What's your favorite suspension set up for 1st gens?

What is your favorite suspension set up for 1st gen Tacoma's, with 4-6" lifts, for some light to moderate off roading, but still a daily driver? Mine has rough country right now, on they ARE rough! I want a softer ride, but no body roll while turning or sway on the highway. Thanks,

 

The shocks you have will have a MUCH bigger impact on the quality of the ride & handling vs. the lift itself (brackets, knuckles, etc.). Assuming you're running the (probably old-tech) Rough Country shocks that came with your lift (or OE shocks + spacers), there's a lot to gain by simply throwing some good shocks on it. Only thing is you need to make sure the shocks are the proper length so they will work with the lift.

If you have lift spacers on your front shocks (common with drop bracket lifts), you should be able to get any shocks made for an OE (0-1" lift) application and they would work perfectly fine, although some people prefer to do away with the spacers by getting taller shocks (neither way is "wrong", but some like the cleaner appearance of not having the spacer). You would need to compare your current shock lengths (and their mounting configuration) to what is offered by the various shock manufacturers to see what is available.
Fox (also BDS) has 2nd/3rd-gen shocks available that work with 4-6" lifts, I would think they'd have something available for 1st-gens as well. Bilstein I know has some options too.


Welcome to TW.

 

Okay, thank you. I'm looking at Bilsteins RN because I don't want to go with an expensive set up on a $4500 truck lol. Do you know how to find out what size lift I have? And yes, it's the cheap Rough Country shocks on it now.

 

Did you buy the truck used with the lift already on it? If so, you might post up some pics of the lift and it's brackets and maybe someone can identify how tall it is. There's also a chance the lift could be another brand but just has Rough Country Shocks on it.
Looking at your avatar profile pic, I'm not sure I can tell your truck even has a drop bracket lift on it (maybe it's just the angle).

 

Okay, thank you. I will get some pictures today. Yes, I bought it with the lift already instaled.

 

Here are the pics. I am aware of the frame rot, which you can see in the first pic. I also found out the front shocks are Bilsteins, but must be super worn out, or the rear ones are so bad, that's throwing the front feel off. I don't know. I just was wondering if you guys can tell me what size lift this is, so I can get the correct length of shock.

 

Yeah I don't see a suspension lift at all on that truck (no drop brackets anyway). If someone told you that had a 6" lift, they lied.
I would treat that as if it were a stock truck. In other words, a 2" lift replacement shock & spring will net you two inches lift, a stock replacement shock, 0" lift.
Judging just by the angle of your CV joint, I would guess that is what you have, a 2" leveling lift (lifted via the front shocks). Rear looks stock (0" lift).

Is there a part # visible on those Bilstein shocks? I'd say maybe just replace them with the same (Bilstein shocks are generally regarded as quite good, at least when they're not worn out lol). For the rear, you'll likely want stock application Bilstein shocks to match the fronts.

 

Thank you. Do the leaf's need to be replaced?

 

That truck's suspension definitely needs a good bit of refreshing... New leaf springs, new coil springs, new shocks front & rear, new inner CV joint boot (if it's been driven around a lot with the boot ripped like that (looks like it has), the joint itself may be toast as well, so new CV half-shafts). Couldn't hurt to do ball joints, tie rods, and also the front control arm bushings (new leafs generally come with their own bushings). Might as well do the universal joints too while you're at it (assuming they're in similar condition as everything else under there). And of course stopping all the rust on that frame.

 

One more question about the suspension. The shock towers and other shock mounting points are really rusty. should wire wheeling those spots and spray painting them be good enough? do those ever break off because of rust?