How To Install SumoSprings

I got to say my Timbrens gave me a much better everyday ride but did the job when loaded.

My blue Suumo's make the truck ride hard all the time 'cause they are tight to the frame with no room in between. At first I liked the 5/8" or so lift but don't like the around town ride I sacrificed driving pot-holed New England roads. I was going to take them out of there.....

But, what I gather from posts above..... if I spend more $$ still and get an "Add-a-Leaf" (?) it will give me my unloaded softer ride back but retain the extra nooggies when I need them while towing ??

What will my truck's stance look like then ?

Please advise.

 

Thanks to the previous posters who provided the information which influenced my SumoSprings purchase.

I chose the 1500 pound-rated version rather than the standard 1000.

Like most others, I found that the Sumos did contact the frame (no air gap). They impacted the ride, but I considered the added firmness an improvement. To me, they made the truck feel more solid.

"Feel", however, is obviously a very personal matter.

In the past I had an F-250 with the most HD optional suspension. I also had a Tahoe with 5 leafs added per side to better handle a 10,000 lb. equipment trailer it hauled. Neither vehicle seemed harsh to me when driven empty.

My last Toyota was an FJ40 with straight axles and a very firm ride. I had some better seats swapped into it which could have mitigated the transmission of highway irregularities somewhat, but I really did like the way it rode.

Even with the beefy Sumos, my Tacoma is still way softer than the Land Cruiser.

The Sumos easily took care of the rear end droop I previously had with my cargo trailer attached. The factory springs alone were simply inadequate for keeping the truck level with any substantial load.

While I'd pronounce the Sumos a quick and inexpensive suspension enhancement, I'd tell somebody considering them to look elsewhere if you would be annoyed with any change in the soft ride.

 

Correct that they are solid foam, there is no bladder. Removing any part of it would not work, they are designed/rated by weight (

$280 SSR-610-40 | SumoSprings Rear for Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Titan

SSR-610-40 are rated for 1000lb) @ 50% compression. If you remove a 1/3 of the material then they will not compress at the correct rate.

Possible to do, but I wouldn't recommend it. It's not really possible to alter your suspension in favor of 1 quality without impacting another (Except for maybe airbags which to me was not a reasonable solution to have to air up and down when needed and potential to have them leak down the road).

IMO opinion the impact to stock ride is very subtle, some people don't even notice it and after a week of having these on I didn't notice it anymore either.

 

Reading the thread it looks like generally the SSR-610-40 is generally being recommended for 3rd gen by the forum for stock.

If I look at www.supersprings.com it appears to recommend the SSR-612-40.

Per the website info (if I am reading it right) the 610-40 is 5" high x 4" diameter
and the 612-40 is 4" high x 3" diameter

Am I totally misunderstanding the data? What are you guys thoughts on which model is best? Has this been discussed but I missed it?

Part # Year Make Model Drive Type Product Category Mounting Capacity Note Instructions
SSR-612-40 2017 Toyota Tacoma 2WD SumoSprings Rear 500 (lb) Capacity at 50% Compression View|Download
SSR-612-40 2017 Toyota Tacoma 4WD SumoSprings Rear 500 (lb) Capacity at 50% Compression View|Download
SSR-612-47 2017 Toyota Tacoma 2WD SumoSprings Rear 1000 (lb) Capacity at 50% Compression View|Download
SSR-612-47 2017 Toyota Tacoma 4WD SumoSprings Rear 1000 (lb) Capacity at 50% Compression View|Download

 

Maybe they made some changes.

I looked at my Amazon search history and the ones I ordered/installed are

$280 SSR-610-40 | SumoSprings Rear for Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Titan

SSR-610-40.

$285 SSR-612-40 | SumoSprings Rear for Toyota Tacoma, blue

SSR-612-40 doesn't even come up (on Amazon at least), but eTrailer seems to have them.

 

Somebody around here reported doing this to predicted success. I say give it a try.

