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>100k shocks on Sport

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Mayonayze, Aug 29, 2021.

  1. Aug 29, 2021 at 11:43 AM
    #1
    Mayonayze

    Mayonayze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Coming up on 100k in my ‘16 and will probably get working on replacing them soon. Any recommendations for better than oem shocks at stock ride height? If i were to go up an inch in height, would that open better options? Does something higher than stock but less than an inch give the same issues with bearings as others seem to be having at 2+ inches of lift?
     
  2. Aug 29, 2021 at 11:51 AM
    #2
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    1" is usually the realm of 5100 shocks.

    Bearings don't care about lift, they care about abuse, tire size, and water. It's ball joints, axles and tie rods that don't like the 2+ lift over time.

    Decide on a budget, but for 1" generally 5100 bilstien shocks.

    Stock upgrade is 4600 shocks.

    2" can be 5100 or 6112, old man emu, king, fox etc etc etc.

    Share your goals and budget.
     
  3. Aug 29, 2021 at 11:53 AM
    #3
    TRD__Chris

    TRD__Chris Well-Known Member

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    I really like my 5100’s
     
  4. Aug 29, 2021 at 12:04 PM
    #4
    Riotfunk

    Riotfunk Well-Known Member

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    I'd replace shocks all around and springs at least up front. Already in there anyway. A good aftermarket setup will cost the same or less as oem and ride far nicer. 5100 and ome springs are popular. The stage 1 eibach rides really nice. I just put mine in. Lifted but still. Can also use a factory spring if you want so there's no lift or a little if you want it. New take off springs are basically free. Or other springs if you want a lift. The teraflex stuff is phenomenal and think you can keep it at stockish height if you want. Pricey but awesome. Have plenty of good options at least
     
    tonered and Mayonayze[OP] like this.
  5. Aug 29, 2021 at 12:13 PM
    #5
    Mayonayze

    Mayonayze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    it’ll continue to be my DD, but i still do a couple hundred miles of fire/farm road each year. No crawling or other heavy off-roading. Would like something to smooth out the chatter and keep the rear-end in a straight line over washboards, while still retaining the great street manners of the oem sports.

    as to bearings, my limited research here turns up a list of complaints about failing needle bearings on 5100 installs, as well as other mfgs. But i think the trend was that most everyone had gone over an inch in lift.
     
  6. Aug 30, 2021 at 4:52 AM
    #6
    Mayonayze

    Mayonayze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Also, did Toyota make other driveline adjustments to the Pro models to align to the lifted suspension geometry from the other trd models? If not, would the fox set-up from the pro work well in a sport?
     
  7. Aug 30, 2021 at 5:25 AM
    #7
    jakbakcrak

    jakbakcrak Well-Known Member

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    Replace them soon, had 110K on my tundra shocks before I hit a bump on my way home from work and literally snapped the front driver shock in half and cracked the coil. Waited way too long.
     
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  8. Aug 30, 2021 at 5:33 AM
    #8
    skeletron

    skeletron Disgraced Member

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    TRD Pro take-offs would work fine for your truck and purpose
     
    Mayonayze[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  9. Aug 31, 2021 at 6:00 AM
    #9
    Mayonayze

    Mayonayze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Okay, so i think i’m going with some TRD Pro take-offs. Two quick questions:

    1) i read alternating reports of the rear lift being either .5 inch or zero lift. Does anyone that went from Sport to Pro shocks know what the final lift for the rear is? Is it that the fox rear shock is .5 inch longer than the sport?

    2) do dealers have/do the rebuilds? I read that fox recommends a rebuild every 50k, but I can’t imagine Toyota would sell a truck that requires its owners to take it off the street for several weeks, every 50k, to send shocks to fox for rebuild. Or maybe the 50k rebuild rec by fox isn’t applicable?
     
  10. Aug 31, 2021 at 7:34 AM
    #10
    brian2sun

    brian2sun Well-Known Member

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    Shocks don’t lift, springs do. Replacing the shocks will change the way it rides, and can change the amount of travel in the suspension, but not how high it sits.

    Normally off road shops or the shock manufacturer are the ones doing the rebuilding, not the dealer.
     
    Beerpayzdabillz likes this.
  11. Aug 31, 2021 at 8:23 AM
    #11
    Mayonayze

    Mayonayze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    got it. So is it possible that the Pro leaf springs are responsible for the extra .5 inch of lift out back? Or is there really no .5 lift out back, as some people/mags report?
     
  12. Aug 31, 2021 at 9:19 AM
    #12
    brian2sun

    brian2sun Well-Known Member

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    I don’t know much about the specs of the Pros since I was never considering buying one (not sure whether they have different leafs, more leafs, blocks, or he same leafs as the OR model). I’m sure a Pro owner will chime in on that.
     
