Truck handles poorly after 170000 miles

So my truck (2017) is in the shop after an accident, and I was able to drive a 2023 taco as a rental. After driving it for a day I could feel just how much better it handles than mine. The steering is very responsive and much more “stiff” than mine, the gas feels much more responsive and the pedal is a lot more stiff, brake as well. The truck feels more planted on the road and corners really well. So I’m thinking my suspension needs a rebuild, (I have the trd pro fox stuff, my steering rack has been dripping for a while so maybe the looser and less responsive steering can be fixed by replacing that, I’m pretty sure I have air in the brake lines which is why my brakes feel mushy compared to the newer truck, and from what I have researched, the more responsive gas can be attributed to software updates done on the newer trucks in response to the reports of sluggish acceleration and gear hunting in the only trucks, and the mushy, less stiff feeling of the gas pedal itself can be attributed to the pedal being old and heavily used. I’m going to update this thread as I fix these issues and update my truck, and see if it feels and drives like a newer truck afterward. What do u think? Worth it or nah?

 

Yeah, I think it's worth it - I'd personally try to do a lot of the work myself, which it sounds like you will be. Even if you didn't it'd be way cheaper than buying a new truck.

170k is a good amount of miles and a lot has changed since 2017, sounds like you just need some maintenance to get things (mostly) back on track. It'll still be a 2017 with 170k on it though so it's not going to drive like a brand new truck, should be able to get it pretty close though.

 

It takes a lot of money to make an old truck drive like a new truck. After totaling up the expenses, ask yourself if buying a newer truck would be money better spent.

Also, I suggest not simply throwing parts at it. Inspect the parts you have to see which are worn out of spec. Replace those and keep the rest.

 

What's the last milage the shocks were rebuilt at? That'd definitely make the truck feel worse for handling and ride if those are worn out. Nominally Fox says to rebuild Pro suspension at 50K if I recall, my local shop and others I've talked to say that's for heavy duty driving and rebuild intervals they find are more like 80K miles for most people's use.

 

X2 ^^

At some stage you'll reach the point of diminishing returns, so to speak.
If you're really trying to make an old truck handle like new, @ 170K, you might just be there.

Eventually the hits will just keep coming, in one form or another.

 

I mean it is a Toyota, 170k isn't an insane number for a Tacoma.

I think a couple bushings here and there, bleed the brakes, rebuild the suspension and you'll be sitting pretty decent.

 

Shocks don’t really “wear out”. A rebuild consists mostly of replacing the seals. If the shock isn’t visibly leaking oil then it might be just fine, particularly for street use which is barely taxing off-road shocks.

When I experience bad handling on the street I think first of tires, alignment, play in the various joints, and blown shocks containing little or no oil.

 

could replace all front end parts (sans the shocks, dont pay for TRD PRO shocks from toyota) with OEM toyota parts for under 1500$ thats like 2 months of car payments on a new pos 4th gen...

 

Oil in the shocks degrades just like every other oil on a vehicle. shocks absolutely wear out.

 

Explain yourself. Shocks have very few moving parts and metal-on-metal friction. What does happen is that the seals degrade over time leading to a leakage of oil and nitrogen.

Look up a video on shock rebuilds and note what is involved.

In any case, I think people tend to overestimate the effect off-road shock absorbers have on ride quality on the street.

I also think people too often refer to shock absorbers as “suspension” as if there are no other components to a suspension. Shocks are just 1 piece to the puzzle.

 

I have rebuilt MANY an oil filled suspension dampening component.... shocks, forks, coilovers etc etc... the dampening fluid inside the shock 100% degrades overtime even if the shock doesn't leak a drop even when only used for street driving.

While yes shocks are just one component of a suspension package, they are a key component in making tires stay on the ground and the vehicle behave like it should.

 

Yea it’s mostly just updating parts that generally contribute the most to how the truck feels and handles. And yea I’ll be doing all the work myself. Shouldn’t cost more than like 1000 in total with a mix of used and new OEM parts

 

Boys why we arguing about whether or not shocks wear out, they obviously do, and in my case, I do quite a bit of off-roading, and I can feel their performance reducing