 

Hi,
First thanks for excellent writup. I put on

$280 SSR-610-40 | SumoSprings Rear for Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Titan

SuperSprings SSR-610-40 SumoSprings Solo Rear Bump Stop Upgrade Kit
some time back. Have LT tires at 35 psi and didn't notice much ride difference, since those tires are stiffer riding already.
With a shell, there is about 1/2" of space unloaded. The first bit of compression does not seem to have much resistance- so not sure how important a gap really is.
I tow an Aliner, with a lot of gear in the truck, and sea kayaks on the roof.
They help with sway in wind, but you should already have the weight distributed correctly before expecting help from the Sumos.
A lot of miles in Baja seemed to break them in so that they seem a bit softer.
It is good to recheck torque of bolts after several thousand miles.
Before I used Timbrens on another Taco and they were definitely stiffer earlier in the compression range.

 

So I emailed the same info that I posted above to SuperSprings and I got a bit of a cryptic reply...

Here is the reply:

So rather than needing to cut down the 610 to give a gap at nominal, I am guessing maybe SuperSprings is going with a shorter Sumo recommendation. I wonder why they reduced the diameter along with the length. The shorter length probably causes an increase in spring rate, so maybe the diameter reduction is to cancel that increase in spring rate....

 

Can anyone report back with the 612-40 installed instead of the 610-40?

 

Are those the Yellow ones for the Tundra?

 

I went with the 612-40’s, love em. Ride quality empty seems unchanged. Any specific questions?

 

No, they’re the 3rd gen specific model

 

Found out (e-trailer) the ssr 610-40 is 1000lb cap at 50%, while the ssr 612-40 is 500lb cap at 50% compression.
I installed the former (as suggested) on my 2016 Tacoma 3rd gen.
I highly endorse them. Sorry, cannot speak on the latter sumosprings.
My application is for:
Snugtop shell,
Dog,
Camping gear,
300lb tongue weight of A Frame camp trailer.
When fully loaded with the above, I sit level.

 

Did they raise the rear end of the truck? I noticed that some report a 1/2" or so.

 

No. With no load, there is a about a 1/2 - 3/4 inch gap between the top of the sumo and the bottom of the frame. So the suspension has to compress 3/4 of an inch before they even come into play. The only way it would raise your rear end would be if your leaf's were seriously sagging and your rear was sitting much lower than normal. The 610-40 that was designed for the 2nd gen, is taller and is said to be in constant engagement which has raised some rear ends and can cause a harsher ride empty. The 612-40 remedies this condition with its shorter height. I have not had a super heavy load on them yet, so I can't comment on that. Empty, I can't tell they're there. With moderate load conditions, 150 - 200 lbs in the bed, they really smooth out the ride with much less bounce, and the rear end doesn't hardly squat at all.

For reference, here is the manufacturer's web site which lists the available options for the 3rd gen...
https://www.supersprings.com/application-guide/

 

With the 610-40s I have, IF there is zero daylight between Sumospring and frame, then the value is near zero. I personally want a slight amount of positive rake, so as to have room to work.with (to maintain zero rake withbfull.load and trailer tongue weight).
As my daily driver, I cannot say there is a stiffening of the ride. Any type of overload spring veryainly would. Wouldn't it?
BTW, I had Firestone airbags in my 02 and truly liked them. But they do come with fail potential, and do require adjusting as/per load variation.

 

Totally agree, while the sumo's don't offer the ability to really fine tune for different loads, there simplistic design is worry free and never needs to be adjusted. That's a compromise I'll happily live with.

 

Have a look at Timbren also.
I've had both and Timbren was more forgiving for everyday driving but got the job done when called into action ! They have fronts too.

 

I have a set of Gen 2 Blue ones for sale if interested for $145.

On the truck from last October to January this year. Under load 1 time.

PM if interested...

 

If you were going to be pulling a small camper sporadically would you go with the

$299 SSR-612-47 | SumoSprings Rear for Toyota Tacoma, Black

SSR-612-47's? manufacturer says these are rated 1000 (lb) Capacity at 50% Compression, whereas the

$285 SSR-612-40 | SumoSprings Rear for Toyota Tacoma, blue

SSR-612-40's are rated 500 (lb) Capacity at 50% Compression.