Suspension upgrade suggestions with minimal lift

I have a 2000 sr5 v6, extra cab 4wd 110,000 miles on it and it rides like shit. Like borderline scary. I live in california so the roads suck and I use this truck mainly as my snow ski rig. When coming down the mountain roads and hitting potholes the ass end kicks out a little bit. Having some weight in the back helps.
I recently drove my trd tundra 500 miles on washboarded nevada dirt roads and it made me really realize how shitty that tacoma rides. I dont expect the tacoma to ride as nice as the tundra.
About 3 years ago 20k miles, I put Bilstein 4600's on it. Back then The truck had the stock 14" wheels and I think 31's on it. The new shocks made it ride maybe 10% better. Then 2 years ago I got some take offs from a 2021 tacoma. It again rode a little better. But it still sucks.
It also has a bad squeaking noise, almost sounds like sheet metal bending coming from the front right but I think its the sway bar. Assuming it has one.
I am thinking about upgrading the springs and shocks with bilstien 5100's. Maybe get an ome or a kit from toytech like this I am not super in to researching this stuff. I just want to find a kit that everyone says that they love and install it. I don't plan on getting bigger tires when these wear out but I think an inch or so lift might be nice after dragging the receiver through a creek crossing last weekend.
What are your suggestion's?
Thanks

 

The single greatest improvement to the way my truck rides and handles was installing a custom Alcan leaf pack.

I believe Deaver (based out of California) also makes custom packs for our trucks. Outside of those two, I don't believe there are replacement Leaf springs that will give you that 1" of lift. You pretty much have to go with stock height replacement, or OME 1.5"-2" lift options.

If you haven't gone through and replaced control arm bushings, ball joints, sway bar end links, and sway bar bushings, I'd suggest doing that. Doubt shocks and springs alone will make the truck ride like new again.

 

The photo makes it like the rear is sagging, is it not? Stock these trucks had at least 1-1.5" of rake (rear high). If so, a low lift pair of leaf packs, along with just about any new shocks should help. 5100's with OME 880's or 881's should also be an improvement. To me, these improvements should start with a budget, then work within that budget to get the most bang for the buck.

As for driving down snow or ice covered roads....the ass end of these trucks are so light that even with better suspension you might run into some puckering moments. Tire type can help and weight as you said.

 

Thanks for the replies. I was noticing that also about the rear end looking low. I think maybe the rear left tire was off the edge of pavement.
I carry 100 pounds of sand in the back in the winter.

I am planning on replacing all the bushings, etc when re-doing the suspension. I have no idea to how well this truck rode when new. But I don't think the ushings are solely responsible for the ride.
I will get some pics of it on level pavement and include the leaf springs. They do look shot when I look at them but I know nothing about this stuff.
It might have 30 pounds worth of stuff in the back. Shop vac and empty cooler

 

It's a pickup, they'll do that. :-D

Mine is an '03 and does. I think yours does, but doubt your suspension issues are the sway bar. Links and bushings look okay? I would look at lower control arm bushings, coilover (front shock) bushings, and when was the last time you put new OEM ball joints on it? Does it align properly at a shop?

Personally I'd make sure those are all in order before throwing money at leafs coilovers/shocks.

 

If not done already, do the lower ball joints while in there.

Use OEM units.

 

Yes, ball joints are done.
I will only use Oe parts most of the time and not OEM.
If I am reading between the lines i am getting the feeling that there isn't a way to make these ride better and that stock is the best setup. I have had multiple truck of both full size and compact but never a compact 4wd and this truck by far drives/rides the worse. My buddies tacomas ride better. I see vids of people mobbin dirt roads and their rigs are not all over the place. Now is this strictly a bushing issue?
Its bad enough to where the dash sounds like the dash is going to fall off.
Where is the best place to get oe toyota parts. I notice parts.toyota.whatever isnt like it used to be




Anyone near the Sacramento area and care to let me take a spin in their rig? I will sell this thing if I cant it to ride better.

 

I have owned my Tacoma since new and don't remember it ever mobbing dirt roads undisturbed like some long travel truck. The stock suspension (in most factory stock vehicles) is softer than aftermarket, but that doesn't equal good or better offroad performance. Often times stock shocks are not capable of much other than maybe a more compliant on road ride. I have yet to change a stock shock for an aftermarket upgrade and not get better performance. My other truck is a stock full size 3/4 ton truck and it dances around over bumps too.

This might be a dumb question, but are you running high tire pressures? If you liked the truck I'm sure you could come up with a suspension system that would be an improvement to you.

 

Mobbing may not be the correct term but i want to get the point across on how bad this ting rides. Maybe its normal. The tire pressure in the mid thirties, don't know for sure. I am headed out there to double check and drop it to 30psi now
How does the trd tacomas drive? My trd Tundra rides like a caddy. I know this isnt apples to apples but I am willing to pay to get this tacoma to ride half as good as the tundra.

Just checked them. 32 psi all the way around. Should I go to 30 as recommended by Google

 

If you're willing to pay look into Fox 2.0's or better yet 2.5's all around. My buddy has the 2.0's on his 98 Tacoma, and he can go 60+ over moon crater size potholes and you hardly notice them. Be prepared to shell out like $2500 for that.

I'd suggest the chalk test to determine ideal tire pressure. On my lifted but otherwise stock '03 I run 29/27 PSI (front/rear) based upon my own chalk test results. Mid 30's sounds too high

 

I did all new front-end bushings and it was a world of difference. I think all new fresh bushings is what you need. I have driven with 5100s and they are pretty smooth. Low speeds they are stiff but that keeps them from feeling soft. At speed they soak up the bumps. I'd set tires to your door pressure, pretty sure its 29 psi.

 

WHo makes the oem suspension stuff. I will use oem over oe if I can
save some money

 

Not sure of the model, but the "TRD" ones had a flavor of bilstein.

 

I checked lable and it said 26 in the front and 29 or 30 in the back. I forget. But I checked the psi.
Anyone have a parts list to replace all the bushings/?

 

I don't have a parts list, but here's the one's I'd recommend checking (and then likely replacing):

- Lower Control Arm Bushings
- Upper Control Arm Bushings
- Lower Ball Joints
- Upper Ball Joints
- Swar Bar Bushings
- Sway Bar End Links
- Steering Rack Bushings
- Outer Tie Rod Ends
- Front Differential Mount Arm Bushings
- Leaf Spring & Shackle Bushings (assuming you don't end up replacing the leafs themselves).

These parts cumulatively probably play an even bigger role in how the truck handles than shocks/springs.

 

The fronts shouldn't even fit.. the rears maybe.. But then why would you think that shocks valved for a completely different truck would be a good idea?

 

I run a custom Alcan leaf pack with 1.5” lift and Kings and King coils up front set at +1.5”. The truck mobs.

 

I thought he was talking about suspension too at first, but I think he meant the wheels/tires are 2021 take off's.

 

Oh- looking at his photos. yeah. take off wheels and tires.. At least he didn't jam 2021 shocks in there

 

The attached is for my 2003 but a lot of the parts should be the same as the 2000, make sure the numbers are compatible before buying. It should get you started in the right direction. Current as of August 2023, you can see McGeorge (now Orisman) beat most of the other vendors.