Upgrading SR5 suspension

Total noob here when it comes to suspension upgrades, so here goes my questions, as I am eager to learn!

I have a 2018 SR5. I am not looking to lift right now, but just improve my performance on rough, bumpy, rutted, washboarded, nasty forest service roads, etc.

Is it common for SR5 owners to snag the stock Off-Road suspension components that those owners removed to add their own custom upgrades - as a cheap, "beginner level upgrade" for the SR5 suspension?

And would this be a simple swap in/out procedure? No new hardware or anything crazy needed?

Thanks!

 

You actually have a lot of options.

Inexpensive route is to do a swap of the TRD stuff.

You can also get some Bilstein's as well which won't break the bank!

If you want to go all out, King, Icon, Fox etc...

In the end, figure out your budget and go from there!

 

A set of Bilstein 5100's is a cheap and simple swap, and they are a bit better than the stock Bilsteins. I would skip picking up someone's take-offs unless they are brand-new and really cheap.

 

Thanks for the replies! I'll check out the 5100s.

At what point do new/different UCA come into play/are required? With 5100s, I can use my stock UCA's correct?

 

Yes, no lift with the 5100's unless you want to raise the front a little -- the fronts are adjustable using a ring to move the lower spring perch, so they preload your springs to give you a little bit of a lift. Personally, I wouldn't go any higher than the first setting. Past there and the front will start getting a bit too stiff. Still no need for UCA's, you're just getting a slightly better and beefier damper.

An OME setup will give you 2.5" to 3" lift, and most people can still use stock UCA's with that setup. Past 3" is where you need to think about UCA's.

 

If I went to the 2nd setting, would it give me almost 2" lift in the front?

 

In researching these this afternoon, I saw that Toytec has a pdf instruction sheet on their product page (Thank you @Toytec Lifts !) Here is a capture from the one page where it talks about the clip location vs. lift.

 

The 5100 give about 2” of lift at the max setting which at that point you’re better off going with a spacer as the coil will have a lot of preload.

 

I was thinking of just levelling the truck with a 1" front lift (+spacer) from the 5100's. Do you guys think it would be too stiff?

 

I have mine on the 3rd setting which yields 1.1” lift so that would level you out and it feels far better than it did with the stock TRD sport shocks so I think you’ll like it a lot more than your setup now.

 

Sorry @COS_TACO, not trying to steal your thread. If I get my 5100's, you can have mine OEM OR front shocks...

Txs John, that's what I wanted to hear. I trust you also have the spacer?

 

No problem at all!! Lot of good info bouncing around! Too bad you're not in Colorado or I'd take ya up on that offer!

 

Are you referring to the “taco lean” spacer? If so I do not. Just set the perch on the 3rd setting to lift the front and it feels and performs better than stock. I have had them for about 25k miles and never once have noticed the lean issue on the drivers side. Maybe it happens at higher lifts? I do have a 1” block in the rear though. I wanted to maintain factory rake so that’s what I used to lift the rear, and coupled it with rear 5100’s as well.

 

Txs for clarifying John. Did this not raise your rear higher than the front now? I was under the impression that the 1" lift in the front got rid of the higher rear.

 

Yes if you only lift the front you’ll “level” the truck with the rear. I personally am not a fan of that look and I think trucks look funny when they have a load and they “lean” upwards. The higher rear serves the purpose for hauling and not having the truck sag, and I personally the look of having rake. If you just install the 5100’s in the front and set it at the 3rd setting your truck will be level.

 

Do you run stock coils on the 5100’s? I have a 18 SR, just looking to change out my OEM. Thinking about beefing up the front coils...any recommendations while I’m going to replace the shocks? I found a set of 14in 600# blistein coils ...

 

You can run stock coils. If you’re just wanting to level it I see no point in getting new coils. If you’re wanting to lift it though people get OME 887/888 coils which yield 2”-2.75” of lift I’ve seen.