Why is it so hard to find a stock height F/R suspension kit?

Sorry for another suspension thread guys but I'm coming up short. Maybe my Google fu is off but I can't seem to find a 'all in one' replacement kit for my clapped out suspension.

I don't really want to lift it but if something like a 1" kit is easier to find, so be it.

I'm just looking to refresh my stock 03 suspension, front and rear. I don't want to assemble the front coils/shocks so I don't mind paying a little extra.

Everything I search for starts at 1" and seems to lean towards off roading, coilovers and all kinds of other higher tier kits that will be useless to me. I live in the city and drive 90% on road.

Throw me a bone? Any good vendors to go bug? Should a change my search parameters etc?

Thanks!

 

Toyota Tacoma OEM.

Also some lift kits have a “zero” setting.

 

There aren't stock-height kits because most folks who want stock height are going to let a shop figure out what parts to get anyway.

The standard recommendations for stock-height here on the forum are Bilstein 4100 shocks and General Springs leafs.

Some online vendors will assemble the front shocks for you for an additional fee, but you might have to contact them to find out if they have a "stock height" coil option. I don't know who makes good stock-height coils--most people seem to re-use whatever's on the truck in your situation. A local auto repair or 4x4 specialty shop should be able to swap the coils from your existing shocks if you go that route.

For a full refresh, you'll also want to replace your suspension bushings (Whiteline for LCA bushings, Energy Suspension for most other things), upper and lower ball joints (stick with Toyota) and possibly tie rod ends (probably also Toyota). Those parts aren't included in the "complete lift kits" anyway.

 

When you guys say OEM/Napa, I'm guessing it's on me to piece out the parts eh? I know it's just leafs and shocks/springs but it'd be nice to buy a kit with everything.

and not to go down a rabbit hole but does newer Tacoma hardware fit 1st gens? Thinking if someone upgraded their stock (low milage) stuff, I could get it at a decent price point.

 

Damn, OK. Good point, I hadn't thought of bushings etc...

I was trying to be lazy here but I guess I'll have to do all the footwork in the end.

 

No, 2nd/3rd-gen suspension is totally different from 1st gen. I don't think any parts are interchangeable.

 

What?

Bilstein 4600s and Moog coils, though you can still buy new coils from Toyota but it'll cost a little more.

That's for stock height. Always been the recommended shocks for no lift.

 

Thanks and from reading other's posts, looks like i'll need some bushings and other fresh bits. I have to replace the rear as well but it looks like just a leaf kit and shocks. I worry that somehow I'll get the wrong rear and have some goofy looking rake.

 

Shocks don't provide lift as they only dampen one's ride.

You will get some 'stinkbug' with a new leaf pack, but that's a given as you'd need to put some mileage on to get them to settle.

 

Might want to think of the Lower Ball Joints as the first to change.

I have seen complete front steering and suspension kits that tend to be complete trash.

depending just where the truck has lived changing rear springs one needs to spring for new hardware

 

Thanks, yea rust is an issue. It's not super gnarly but we do salt the roads here in KY.

This is turning into pulling a string on a sweater but if I'm gonna do it, I'm going all the way. Especially since I'm keeping my 03 since prices are insane now.

I'll add ball joints to the list.

Is there a flowchart or other treads I can check. (Can't search too much now, at work)

 

Just noticed you joined in 2011; did you run that same suspension for 10 years?

Holy shit you're long overdue

Non-serviceable suspension components IE shocks generally last for 5 years or 50k miles.

Less if carrying heavier payloads; even less if they're cheap parts.

Leaf packs and coils last a bit longer than shocks.

 

Just ask your questions as needed quote peoples replies then they will see your response.

 

Hate to admit it but yea. Had an 04 with 186k on the clock but got rear ended in 2013. Got my 03 the same year. Waaay overdue...

 

Bilstein 5100 Front & 4600 Rear OK?

Everything youll need for a baseline refresh. Like others have said, coils & springs provide the lift / combat sag, so if you dont want a mild lift go 4600s with some Moogs or OEMs up front as well (I went prebuilt mild lift with 5100s)

If you want to get fancy you can start looking into control arm bushings etc, but new tires and the attached will get you 80-90% of the way

 

I am in the same boat OP.........and you will read an read an change your mind 100 times before you settle on what to do. I finally decided that I am going slow an starting with leaf springs. Drive for a little bit see how it goes then approach shocks/struts. My 99 currently has original leaf springs....Monroe quick struts 3 or 4 yrs old on front and I have no idea what rear shocks I have. At least with this approach as I do one job at a time if something totally ruins the ride or lift etc I will know exactly what it is. Its tempting (or was for me) to make this huge list an start looking at every option so I had to slow it down. Front springs/coils seem to be the biggest issue as far as avoiding lift for me.

 

100%. Analysis paralysis going on right now. It's bad news / good news. There's a million parts for our trucks but there's a million choices too.
I've been hitting on my bolts with PB Blaster but just looking at them, I know I'll probably have to cut them out to remove so that's more parts to add to the list.

 

Before jumping into the effort and expense of your suspension refresh, verify that your frame is solid enough to be worth the effort.

Ball peen, probe, borescope.

 

2200$ Frame repair job for me will back that up!!

 

Saw this and couldn't not comment lol. My 04 is at just over 185k and to my knowledge on entirely original suspension (shocks, springs, bushings, EVERYTHING), aside from lower ball joints