TRD Pro Suspension Maintenance

Took them about 2 weeks to complete mine including all the shipping.

When I had one of mine rebuilt, they had me send it to the california instead of the baxter location thats like 2 hours away from me, Im not really sure why, but next time I get them rebuilt I will probably drop them off in person on my way up north.

 

Took a month, they said I could ship it to either location, MN was closer so I sent them there. After a week of hearing nothing they told me they didn’t have the tools to do it there and they shipped it to California. Another 2 weeks they said they had everything they needed, and a week after that they sent them back. I think normally it would be 2 weeks though

 

See my above post., better make certain they can do them in MN before taking them there.

 

https://www.ridefox.com/service.php?m=offroad

 

Thanks for all the information!

Dows anyone know any shops in the South Carolina area that rebuilds/services shocks?

 

Damn Minnesotans dragging their feet through the snow

 

Yeah, if we even get any snow this year

 

Haha seriously

 

I would call any UTV, 4x4, and rock crawler shops and ask around.

 

Well, first of all, I am not a yuppie, I grew up on a farm, and also worked in the oilfield services industry in northern Canada as an equipment operator. With both farm equipment and heavy equipment, maintenance was essential to keep equipment running, especially in inhospitable climates. An equipment breakdown can mean literally hundreds of thousands of additional expenses, and would get your ass run off in a heartbeat if it was due to your negligence with maintenance. The idea that, "if it's not broke don't worry about it" doesn't cut it in the industrial environment, nor will it hold you in good stead with your personal equipment.

Oil changes are a very important part of maintenance as oil breaks down due to many factors, especially with heat and condensation. I'm sure your father changed fluids, in not only his engine, but transmission, transfer cases, and differentials as well, on his vehicles to get to the mileage he did.

It is true that with a traditional digressive shock, they are maintenance free, and throw away items. Although the TRD Fox shocks look like pretty simple devices, they are actually quite complex, and do require regular maintenance to function properly. Over time the oil begins to break down, from heat, moisture, etc. An external bypass valve shock, such as the TRD Fox shock, functions by allowing a metered amount of oil to flow around the valving piston by way of the tubes. if the piston is passing through any bypass tube, then there is no bypass and therefore 100% of the control is coming from the valving on the piston. The viscosity of the oil is an important component of the shocks performance and is compromised over time without maintenance. As the oil breaks down, it can also score the valves and pistons and cause internal damage and a costly repair. Tearing down your shocks and inspecting them, and doing a fluid change, much like changing your engine or transmission fluids and inspecting for leaks or damage, is cheap insurance, as well as maintaining optimal performance.

As far as the extended warranty is concerned, no, I did not purchase it, and one of the main reasons I do not is because I cover pretty much all of my own maintenance and service needs myself, including suspension swaps. I feel quite confident that, if maintained well, I will get long and reliable service from the Tacoma. Over the last 45 years, I have performed many R&R repairs, rebuilt engines, manual transmissions, and many different types of pumps and transfer cases in industrial equipment, and as well with cars, trucks, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. I am quite comfortable with almost any type of R&R repairs, and I have come to appreciate the new technology of modern vehicles today, and the continuing need for maintenance to avoid costly repairs.

I also used to race, but with motocross bikes, and I was also active in autocross racing for a number of years. I will tell you that I never met anyone that was successful on any type of race track that wasn't meticulous with maintenance, and constantly working on their equipment. Fluid changes are a big part of that, and as someone that used to race, I would have thought you would understand the importance of fluids in any type of vehicle or equipment.

 

Oh I see you’re a fan. I’m sorry if me stating not an opinion, but my REAL WORLD experience with 30+ year old Toyota’s that are very well used and abused both off road and on race tracks, offended you and make you feel inferior. Not trying to sound like a meanie, just being real and saying it how it is! My old, super high mileage vehicles suspensions are operating just fine, with 150k+ miles on much lower quality shocks than Fox..

 

I don’t feel inferior at all. You just seem to talk to everybody like you’re a cunt.

Just a quick grab, you must be one of this guys super fans also?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...m-install-on-my-new-2020-6spd-mt-taco.680274/

 

This quote is exactly what I was speaking of earlier, you have no idea what you are speaking of. A "low Quality" stock digressive shock is totally different from a progressive external bypass valve shock, and needs to be maintained in a totally different way. While your old shocks may not have rusted off the vehicle, they are not "operating just fine". At 150k+ their performance is severely degraded, and it is not just the ride that is affected, it is also a safety issue, not to mention having tires cupping and greatly reducing tire life. Please tell us what brand and model of shock you are running that works "just fine" with 150K+ miles on it?

On your other comments, I also call BS. You have absolutely no credibility in what you are saying, and I question whether you have ever raced, not much less have 30+ years of "REAL WORLD" experience. I know of no one in the racing circles I have run that would run "old, super high mileage vehicles" on the original shocks, whether it was their street or track car. Anyone I know that races, or has raced vehicles, takes great pride in all of their vehicles, and would never let their vehicles suspension degrade to anywhere near the point you are stating you do. In fact, it is just the opposite, they are usually constantly upgrading and optimizing their suspensions, even on their street vehicles, and usually far beyond manufacturer's recommendations.

 

Not sure what shocks have to do with tire cupping as that phenomenon is directly related to improperly inflated tires or uneven wear from misalignment.

 

Shocks do actually cause tire cupping.
https://www.bridgestonetire.com/tread-and-trend/tire-talk/tire-cupping#:~:text=Suspension components like shock absorbers,tires, leading to tire cupping.

Worn Suspension and Shocks

Suspension components like shock absorbers, struts, bushings and others wear out with miles travelled. The result can be a tire that is no longer able to roll smoothly down the road; instead, it bounces slightly. This bouncing creates uneven points of pressure on tires, leading to tire cupping.


And as a personal experience, my truck with the stock trd offroad suspension caused my tires to cup at every 5k miles. When I swapped to pro suspension the tires evened out and no longer cup (toyota did 2 alignments to try to fix the cupping, and it did nothing)

 

Tire cupping can be a symptom of a variety of suspension issues. "Suspension components like shock absorbers, struts, bushings and others wear out with miles travelled. The result can be a tire that is no longer able to roll smoothly down the road; instead, it bounces slightly. This bouncing creates uneven points of pressure on tires, leading to tire cupping."*
* From https://www.bridgestonetire.com/tread-and-trend/tire-talk/tire-cupping

Sorry for the duplicate response, we were probably typing at the same time. There are numerous other places where you can read the same response, I think it was probably the first hit on Google for both of us.

 

http://casestudies.atlanticmotorcar.com/tire-wear-tire-cupping-causes-and-correction/

 

Good info and thanks for the response. Also, Toyota didn't do an alignment for you. Some random Toyota dealership did. Big difference.

 

Rock crawling doesn’t beat them up like running in the desert etc. I also think theres a certain amount of luck involved, some people break shit all the time and others get by.

 

Careful. He crawls in a stock height truck 3 times a year.