Tacoma Suspension Swap

[Az4runnin]

Got Blown off so Found a Better Deal. Front and Rear 2014 Baja Taco Shocks for $400 with 20k.

 

[Schmuly]

I have been reading on this forum for days and still not 100% sure this will bolt up to my "07 4runner, my goal would be maybe small lift in front to level it out. My Xreas is 10 years old now and hoping this would be a great update. I know about rear bushing change. Any info would help Thanks in advance.


2017 Tacoma TRD Offroad suspension

make / manufacturer: Toyota
model name / number: Suspension
Suspension componenets from 2017 Tacoma TRD Off-road. Removed from truck at 150 miles.

Includes:

4 Bilstien shocks
Upper control arms
Coil Springs
Overload leaf springs

These parts were removed from a brand new 2017 Tacoma TRD Offroad with only 150 miles.

Will fit all gen 2 and gen 3 Tacomas. For the Gen 2 bodybstyles, this suspension will lift your truck about 1.5".

do NOT contact me with unsolicited services or offers

 

[TowMeOut]

I guess we'll both find out...I just bought the same shocks and spent about 30 minutes finding a good combination of sockets and tracking down a c-clamp big enough to press the bushings out. I was able to score the front springs too but I'm missing a nut, a couple of washers, and a rubber bushing. For the price though I can't complain since I got the complete leaf springs too (hopefully I can hock those for a few bucks). I haven't read anything about whether or not the UCAs are cross compatible but I'd assume they are. I believe the 2nd Gen Tacomas and 4th Gen Runners share the same basic chassis (hence all this part swapping).

I'm hoping the install will be pretty straightforward after all the reading I've been doing here. However, I dread the removal of the Xreas just a bit. I soaked the top/bottom bolts on all the shocks today with some PBblaster and I'll hit them a few more times between now and the project start. I'm hoping I won't end up with any particularly stubborn fasteners but I won't hold my breath.

 

[slimjj]

I'll add my .2 to this post. Just completed a suspension swap this last weekend. Have 157k on my 2007 sport edition, removed the xreas and put on front springs and shocks from a 2014 Tacoma TRD, adding the daystar leveling kit in front. for the rear I put in OME 895 with bilstein 5100s. I didn't think I would see a big difference in suspension characteristics. But it is definitely noticeable. Around corners on the freeway the suspension is markedly more stiff than the xreas(in a good way), and provided a decent amount of lift also.

How much lift did you get out of the OME 895s in the rear? I'm curious because I'm looking to change the Tacoma TRD shocks I have in the rear, but not sure if the 5100s are tall enough. I might go with ICON or Fox instead.

 

[slimjj]

I have been reading on this forum for days and still not 100% sure this will bolt up to my "07 4runner, my goal would be maybe small lift in front to level it out. My Xreas is 10 years old now and hoping this would be a great update. I know about rear bushing change. Any info would help Thanks in advance.


2017 Tacoma TRD Offroad suspension

make / manufacturer: Toyota
model name / number: Suspension
Suspension componenets from 2017 Tacoma TRD Off-road. Removed from truck at 150 miles.

Includes:

4 Bilstien shocks
Upper control arms
Coil Springs
Overload leaf springs

These parts were removed from a brand new 2017 Tacoma TRD Offroad with only 150 miles.

Will fit all gen 2 and gen 3 Tacomas. For the Gen 2 bodybstyles, this suspension will lift your truck about 1.5".

do NOT contact me with unsolicited services or offers

If you haven't installed them yet, yes they will bolt on after replacing the rear bushing. I don't think a C-clamp will be strong enough to press out the bushing, I used a 5" vice bolted to my work bench and bent the crank rod a bit doing it. Take it to a shop and have them do it for $10. I think the rear shocks are too soft however, so I'm looking at getting something different. Maybe Fox, ICON, or Bilsteins. Just too bouncy on the freeway.

