Rear suspension upgrade?

Currently I have the TSB leaf pack with Fox 2.0 compression adjustable 9.5 travel shocks with wheelers superbumps.

I like the stance of the truck right now, completely level all four corners, and don't want to change that. So my thoughts right now are to replace the bumps with Fox 2.0 2.5 travel bump stops and to also cut off the shock mounts from the axle and relocate them 1 inch lower to allow 5 inches of up travel. Currently there is only 4 inches of up travel in the rear and 6 in the front so the rear is unable to keep up with the front. I feel this would help the rear better manage its travel making it feel more comparable to the front.

My other option for right now is to go with a set of Deaver J66's to better manage the spring rate. If I go with the first option this will still probably happen down the road just don't have the funds to do both at the moment.

So my main question is where am I going to see the most improvement first? Deaver's or Fox bumps? Also is it a bad idea to relocate the shock mounts down lower on the axle to allow more up travel?

Anyone with experience with these setups would be much appreciated for your input.

 

I wouldn't recommend lowering your shock mounts as they already sit low on the axle...I don't see how that's gonna get you more travel...if anything its going to reduce travel since your shock will reach its max extension quicker and could over extend.

If you want more travel but don't want to pay the big bucks for long travel and punching through the bed, your next choice would be new rear shock towers. I know BAMF and Pelfreybilt sell some good towers to fit a 12" shock in the wheel well, and then you can take your pick of leaf packs to increase travel. I'm pulling about 11" in the rear with the BAMF shock tower replacement and a 12" fox shock

 

I currently have it bumped at only 4 inches of up travel or compression to prevent it from bottoming on the shocks, this is only leaving 1/4 inch of travel in the shocks. As close to the tires as the shock mounts are I feel they would be fine lowering them 1 inch. In fact I noticed and got this idea from looking at the suspension on my dad's raptor, they hang down a lot farther than our taco suspension does stock. I know that this will limit my down travel but thats not my concern at the moment.

My front suspension has 6 up travel and 4 in droop. My rear has 4 in up and 6 in droop currently. I'm trying to get them closer to each other so they work together. I will also incorporate some sort of added protection into the shock mount due to the extra risk with lowering them

 

To better explain, I'm lowering the axle mount to expose more of the shocks shaft. Which, will allow for it to have more compression or up travel (yes limiting droop). With this I will move the bump stop to give an extra inch of clearance before contact. In the end my travel will be the same but the resting point of the axle will be in the center of the travel and not 60% through it. This should give it more large bump compliance. Adding the Fox bumps will help to be able to fine tune that last few inches of travel.


Makes sense in my head not sure if I'm explaining it right

 

I know exactly what you are trying to do, my question is, Do you know exactly how much more shock shaft you have at full droop? If you're trying to get the max you can out of your shocks by messing with mounting points, i would STRONLY suggest limit straps to prevent you from over extending your shocks, which is bad.

 

Limit straps are something that is on my list of mods to do. Would you recommend J66 leafs and straps first or FOX 2.0 bumps and straps first to try to get the most bang for the buck on my current truck budget?

 

Unless you're constantly slamming down on your bumpstops, I would say straps and new leafs with whatever bump you have currently, and just work on valving

 

Anytime I'm offroad I'm constantly slamming my rear bumps. Yet I don't know that I've ever bottomed my fronts fully. That's running my front compression as soft as it will go and my rear compression as stiff as it will go on my adjusters.

 

Some of the other forums I've been reading have some pretty negative sounding reviews on the Deaver J66's. I'd like to keep the stance of the truck as close to what it is now with the TSB's as possible. Something that is only around at most +1.5 inches of lift over the TSB. What would people recommend? I've also considered AP Standard pack but not sure that it wouldn't give me too much lift for what I like.

 

I mean, you're slamming bump stops because the TSB pack blows. Moving up to deavers is definitely improvement. I would suggest a leaf pack upgrade and limit straps if you're going to move your bottom mounts up. You should probably rebuild your shocks with higher compression as well then you can set you compression adjuster better as needed intend of maxing it out when you go offroad

 

What about deavers f85 mini leaf pack is it worth a shit or is it just putting a band aid on a cut that really needs stitches?

 

Just thinking I could do those with their cost of around 200 and the bumps for about the same price of the J66 ten leaf pack.

 

Stay away from deaver. Go with allpro or dakar. As for the up travel, you have to ask yourself if that extra inch of uptravel is really worth it. My main concern would be the springs negatively arching, which will screw up just about any leaf on the market.

 

Hah! Someone finally uses the same metaphor I do! Yea anything that's just adding to the existing shit oem pack is just a bandaid on a gunshot wound. Just spend your money once and do it right. If anything, save up and get a good leaf pack, bumps and limit straps at the same time and then you're solid

 

And why stay away Deaver?

 

Yea, nothing wrong with deavers. A couple guys have had bad experience, but nothing wrong. Oh, and by the way, All pro leafs are just Deavers specially made for All Pro lol.

 

Glad to hear. I just ordered the HD J66 10 leaf pack and hoping they aren't going to be too stiff.

 

If you're having issues with the rear end bucking, you might as well do it once and do it right and go SUA (i.e. rear long travel). No point in throwing money and time at something that is going to yield minimal improvement when you could throw a little bit more money and a little bit more time and yield massive improvements.

 

Yeah not cutting up my bed on a 3 month old truck to install a long travel kit. In 5-6 yrs maybe but not just yet.

 

Meh, its just a truck. You can only get so much performance out of OEM replacement stuff.