Suspension

Im just gonna throw out my problem with this 2023 taco V6 4x4 SR5. I can put my right hand on the bed of the truck standing on 1 leg (awaiting VA approval for hip surgery) and horizontally push and pull for less than 30 seconds and the truck will actually chirp the tires and move sideways. Im 5'4 and 140lbs and not super strong. Truck will keep shaking horizontally for 5 whole seconds til it stops with my hand off. Also when stopping even moderately at a red light the front end dips down and truck will go like a see saw for like 3 seconds. Truck only has 6000 miles on it. What is the best (but on the cheaper side) option for me to stiffen up the ride? I dont expect porche handling but just a normal handling. My brothers Crown Victoria doesnt sway, dip ect. as much as my Taco. Its got the stock 245/75/16 destiny tires and no mods. Not terribly concerned with gas mileage as I dont put even 500 miles a month on the truck but I do like to go on dirt roads up a mountain to get to good fishing spots. See a lot of Rogues, Rav4's, and Subaru's that cant make it up these dirt roads due to incline. I put my truck in 4 high and no problems. Say $1000 in parts not including labor. Any help appreciated. Thank you. HM2 FMF Corpsman DAV.

 

Pushing sideways on your truck until the tires chirp sounds like an awesome workout. Rawk on, d00d!

 

Bilstein 5100's or Bilstein 6112/5160. They can be set for stock ride height, but I think you'll need an add a leaf or rear block to supplement the slightly longer rear shock length.

edit: the 6112/5160 combo will be over 1k.

Fox 2.0 and Eibach also make stock height replacement shocks. The Bilstein 5100's are popular and very good quality for the price.

https://hotshotoffroad.com/collections/16-23-tacoma-suspension-components

 

On a more serious note… not many people ask about how to stiffen a pickup truck suspension. It’s usually the other way around.

There aren’t really any options for side to side sway, brake dive, or acceleration squatting other than stiffer coil and leaf springs. I’m not aware of any plug-n-play aftermarket sway bars, for example.

Additionally the stiffer aftermarket springs are generally designed to provide lift and that will raise the center of gravity of the truck and work against your goals.

You might check into lowering your truck. A lower center of gravity will improve sway, dive, squat, and cornering dynamics.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/street-trucks.70/

 

A '23 with 6k on the clock...what does the dealer think? Doesn't sound normal to me...

 

Thank you all for your advice. As far as lowering the truck I considered that but some of the dirt roads up the mountain require just as much clearance as I have with stock height. I may go with a Front and Rear kit from like Bilstein or some other heavy duty gas shock. I plan to put on 265/75/16 E tires as the stock sl tires are beginning to show wear from the mountain roads here in North East Ga.
What do yall think? Bilstiens all around and larger E rated tires? Again, I only travel 500 miles a month and most of that is to good trout fishing spots up Johns MTN, Grassy MTN and the Pockets.

 

One other thought… the side to side oscillation is likely the tire sidewalls flexing. Truck tires tend to have a lot of sidewall for various reasons. If this bothers you, i don't know why, install some lower profile tires or those with stiffer sidewalls. Both options have disadvantages. It’s all about trade offs.