Suspension Upgrades - No lift wanted

I don't think it should take 400 lbs. and the associated extra fuel costs to level them out. Now I don't have a regular cab and my stock TRD front end was already at 36 and went to 37 after the Boss COs but, after my Deavers settled, I am at 37 front, 38 1/2 rear and 200 lbs. will level mine [just tried it with some 50 lb bags of quikrete].

Being a progressive spring that actually articulate [imagine that?], they don't handle weight like your stock [junk] even though I have found per previous posts that they will handle up to 800 lbs. before they start to kiss the frame bumps. Mine drooped as much with 400 lbs. as they did 800, they just didn't bottom out carrying 400.

I would bet just 200 lbs. would get rid of the stink bug look.

All I know is, they WILL give you the most bang for your buck on improving your ride. I hit REALLY bad washboards today on a stretch of road I don't normally travel and the truck just traveled perfectly straight. Better COs up front with better rear shocks in conjunction with the Deavers will dramatically improve your handling though those tall profile splashy BFGs adversely affect that too.

On the one hand, when I first got this truck I was like "what is the BFD with these Taco trucks? This thing is a beer can on roller skates, the suspension is absolutely dangerous and, despite a V6, the thing has no power and gets 16 city, 17 h/w!

Well, 18" wheels and 265/65 Coopers that respond MUCH better than those huge BFGs, a suspension now that actually works, a decent exhaust system and fixing a couple of engine problems that have improved mileage to 18/20, and a killer sound system . . . I think it's a keeper!

Of course, this is also about [what?] $4.5K worth of parts [sound system included] but I did all the labor.

Good luck with your project . . .

 

I read you're "build up thread". I can't remember if you mentioned which rear shocks you are using. What are they? I chose the Deaver's based partly on what you said about them and the fact that they don't have a huge amount of lift which I seriously don't want. Mine being a regular cab and a 2.7 4Cyl will probably make a difference though since it obviously weighs less but the largest part of the weight you have is up front. However, it' pretty easy to keep 200lb's plus of essentials and non-essentials in the bed year round. Hopefully you're right and I won't "need" 400lbs back there to level it. 400 lbs and some off-roading will get it broken in faster though. I have ashell on mine and don't know what it weighs but hopefully that shell alone will get it just about level after a few months.

These Taco's are very cheap for the reliability and longevity we get but there are sacrifices to keep that price down and I think the suspension was, no doubt, one of the places they saved money big time. Other than that they are an incredibly robust, long lasting (except for the frame rust problems which mine doesn't have) vehicle for every day driving and some fun off road. As long as we don't get real crazy with the off road part. I'll be keeping mine for a very, very long time.

 

"Being a progressive spring that actually articulate [imagine that?], they don't handle weight like your stock [junk] even though I have found per previous posts that they will handle up to 800 lbs."

I've read they will actually go to 1000 without too much sag. That's just about perfect for me and I'll add Timbrens or air bags down the road for the "once in a blue moon" heavy haul. I don't see ever getting over about 500lbs in mine so the Deaver's should be about perfect for me. Being progressive is just another bonus.

 

Although I do NOT want to lay down 600 bones for rear springs it seems these are "the best" for those of us who don't want a taller lift but appreciate what articulation can do just for "only" the street.

I look at cargo weight sort of like how I look at tongue weight. Both drop the back end. I wouldn't want to put more than 400 on the hitch, and I'm having a hard time imagining 400lbs in the bed with Goodwill/Home Depot treks or travel cargo.

 

I went with Bilstein 5125s. They work quite well with the Deavers for my usage anyway.

Oh, I am sure they will haul 1000 lbs. but you are going to frame kiss even more on bumps. My previous haul was about 700 lbs. [I believe] with a couple of landscape boulders and a few other things and that never bottomed. 800 was the first time mine bottomed.

But again, she seems to squat 2 inches when you hit 400 and just stays there on up to 800 which was still just down a couple inches. 400-700 the Deavers seem to have just enough spring strength left to keep you off the frame kisses when you hit bumps. This could change over time though.

I still want to put my Firestone bags on too . . . just have had too many nonsense projects getting in the way.

 

From what you say about your Deavers they sound perfect for my use. The days I ever put more than 200 lbs back there will probably very far and few between and I really can't imagine ever putting more than about 500. Now just watch. The minute I get these things put on a friend will want me to help them with a Home Depot trip and the load will be 1000 lbs. I will most probably put a set of Timbrens back there as well just for those once a year or every other year occasions. If they happen even that often.

 

Hey all,

I've decided keeping the 600 lb coils was a mistake. Now I ordered 550s when I got the Boss COs and [as you know from my previous rants] Toytec would not acknowledge their error and swap them out. But, I really need a softer ride up front. Thought about just adding more weight, custom bumper, winch, etc. but just seems dumb on a PreRunner.

So, just FYI, I'm ordering the lighter coils but NOT from Toytec. They are just Eibachs. Lots of "cheaper" places to buy them.
Sadly, will be losing that purdy RED 600 lb. coil though . . .

Everything else is going great. The Deavers out back are still easily the most bang for buck on how to help your suspension. They haven't been taking very good care of our dirt road so there is about a solid 1/2 block of washboards up north leading up to the STOP sign. The truck just tracks straight as an arrow now!

