Just bought 2005 Tacoma with 200k, needs new suspension, advice needed...

Hello -- First post. I recently purchased a 2005 Tacoma 4x4 Crew Cab longbed with about 200,000 miles. I took it on a mild 4x4 road a few times over the last month and noticed the suspension is shot. I also noticed it sagged a bit when I put in a few bags of concrete. I am looking for any advice on replacing factory shocks/struts/leaf springs. I don't really want to life the truck as it's my daily driver and I'm not really interested in getting shocks that can be adjusted or anything like that. What I would love to know is what is the perfect set up for replacing worn out factory suspension. I'd like to do it properly and get quality components. Do I need to replace the rear leaf springs also?

 

See if somebody on the forum has a factory suspension that they removed to lift their vehicle. If not get a set of 5100's all around. The front springs should still be good. The rear leafs can be replaced with again an OEM take off.

 

Rear:
Toytec progressive AAL (they're long and ride great)
Bilstein 5100s
Front:
Bilstein 5100s
OME coil overs

Have fun!

Tacoma_c_1.html

 

You don't give any sort of budget....

Simplest and probably cheapest would be to pick up a take off setup from someone who upgraded their suspension. You can find them with generally low miles and for pretty cheap. Otherwise you could look at bilsteins.

As for sagging...the Toyota springs aren't exactly known for being the best. So yes they will sag with a few hundred pounds. The trucks payload is only 1400lbs including weight of passengers and really the limit (IMO) is the springs. Load it up to 1000 pounds in the bed and youll be hitting bumpstops. Upgrade the springs (I run OME dakars with the overload) and you can take the same load and be just fine. Ive had 10, 80lb bags of concrete with other stuff in and still not sagged to bad.

 

That's solid advice, since you have no desire to lift.

 

Get some takeoffs from a 3rd gen TRD off road. That's what I did, added an aal and a top plate spacer. Cheap and real skookum.

 

You can likely get free dealer installed leaf springs under the recall.

@InspectorClouseau Stick your vin in here:
https://www.toyota.com/recall


Lots of info on the board:
https://www.google.com/search?q=toy...WAhVoylQKHYtrApYQrQIIYCgEMAc&biw=1920&bih=919

 

Thanks folks. This is perfect. If I go with Bilsteins, it seems like the 5100s are just for lifted trucks? They seem better than the 4600 but my truck isn't lifted.

Are there any other parts I should upgrade while I'm getting this work done? Struts? Also, my budget is open. By that I mean I'd like to get the suspension updated using quality components so I don't have to worry about it for a long time. So I am open to spending whatever it takes to do this, within reason of course.

 

5100s are great for stock configuration as well since they are adjustable.

 

At 200k miles, I would take a look at bushings, ball joints, and tie rods along with shocks and springs. I have to agree that finding someone with a 3rd gen truck with factory take offs is a good route for getting quality suspension on a budget price. I would suggest replacing your entire rear leaf pack with a 3rd gen factory take off rather than adding extra leafs to an already worn out leaf pack. Energy suspension makes a complete bushing replacement set for your truck which includes the upper and lower control arms, body mounts, and sway bar bushings. Another set of bushings to do while you're in there is the steering rack bushings. One way to avoid some labor on the upper control arm bushings and ball joints is to find someone with newer, like 3rd gen uppers that someone has replaced with an aftermarket. Oh and another thing to consider on your 05 is that the alignment cams may have seized especially if you're in an area that salts roads in winter. I'd check them for this before getting too far as you may need to replace your lower control arms completely. Where is it that you're located? If you need any help with this, feel free to send me a PM and I'll get ya going in the right direction.

 

This is perfect. Thank you. I live in the Bay Area, Half Moon Bay to be specific. I found this on Craigslist. Would this work for shocks: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/pts/d/2017-toyota-tacoma-trd-off/6311492919.html

 

That's perfect. See if he has the UCA's and rear leaf packs as well, then you'll be set. Pretty good price too.

 

Thanks for this thread I just put my vin# and found my 2007 qualifies for the rear leaf replacement. I just purchased this truck and don't like the rough country lift that is on it. Now that I know I can get a new leaf pack makes this even better. Thanks RIck

 

Yeap,dont waste your time with stock leafs.