2wd TRD Prerunner basic shock/coil questions

I've got a 2000 2wd TRD Prerunner, it's my work truck/daily driver. I basically never take it offroad and I have no problem dropping some $$ on high-quality parts but I also don't want to spend more than I need to.
Truck has 200k on it and it's well past time for new shocks and coils. I know there's a ton of threads on this but having a hard time digging thru since so much of it is about lift and wheeling. I have a couple real basic questions.

1. Who has a recommendation on front suspension for factory or very close ride and lift? I see a lot of people are into the bilsteins (5100's?), does that make sense for boring-ass highway driving or is that more of an off-road thing? What about for coils?

2. Since I'm doing em both where do I go to get a pre-built coil/shock combo so I can just drop it in?

3. What about rears? Bilstein too? I should probably do the leafs as well but there's so damn many options with airbags, AAL, rebuilt packs, etc that I'm thinking I'll just start with the shocks and see how it feels after that.

 

I hope I can answer your questions...

#2 Hang onto your shorts as a bolt in kit for the front is close to $1000. I have bought a kit with heavier springs for the front of my 96 4X4 for around grand but others are apt $1500. There are many Vendors listed in the Official Vendors section... Home tab -> Official vendors.

#1 and #3 are a personal preference for lift/ride/looks and other than driving someone else's truck with what you think you want this could be tough. Tires make a big difference too.

 

Thanks. That does seem like a lot of $$ for daily driver gear. I'm a little confused, I see bilstein 4600's for about $100 per, or 5100's for $300/set, bilstein or ebach coils for $150/170 a pair. Am I missing something?

 

no, you are not missing anything, it is probably me... having said that when I read your question about a prebuilt "kit" I assumed that you meant you take your assembly out and put in a whole new assembly like this

https://downsouthmotorsports.com/i-...del=TACOMA PRE-RUNNER||make=TOYOTA||year=2000

as opposed to this

https://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow...ic&utm_term=4582420870653847&utm_content=75-8

while the less expensive units are probably just fine for your stock DD, larger tires and wheels might require a better shock.

The Fox/King "should" be rebuildable/adjustable if you are into that type of thing. I have heard stories of them not being rebuildable so if that is important to you, inquire before you buy. That would be a real pisser if you spent big $ and they were throw away.

 

For a daily that doesn't see anything more than pavement, just get yourself some Bilstein 4600's.

You won't get a lift, but you'll definitely feel the difference as your current shocks aren't providing the damping they so used to long ago.

Going back to my statement about a lift; you won't get a lift over stock height, but you will achieve some lift if your springs are replaced with new ones.

Coil springs up front, and leaf springs in the rear, provide the vehicle's lift. Over time, these springs begin to flatten/sag so you'll slowly lose that stock height.

 

And to remove any complications and/or confusion when ordering, Prerunner's and 4x4 Tacoma's use the same components throughout almost the entire vehicle.

 

Depends on how much lift you want. Toytec has the complete front coilover $600. 2” block kit for the rear $120 and call it day if it’s your daily driver on the street. Up to you if you choose to put uca’s. I ran 3” inches on my
02 1st gen with factory uca’s and didn’t have any alignment issues.

 

Thanks. I don't actually want any lift. I know I'll get some lift because what's on there now is sagging but the goal is to end up more or less at stock height. I think I'll go with the Bilstein 4600s for shocks but what about coils? Should I go with OEM? I can't really tell if most people go with aftermarket coils because they're better than stock or just because they want lift.

 

Unless you've got extra weight up front IE metal bumper, winch, etc. there's no need to go with non-OEM.

 

Yea. If I were you and wanted to maintain the factory height. I would go with an oem coil spring and an aftermarket shock.

Not sure if rockauto or ? Would carry the factory oem coil spring but that would be the best ride for your particular case.

 

Ok great I need ball joints anyway so I'm placing an EB toyota order already I'll get OEM coils and bilsteins and just deal with putting them together myself.

Stupid question: if I order the bilsteins and OEM coils do the shocks come with all the bushings/washers/whatever I need to piece em together or do I need any other parts?

 

My local tire shop has a wall mounted coil spring compressor. They charge $20/each to put an assembly together.
Call around.

Good question about the bushings. I would venture to say yes, they will come with all bushings.

 

Oh I should have checked, looks like the OEM coils are $130 each, seems like a lot to pay for springs that were never that great to begin with. Is there an aftermarket option that gives stock lift? Seems like even the lowest lift OME are at least 1.5". Any opinions on a basic 'decent' aftermarket brand like MOOG ($50/ea at rockauto)?

 

Pay the $260. Not sure where you read the stock coils werent that great. They were engineered for that truck.
Or pay for the moogs.

 

Not to recommend this combo if you want to stay with your current ride height.

I called Wheelers and talked to a suspension consultant about what I wanted and they fixed me up with a pre-built 5100 OME 880 package. There is a Tacoma world discount that you need to ask for when you talk to them. It was a good move because everything was ready to install when I opened the box.

I've read that 4600s and 5100s have the same valving. The 5100s allow lift adjustment and have a longer stroke for the rear. We run factory 4600s on the Frontier and no complaints. Both are great shocks. Just slightly different applications. There is a spacer that Wheelers sells for the driver side to help correct the Taco lean that is worth looking into.



Here's a link to a thread about some of the other suspension stuff you'll need to look into based on your mileage.

ttps://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/moog-or-oem-ball-joints-resolved.627592/page-2#post-21466722

 

Nice, thanks. That's what I've been thinking about as well, the 5100/880, seems like the lowest lift you can get with quality aftermarket parts. Trying to decide between that and a stock style coil with the 4600's. Like you said the 5100' and the 4600's are pretty close for me the 4600's would be just fine and I save a little cash on em but if I end up paying twice as much for OEM coils versus OME 880's then I'm not saving much on the 4600's. Can I ask what you paid for the 880/5100? Don't know if there' some forum rule about that. Have you installed them yet, and did you get much lift out of it?

 

Thanks for the link. I'm doing upper/lower ball joints as well, maybe some other steering stuff. Also probably need to do either the rear leaf pack or at least a helper.

 

Let me show you some before and after pics. BRB.

 

Before with stock springs



After 880s



I would like to freshen up the rear springs to level it out with the front. So maybe some spring addition that will give no more than a 1.5" lift.

 

Oh hell yeah, thanks for that. I don't mind that at all, especially if I'm going to add a helper or AAL to the leaf pack which I'll prob do sooner or later.