Suspension question for you gurus

I have a 2013 TRD Sport long bed, 2 wheel drive.

This truck has the original suspension components and its bone stock in most ways. I’m getting a new vehicle through work and my daughter will be surprised with this truck after I fix it up for Christmas.

We were given a 2024 Tacoma off road with 8 miles on it as a loaner this weekend and I can’t get over how smooth that thing rides. So it made me realize the 196k miles on my truck over time have obviously worn out components.

I have seen switching in new-ish 3rd gen stock suspension on to 2nd gen trucks. Seems like a reasonable cost for most from $200-350 on marketplace. Is there anything out there that gives a smooth and comfortable on road feel? It won’t be off roaded. It just needs a comfortable ride.

Are there other aftermarket brands that are a more smooth riding and comfortable ride for the street?

thanks in advance y’all. I came from owning all GM vehicles until I bout the taco to keep stock as a daily and I never looked into fixing suspension until I rode in the brand new 24

 

you have $50 pencil shocks that are horrible when new. And have 200k on them.

Are there better parts? Yes.

Are stock turd gen parts good? No.
They're stock. Stock is not good.

You are not factoring in time.
The time of someone who knows what they are doing on the public market is at least $50/hr. The job is at least 2-3hr.
Look at the book time. Let's imagine front and rear suspension total books around 6-7hr.
That is not just $300 for garbage parts. That is $600. To end up with a shit result that gets changed out later.
You'd save money flushing 3 blue face hundreds down the toilet right now.

There's a reason the parts you mention are listed, and removed from what vehicle they were on, with a person having them listed for a long time hoping someone gives them money for nothing. Sounds nice.

Suspension separates into tiers. Tiers are denoted by price.
Tier 1. Shit tier. 4600. 5100.
Tier 2. Better. 6112/5160. Costs more. Not the best. That's why it doesn't cost the most, and is also stock.
Tier 3, probably things like Fox 2.5 and competitors like Bilstein 8100.
And so on.

 

How are the tires? What is the tire pressure?

 

I will be getting new tires soon. 35-37psi typically

going to 18”s for when the kid gets the truck with 265/65/18

 

I just wasn’t sure if there was a happy medium somewhere for a teenage driver that will god only knows do what with the truck when she drives lol. I wouldn’t mind spending some ok coin on something that rides smooth and soft.

I was about to sell the truck before so I wasn’t going to do small upgrades like this but now that we are keeping it for her first truck I want to make sure it’s all in good shape for when she’s hitting the streets.

 

He calls everything that is below 500$ crap, dont worry.

I support the idea of a refresh with the take offs, it will ride better than your old shocks and will freshen the ride up. They sit a bit higher in the front but nothing huge.

 

Also for to be noted I want basically stock ride height. No lift or anything on the menu.

 

Saw this on TW a few days ago. It had some discussion on our Toyota spec'd factory shocks and the true Bilstein 4600 shocks.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/toyota-bilstein-shocks.841602/#post-30116355

 

3rd gen off road take offs shocks and springs,(the blue and yellow ones), and it will ride MUCH better

 

3rd gen uses much stiffer front coils because the front end is heavier. On a stock 2nd gen it will ride harsher and give a lift.

 

I am no suspension guru. A coworker bought a new 3rd gen tacoma sport. Right away he put an expensive suspension on his vehicle. He gave me his OEM stuff and I put it on my 2nd gen. I am happy with it. Pretty much leveled my truck. I believe the 3rd gen front springs are around 700#. It is a bit harsher.