Best shocks to buy

I’m in the market for some shocks, I’ve done a good bit of research on the shocks that are available. I just wanted to see if I’m wrong with my thinking but, i daily drive my 21 OR with 33s and i have the TRD lift kit on it. Honestly i kind of hate the TRD lift kit. I could be wrong but im almost certain its the shocks, i feel every bump in the road, and when i drive down the dirt road with fairly large holes and whatever i live off of i almost lose control if i go over like 20mph. So I’m looking at the fox 2.0 currently because I’ve heard over and over again how plush and soft they are on road which is what’s most important to me. I’d like to go up one more inch in lift but honestly 2” is fine i just really need to fix the ride quality. I want the best ride i can get for around 1300$ anyone here running the 2.0 and don’t agree? If you have something other than fox you think is better I’d love to hear

 

If you want to rip down dirt roads with confidence, a rear leaf spring solid axle suspension pickup is the wrong choice. You are better off with a 4 wheel independent suspension, all wheel drive rally car. Think Subaru WRX, Audi S4, or the like.

Shock absorbers alone are not going to dramatically change your truck’s performance on dirt roads.

 

What kind of air pressure are you running?

 

What load tires are you running?

 

All of it.......Until the compressor stops running. She's full then.

I had to do it....I just had to.

Ok, I'm done here.
I won't interrupt this thread with any more useless post.

Sorry OP. Carry on.

 

One other pro tip… dirt roads are much smoother at 60+ mph. Look out for loose cows though.

 

33

 

C

 

You just answered your own question...shocks

 

I keep hearing over and over that Bilstien 5100's are the cats ass. Even besting Fox shocks et al.

 

Not in my experience. If you aren’t MOABing get Eibach. If you want softer than that, get the Bilstein 4600. The ones that came off my TRD OR were plush

 

the trd lift shocks he has are more or less rebranded 5100s.

 

4600s and 5100s are valved the same. the trd offroad shocks are not 4600s.

 

I didn't know that. I thought the trd lift shocks were Toyota spec built Foxes? And that the trd or shocks are Toyota spec built "4600" shocks

 

Let's start with the free fixes.

A) lower your tire pressure on dirt, gravel and washboard. Do not exceed 50mph on slightly deflated tires, and do not exceed 30 on mostly deflated tires. Carry an inflator for when you find pavement next.

B) remove your sway bar. Your front independent is seriously hobbled by the sway bar. All of those high speed impacts that the shocks are looking to dampen, the bar is going to transmit to the opposite corner. And a lot of those impacts get transferred directly into the frame rails where the bar brackets are. I've done stock and aftermarket, both with swaybar and without. The bar is absolutely the largest influence on washboard harshness. - You will lose the ability to corner and swerve on road however. Many of us have decided that it's a truck, it's not a fast truck, and the compromise is worth it.

 

These guys do a great job blind testing a lot of different shocks from cheap to really expensive. One of them is an active member on here, @WormSquirts, he can probably give you some good advice.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv1-VB8s4vOvG0R49hIJ7lQbKEGnlPy-w

As lobster said removing the swaybar is one of the best free mods you can do to make rough roads feel better.
I took mine off and after a few weeks of daily driving I threw the swaybar in the trash because I knew I'd never put it back on. There is more roll in the truck but not so much that it feels scary, I've driven older vehicles that were way worse.

New bumpstops front and rear will also help the ride quality when you are hitting bigger bumps, the factory ones barely soften the hits. I really like Perry Parts, they are cheap and so far have worked great.

 

trd pro shocks are the foxs. trd or shocks are significantly smaller body than 4600s. only thing they share in common is they are both painted yellow. imo valved way too soft. i hated them. worst riding shock ive ever ran it was like riding on pogo sticks constantly bouncing.

 

The 5160 6112 front and 5160 rear combo from bilstien is a really good budget shock combo that fits in your budget. A shock similar to the bilsteins and some better bump stops front and rear will make a huge difference. Bilstein 5100s are popular but IMO not much change from factory in ride and control. They are more of a factory replacement shock that will lift the truck than a performance shock. I find the fox 2.0 rear shocks to be about the same (this could also be from a bad leaf setup for the foxs not the shock). I was disappointed in them both with all the hype people give them.

If you are having issues with the rear end walking around on you then focus on rear shocks and bump stops first. The sway bar will be good too and free if you don't care about on road handling as much. 33psi seems right to me for the tires if this is a road you take daily.

 

Does you have blocks in the rear under stock leaf springs?
Also, empty bed v. weighted down bed? I adk because I will turn my rear compression dampening up or down to compensate.

 

This!

I'm mostly street driver and appreciate the fact you pointed this out!

EDIT: I have the TRD Lift which are the Bilstein 5100s...not the Fox Suspension that comes with the TRD Pro.

If I remember correctly, the Car Care Nut might have said the TRD Lift was better than the Fox suspension...now, which video does he say that? Hmmmm