    Mayonayze[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  13. Aug 31, 2021 at 12:18 PM
    #13
    bshammer0

    bshammer0 Well-Known Member

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    I don't own a Pro but my understanding was that the rear sits about the same with the front 1" higher. I replaced my OR stock shocks w/ a set of Pro Fox shocks. They had just been rebuilt by Fox when I installed them and have performed very well overall. There's still SOME chatter on certain roads, but overall far smoother, and WAY more controlled and planted on the road. Hit a big dip in the road or speed bump and it's smooth as butter.

    As far as rebuild - yes, Fox recommends 50k rebuild, Toyota does not. You'll know when it's time for a rebuild, but I suspect many folks can go far longer than 50k if the truck is primarily a pavement princess...
     
  14. Aug 31, 2021 at 12:39 PM
    #14
    tonered

    tonered bartheloni

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    It is funny, but I just went the opposite direction. Standard 5100s front, extended travel 5100s rear, reused front coils, and Icon RXT leafs. The front springs were doing fine and matched the settings that Bilstein noted. The stock leafs were sagged out and the shocks were just done. Thanks to COVID supply chain issues, all the pieces came in at different times and I have no patience for new stuff laying around, so I got to feel the changes with the individual parts and, recently, the whole package. 1.5in lift and very pleased with the handling and feel on road. Very much looking forward to some wheeling.


    Maybe down the road, I'll swap in some OME coils and keep the current ride height.
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2021
  15. Aug 31, 2021 at 1:52 PM
    #15
    JWestie

    JWestie Well-Known Member

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    I am replacing my OR shocks with 4600s next week. The OEMs ride soft but are a tad bouncy and the addition of a shell prompted me to make the swap. Keeping the leaf spring pack and front coils as is. Looking for a slightly more composed ride.
     
  16. Aug 31, 2021 at 2:50 PM
    #16
    lylefk

    lylefk Well-Known Member

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    I just did 5100's F/R. The above comment that shocks don't lift is half correct, you can dial in 0-2" lift in front with the 5100's. Rears don't provide any lift, I added 1" blocks back there, and went with 1.5" in front. Very highly recommend the 5100's, I'm amazed by them for the price point!
     
  17. Aug 31, 2021 at 2:58 PM
    #17
    tattooedsnake

    tattooedsnake Well-Known Member

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    -Bilstein 6112 front shock. Leveling lift -Bilstein 5100 rear shock w/TSB leaf pack. -Cooper Rugged Trek 265/70/17 -EBC front ultimax rotors w/yellow pads -Stoptech sport rear drums -Steel braided brake lines -Wet Okele seat covers front/rear with heaters -Custom built exhaust with Black Widow venom 250 muffler -Afe Stage 2 Dry CAI -Diode dynamics SS3 fog lights yellow. -OPT7 Projector Headlight Assembly w/Black backing -Undercover Flex Tonneau cover -Weather Tech floormats front and back
    I put 6112's paired with their springs upfront this year and installed 5100's in the rear about 1.5 years ago with no complaints. Not having the front end dip under braking is amazing.

    When I did the 6112s I also replaced my LCA, cam bolts, inner/outer tie rods because they were all at 130k. I left the 6112 on the first clip which is about .75" taller than our OEM 4600 shocks, so it brought me close to level. Much more comfy drive on road and off.
     
  18. Aug 31, 2021 at 6:48 PM
    #18
    17TRD

    17TRD Well-Known Member

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    From Toyota for 2022: 'The rear suspension receives attention too, and it is lifted 0.5 inches thanks to a spacer between the rear axle housing and leaf springs'
    This applies to 2022 TRD Pro and Trail Edition models. Older TRD models are not lifted in the rear. Spacer = lift block.
     
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  19. Sep 1, 2021 at 3:19 AM
    #19
    Mayonayze

    Mayonayze [OP] Well-Known Member

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    good find, thank you!

    so the last piece of this puzzle is whether or not Toyota changed the needle bearing in the Pro’s given how lifts of any size were causing failures of that component across all of the other trim packages.
     
  20. Sep 1, 2021 at 6:56 AM
    #20
    tonered

    tonered bartheloni

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    No. There was a TSB in the 2019 timeframe where it was said that they updated the needle bearing, but I know folks that still had the various vibes with it.

    Honestly, after just installing a bushing, it is pretty easy, esp if you reach out to some locals that might have the tools or prior experience. With the wheel off, it is just two bolts and some careful tapping with a hammer.
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2021
    Mayonayze[QUOTED][OP] likes this.

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