. This kit, and the 265/70-18's Michelin LTX M/S2 tires levels my truck with 2.5" of lift and nice riding coil-springs-over-shocks front and AAL supported leaf springs and shock struts in the rear. I also installed Dynatmat sound proofing throughout my double-cab cabin.

My wife and I drive to all our USA vacation destinations. My wifes father gave her his older Cadillac SRX SUV and she has always preferred taking her SUV on our vacation trips. Now we take the Tacoma. She can't argue it has a lot more room but now actually agrees it drives just as quietly, firmly, smoothly, and comforably as her Cadillac SUV.

The reason I'm very interested in the information being shared in this thread though is one thing I am starting to become concerned with. The ICONs are now approaching 50K road miles. I started to feel the performance starting to degrade at approximately 35 to 40 thousand miles. I'm not going to be happy about putting my truck on jack stands waiting for the shocks to be rebuilt. I'm thinking about a backup set of coilover fronts and strut rear shocks and I'm wide open to suggestions

 

My brother has icons. I have fox 2.0s. I love them both.

 

I feel like this is a big misconception about expensive shocks. The goal of racing shocks is to keep the tires on the ground, because tires touching ground have traction, tires in the air do not. That does not equate to a soft and plush ride.

I have Elka 2.5 with DSC, they are not plush or soft by any means. But, I can fly down a washboard road at 70 and feel in total control, whereas my buddy with 5100s has to go 30 and still feels like he's only borderline in control.

If you want plush, you need to downgrade. Go for a shock intended for a sedan.

 

Elkas are a different game entirely and I didn't intend to get into a full discussion when the OP seemed to want to stay in the Stock ballpark and mentioned 5100s and 6112s. In my budget, 6112s and up are expensive. Haha!


It also depends on the type of trails that folks run. Everything other than main FS roads are slow crawling anyway. And, the main FS roads have a enough blind corners that limits speed regardless.

No matter what, a day out on the trails is always a good time.

 

my fox 2.5s aren't plush on the street either, i think people have a big misconception that spending 4-5k on coilovers gets you a caddy like ride on the street.

 

Here's to being wrong!




I did think that the Pro rode pretty plush though? Those are 2.0s, right?

 

mhh 2.5 i think, ive never been in a pro that still had its factory suspension intact

 

Fox 2.0s ride plush, 2" lift without adjustment. In the $900ish range. Only negative is they need to be compressed on a press to adjust ride height since they are aluminum.

 

If you really want a plush ride down air to about 12psi.

 

King's with stock valving are very plush. It's like riding on pillows made of clouds. It may not be in the budget for everyone but the ride difference vs the 5100's is quite possibly greater than night and day.