Need to soften the ride

[flyinbrick]

Need to soften the ride on my 97. Its riding on all OME. Springs are 880/906 F/R, shocks are the "comfort" N91S/N86 F/R. It put these in thinking they would be a good balance of off-road performance with a good ride. Well, they absolutely rock off-road, but day-to-day, they are what I would consider harsh, especially in back unloaded. I'd like to get back to a stock-like ride and am willing to sacrifice off-road performance.

Any recommendations? I'm leaning towards 99 springs and Bilsteins HDs. I've read that the HD's are equivalent to OEM in some posts, and are harsh in other posts, so I dunno. I've read about Tokiko Trekmasters, but can't find a vendor. I'd appreciate any advice.

[update]: checked toyotapartszone - front OEM shocks are $170/ea, but rears are only $31/ea!

 

[JayRolla]

Need to soften the ride on my 97. Its riding on all OME. Springs are 880/906 F/R, shocks are the "comfort" N91S/N86 F/R. It put these in thinking they would be a good balance of off-road performance with a good ride. Well, they absolutely rock off-road, but day-to-day, they are what I would consider harsh, especially in back unloaded. I'd like to get back to a stock-like ride and am willing to sacrifice off-road performance.

Any recommendations? I'm leaning towards 99 springs and Bilsteins HDs. I've read that the HD's are equivalent to OEM in some posts, and are harsh in other posts, so I dunno. I've read about Tokiko Trekmasters, but can't find a vendor. I'd appreciate any advice.

If you want close to stock ride and dont mind the small amount of lift from the 99's I would recommend them. Along with OEM toyota shocks which are tokicos.

I run 7 wrap LC coils out back with LC stock tokico shocks. The rear end is perfect. Stock on road feel. Super flex offroad. Great on washboard.

Front I run 881's with 1" lift sleeves for 3" full lift. Also run the "sport comfort" shocks. Not really comfort on road. LOL. Once I added my bumper and winch its softened up almost perfect. I cant complain at all anymore. They may wear out faster and only sagged maybe half an inch.

 

[1985taylor1925]

Need to soften the ride on my 97. Its riding on all OME. Springs are 880/906 F/R, shocks are the "comfort" N91S/N86 F/R. It put these in thinking they would be a good balance of off-road performance with a good ride. Well, they absolutely rock off-road, but day-to-day, they are what I would consider harsh, especially in back unloaded. I'd like to get back to a stock-like ride and am willing to sacrifice off-road performance.

Any recommendations? I'm leaning towards 99 springs and Bilsteins HDs. I've read that the HD's are equivalent to OEM in some posts, and are harsh in other posts, so I dunno. I've read about Tokiko Trekmasters, but can't find a vendor. I'd appreciate any advice.

What JayRolla said. Go with 99s for ride. OR you can use Tacoma coils in the front, which are a progressive coil. And according to nissanh they ride amazing. Better than 99s for smoothness, but sit at the same height. Regarding trekmasters, they are stiffer than oem tokicos. I dont know that from personal experience, but have come across that info a few times from researching them. For a stock ride go oem tokicos. Several members say KYBs are identical to oem tokicos for ride. I do have personal experience with KYB shocks. I bought a brand new set or KYB gas adjust shocks and ran them with my stock coils right after I bought my truck. To me they were really stiff.

Regarding Bilsteins, I dont know the difference in valving between 5100s and HDs. Im running Taco 5100s with my 99 coils up front right now. And the set up is too stiff for me. However I have them set on the second perch, so my coils are a bit preloaded, which makes the ride a bit stiffer. I would imagine HDs are a bit softer than my 5100s.

If you want close to stock ride and dont mind the small amount of lift from the 99's I would recommend them. Along with OEM toyota shocks which are tokicos.

I run 7 wrap LC coils out back with LC stock tokico shocks. The rear end is perfect. Stock on road feel. Super flex offroad. Great on washboard.

Front I run 881's with 1" lift sleeves for 3" full lift. Also run the "sport comfort" shocks. Not really comfort on road. LOL. Once I added my bumper and winch its softened up almost perfect. I cant complain at all anymore. They may wear out faster and only sagged maybe half an inch.

Interesting point with your 7 wraps/LC shocks. I ran the exact same setup for about a year. It was a little too stiff for me at stock weight, but not bad. The main issue I had was that the lift was just too tall for stock weight, like a full 4". And I wasnt running an adjustable trac bar, so I think that made the ride a bit unstable.

How much rear lift do you get out of your LCs?

 

[JayRolla]

What JayRolla said. Go with 99s for ride. OR you can use Tacoma coils in the front, which are a progressive coil. And according to nissanh they ride amazing. Better than 99s for smoothness, but sit at the same height. Regarding trekmasters, they are stiffer than oem tokicos. I dont know that from personal experience, but have come across that info a few times from researching them. For a stock ride go oem tokicos. Several members say KYBs are identical to oem tokicos for ride. I do have personal experience with KYB shocks. I bought a brand new set or KYB gas adjust shocks and ran them with my stock coils right after I bought my truck. To me they were really stiff.

