Worth it to upgrade rear suspension?

Right now I'm running a 3-Leaf AAL in the rear (w/OL spring) and 5100s on all corners. Have OME 885 coils on the front. I like the stance and height that I have now, however I'd like to have some more control over the ride stiffness which is why I'm considering switching the rears to 5160s instead. Thoughts from anyone who has switched to these before? I'd prefer not to drop 2k on Fox/King setups, but I'm still open to it. Thanks in advance.

 

I have never owned a set but have worked on both many times.

It's not a significant change like front 5100 to 6112, the 5160s are resi shocks with 46mm pistons just like the 5100s, they are tuned differently and handle heat/load a lot better due to resi, but I dont think its enough of an upgrade to notice. (someone feel free to correct but this is what I have) They drive identical on road IMO.

I would 100% suggest adding a rear sway bar before changing shocks. It's a game changer for many.

https://www.stage3motorsports.com/7744-16-22-tacoma-2wd-4wd-hellwig-rear-sway-bar-kit-0-2.html

 

You can get 5160's. It's really the bare minimum when it comes to starting to enter the realm of performance suspension, and is the cheapest start.
Though nicer ones perform better, they also may require frequent rebuilds.

IDK if 5160 is rebuildable, but from what I hear, they have a warranty and tend to last a while.

That being said, you are still going to have worse feeling caused by:
-a leafpack that is not good
-stock hangers

you can always get 5160 now, then do other stuff later. And maybe sell off those when you're done, or keep as spares. If your next suspension ever needs to come off like to fix a leak, then you have something else to slap on temporarily to keep the truck driving

another thing that can be upgraded is bump stops

So yeah. I mean 5160 is what, $400?
versus the price of going Archive hangers with cross tube, Accutune Fox of a taller length, the wheel spacers required by the hangers

5100 to 6112 is a significant change and noticeable.
That is why so many people do it
6112 in front is almost twice as thick as a 5100.

Sway bars worsen the comfort of suspension by solidly linking it together for the purpose of being flat on an autocross track.
There is a reason these trucks 1. Did not come with one in the rear, 2. Everyone including myself throws out the front, resulting in it riding and off roading better

The better your suspension, the less you need a sway bar as well

 

I was saying 5100 to 6112 is a big change, not sure if you misread, unless you're reinforcing.

Rear sway bars are 100% subjective, we gets lots of feed back, mostly from tundra owners saying they wouldn't run one without. But on road.

I have a rear sway bar on my offroader and I disconnect it prior to gravel or offroading.

We dont see a lot of hanger installs in my area, and I've love to see a before and after. You read about them a lot on here and I would consider it if I went tacoma route again.

 

whoops
yeah
5160 sure my rear ride is better than 5100. Like you said, more fluid, different valving
But, the rear rides a bit worse than the front
It is not a super thick shock, or very long

tried quick disco's for the front, had problems with them, got rid of them

I think the "ride a bit worse in the rear than the front" would definitely get solved with hammer hangers, and whoops my bad, actually a separate mod I didn't clarify, is their relocate towers
both also providing increased travel/articulation