Valving for Softer Street Ride

I'll start by saying I'm not ready for a full 2.5 with clickers and resis front and rear set up, but in the next few years I will dial in on an expensive set up that meets my off roading needs.

I've been on Bilstein 5100s up front with ome 888 coils and small spacers, along with 5125 extended rear shocks and dakar HD leaf packs for a little over a year now. Living in Hawaii, the ride is pretty stuff, I'm assuming due to the digressive type shock that the bilstein 5100 series is. I like that I'm on a 2.5" lift up front and in the rear, but lift height is important to me, primarily just to clear my tires (295/70r17 mud terrains)

I have been reading that shocks do mostly all of the ride quality type work over the coil spring, and that would make sense, as the OME 888 coil is only a 590 spring rate.

With how bad our streets are, and driving 55 miles round trip every day, I've begun to dislike the way the bilsteins ride on the road (They are however, great offroad).

Should I try out the OME nitrocharger softride shocks? They are cheap and worth giving a try in my opinion, or should I just stop being a bitch and suck it up until I'm ready to get a legitimate setup in the future? I should mention I am also looking pretty seriously at Fox 2.5 non resis.

Other shock options are also welcomed.

Thanks

 

You cant have it all.

 

I know they are not the most respected brand here on TW, but they have been used for a very long time by chevy, ford and dodge guys.

Rancho 9000 has adjustable ride settings with a little knob on the shocks.

Here is their 2.5 inch lift version
https://www.gorancho.com/products/s...pension-system-rs9000xl-shocks-rs66901r9.html

Otherwise here are their stock height ones
https://www.gorancho.com/products/s.../rancho-rs9000xl-shock-absorber-rs999319.html
https://www.gorancho.com/products/s...nce-strut/rancho-rs9000xl-strut-rs999777.html

 

Saw a review of them online.
https://expeditionportal.com/field-testedrancho-rs9000xl/

 

I was actually going to get the ranchos, my neighbor has them on his truck for the past 10 years and says they are great. But I fell into some pro fox shocks for cheap.

I do know there used to be a in-cab adjuster for the shocks, it was air powered and had a small compressor and tank, but you could change your ride settings while driving. I have not seen the in-cab adjuster in a while, I think they stopped selling it.

 

Buy once, cry once.

If you plan on doing it right. Then do it.

With suspension systems there is no shortcuts. Only compromises based on your budget.

You took a shortcut already, didn't like it, so want to do it again?

Why the HD Dakars? RTT or loaded bed? If you have an empty bed those shocks really are not going to be working hard at all.

If your using the 888's with no weight on the front, they are recommended for a light steel bumper winch setup. So will feel very stiff on stock.

Springs play just an important role as shocks.

So if you're running heavy and medium springs on a fairly stock truck.......
Shocks will not fix your issue unless you match them with the right springs for your ride type, weight and height.

 

I have roughly 300 pounds mounted on the truck front and rear. No bumpers.

As far as my current setup being a short cut, I would have to disagree with that. I'm still currently trying to figure out whether I'm sticking with a ~3" or moving up to a 6" with full coilover and custom leaf packs so anything I do right now will be temporary no matter what. That being said, id like it to ride softer. 888 coils are pretty soft so I don't know if I'd say they were meant for a 3rd gen Tacoma with a bumper. I think they are the same part number used on the 2nd gen and the 3rd gen is 300 pounds heavier so if anything they'd ride stiff on a 2nd gen.

 

Well you could drastically improve your current setup by putting another 200-300 lbs in the back and installing a winch and slimline front bumper or a steel front bumper.

Springs are controlling your ride right now, not the shocks.

 

I'll give that a try.

 

Throw 3 fat guys in the bed and take a spin around the block, you'll see what I mean, Lol

 

I load my bed to 600 pounds easily when we go camping and I honestly haven't noticed too much of a difference but I've never loaded it for consecutive days so I am interested to see how it feels.
I got the HDs because I didn't want it to squat even though I only load it up once a month.

 

Just switched from 5100's due to the stiff road driving. I only wheel a few times a year and even then it's nothing major so I opted for Fox 2.0's all around (just over $1k front and rear, same lift as the billies) and it's so much smoother. Rear resi, front non-resi.
And the rear wheel well doesn't look so empty with the main shock body being on the frame and the piston on the axle.
2.5's would have been overkill for my purposes though they are a killer suspension.
The lift is just where I want it with the medium Dakar springs in the rear. Slight forward rake.
(I increased preload on coilovers driver side 10 turns, passenger 7 turns. The wheels are 285/75's, no rubbing)

Very happy with the 2.0's.