Bumpy ride & understanding lift.

Just bought a 2011 TRD Sport with 88k miles. I feel as though the stock TRD Bilsteins are a little rough of a ride on the roads. Have been researching on the 5100's and general consensus is that they're a major upgrade from the stock's. My friends dad works for Bilstein and supposedly can get me a set of 4 for $300. What are your guys' thoughts? For those of you that upgraded to 5100's, how significant was the ride difference? Is it worth the premium price tag to go King or Fox?

Also, i've never lifted a vehicle, and never worked on suspension. The Taco i bought came from the dealership with a lift. How can i tell how big the lift is? Is it possible that its considered lifted, just from setting the Bilsteins at their highest setting? If i can eliminate the roughness of the ride without buying new suspension than id rather go that route. If anyone has a forum, article, or video they could refer me to to educate me on the basics of suspension and lifts id appreciate it!

 

Take pictures of your suspension and post them up.

Im betting there is a spacer on the front coils that could be causing the rough ride

 

Ill go snap some pics in a few minutes

 

Interesting, doesnt appear to have a coil spacer.

Did the dealer say it had a lift?​

 

Bilstein shocks all around for $300.00??

I would jump on that.

 

If you want your ride to be smooth as butter, go Icon/King that way you can get it valved for your needs and wants. But that's $$$.

But the billie deal sounds great.

Also, just out of curiosity, what's your PSI in the tires? If they're high, it could be adding to the bumpy ride.

 

Yeah, the dealer said it had a lift. He made me sign off on the paperwork that discloses frame damage/modifications due to a lift. Spacers go above the spring, right?

 

looks like you got some steel braided lines up front...

 

Yeah, the reason i included the "supposedly" is because this buddy has a tendency of exaggerating things. It seems plausible being that his dad has worked there for a long time and i guess they're allowed 1 or 2 big discounts a year, but i won't believe it 100% until i see it in paper. How much do they usually run?

 

I don't know anyone that works for king, but i do know multiple people that work for Fox, so i could probably get somewhat of a deal there too. You guys don't care for fox?

And i just lowered the PSI the other day to a little below spec and it probably helped the ride a little bit.

I think maybe I'm just being a pussy and i got used to driving a new sedan that had little to no road noise. I should've test driven more tacomas to get a better idea of how rough of a ride is standard/acceptable.

Most roads, smooth or not, are rough enough to make my seats shake a decent amount. Some more rough roads make me feel like I'm inside a god damn cocktail shaker

 

5100 front shocks usually +/- $250 per pair and rear +/- $200. So $300 for all 4 is a nice chunk, about $150 less.

I could be wrong, but looks like you have stock TRD suspension.

 

Looks stock.....

 

Because its the stock TRD shocks, does that mean the dealer was bullshitting me about the lift? Sorry, I'm new to this, and trying to get a better understanding. You guys are welcome to talk to me as if I'm 5

 

I guess it could possibly have a body lift ​

 

Maybe, to me that looks like the original suspension with 88K miles on it. What frame damage is he claiming was there?

 

Im pretty sure it's stock suspention. Maybe it has a body lift? but it does not have a suspention lift. Dealership Jewed you.

 

Yeah you got taken for a ride at the dealer. There is no lift on that truck. If you paid more for such said lift I would ask for a refund and tear up whatever you signed about possible frame damage. Ask the sales man to point out to you the lift. Educate yourself on the front end parts breakdown of your truck. All the parts on the picture are stock.

 

My spacer looks like this on top on my Fox coil overs.

 

It was a waiver stating frame damage/modifications. I looked it up, and in CA at least, you have to sign that if theres a lift on it. Maybe he legit thought that there was? It was a used car dealership.
Carfax was 100% clean and i crawled under the truck and everything looks prime. Carfax has a guarantee that if frame damage is found, that was not listed on the carfax, they will reimburse you for the vehicle. Thats why i wasn't too worried about it.