 

[slimjj]

I guess we'll both find out...I just bought the same shocks and spent about 30 minutes finding a good combination of sockets and tracking down a c-clamp big enough to press the bushings out. I was able to score the front springs too but I'm missing a nut, a couple of washers, and a rubber bushing. For the price though I can't complain since I got the complete leaf springs too (hopefully I can hock those for a few bucks). I haven't read anything about whether or not the UCAs are cross compatible but I'd assume they are. I believe the 2nd Gen Tacomas and 4th Gen Runners share the same basic chassis (hence all this part swapping).

I'm hoping the install will be pretty straightforward after all the reading I've been doing here. However, I dread the removal of the Xreas just a bit. I soaked the top/bottom bolts on all the shocks today with some PBblaster and I'll hit them a few more times between now and the project start. I'm hoping I won't end up with any particularly stubborn fasteners but I won't hold my breath.

For my swap, disconnecting the XREAS lines was the easy part. The hardest part was removing the top bolt on the rear shocks. If you have a sawsall, you can always cut them off. You shouldn't need to replace the UCAs as I don't see the Tacoma UCA adding any benefit. If you're going over 3" then you'll need new UCAs, but I doubt the Tacoma ones are any different than stock.

 

[mightyduck]

Any idea what the spring weight / rating is for these coils compared to the FJ coils?
I have an ARB front now with FJ coils and they are a little light.

Bump on this question....

I'm pretty set on 5100/FJ setup altho I have been toying with the idea of getting a front ARB bumper which would mean I need to figure out something else for the front. Given that the taco trd sport are lightly stiffer (and taller?) than the fj coils does it seems reasonable to think that I could get away with them and an ARB? This is a 4x4 v6 se...curious to know what people think!

Edit: Alternatively, Im considering moog front coils (as they are also supposed to be slightly stiffer than oem fj?) altho I would prefer to try to avoid moog as I am skeptical of their products.

 

[jjgear]

I just picked up a set of tacoma trd shocks and struts and some icon 2" springs.
Am i going to need to run a spacer up front to level out the vehicle?

Thanks

 

[slimjj]

I just picked up a set of tacoma trd shocks and struts and some icon 2" springs.
Am i going to need to run a spacer up front to level out the vehicle?

Thanks

Just depends how you want to look. With that setup, you will increase the forward rake by about an inch. I added the Toytec 1/2" front spacer to help level it out a little, but still some forward rake. Since the spacer is preloaded, it adds 1" of lift up front. With the Tacoma springs and Toytec spacer that will give you about 2.25" of lift up front (for a V8, probably more for a V6) but ymmv.

 

[jjgear]

So would i need an additional 1.5" of lift to level it out or should i stick with 1"?

 

[4runsport]

I'll add my .2 to this post. Just completed a suspension swap this last weekend. Have 157k on my 2007 sport edition, removed the xreas and put on front springs and shocks from a 2014 Tacoma TRD, adding the daystar leveling kit in front. for the rear I put in OME 895 with bilstein 5100s. I didn't think I would see a big difference in suspension characteristics. But it is definitely noticeable. Around corners on the freeway the suspension is markedly more stiff than the xreas(in a good way), and provided a decent amount of lift also.

I'm interested in if this was the same setup you went with....?

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/pts/d/trd-toyota-tacoma-off-road/6201655193.html I have an '04 Sport with xreas that is totally shot. Front end bounces all over and steering shakes. Would this be worth the purchase and a direct fit (minus having to press out the bushings)?

 

[TowMeOut]

That's exactly what I installed on my '06 Sport a few months ago. However....that's way, way too much to pay for those parts. I got the same pieces off a '16 that were literally "new take off" (90 miles) for $200. For $350 you might as well just buy some new 5100s on sale.

I didn't immediately do any leveling kit. The TRD shocks and springs lifted the front about an inch and took out most of the rake. I added some FJ rear springs and airbags later (I carry a lot of junk and tow a trailer) and that pretty much evened things back out.

