Stock PreRunner suspension outrageously stiff…

Alright I’ve dug thru about 10 threads and none really answer the specific question I have.

My wife has an all stock 2014 PreRunner DCSB with the V6. Love the truck, towed horses with it a bunch but dear god… Every time I ride in it, I feel like I need a new set of kidneys. It’s no joke! I daily a 05 F350 4x4 single cab and I swear it rides smoother!

I’ve owned lots of trucks in my lifetime and can say the only thing that rivals it was my solid front axle K10 or the old CJ7.

The suspension is the stock Bilstein stuff which I had previously held in high regard so I’ll try and do some trouble shooting. Y’all think they’re blown after a decade?

Seriously could use some input because we have a little dude on the way and there’s no chance she could haul him around with this setup. Considering trading for a RAV4 lol

 

Also to add:

I don’t mind upgrading to a different shock/leaf pack combo if they’re out there but if there’s a “stock” solution, I’m all ears!

 

Buy a car if you are that sensitive too riding in a truck.

 

^^ Meow!! Paws out

 

Got any pictures of your leaf springs? How flat or negatively arched they are, along with a shot with the gap between bump stop and frame. I'm betting if you've towed at all with it, the leaf springs are done for.

 

Well, since you don't have the info in your profile, I'll ask. How old is the truck? How many miles? Are you the original owner? If not, how do you know the suspension is stock?

You mentioned a decade. You also mentioned towing horses. If you haven't redone the suspension in a decade pulling horses, there's your answer. No vehicle, with average usage will go that long on the original shocks and Tacomas are known to have weak leaf springs. Pulling a heavy trailer "a bunch" probably flattened them. You're probably bouncing off the bump stops constantly.

 

I was too slow at typing. You're thinking the same thing as me.

 

He did say it was a 2014. but yeah, the rest of it i agree with, lol. Towing kills the springs. as does using these things regularly with more than 200 pounds in the bed.

 

It is. Yes.

 

Others have mentioned the leaf springs, but per the other part of your question, the stock shocks? Even if they're not blown-blown, if those are the originals, yeah man they are toast. Start with a set of 5100s all around - cheap, easy to DIY with hand tools and a jack if you buy preassembled units. I would, and have, have several times, @HeadStrong Off-Road will not steer you wrong and even if you can save a tiny shred of money somewhere else, the customer service has proven to be worth it, I bet they'll reply to this thread or you can shoot them an e-mail and get a response in a day or two.

Go ahead and just buy new bolts while you're at it - yours might be fine, but if they're not, 15 bucks or whatever for small quantity JIS grade 10 hardware is a small price to pay to not find out the hard way that they aren't.

 

Read the post, looked at profile for additional info, forgot that line. D'oh.

 

Coming from a 2000 Dakota 4x4 Quad to my current 07 Prerunner AC 4.0, I know what you're going through. Even my wife commented on how harsh the ride is (was) in the Tacoma.

Stock leaf spring are weak and will flatten out pretty fast over time. If you're towing or have the bed loaded it's even worse. I camp/travel quite a bit with dirt bikes and enough gear to be gone for weeks at time. Over the years I've adapted a few things that, to me has improved the overall ride quality while.

Roadmaster Active Suspension- I've had the RAS on my last 4 trucks. A 1996 Chevy S-10 4x4 ZR-2 extended cab, 1998 Dakota 4x4 extende cab, the previously mentioned 2000 Dakota Quad 4x4 and now the Prerunner.
The RAS performed as advertised on all these vehicles except the Tacoma. Weak leaf springs is the Achilles' heel of the rear suspension on our trucks.
After the factory recall leaf springs were installed, I reinstalling the RAS, set them for heavier loads (something I never had to do before) and added a set of the blue Sumo Springs. That was 6 years and thousands of miles ago. The leaf springs are still healthy and the ride is comfortable. I have a leer cap and some gear there so there's always 200 lbs on the bed. And I'm sure I've gotten used to ride. Also, when not all loaded up, I run the tire pressure in my Michelin Defender LTX M/S 2 at 33 psi.

I understand and have read many times that the Bilstein 4600 is a better riding shock, comfort wise. The 4600's are not to be confused with the Toyota spec'd Bilstein shocks that come out of the factory on our Prerunners.

Hope this helped.