Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

Shocks make terrible limit straps

 

Yaaaas! What could go wrong?

 

And that’s the thing that’s a bit dissapointing. I wheeled with the stock shocks for a bit and they didn’t seem to show uncontrolled extension when suddenly unloaded. So in a way, they seemed to protect themselves from those sudden extension impacts. Maybe it’s just the price to pay for good damping when all wheels stay on the ground?

 

You probably will get yours in before me lol

 

My stock front shocks dropped hard with the 2" lift block on top.

 

You can DIY strap kits fine, just need straps, hardware, and mounting tabs. I would recommend against any of the threaded adjustable options only because the salt will wreck the threads and you won’t be able to adjust them. My fronts are JDF and semi-adjustable — there’s a 3 position “block” that I can flip to move the upper mount. There’s also a stretch factor: Kartek says theirs stretch 1” for every 12” of strap, so just keep that in mind. You can jump over to some of the long travel threads or hit up any of the suspension companies to see what they specifically recommend.

Also, just somewhat for note: good shocks should allow you to rebuild/revalve so you can potentially change your rebound rate on your rear shocks. That may also be a decent idea if you have the option to revalve. @pearing, i am sorry to have dropped the ball on getting my old ones revalved. Trauma season continues at work and it’s been a bit wild lately.

https://www.kartek.com/parts-categories/limiting-straps.html

 

With the topic of lift blocks. Did you space down your bump stops? With the blocks you will bottom out your shocks long before hitting the bump stop. That's how a lot of people bend the shocks.

 

This is what my upper limits look like:

 

My eyes were drawn to the threaded spring type arragements, but it’s a very good point those would last one season around here.

The amount of stretch is another helpful tip. The stretch itself is probably enough to dampen the impact of a hard extension.

 

No, the stretch is something to be mindful of when you do the install and maintenance, not used for limiting the force. You should be using the rebound rate of the shocks to mitigate the rate of the shock downtravel, the limit strap is just there so the shock isn’t bottoming out the rod ends.

 

This is my takeaway from today's seminar on rear suspensions.
If you want it right, get in there with a tape measure and a jack and start measuring.

 

Not at 1st.
The blocks are gone now.
They were only a test to see if I even liked my truck lifted, before spending bigger money on shocks, etc.

 

No worries man. I just cant take it anymore! Hopefully this will be a solution that lasts.

 

Hmm, then that brings me right back to the shock’s “fast drop” rebound as the core problem. It never actually had any damping when the wheel was suddenly free to drop with the full force of the coil.

That’s really the reason I worried limit straps would just transfer that impact into the frame (which would be just as janky). So I guess in my situation, limit straps would be nice, but aren’t really my solution then. I’m not doing any crazy stuff that constantly cycles them hard against the stops, other than when the wheel occasionally suddenly slips and free-falls off a rock in crawly type situations.

I remember a while back somebody posted a comparo video on some high end shocks, and they noted the same problem in at least a couple of them. It almost seems like something about how they're designed completely bypasses the damping circuit in this situation, and just allows the shock to literally free-fall the air, with full force of the coil. I say that because “normal” fast and slow rebound damping on my shocks has always been perfect.

Like you suggest, it seems like something to be solved by accutune or the like when it’s time to rebuild.

 

Hey guys, I don’t want to take away from the shock/suspension discussion going on here, however I did want to reintroduce myself a bit. I’m back!! Well… sort of. I had a 2017 Tacoma TRD Sport and I sold it almost a year ago to the day. Well needless to say the regret is very very real! So now I am looking to get into a new 2024 or 2025. I live in the Fox Valley and I haven’t seen too many. I was just wondering if anyone has one and would be willing to share their thoughts. Thank you in advance and it feels good to be back! Sort of

 

Welcome back!

I drove one last winter, and I liked it. I'm not sure if any of the regulars in this thread have a 4th gen. But, there are a handful of threads in the 4th gen sub-forum that could certainly provide some insight.

 

Wheeler's offroad is having a halloween sale!

25% off now thru 11/8

 

There are currently 13 shiny new Tacomas on the lot at Smart Motors in Madison. Most are on sale for about $3k off of list.

 

They are definitely starting to offer some pretty decent discounts on the new tacos and tundras. Wouldn’t be surprised if financing incentives start to appear before too much longer too.

 

Good to know, I like me a good deal. We still have to drive one, and the big thing is we have to make sure a rear facing child seat in the back. I’m also thinking I’d prefer the 6 ft bed over the 5 ft but I did fine with the 5 foot that I had on my old one. The 6ft is hard to come by.
Ideally a TRD Sport in Bronze Oxide.