 

[4runsport]

That's exactly what I installed on my '06 Sport a few months ago. However....that's way, way too much to pay for those parts. I got the same pieces off a '16 that were literally "new take off" (90 miles) for $200. For $350 you might as well just buy some new 5100s on sale.

I didn't immediately do any leveling kit. The TRD shocks and springs lifted the front about an inch and took out most of the rake. I added some FJ rear springs and airbags later (I carry a lot of junk and tow a trailer) and that pretty much evened things back out.

Thanks for the reply and for saving me the $350. I haven't lifted any trucks since my '02 and am a bit out of the loop. Since my truck has 150K I am thinking the best option is just pull the xreas suspension out and convert to new springs and 5100 shocks. I don't want to open a can of worms and start destroying cv boots, etc... That's what the '02 is for.

 

[4RunnerGrll]

?

Question Would the belstein 48530-AD051 front and rear shocks fit a 2000 4Runner?

 

[slimjj]

Its all personal opinion and preference in the end of course, but My reccomendation is to run the other way from this setup.



Imagine this, your taking a stock suspension which is tuned for the general population (a little soft). then your adding 500+ pounds (4runner vs taco). So in Car-Talk analogy, it feels like your driving around with two mother in laws in the back. :whoo:

But again, everyone likes theyre coffee a different way but If I wanted to be bouncing around, I'd buy an old cadillac.

Got some rear 5100s for my birthday and installed the today. Wow, what a difference. The rear end feels so much more stable and connected to the road. We'll see how long before I start tinkering with the front. Did a bit of off roading with it and the front played really nicely with the wash boards, smoothed them right out. Might be okay with the set up but we shall see. Can't believe the difference in diameter between the Taco and 5100s.

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[BainTrain]

non-TRD Taco suspension

Does anyone know if swapping the front struts and springs and rear shocks from a non-TRD Taco provides any benefits be it lift or other? I found a low mileage set of non-TRD 2015 Taco front struts/springs and rear shocks for $50 and want to put them on my GF's 07 SR5 2wd V6 if it will provide some front lift at all and/or improve the ride over the worn out 98k mile components on the car now. Any help is greatly appreciated!


.

 

[laantastic]

For the people that has done the swap. What degree of difficulty do you think it was? and how long did it take you guys? I've picked up some 2017 taco trd off road suspension(front and rear), replaced the bushing in the rear. Right now I'm waiting for my 5th gen calipers/rotors from rockauto, should be arriving by Friday. Planning on doing the suspension, calipers, rotors at the same time. I'll probably be doing all this by myself, so I wanted to see what the difficulty is. Thanks

 

[ZebRuaj]

For the people that has done the swap. What degree of difficulty do you think it was? and how long did it take you guys?

It's not hard, but everyone has a different skill/knowledge level and access to appropriate tools, plus factor in the amount of rust and wear and tear on nuts and bolts. Power or air tools are a time saver.

Start now, and over the next few consecutive days by spraying your favorite penetrating oil over every nut/bolt you think you'll be loosening.

Did my suspension swap in about 5 hours, can probably take a couple hours off for removing all traces of Xreas and fighting the front driver strut being seized into the upper housing.

 

[4Rnr4Evr]

Got some rear 5100s for my birthday and installed the today. Wow, what a difference. The rear end feels so much more stable and connected to the road. We'll see how long before I start tinkering with the front. Did a bit of off roading with it and the front played really nicely with the wash boards, smoothed them right out. Might be okay with the set up but we shall see. Can't believe the difference in diameter between the Taco and 5100s.

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Our rears are heavier than the Tacos so their shocks are inadequate. I also did the same move a couple weeks ago and the difference is night and way, I regret not doing it sooner.

For the front the Taco TRD O/R struts are a good cheap option but on the rear I would at the very least put 4Runner HD bilsteins (if not 5100s) - they would be an adequate match.

 

[k3v11n]

Got my TRD swap done, finally! I think it looks pretty good, just need some tires now....

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this is the look I want. Is this just Tacoma Suspension front and rear? No spacers or FJ rear coils?