Wanted: smoother ride!

Not one truck made is going to ride smooth unloaded or carry a load loaded at the same time. When a vehicle weighs X and the carry is X the springs tend to be stiffer. Trucks are meant to do truck stuff. Maybe a SUV would be a little smoother ride.

 

tires can make a huge difference. I had E rated Ko2s and could feel every crack in the road. Then I switched to Falken at3 (still E rated) and noticed the ride felt a lot smoother.

maybe look into a different set of tires once they wear out?

 

Sounds to me like you wanted your suspension stiffer, now you want it softer....just go back to stock, it's a truck not a luxury vehicle.

 

Yes. Depending on size, spacers slightly "misalign" the travel range of the shock vs the travel range of the lower arm (lca). Realistically that means if its not done correctly, full uptravel contact with the bumpstop will exceed the shocks maximum designed compression, running the risk of blowing it out. That is especially true with larger spacers and/or stock shocks. And chances are, people who buy cheap spacers are unwilling to buy an expensive bumpstop to eliminate that risk.

The rear blocks run the opposite risk - you risk damaging a shock from full extension during a bottom-out event. Blocks also multiply axle-wrap, which will be felt on hard accelerations and low traction.

Under normal granny-driving conditions where you aren't challenging the full travel of the suspension, you probably won't feel a difference with spacers. You might feel a difference with the blocks (axle wrap). That's why most people who run spacers will claim "it drives fine." Sure, under normal daily-driver conditions, it does. Off-road and/or an accidental strike with that one pothole in the city, it might work, or it might strand you with blown shocks.


Mostly though, people lift their noses at spacers because they look like poop. Suspension nerds are funny like that. If we see a lifted truck, we will be curious on what equipment that person is running. And its real easy to spot that dull, black spacer peeking out from the top of the shock tower.

 

I run 35 lbs PSI in all 4 tires. Prolly gonna take it to my local tire shop and have their top tech, who I know & trust, take a look and take her for a ride and see what, if anything, he recommends. Stay tuned.

 

Try 32 psi in those tires. If I run 35, my truck jiggles, and bounces all over the road.

 

I’m running 32 psi in my Kumho P rated ATs. All is good with my ride. Have 265/75/16s

 

Stock SR suspension is fairly smooth. Even my wife remarks how well it rides.

 

Bet if you put them on 0 you'll help your ride. Preload is not the friend of comfort.

Or put the OR shocks back on it, which are a bit softer for off road compliance.

 

Or Maybe This

 

Op you have to pay to play. Your 5100 are a small upgrade to stock. You want to get bigger shock like fox 2.5.

 

Is that what the sticker in your door jamb calls for?

 

Not trying to be a dick here, but if you want a soft ride, why did you buy a truck?

 

Without modding front suspension. I would recommend these steps below:

1. Sell Tacoma
2. Buy a Land Cruiser

 

Don't mind ya asking.

I've owned Tacos for prolly 30 yrs (1st, 2nd & now 3rd gen.) Mostly stock rigs with a few minor Mods here & there.

I know (and don't expect) that they ride like cars or SUVs. And I've driven Tacos across the Country, on road and off, without complaining or bitchin'.

I put Bilstein 5100s on my '21 TRD OR approx 2 yrs ago. (Est. 50K miles on 'em) No prob. Put (blue) Sumo Springs on about 6 mos ago w/o complaint. The only other recent change was adjust the front shock clips to #3 position to level the truck.

Maybe its just me being overly sensitive or the pot-hole filled roads I'm drivin' on lately, but It just seems like lately the truck is riding rougher in the rear end.

Anyway, I appreciate all of your thoughts 'n suggestions on possible causes & fixes. I get a kick outta the humor & rhetorical questions too.

 

Question, you mentioned that you added blue Sumos? But said you don't haul or trailer heavy loads. Why did you add Sumos then, that's the only purpose for Sumos, trailering with heavy tongue weight and hauling heavy loads.

 

Go drive a sports car low to the ground especially not a high end one then drive the Tacoma you’ll be happy.

 

I installed the Sumo springs after reading a thread & reviews touting how they not only helped with towing, but also softened the ride over rough roads, terrain, etc.

 

Complete opposite, there going to hit, and cause a rougher ride. Transferring every hit of axle into frame, specially if yours are touching already, or close to it.

 

Thanx for the info.