2024+ Front Shock Top Hat Failure TALLY...

Let me preface that I know that i don’t know much if anything at all about motor vehicle suspension design. I’ve put 170,000 miles on a 2011 Double Cab LB that I purchased new. I later added that generations TRD Pro coil overs and rear shocks at 65,000 miles. Both the stock sport and TRD Pro front have what “feels” like more than adequate bottom out support accomplished by a simple external hunk of rubber on each side.

My 2024 Double Cab LB TRD Off Road bottoms out with a noticeable “clunk” over a mild neighborhood speed hump at 15 mph.

I don’t recommend off-roading one of these trucks until there’s an internal (Toyota) or external (aftermarket) solution.

I am confident in the power of large markets. The Tacoma world is a large market with an abundance of innovative vendors looking to satisfy market needs. I expect several solutions forthcoming.

 

Ok. But is this considered a permanent fix or just a band aid??

 

I was able to squeeze a 3/8” drive torque wrench in there with a medium deep socket.

 

This guy breaks down a lot of good points and shows the difference in frame and bumpstop set ups on different Toyota trucks. I can't believe Toyota put frame mounted bumpstops on the new GX and the new Land Cruiser, yet Tacoma gets wimpy internal bumps. Why would Toyota design the higher end models with external bumps and the taco without???

https://youtu.be/xh3-09v8MYo?si=kxjt6t1i6bryS0zw

 

Here's my 2 cents. I'm assuming Toyota deleted the front bumps for better front axle articulation and clearance (I'm sure it was brought up before), similar to off-road rock crawlers (no bump stops mounted on those buggies). However, it's not the shock with the built-in bump stop that is creating the issue. It's the material, used, and design of the top shock mount caps. If the cap didn't break, there be no thread on the subject matter. It's an easy fix and I guess cheapo Toyo is waiting for the masses to complain and part break.

 

OP, you should probably make it clear that this is for 4th gens. I suspect there are other gens just clicking in, not paying too much attention, and voting. I almost did because I love polls.

 

Good point.

 

Have the failures only happen to trucks with out the sway bar disconnect?

Disconnect the front sway bar creating the opportunity for more articulation and a greater chance of damaging the top hat.

 

I don't think so. ours doesn't have the disconnect

 

Ok. the top hat reinforcement plate, but is this considered a permanent fix or just a band aid??

 

I would doubt if Toyota is using a different tophat cap design on those trucks, nobody has probably activated the disconnect and articulated the suspension as much as the tophats have failed.

I'm wondering if other manufactures have more surface area on the coil bucket so if the cap broke it wouldn't push the top hat thru the coil bucket?

 

Our plate is going to be very hard to break through, I can't speak for Icon's plate but they are both more of a problem prevention than a band aid. is thicker than Icon's and ours is supported by the entire coilover bucket not just the nuts on the studs. In order to break through ours you're REALLY going to have to try.

 

Thanks for the reply. Is your top hat a replacement for the original or a reinforcement. I have a stock 2024 OFF ROAD

 

It’s a permanent fix for me.

 

reinforcement

 

So the stock cover can still break. I think for now I will wait if Toyota will fix the issue.

 

The front struts on these new gens are a PITA to remove, just an FYI.

I’d be disappointed to remove them and have to put the same spongy struts back in.

Not at all knocking this product, it looks very well made, just a lot of work to make it happen.

 

What part of the removal was a PITA for you? We haven’t had any significant difficulty, maybe not as easy as the 3rd gen but I would only ad maybe a 5% difference- on a lift though- so if you’re trying it on the ground it may be different.

 

Yup on the ground like the peasant I am

 

Which part is difficult vs. 2nd/3rd gen? Suspension looks similar? Remove the two steering stop bolts, loosen the LCA cam bolts. Drop LCA down. I guess the sway bar link is extra work?