Looking for a softer rear suspension

Hello experts!
I need your help with rear suspension on my 2017 Taco TRDOR.

99.9% of the time I drive on paved roads, and 0.01% on some gravel roads once a month or so to activate 4×4 to keep the parts lubricated. As recommended.
So this definitely deserves the mall crawler title lol.

To the point, I don't go off road, I don't carry loads, so I need a softer ride. Softer springs and shocks. One of the rear shocks has blown out so have to buy a pair and fix this thing all together.
Also, thinking about the sway bar too.
When I hit bumpa or potholes, specially on a curvy road, the truck loses control and feels like it'll just go on it's own

What's your recommendation to get a softer ride and best parts, and whether I should get the sway bar or not.

Please help!

 

Welcome. I don't understand. The TRD Off Road already has the softest suspension of all the Tacomas.
Remember, springs are there to hold up the vehicle and carry the load of the vehicle. Shocks are what people change to get a softer or stiffer ride. Anti Roll (Sway) bar is there to keep vehicle from leaning so much in curves.
If you already have a blown shock then your rear suspension is really really soft.

Also, your rear springs are already super soft, meaning that 1K weight, including all passengers, you will be at max load.

 

Springs would not significantly affect ride IMO.

As far as shocks go, buy the most expensive ones you can justify. Its not perfect, but quite generally ride quality will follow price. Some Bilstein 5100s are a decent start from what I have seen but there are significantly better shocks if you have the coin to spend.

 

Your description, to me, reads like insufficient damping. The shocks can't settle the rear end after an impact, so it bounces all over the place until they catch up. That's the loss of control you feel. It's similar to driving over railroad tracks at an angle - you 'unsettle' the rear suspension and it takes a few seconds for the shocks to settle things down. You probably also have a lot of body roll in turns, and nosediving under braking.

The factory OR shocks are quite soft, and quite small (low volume). They get overwhelmed easily, and they overheat/fail easily as well.

Bilstein 5100's are a significant improvement at a reasonable price, and would be my recommendation over OEM. The fronts are worth considering as well, equally cheap but more labor intensive to install. No need to spend more unless you want a lift or spend more time off-road.

Definitely don't touch the sway-bar for on-road only use.

 

Welcome to...the rabbit hole

 

I would get in contact with @AccuTune Offroad
When you buy shocks from them they tune them to your needs. It really makes a difference

 

Don't monkey with the springs or sway bar. Its the shocks that are the source of your problem.

You may want a softer damping rate on the shocks. Find an educated shock place. Pick their brain. It won't take long to figure out if the sales pitch is BS or knowledgeable.

 

I'm in a similar situation but have 6 month old Sport, am also in the mall crawler category, and I don't need or want a lift. The ride on the OEM Hitachis is just ok and I've been researching options to improve the street ride. The most I will ever do is occasionally tow my Honda Goldwing on a UHaul trailer, so we're talking less than 3,000 lbs, and the occasional flat dirt, gravel, or grass. Based on what I've read I think the Bilstein 5100 all around would give me the ride improvement I'm looking for without breaking the bank. Once the OEM Toyos wear out I'll switch over to Michelin LTX AT2s at the stock 265/65R17 size, something a bit more aggressive but still having good street manners. I'll add my vote for the 5100s.

 

My new stock OR shocks and no extra rear weight it felt like the rear axle fluttered a lot going over bumps. Just that kind of squirrely feel, like it takes a second to get the wheels back on the ground tracking straight.

Adding ~100lbs weight in the rear makes a significant difference on stock truck.
New 5160s and a little weight from a aluminum tonneau took care of it for good.

 

Same issues here: I've determined that it drives like a truck with a solid rear axle and leaf springs. With more weight in the back it's much better.
I bought this truck in 2016 and plan on keeping it a long time. I called AccuTune last summer and splurged on Fox 2.5's remote reservoir. Overkill for what I do? You betcha.

Has it helped with the crappy roads in Maryland and Pennsylvania? Now that they are breaking in, I think that they are better than the stock shocks with 60k miles on them. It will never be as good as the minivans I occasionally drive at work.

 

The Bilstein 5100's are a bigger shock than the stock Bilstein 4600's. Might as well add them in the front too and take advantage of the max. 2" Lift (and cushier ride).

I'd rather go that route than adding unnecessary weight in the back!

 

Or, you could go this route.

 

If your truck is stock that's about as soft as it gets bud. You might want a Lexus instead.

 

Yeah just a four months, 2k dollars later and ur rear end will ride like a dream…

id say put some weight in the rear and actually use ur truck OP…
Maybe your tires could drop a couple PSI to soften things up. I agree with the bilstein 5100 suggestion. Or buy some OEM takeoffs from a TW member for a cheap replacement

 

I think you may have bought the wrong vehicle. A pickup has a harsh ride when unloaded because it’s designed to carry a load. Why do you want a pickup if you don’t haul or tow anything?

 

I was thinking the same. OP should just sell the pickup truck and get a car, rather than try to make his truck feel like a car, because it never will. This forum has no shortage of people who bought a truck, but don’t actually like trucks.

 

Get a set of 265-75-16 SL rated highway tires, like the Michelin LTX AT2. Taller sidewall for more volume and sidewall movement.

 

I just bought a set of Fox TRD Pro takeoffs from a 2021 that are basically brand new. Hoping to improve my ride quality without lifting too much as well. Will report back soon hopefully!

 

no, this place has people who have actually driven nice riding trucks and realized Toyota cheaped out on the suspension.

The Tacoma rides like shit. It rides like shit because it is a truck AND because it has crap suspension. You CAN make part of that better

 

Throw some weight in the bed. That will soften it up. OR suspension is about as soft as you are going to get, but some weight in the back will make it ride softer. I had to add sumo springs after adding a 200lb cap (long bed) so it won’t take much.