And, I still haven't put on my Firestone bags yet because these Deavers haul normal loads fine. You certainly have to get above 500 lbs. before they even sag much and 750-800 lbs. before a big bump can make you bottom bump stop. I do still want to put the bags on . . . it just hasn't bubbled up the priority list because MOST of the time I'm throwing in 10 50# bags of compost, 6 80# bags of Quikrete, a couple of small landscape boulders, etc. so I'm almost always hauling less weight that starts causing bottom out bump stops. One of these days I'll get them on . . .

Hope everyone is well . . .

 

I love the J-59 Deavers! They are perfect for those of us that don't haul real heavy loads all the time. I'm estimating that I have "about" 500lbs in the back all the time. I have a small 3 drawer tool box stuffed with tools. A shell and 240 lbs of sand tubes for winter traction along with a crate filled with oil, jumper cables etc. The rear end doesn't sag one bit. I inserted a pic so you can see how the truck sits with the weight in the back and I've got quite a few miles on the truck (probably at least 5000) since the install of the new suspension with "roughly" a few hundred miles off road with the same weight in the bed. If I would have spent the money on Kings or Icons or another high end shock I'm sure I would even be happier. Don't get me wrong. The OME NitroChargers are working out great but they are designed for heavy loads so they are quite stiff. Off road at slow speeds that is. At 75 mph on rough paved highways where I spend most of my time they are spectacular! No more bouncing to the right or left. I think I made the right choice though. I live in Wyoming and they sand and salt the roads here all the time. All winter long. Those exposed shafts on the higher end shock wouldn't last 6 months here. I would think. The OME with the covers over the shafts have held up great. I believe the OME are made for those that want to just bolt them on and forget about them. I'd still like to try out some Kings, Fox or Icons some day but just have no reason to do so at this time.

 

I read through you're long post months ago before I bought what I bought and you're right. For everyday use without a huge amount of weight and off roading the Deaver J-59's work spectacularly. I have the OME 880's up front with the NitroChargers and the Deaver's in the rear with Nitrochargers. As I said in the previous post, the NitroChargers are for carrying weight but I'm still very happy with my suspension. It was worth every penny of the $2000+ it cost and I suspect those Nitrochargers with the covers over the shafts will last for quite some time. There is no comparison to the stock suspension. Even when new. I know why King, Fox and Icon don't engineer shaft covers on their shocks. They don't want the heat build up but they'd sell a whole lot more of them if they did for those of us that drive everyday vehicles in harsh climates who don't want to be pulling their shocks off every 40,000 miles (if that) to fix the pitting in the shafts and/or the leaks that come with it. If they had the sealed shafts that OME has I very well might have waited to gather another $1000+ and ordered one of theirs.
I might also add that my Deavers were painted when I go them but with an air dry enamel It was still soft when they arrived and still soft 2 months after they arrived when I installed them. They were completely rusted within a month of installation. It doesn't really bother me because I could care less. Rusted springs will still probably last 10+ years. For those that care about "appearance" I'd saturate them with some kind of rust repellent before you drive around on slated sanded roads very much. Or have them stripped and repaint with a catalyzed polyurethane before install. I was an automotive painter for 10 years a long time ago so I know about these things. LOL.
You may not have the same problem I do, "Cannon" depending on where you live but others might want to consider this depending on where they live if they are worried about appearance.

 

Hmmh, no rust on mine yet but just over a year on them plus we did not have a harsh winter. I will be keeping an eye on this, thanks!

 

What did you go with RX?

I have the exact same model as you.

The conclusions I seen to be drawing from here are
1) Deaver J-59 leafs.
2) Lots of love for Billy 5100/5125 (HD?)
3) Lots of love for coilovers, even a cheaper set will blow away the OEM, (Icons/Fox/King)

 

You did remove 1 leaf from your Deavers, correct? Which leaf was it?

 

Nope, running the entire pack. J59s, that is. Went from 36 to 37 1/2 in back. The COs in front raised from 36 to 37 [of course that means my DS CO is about 1/2" higher than the PS to deal with my particular taco-lean problem].

 

Yes, absolutely love the J59s. Nice having a rear suspension that actually works.
The Deavers have done MOST of the improvement out back but the 5125s were just to deal with the potential extra travel. I had put on the 5125s before the Deavers and that alone did NOTHING for ride quality.
Boss COs up front work SO MUCH better than the factory TRD COs. I just need the 550 lb coils on mine. 600s are a bit stiff on a PeeRunner.

 

Are you still needing the 550s? Not swapped yet?
Oh, I thought just said eff it and got some 550 Eibachs?

 

Nope, still running the 600s. Haven't wanted to mess with it yet.

 

I've got the Deavers, too. They are about as good as it gets unless you want to tote around more than 500lbs off road on a regular basis. For the DD with little weight in the back they are supreme IMHO. Actually, I probably have almost 400lbs in the back with the shell, a medium sized tood box, 240lbs of sand tubes for winter traction and a crate with oil, jumper cables etc. in it and I don't even notice it. It doesn't sag at all.

 

Didn't OME used to sell a "comfort" version of their shocks also? I haven't seen that one listed anywhere for a while, but I think it would suit my needs better than the Nitrochargers.

 

From what I understand the Nitrochargers are a new version of their older shocks. The Nitrochargers are stiffer. I think they still offer the softer shocks but I don't remember what they were called. I've never had the softer version but the Notrochartgers are stiff without any weight. Not objectionably stiff but they are stiff which is nice when you hit something you didn't see. It's possible that the older version which is softer isn't available anymore.

 

I want to put an after market bumper in the front without a lift on a '08 double cab. Are the bilsteins sufficient to support the weight?