REVIEW 3rd gen suspension on 2nd gen

Thanks! What size tire \ wheels were you running? I’m sticking with the stock wheels and going with 265/70/17 tires...

 

Falken Wildpeak 265/70/17 on SCS Stealth 6's

 

So the the third generation leafs will fit the second gens?

 

Here's my setup and thoughts:
2009 TRD offroad DCSB
Camper shell
TSB leaf springs
2017 struts, springs, and shocks
Steel front bumper
High clearance rear bumper
Progressive AAL with stock helper removed
1/4" front strut spacers (above strut, not spring)
2017 TRD offroad wheels with stock tires

Truck sits level with up to a few hundred pounds in the bed. It drives well enough and handles corners as it should. There is a slight driveline vibration from 2.5-3.5k during excelleration. It handles bumps exceptionally well compared to stock 2009 struts and shocks. The only thing I'd change is upgraded springs when I install my winch. Let me know if you want pics and I can post them up.

 

Yes. I had no issues at all when installing them on my '06 SR5.

 

yes. 2016's on my 15

 

Currently in the process of replacing my Sport suspension with a set from a 2019 Off Road (front struts, rear shocks, and UCAs--no leafs)...not sure if this has been covered but do I need to get an alignment afterwards?

Something interesting to note is that the 2019 UCAs had an extra weld spot where the arms radius into the bushings--must have been an issue Toyota discovered with the 2nd gen and decided to reinforce.

 

The consensus is yes on the alignment, I got one when I installed 3rd gens on mine, my toe was off

 

Sounds good--thanks. Might as well start with a clean sheet with all of this maintenance

 

Just had Sean@ Kaizendirt.com install 3rd Gen suspension on my Taco. Got new take off 2020 TRD OR DCSB coilovers and shocks. Added Wheelers 1/4" spacers to both sides and 1/2" rear blocks. No new top hat bolts or U-bolts were needed in either case.

Before measurement from center of wheel to bottom of fender with a full tank of gas:
LF: 20 1/8 RF: 20 1/2
LR: 21 RR: 21 1/4

AFTER:
LF: 21 1/4 RF:21 3/4
LR: 21 3/4 RR: 21 3/4

Lessons learned- Even though the green dot front coil is driver side specific, it doesn't seem to "fix" the taco lean (at least in my case). There is some mixed info saying that it does. If I were to do it again, I'd only put the 1/4" spacer on the driver side (duh) -OR- if I wanted a little more lift I'd use a 3/8" spacer on the driver side with a 1/4" spacer on the passenger side with a 1" block or AAL in the rear.

As it sits now, its pretty darn level to me but I guessing the front will settle down a touch over the next few months which is ok w me to get back a little front leaning rake.

So prior to installing this, I really went back and forth on the going Billie 5100s with OEM springs and the 3rd Gen stuff. While I'm sure I would have been pleased with the 5100s, I'm thrilled with the ride quality of the 3rd Gen suspension. It's still very smooth and OEM like which is what I was after.

For those in So. Cal, Sean@Kaizen was super easy to work with. I consulted with him prior to going w 5100s or 3rd gen and he spent a good amount of time detailing expectations of ride quality and performance from each without pushing an agenda of far more expensive suspension options. He knew what I was looking for and thought the 3rd Gen stuff fit my needs best and it did...

 

Finished the front passenger side today. If I was just changing the strut assemblies, it would have only taken a few hours. But, because I also wanted to install the UCAs, that made the job significantly longer.
Bending the sheet metal on the driver's side was easy but the passenger side was a PITA. Using my biggest pliers and prybars wouldn't make the thick sheetmetal portion bend enough to clearance the bolt. Thanks to this post: Upper control arm bolts ? for giving me an idea to use a punch and hammer--the bolt came out much easier. As for getting the bolt back in, I had to move the power steering reservoir and use a deep socket on the head of the bolt and hammered on it from inside the engine bay. Hope this helps someone in the future. Doing the rear shocks tomorrow and then off to Firestone for an alignment.

 

I started my suspension swap today, my rig is a 2015 base AC 4cyl 4x4 and the "new" parts came from a 2019 TRD OR w/ 5K miles on it. My leafs were worn/sagging, with just the weight of the capper, the overload spring was making full contact with the main pack. The OR springs seemed to be the same thickness in the plies and it had the same amount of plies as my original springs. Once I got the springs in and the truck back on the ground under it's own weight ( to do the final tightening of the spring eye and shackle bolts) I noticed that the overload wasn't touching the main pack, but the before/after measurements show only about 1/2" difference in ride height. That seems a bit odd.

 

Thanks for posting this. Nice details. My truck is same color and all.

Im contemplating a similar setup. Id think Id like the added lift you mentioned too. Im currently running the 265/70/17 on my truck now

 

Picking up front strut assemblies, upper control arms, and rear shocks from a 2021 TRD OR with 25 miles on them for $175. Is that a decent deal for those parts?

 

Yup, I think that’s reasonable, especially with it being from a 2021 with 25 miles on them.

 

Did you wear a mask and brandish a weapon? That's a smokin' deal!!!

 

Ha! I haven’t actually picked them up yet....meeting them tomorrow at a walmarts for the exchange. But yes, I plan to wear a mask and have my pocket knife on me just in case. You never know round these here days!

 

I recently replaced front and rear springs and shocks in my stock 2013 regular cab.
I bought new leafs and shocks, front and rear from a 2020 trd pro. The original had only two leafs, the trd pro has three. No installation issues other than the front shocks and springs are a bit longer and difficult to get in.
Here are the before and after pics.
Ohh and I painted the shell, but it’s the same truck. The 265 70 on the procomps, 245 75s on the stock wheels. I hope this helps.

 

It’s because of liability. Toyota didn’t test the newer suspension pieces on an older vehicle and can’t say that it will be safe.

 

It’s the same reason Bilstein quoted when I reached out to them to ask when I eventually swap out the shocks on my 3rd Gen struts that I installed on my 2nd Gen, do I go with the 5100s for the 3rd gen (24-263108) since I’m using the heavier spring rate 3rd gen coils?

Bilstein responded:

“For safety and liability reasons we can only recommend parts we have cataloged for your specific application. On your ’15 Tacoma we can only recommend you use the

$504 B8 5100 Series Set of Front & Rear Shocks fits 1996 2004 Tacoma with 1-1.5" Lift | TrendsAuto Decal | 24-249928 33-247724 33-247717

B8 5100 Ride Height Adjustable front shock (24-239370) for that application. Also the front 5100 shock should only be used with the stock spring for the vehicle(second gen Tacoma shock, second gen coil spring)” They instead recommended the 6112 shock and coil kit.

So who knows what I’ll do when the time comes (Which will be a while since my 3rd Gen take-offs were very low miles), I’ll probably go with the

$141 24-263108 Bilstein 24263108 Shock Absorber

24-263108 (3rd gen 5100s fronts).