New to Me 04 Tacoma

Bought a 2004 Double Cab 4X4 TRD OffRoad Tacoma with 122000 on it yesterday. I've spoke with the previous owner and know that the truck had the anti-corrosion film sprayed in 2011, and it looks ok underneath, aside from some flaking of that film. Right now, the only "issue" with the truck, is that it sways back and forth after a bump, and I know the rear shocks are factory, and need to be replaced. It has a topper as well, so I guess that could be attributing to the "swaying".

The dealer I bought it from is going to help me get the shocks at his cost from the local autozone, just trying to figure out which shocks to buy? Is the Bilstein pretty much the rear shock that is most recommended? Any other rec's?

Any other things I should replace on it ASAP? The timing belt, water pump and idler were replaced at 75k, so I'm good there for awhile.

 

I'd check your ball joints, tie rod ends and control arm bushings. They are pretty easy to replace, if you need them. As for shocks, I'm happy with my bilsteins. I've never run stock replacements though.

 

What's the easiest way to determine if my rear leafs need to be replaced as well? Also, on the struts, I plan on going the 5100 route so i can level the truck, should I replace the springs/coils as well?

 

I took my spare off and my truck raised up a 1/2 inch and they were frowning.I got the same truck with a 133,000 when I bought it a cpl months ago The rear leaf springs and the helper leaf was shot, it also has a pro comp 2.5 inch leveling kit on the front. I replaced the rear leafs with OME Drakar leafs with 2 1/4 inch lift, Bilstein shocks, BAMF BPV Kit and extended rear brake line. I just received Eibach coils and Bistein shocks for the front to replace the leveling kit up front. As of now, The rear fender is about 7/8 inch higher than the front, hopefully the new shock/coils will level it back out. If I were you, I would go ahead and get new coils as well. It's unreal how much better the back end rides than the front on wash board dirt roads at 60 mph in Dallas co, it's night and day difference! I love my Tacoma and I'm so glad I bought me another Toyota 4WD!

 

Thanks for the advice. It's got a camper shell that I'll be taking off and selling, so that should help me figure out just how bad the rear leafs are as well. Were should I buy the Bilstein 5100's and the coils/springs from? There's so many options online, and I can't find them at my local autozone, so I'm assuming they don't carry them.

 

Go to vendor page and you'll see Downsouth, Toytec and Wheelers. They all have whatever you need, I've used Wheelers and Toytec but Wheelers ships fast and seems a lil cheaper overall. OME,Toytec,etc. have suspension lift kits for around a grand give or take. If u got coin, then u may wanna go with some King parts but I can't even afford to look at their stuff. lol

 

Looked at the leafs and they are frowning as the truck sits currently with the camper shell on. I'm guessing this means new leafs are in order, right?

 

Mine were frowning with an add a leaf and no camper, plus my tires were eating my fender flares running 32.5 inch tires. Add a leaf would only be a Band-Aid, if that! I got the Drakars(2 1/4 in lift) shipped to my door for just under $500 and the 5100's for extended lift for a lil less than $200 shipped. I probably got a 2 3/4 inches of rear lift, compared to what I had before and was surprised how much flex I got with it. Someone will chime in with better knowledge than myself but I'm going thru what I just got through doing with my rear suspension. I've got the 5100's and the Eibach coils for the front laying in the floor and hoping to get as close to 3 inches of lift as I can with a tube bumper. For $700, I got leafs and rear shocks but I think OME has a suspension kit (front/rear) for less than $1100 I believe. I've got $1100 in 4 shocks, two coil springs and set of rear leaf springs. BAMF makes a BPV relocation kit shipped for$20 and I got an extended brake line for the rear for 440 . Not sure what all the OME kit comes with but I'm sure it's cheaper.

 

I'm really only looking to level the truck out. I don't want any extra lift in the back, just the roughly 2" in the front to get it level. I guess the OME 2880 spring coils with the Bilstein 5100's in the front, Wheeler 4 leaf with regular Bilsteins in the back should get me there I think.

Any other rear leafs available other than stock toyota that would put me at stock height in the rear and be more robust than the stock? Seems like everything I'm seeing has 1.5" lift at a minimum. Any other suggestions?

 

I'm not sure who else makes them for stock height, sorry