Do 3rd gens have a shorter shock length on the drivers side?

Today, I installed 2 rear Bilstein 5100s on my 2021 Tacoma. After install, I measured from the top of the frame mount to the bottom of the shocks and noticed the passenger’s side shock is about 1” more extended than the driver’s side shock. But the truck is level side to side. Is this normal because the driver’s side shock is mounted behind the axle while the passenger’s side shock is mounted in front of the axle?

 

I don't know what you are asking. Shocks have nothing to do with the "level-ness" of your truck. Springs are what controls the distance to ground of your truck. Shocks are a fixed length same length on the back of the Tacoma.

 

I think he's referring to the infamous "Taco Lean".

 

I think what he is saying is that when mounted, both shocks are a different length. Pretty much he is trying to figure out if the distance from the left mount to the axle is the same as the right mount to the axle.

 

I’m saying the space between the top and bottom shock mount is shorter (by about 3/4”) on the driver’s side vs the passenger’s side. But the height of the truck doesn’t measure lower on the drivers side. The shocks fit, but on the drivers side the shock is less extended because of the shorter distance between the top and bottom mounts. Wondering if that’s normal or if my truck is screwed up. Maybe someone can measure theirs to see.

 

Correct

 

I've never measured them, but I'm skeptical distance from the shock mount to the axle is asymmetric. Are you sure the truck is level? Post your measurements and how you measured them.

Yes it is normal for the driver’s side shock to be mounted behind the axle while the passenger’s side shock is mounted in front of the axle. I'm not sure why that is the case, but it is the case on my truck and every other one I've looked at.

 

The mounting of shocks on opposite sides of the axle is done to prevent axle "wrap" under acceleration / deceleration. It's been done that way for decades on leaf spring vehicles of varying types.

 

Learned something new. I've known they were that way, but never looked into why.

 

Measured from top of frame mount to bottom of axle mount. Also measured from inside of frame mount to bottom of axle mount. Definitely 3/4” shorter on drivers side. Enough that I can notice the rubber boot on the drivers side shock is looser than the one on the passenger’s side. The new shocks can’t be the issue since shocks done directly impact height. It’s probably been like that and I only noticed because I changed the shocks.

 

OP…I have a set of OEM Bilsteins in my basement that came off a 3rd Gen OR. Haven’t put them on my SR5 yet.

They’re the same length, well front and front/rear and rear are the same…you get the idea.

 

You folks that panic and think your truck is in someway different from others need to spend a week or two in an automotive manufacturing plant. There is simply no way for a frame or axle or shock mount to be miss located by 3/4". It's just impossible given the jigs, fixtures, robots and tooling that are used during manufacturing and assembly.

I'm not saying that the distance between mounts is not different. I'm saying if the distance between mounts is different, then it's designed that way. As long as the shock does not reach full extension or compression during suspension cycling, the shock length is not a factor. Both shocks can be the same effective length and work in either location.

 

Ok, but what about the hub to fender measurements? How do you know the truck is level? It's typical for a taco lean to the drivers side. My passenger side rear is about 0.5" higher than my driver side rear.

 

Y'all are missing his question with other things he never said.


Lets start from the top.

His truck is level
His truck is fine
He has no issues with the truck
He wants to know if when installed, one shock should be longer than the other as a result of the different mounting locations.

 

Yes thanks for clarifying

 

I would think if the truck is not sitting on a level surface side to side, the shocks are going to measure different.

 

Update - I measured from frame to top of leaf springs (next to U bolts) on each side. The drivers side spring is about 1/2” closer to the frame. That’s about the difference in the shocks with a 1/2 tank of fuel. Any ideas?

 

Its likely the weight of 1/2 tank of fuel is causing the spring to collapse some?

 

Must be related because when it was full the difference was 3/4” and now it’s 1/2”. Still seems like a lot but maybe I’m expecting better tolerances than Toyota can actually deliver.

 

That's normal and is referred to as "taco lean". I don't think its a manufacturing defect but rather a design feature or mis-feature. In the end, it is nothing to worry about.