Regarding Bilsteins, I dont know the difference in valving between 5100s and HDs. Im running Taco 5100s with my 99 coils up front right now. And the set up is too stiff for me. However I have them set on the second perch, so my coils are a bit preloaded, which makes the ride a bit stiffer. I would imagine HDs are a bit softer than my 5100s.



Interesting point with your 7 wraps/LC shocks. I ran the exact same setup for about a year. It was a little too stiff for me at stock weight, but not bad. The main issue I had was that the lift was just too tall for stock weight, like a full 4". And I wasnt running an adjustable trac bar, so I think that made the ride a bit unstable.

How much rear lift do you get out of your LCs?

About 4" like you. I also am all stock, with lifted rear sway bar brackets. I have my stock cone stops still installed for a little extra lift. I never heard anyone say LC coils are stiff. They are super soft and flexy especially with billy shocks. The tokicos stiffened it up a bit but still soft. My buddys OME rides like rocks compaired to my LC's. It does feel a little unstable but got used to it. I love how they perform offroad and worth the tradeoff. IMO.

 

[flyinbrick]

I've read about the LC setups, but that's just too much lift for me. So looks like I'm looking for a set of 99 springs and rear OEM shocks. The front OEM struts are just too expensive and I'm still deciding what to do there.

 

[Scramble]

If you want close to stock ride and dont mind the small amount of lift from the 99's I would recommend them. Along with OEM toyota shocks which are tokicos.

I run 7 wrap LC coils out back with LC stock tokico shocks. The rear end is perfect. Stock on road feel. Super flex offroad. Great on washboard.

Front I run 881's with 1" lift sleeves for 3" full lift. Also run the "sport comfort" shocks. Not really comfort on road. LOL. Once I added my bumper and winch its softened up almost perfect. I cant complain at all anymore. They may wear out faster and only sagged maybe half an inch.

What's a 1" lift sleeve?

 

[atalarico]

Very curious to hear what OP goes with because I'm in the same boat with my setup. Eibach/Bilstein 5100 coilovers up front and OME/Bilstein 5125s in the rear, and Yoko Geolander D rated tires (inflated to a higher proper D rating PSI) are a *rough* combination. I've tolerated it for the last three or so years, but I'm over it now and I think my body is over it too.

I was even thinking of just lowering my coilovers to the middle setting up front but from what I just read above it sounds like that will actually make it harsher. Oye.

Not to threadjack, but I need new tires soon anyway and I was thinking that set of C rated DuraTracs might soften the ride up too. Will it be noticeable?

 

[flyinbrick]

Very curious to hear what OP goes with because I'm in the same boat with my setup. Eibach/Bilstein 5100 coilovers up front and OME/Bilstein 5125s in the rear, and Yoko Geolander D rated tires (inflated to a higher proper D rating PSI) are a *rough* combination. I've tolerated it for the last three or so years, but I'm over it now and I think my body is over it too.

I was even thinking of just lowering my coilovers to the middle setting up front but from what I just read above it sounds like that will actually make it harsher. Oye.

Not to threadjack, but I need new tires soon anyway and I was thinking that set of C rated DuraTracs might soften the ride up too. Will it be noticeable?

I'm thinking to just replace the rear shocks since that's what bothers me the most. I called Wheelers and they recommended the 5100's so I was thinking to give them a shot ... until you said it was too harsh. Hmmm ... Well if you want to sell the 5125's, let me know. I might give try it anyway.

Also as a data point on tires, I went from a P-rated Bridgestone Revo 2 to Cooper Discoverer AT3 C-rated and noticed very little difference in ride quality.

 

[atalarico]

I'm thinking to just replace the rear shocks since that's what bothers me the most. I called Wheelers and they recommended the 5100's so I was thinking to give them a shot ... until you said it was too harsh. Hmmm ... Well if you want to sell the 5125's, let me know. I might give try it anyway.

Also as a data point on tires, I went from a P-rated Bridgestone Revo 2 to Cooper Discoverer AT3 C-rated and noticed very little difference in ride quality.

Yeah, but I have a feeling my issues are a combination of all these things. I only went with Tundra Eibach's back in 2011 (?) only because ToyTec was out of the other coilover spring that is more standard. They told me that they had never actually sold the Eiback/5100 combination before and to let them know how it went.

Do you think that still having the stock (short) rear swaybar links would contribute to this too? I didn't know I was supposed to change those out after the lift, and I've been meaning to just throw on a set of Duralast ones that are made for the front.

Also, P-rated?! I thought D or E was crazy, but that sounds even crazier!

Unfortunately I have a long list of repairs to do still, so buying a new suspension kit is pretty far down considering I still at least have a lot more years left on mine. If/when I do though, I'll see if you're still in the market!

 

[nissanh]

Get 96-03 taco 4wd progressive springs to the front. Those will give you an amazing ride.

