Falcon Shocks for Tacoma by TeraFlex - new suspension options for 2016+

So.... 2 months later, you install these or what

 

Rolled out of the shop today! I want to put some miles on the setup before leaving a proper review (but so far i'm smiling ear to ear). Falcon's installed (set to "level"), Black Rhino 18" Arsenal wheels, 275/65/18 Toyo AT2.

 

Looks great!

 

What are the extended/collapsed measurements?

I like them but I would like to lift my truck a little, not necessarily "level" but lift with a factory rake. Does teraflex/falcon shocks plan to release a "lift kit" for the Tacoma or only a leveling kit? They have plenty of options for the Jeep, it would be nice to see them offer a kit that would work with an aftermarket coil spring and leaf pack, something "extended" travel.

 

Anyone have extended/collapsed measurements of these shocks? Would it be possible to run a different coil over spring up front (OME 885/887 etc) and a dakar leaf pack in the rear to lift the truck but run these shocks or are they only for oem springs and leveling?

 

review??? and will these work on a 2nd gen?

 

A review would be sweeeeeet. On and off-road performance? Would you treat them the way falcon did in their video? IE washboard roads at 30-40mph, small jumps, etc. Do you believe they will last a while? Any news on rebuild intervals?

@Falcon Shocks any answers to the above? Would you treat them the way falcon did in their video? IE washboard roads at 30-40mph, small jumps, etc. Do you believe they will last a while? Any news on rebuild intervals?

 

curious amount of travel in the rear.

From what Ive found no one makes a remote reservoir shock that can match the droop of a Dakar. Both kings, fox and Icon are all the same length and can't actually droop as far as the dakar leafs do.
Think the only ones Fox and assuming kings make that match it are too long for stock install and need a relocate.

 

I dont think theyre meant to be used for a lot of increased travel, but I do believe there is more travel in the rear due to the remote reservoirs just not sure how much you actually get. I would doubt its enough for dakars. My goal is to stay near stock height, when loaded with gear, but be able to handle the rough conditions the truck will see (washboards, rough dirt roads, etc) and hold its own when hitting obstacles (rocks, etc).

 

ya I have the fox 2.5 and i've now found they can't actually match the full droop of my dakars so looking for something to match it.

Dunnno if there is anything that would work without doing a relocate though, whch is fine to me but the misses not so much

 

My "Official" review after a month and about 2k miles! To help understand what I have personally driven as comparison points to this setup; I have logged miles in the following:
+Several JK Unlimited Wranglers (mostly Rubicons) with anything from a Teraflex budget boost lift, to Rock Krawler Max Travel to JKS JSPEC w/ Fox Shocks. A TJ with Teraflex lift, a YJ with Skyjacker, a Ranger with Rough Country.......Within this mix I have run tire setups anywhere from 31"-37". I have also had a couple Grand Cherokees and a Willy's but on OEM suspension setups.

With those as my baselines I have been pushing these new Falcons for just over a month now and have managed to put a couple thousand miles on my truck both in daily commute (mix of highway, local roads with rail crossings/crappy potholes/enever construction, some remote dirt roads) as well as offroad. To answer the specific question above of would I beat them the same way shown in the commercial.....absolutely I do! Teh owner of my local shop challenged me to give him real world feedback and I probably have taken it too far hahaha. Aside from cranking down washboard roads offroad, this setup gobbles up bumps on the road. The compression feels smooth and controlled but what really impresses me so far is the rebound of this setup! The level of control I am able to maintain while really pushing the truck just makes every drive more fun than the last. In my neighborhood we have a couple of thos speed tables on a main road that leads to the grocery store. The posted limit is 35mph and most vehicles slow to 15mph for the speed tables. In my last wrangler I would hit them at about 25-30mps and since putting the Falcons on I am not touching the brakes for them. I have taken them as fast as 45, but 35-40 is the butter zone!

Offroad I am more used to my past Wranglers that articulate immensely. Obviously with the Tacoma design, articulation is not as impressive, but this setup, in comparison to the TRD Offoad OEM setup is much smoother and controlled. My biggest grips with the OEM setup was I would hear and feel a wheel drop from a ledge (rock or even just a curb). It was evident the suspension was maxing out and made me cringe. On washboards, the OEM suspension too stiff and when trying a slow controlled climb, the suspension would bounce quite a bit. The Falcons are the polar opposite. Again, I think the best word to describe the feel from the wheel with this setup is "controlled". Offroad, the way I drive the Tacoma and the trails I explore are much different than the rock crawling I did in Wranglers and the Falcons are well matched for everything I have thrown at them.

In Arizona I have used Doetsch Off-Road for various Jeep builds and knowing they have a Toyota guy on staff, I brought them my Tacoma right after buying it for some odds and ends. My intent was too daily drive this truck and not add too many parts....famous last words! Doetsch Off-Road puts Falcons on a LOT of their Wrangler builds so when I heard that there was going to be a product for the Tacoma I immediately knew it was time to get suspension, wheels and tires done! I had seen a few rigs here in quicksand with the Black Rhino Armory wheels. I really liked the look of the wheels but the weight and no venting concerned me. I found a similar wheel style that has vents and ordered 18" Black Rhino Arsenal wheels in textured black. I personally think they look amazing and have yet to see my setup on another local truck.

Overall I am extremely pleased with the performance over stock equipment. My only gripe is that with the bed loaded heavy or while towing, the rear suspension compresses more than I anticipated. The truck takes on some of that Cali-lean style hahaha. I did notice that there is now an option for about $100 more that gives you adjustable rear shocks and they are labeled as the "tow/haul" option. If this existed before I would have checked this box.

 

Awesome review @AZTaco77 , please keep coming back to the thread. Although, your review has pretty much sold me on going with these shocks given my build plans. I was planning on going with the rear tow/haul set though since I have a lot of gear int he back during trips. As you mentioned the rebound and compression, I do like how falcon has set the bump stops up and it seems to help when over extending or hitting bump stops. I really think these are the socks for my taco.

As I said, keep beating these shocks up and come back and let us know how its going (good and bad). Once I get mine ordered I will try to update this thread as well. We should probably make this a Falcon mega thread, although it wont be so mega since not many people have them yet.

 

have you thought about removing the sway bar?

 

Yes I have. Honestly though, for where we go it isn't necessary to remove it. If Toyota had an electronic disconnect feature in the TRD Offroad package that would be cool and useful.

 

Crap, i guess i have to buy these now. They pretty much check all the boxes i have been considering for my truck. I tow, so the tow/haul option is awesome. I am not after lift, just a much better off road ride. And that price point seems fair.

 

Why isn't there an after market sway link option? I don't care if its electronic. I would have no problem with a manual disconnect, while airing down tires.

 

This has been attempted before. There are pics on here somewhere of torn cv boots. There is no where for the sway bar to go after you dislocate it. Removing it isn't hard but still a pain. Many guys remove theres and report they don't miss them. With a stiffer shock/suspension that might be true.

 

I used and like Icons. All good so far.

 

AZTaco77 how much in inches of a lift did you get putting it on the level setting?

 

Sorry for the delay, I did not see this question. I did not measure and I went to a different wheel and tire setup but it is a minimal lift over stock, just to level out the rake of the truck from factory. I think I am going to add an inch front and rear in addition to this for personal preference in looks