Upgrade SR Supension

I just bought a new 2020 SR Tacoma and im looking to upgrade the suspension.
I just purchased some bilstein parts off a TRD 4x4 used but my question is do I also need to upgrade the leaf springs? And is there any real benefit to upgrading?

 

The ride is a little softer. You can leave your stock upper control arms on, I believe they are the same. The leaf springs are the same to(I think). I did this to my SR5 and it seemed to soften it up and it seams to handle washboard roads a little better.

 

If you bought those parts used, why were the coilovers separated? They should have been left together intact. Now you'll have to put them under a spring compressor to reassemble everything.

that being said, you'll get a little bit better ride over the stock SR suspension.

 

Did you notice any added height difference?

 

Chances are they did the Bilstein 5100 upgrade which can re-use the upper strut mount and save some money.

And no you don't need a spring compressor. You can use a second jack against the LCA to compress the spring while still on the vehicle.

https://youtu.be/vkVLBOnAifc

 

I noticed little or no difference in ride quality between the 2016 SR5 and 2020 OR suspension on the road. The only mechanical difference is the shocks. I wouldn’t hassle with such a upgrade unless the factory stuff is toast. YMMV.

 

wouldn't do this for massive upgrades but for stock length shocks that's a solid route to go.

 

Haha if you're buying an expensive upgrade beyond the 5100 they should be 100% assembled from factory for sure.

 

subbed, i have a 2020 SR 4x4 and looking to upgrade the suspension as well. Is this the more popular route? Upgrade to the OR suspension?

 

The OR suspension is what is pictured in the first post.

 

The OE springs are all the same. 'need to upgrade' depends on how you use the truck. Carry heavy alot or tow heavy, it's not a bad idea

See above.

Pretty sure you won't.

Basically they are just different shocks that are more compliant offroad, and some folks find them too soft on road.

My thoughts are to install what you need for how you use the vehicle 85-90% of the time.

Not how you might use it someday.

 

I agree with everything say except for the OR shocks being more compliant. I would describe them as the opposite. They have slightly increased damping to help absorb bumps off the road. It was hardly noticeable to me though. Albeit, I didn’t do a lot of high speed off road stuff in either truck until I installed Kings.

 

I was told that I would get an additional 1 to 1.5" lift using these shocks as opposed to the stock SRs.
What do you think about using an in coil spacer to get that additional height im looking for?

 

not sure who told you that but the trucks have the same ride hide given the same body configurations except for the pro.

You can use a spacer, some people frown upon it, but if you lift the front you're going to get level or get the bro lean or the front is higher than the back. personally I like a little bit of rake and the factory rake is hardly noticeable. Some people prefer to level it with a spacer. Dealer's choice really.

 

Shocks don't set ride ht. Springs do. IIRC what you heard is correct if applied to a 2nd gen., which these parts would fit as well.

I have no need to lift. But if I did, my experience messing with SCCA suspensions would cause me to do it with a different spring choice. Not a spacer nor a shock with perch choices that do it by creating preload on the spring. A small spacer on the DS to take out the 'Taco lean' (if you have that) would be my only interest in spacers.

Many will chime in with the wonderfullness of spacers. I'm just offering my opinion, which is what you asked for.

 

Only the TRD Pro front suspension has been reported to ride 1” higher. The other trims are the same. Lots of people on here have reported success with spacers. There are also a lot of haters. I don’t have a strong opinion. If I understand correctly how some of the spacers work, they are simply adding preload so I don’t fully understand the haters. YMMV

I suggest doing some research. Here’s a decent place to start.

https://www.tacomahq.com/66/tacoma-leveling-lift-kit/

 

Maybe a 1/2 inch, nothing noticeable

 

depends on how much you paid for it, the time and effort you put into install might not be worth it IMO

 

Paid $220. Im definitely reconsidering it now, doesnt seem worth it.

 

If you paid $220 for a full set of billsteins and coils from an off-road, you got a good deal man. I would say go ahead and put them under your truck. It may not be a huge difference but it will be a little bit different and frankly, it'll make your truck more capable and hopefully a little more comfortable. You don't have to be at Baja 1000 championship racer to have a decent suspension under your truck, and you don't have to spend $10,000 to get a good suspension under your truck.


At the end of the day, do your research but remember, it's your truck. Build it for your needs and how you want it.