 

[1985taylor1925]

Very curious to hear what OP goes with because I'm in the same boat with my setup. Eibach/Bilstein 5100 coilovers up front and OME/Bilstein 5125s in the rear, and Yoko Geolander D rated tires (inflated to a higher proper D rating PSI) are a *rough* combination. I've tolerated it for the last three or so years, but I'm over it now and I think my body is over it too.

I was even thinking of just lowering my coilovers to the middle setting up front but from what I just read above it sounds like that will actually make it harsher. Oye.

Not to threadjack, but I need new tires soon anyway and I was thinking that set of C rated DuraTracs might soften the ride up too. Will it be noticeable?

No, dropping down to a lower setting on your 5100s will make the ride softer, not stiffer. I was saying that mine is preloaded because they are on the middle setting. I am planning on dropping them to the lowest setting to reduce preload on the coils, which will soften the ride. So theoretically, dropping yours to the lowest setting will give the least lift, and also the softest ride.

Get 96-03 taco 4wd progressive springs to the front. Those will give you an amazing ride.

Only a matter of time before I do this!

 

[JayRolla]

What's a 1" lift sleeve?

Instead of a top out spacer like toytec uses, I have a sleeve that fits on the bottom made by Steve at SS. He dont make them anymore. Per him they dont create as much droop as a top out spacer making it safer on IFS parts.

 

[Ed_C]

Get 96-03 taco 4wd progressive springs to the front. Those will give you an amazing ride.

Figure out the part #s yet? Aftermarket replacements (even ones supposed to replacements for TRD equipped suspensions) are all linear rate,ugh.

 

[jmsdad]

Get 96-03 taco 4wd progressive springs to the front. Those will give you an amazing ride.

What color codes for these springs?

 

[1985taylor1925]

Figure out the part #s yet? Aftermarket replacements (even ones supposed to replacements for TRD equipped suspensions) are all linear rate,ugh.

Where are you getting that info? I havent seen anything on any of the toyota oem parts websites stating whether or not any of these coils are fixed rate or progressive. On this website some of the coils listed say they are for the "off road package", and others are not. I assumed that the "off road package" coils are progressive while the other are fixed rate. However, I dont know for certain again as they dont state it anywhere.

We have to get to the bottom of this! Need progressive coils!

 

[HuntG212]

Where are you getting that info? I havent seen anything on any of the toyota oem parts websites stating whether or not any of these coils are fixed rate or progressive. On this website some of the coils listed say they are for the "off road package", and others are not. I assumed that the "off road package" coils are progressive while the other are fixed rate. However, I dont know for certain again as they dont state it anywhere.

We have to get to the bottom of this! Need progressive coils!

Posted this in your other thread:

After a little digging, as I am very interest myself, I looked up the part numbers by using the Tacoma's vin number in the ad on ebay for $80 each. Here are the numbers I found. Toyodiy only lists these as the only option for the trd package. These should be the correct part numbers for the progressive coils.

LH - 48131-AD040
RH - 48131-AD010

 

[nissanh]

Sorry I couldn't find either the part number or the color code.

I pulled my taco front struts from a 2002 TRD 4x4. This confirms TRD came with progressive springs.

progressive springs have closer turnings on the top than the bottom.

 

[flyinbrick]

Get 96-03 taco 4wd progressive springs to the front. Those will give you an amazing ride.

I like that idea, how about just get used complete struts with springs from TRD Taco? What spring is needed for the rear to make it level? And which rear shocks to match the OEM bilsteins?

 

[flyinbrick]

Yeah, but I have a feeling my issues are a combination of all these things. I only went with Tundra Eibach's back in 2011 (?) only because ToyTec was out of the other coilover spring that is more standard. They told me that they had never actually sold the Eiback/5100 combination before and to let them know how it went.

Do you think that still having the stock (short) rear swaybar links would contribute to this too? I didn't know I was supposed to change those out after the lift, and I've been meaning to just throw on a set of Duralast ones that are made for the front.

Also, P-rated?! I thought D or E was crazy, but that sounds even crazier!

Unfortunately I have a long list of repairs to do still, so buying a new suspension kit is pretty far down considering I still at least have a lot more years left on mine. If/when I do though, I'll see if you're still in the market!

I swapped the rear for front sway bar links after my lift with no noticable change in ride quality. Stiff before snd stiff after. I did it just to get a bit more flex and relieve the stress on the link and bushings.

 

[nissanh]

I used TRD taco strut and springs

I like that idea, how about just get used complete struts with springs from TRD Taco? What spring is needed for the rear to make it level? And which rear shocks to match the OEM bilsteins?

Pictures in the order

TRD taco strut and spring on front right in my 4runner

TRD strut (CV is in an angle due to a 2 inch top spacer, the 5th picture shows the height before I install this top spacer)

TRD left strut (Before the 2 inch top spacer installation)

With factory 4runner spring (right side, measured from the ground, tires 265 75 16)

With TRD taco spring (SR5 97 flares) Measuring tape runs through the highest point of the tire.