Eliminating Body Roll?

Before I get the troll responses let me explain - I drive my TRD 4x4 Sport 99% of the time on the highway. It's very rare that I actually get off pavement, so that being said, I'd like to see what options I have to tighten up the body roll of the suspension a little. Yeah, I know I'm not using it to it's full potential but I didn't buy this truck to go offroading; it's my daily driver. So I would like to go more towards a true "sport" tuned suspension than an off road suspension. I'm not trying to race it or anything, I would just like it to lean less when going into a curve at a moderate speed.

My plans are to get bigger tires on the factory 17" wheels (not sure that's going to help / hurt, but that's the plans) and will probably go about as big as I can go without scrubbing w/ the factory height. Right now I have no plans (at least any immediate) to do a lift.

Thoughts?

 

Hellwig may have a rear sway bar.

 

Maybe heavier coils

 

Yep....stiffer coils and/or better front swaybar and rear bar.

 

So what exactly does the sport provide again other than a fake scoop and 17" wheels???

 

Color matched bumpers, handles,grill surround, side mirrors......a sportier look

 

It claims to have sport suspension but it's a little soft in my opinion. I don't know, I haven't driving an SR model to compare but the "sport" package seems to be more towards appearance than performance.

 

Meh

 

The Hellwig rear swaybar has been great for tightening up the body roll on my 2nd gen TRD Sport. But will it work on a 3rd gen? I'd like to find out because I'm about to trade it in for 3rd gen. I'll take a look under when I'm at the dealership tomorrow! >>>Hellwig does have a new one out for the 2016s

 

My 2000 TRD OR had dreadful lean in the corners. I replaced the sway bar bushings with urethane bushings and that helped more than I expected. It's not going to be the same on the 3rd gen, because, if I recall correctly, the 1st gen had bushings on the end links where I think ours have mini ball joints. But even changing out the mounts might help some.

Taller tires is the opposite of what you want, but if you are compelled that direction, suit yourself, just understand you aren't doing yourself any favors. Pick a tire with stiff sidewalls.

A rear sway bar would certainly help reduce lean.

Sway bars are band-aids for soft springs (which are soft to give you a smooth ride). I would guess there's some springs out there with higher spring rates and shocks to match, but you need a setup that does not add lift. Though, at that point you are dropping serious dough.

If it were me, I would do it in this order assuming you are going to get new tires anyway:

1. Raise the tire pressure to 35psi (Or whatever works for you and is safe. My dealer did set 35 psi and it has been fine. Handling is sharper) [This is where I am on my 2016 Tacoma]
2. Install urethane sway bar mount bushings (if they are available for 3rd gens)
At this point, you've probably spent $20 and an hour or less.

3. When you upgrade your tires, get something with a performance orientation (which usually has stiff sidewalls). Consider larger wheels and lower profile tires when you upgrade. Avoid going larger if handling is a priority. [This is where I was on my 1st gen Tacoma and it was a massive improvement. I used the stock size tires, just got AT tires that didn't suck like the OE's]

4. Install a rear sway bar. Looks to be in the $200-$300 range.
5. Install upgraded front sway bar (may want to jump here if they are sold as a set)

At this point (excluding tires) you are out a few hours (I assume) and a few hundred bucks. Hope to the mod-gods that this is good enough, cause it gets harder from here on out.

Since the sways are really just bandaids for the springs, you need to find stiffer springs. BUT, you don't want to add lift, you really want a slight drop. I have no idea what's out there, but it may take some work to find (or not?). Installation is significantly more work. You want shocks matched to the higher spring rate, so really, you are probably looking at $1000-$2000+ and installation at this point. [This is where I am with my Miata. It was completely worth it, but it was very expensive.] Again, I don't know if this sort of thing is available for the Tacoma.

[Cheesy alternative might be to cut the front springs and remove leaves from the rear (?!). I am NOT suggesting that.]

Beyond that? Desperate measures. Cut weight where you can. Tailgate, spare tire, jack and tools. Fiberglass/carbon fiber hood, fenders, bed. Run a half-tank of fuel. Remove the rear seats. AC and heater, carpet, interior plastic, radio.

After that, probably time to buy something that innately handles better. I would guess that most recently designed trucks handle better than the Tacoma because the Tacoma is holding on to its off-road ability. A full size or even one of the mid-size GM trucks might corner better (I just don't know). If you don't need a truck you have a whole world of options.

Good Luck.

 

I agree on the softer suspension. I came from an off road with stiffer shocks and will be swapping these shocks after a year or two. When I was looking around, I read a lot of people complaining about the 4runners would feel as if they nose dive when hitting the brakes with a little force. The shocks on this truck sort of feel that way too, but they do feel better cruising down the highway compared to my older off road. You gotta take the good with the bad on either model.

 

Tires can make a big difference.

 

You can get all that in a TRD OR (minus scoop/painted fenders)

 

Different tires can help, but not necessarily LARGER tires. Larger tires on the same rims might actually make things worse, a high profile tire is going to sway more and make things feel worse. Depending on what you have right now a good street tire like the MS2 will make things feel better, stiffer springs, and the sway bar like others have said.

 

3rd gen, maybe

I meant a 2nd gen, as I have a 2nd gen.

 

Its a truck....It does handle corners better than the other models in the Taco line up...there is a street truck section of this forum...good luck turning your 19 foot truck into a sports car....

 

nah let the OP get larger tires he seems to be an expert...lmmfao

 

Gives you some thing to type about...

 

Go on ahead add mts, diff locker, crawl control and an electric brake booster to your sport then tell me you paid less than anyone else for a TRD OR. Have a shop paint fender flares... costs about $300 to $500 max.

 

Sumo springs might help the front (and the rear too for that matter). I don't know. They are certainly an easy mod to add (and remove if they don't have the desired effect). Not cheap but you should be able to sell them if they don't work out.

https://supersprings.com/pages/index/coil-sumosprings-overview