Softer ride

Hey everyone new to the forum here, just bought a 2002 regular cab Tacoma as a daily. I don’t intend to go off roading anytime soon, just looking for advice for a more comfortable ride on New England pothole ridden city roads. Currently have stock old shocks and worn out tires. Any shocks/struts and tire recommendations? Thank you!

 

If you're not hauling loads or doing anything intensive like towing, maybe get some P rated tires, if you are doing light truck work regularly then perhaps C load tires. That's a good start for comfort after that I'd consider refreshed suspension, some Bilstein 4600 go a long way to making things feel new.

 

Why buy a Tacoma if you wanted a soft Ride?

Will you be hauling lots of cargo?You can build some custom leaf springs but you lose weight carrying capacity .

shocks just control the bounce my last set were cheap Monroe`s.

Tires shop for more of a car tire then a truck tire with a very stiff sidewall run tire pressure on the lower side.Trial and Error

The difference in ride between my 4Runner and Tacoma I think something is broke on the 4Runner it rides so soft .

Good Luck >

 

Like stated, tires make a big difference. I would suggest p rated tires. Or sl load. And keep them around 30 psi. Lots of shops inflate them to 38psi, and that’s way too much.

you can get bilstein shocks, but they are digressive valved. So stiff on the road untill they hit some bumps. Not sure of progressive shocks for cheap, but king and fox shocks are.

 

Great advice guys thank you so much! I know an old Tacoma isn’t the most comfortable daily in the world but it’s just so dang cool you get it

 

This…lower the PSI and it will make for a less bumpy ride. You may lose some mpg’s but it’s not like gas is that expensive nowadays. Pick your poison.

 

Lol had a co worker install $4000 suspension on his tundra and he was still complaining how rough it was. Asked him what psi he is running….50psi.
“Isn’t the new suspension supposed to make it more smooth?”

 

I feel ya, rough Milwaukee roads have been killing me too.

Can anyone confirm if Monroe quick struts are smoother in ride compared to Bilstein 4600s? I have quick struts up front that the previous owner put on.

 

So I found a set of affordable TRQ shocks already installed in the strut assembly with coil overs. Which that i know I can install myself, the bilstein 4600s seem to come as only the shocks, not pre-assembled. I got a very similar set for my 05 Tundra and they provide a very smooth ride, but they are very different trucks… has anyone tried TRQ?

 

It is really hard to compare how vehicles ride my smooth ride could be beyond rough to the next person.

I have the Monroe assembled Coilovers I think the ride is all right for a empty 1/2 ton pick up.

I have yet to drive a Tacoma with a suspension using struts so I can not say how they might ride.