Tacoma Suspension Swap

[Bluesky 07]

Those who have swapped in Taco TRD front struts, are those 4600s?

 

[ThatguyJZ]

So I've spent a lot of time going through this thread and have not seen the answer to my question so may be someone can help.

I have a 2wd 2003 4R v8. I recently bought some 2018 TRD off road shocks and struts (60 bucks). Does anyone know if I can use them with the stock springs? I'm not interested in lifting the truck.

I think that'll work in theory but I still think you'll get some lift out of it since I do believe the perches on the 3rd gen Tacoma shocks sit higher.

Bluesky

Yes, Bilstein 4600



Update on my setup ('14 Tacoma TRD Off Road springs/struts and front coils) , it's been almost 10k miles including a few long road trips and they still ride great. I've since upgraded to OEM FJ rear springs to restore some rear rake and firm up the ride out back. Gained about half an inch extra height in the rear with those.

I found that after a while I picked up on the 'floaty-ness' other users mentioned in regards to the rear end when running stock rear springs with Tacoma Bilstien's. Since switching to FJ rears it's firmed up and I'm satisfied.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Thanks. I pulled the trigger and finally got the X-REAS swapped out last week. The difference in ride quality is night and day. Much, much smoother now and it handles better too. Bonus: the new front struts added about 1.5" of height at the fenders and 2" at the front lower skid plate (right under the bumper) that leveled out the rake nicely even with the .25" the rear springs added.

Here's the new setup:
Bilstein 4600 shocks and front springs from a '15 Tacoma TRD Offroad ($130 from local Craigslist)
2007 FJ rear springs ($70 shipped from a FJ Cruiser forum)

Also needed a 22mm wrench to disconnect the X-REAS fittings at the appropriate place (not at the shock!) so that was $7 at Home Depot.

I bought new top mount nuts and lower bolts, washers, and nuts from Toyota for $42 including tax but returned it all as my original hardware all worked with the new gear.

Scrapped the old springs and shocks at a local yard and they gave me $4.20 for them. Woo!

Before

After

Happy to answer any questions, and I also put together a set of PDFs from the Factory Service Manual that provide a lot of useful info including torque specs, directions for removal of the entire system or shocks only, and so on. As with anything, this is for reference only and it's your responsibility to use whatever is helpful to you in a safe manner. Here's what is included:

Member [MENTION=279296]jcaino[/MENTION] thoughtfully linked the files on his website so you can get them there or PM me your email address to receive a zipped folder.

 

[runokc]

Has anyone ran the Taco TRD setup with lifted rear coils, like the OME or the Bilstein B12's? These offer (1,1.5,2.0)" rear options. Looking to get OEM Rake, Bluesky successfully did it with the FJ springs. I was just wondering other options for rear spring rates that I would not have to use a spacer with. Not looking for much of a lift.

 

[Terminator03]

Has anyone ran the Taco TRD setup with lifted rear coils, like the OME or the Bilstein B12's? These offer (1,1.5,2.0)" rear options. Looking to get OEM Rake, Bluesky successfully did it with the FJ springs. I was just wondering other options for rear spring rates that I would not have to use a spacer with. Not looking for much of a lift.

I have the Tacoma Bilsteins/springs in front (I bought the truck with them installed). Since I use it as a work vehicle carrying a lot of tools in the rear, it quickly developed a reverse rake with the original rear springs and shocks. I added OME 2895E springs with Icon 2.0 aluminum rear shocks and couldn’t be happier with the ride quality of the whole setup. The OME springs gave it a nice rake, even with all the weight I carry daily, and the large bore shocks make it ride very smoothly. I am considering changing out the Tacoma front setup at some point though, not for any reason other than aesthetics. I just was a tad more lift in the front. I don’t mind the current rake, but wouldn’t mind maybe an extra 3/4”, or so up front. If I had a V6, it would probably be perfect, but the extra weight of the v8 gives a bit more drop.

 

[runokc]

Okay that helps, I’m thinking that the Bilstein 1” B12 shock will pair nicely with the rear shocks. My question I guess would be will those Bilstein rear springs give me a slightly higher lift then the FJ cruiser springs Bluesky did? I’m assuming any 1” lift spring will be a little more lift then the stock FJ spring. I am looking for a rear coil/spring about .5-1” higher than a rear FJ spring that would give me a nice firm ride but not bouncy or mushy like some have complained.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Has anyone ran the Taco TRD setup with lifted rear coils, like the OME or the Bilstein B12's? These offer (1,1.5,2.0)" rear options. Looking to get OEM Rake, Bluesky successfully did it with the FJ springs. I was just wondering other options for rear spring rates that I would not have to use a spacer with. Not looking for much of a lift.

I checked the before/after measurements and my setup reduced the rake from nearly 2.5" rear high to right at 1" rear high.

 

[chadd925]

Ok

Ok, just so I can get this straight. I've read too many pages of this thread:

I have a 2005 V8 4WD with XREAS and (the kicker) Rear Height control air suspension.

Today I picked up a set of 2015 Tacoma 4x4 TRD off road strut/coil assembly with rear struts from a guy who had 40k on his truck.

Question 1 - Can I swap rear bushings and run this as is with the rear height control air suspension?

Question 2 - Roughly where will I end up? Do I run spacers? Im thinking about yanking a fuse and disabling the rear air suspension. Not looking for a huge lift, but would like to level this rake out a little.

Thanks.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Ok, just so I can get this straight. I've read too many pages of this thread:

I have a 2005 V8 4WD with XREAS and (the kicker) Rear Height control air suspension.

Today I picked up a set of 2015 Tacoma 4x4 TRD off road strut/coil assembly with rear struts from a guy who had 40k on his truck.

Question 1 - Can I swap rear bushings and run this as is with the rear height control air suspension?

Question 2 - Roughly where will I end up? Do I run spacers? Im thinking about yanking a fuse and disabling the rear air suspension. Not looking for a huge lift, but would like to level this rake out a little.

Thanks.

Don’t know on #1.

#2 - My results with the same setup (see link in my sig) but FJ rear springs reduced my rake from 2.5” rear high to about 1” rear high.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Finally got to trail-test the new setup on a nice drive through the woods with the North Georgia Overlanders FB group. We covered a short section of the Georgia Traverse from Blue Ridge up to the Tumbling Creek Campground just over the Tennessee state line.

The new suspension really exceeded expectations. Coming from my 149K, 12-year-old X-REAS, the road ride has of course been much better but the difference on the trail was startling. No more jolts and no more washboard sections that feel like you're taking them on wooden wagon wheels. That's my silver '07 Sport at far right. Its stock look compared to many of the rigs always leaves me feeling like I'm attending a black tie dinner in a t-shirt and shorts. But hey, she goes where I want to go.

 

[az08t]

Will upper control arms from a 3rd gen tacoma works on a 4th gen 4runner?

 

[Nate801]

The rear shocks can work. I am running extended rear tacoma shocks(5100) on my 4r to have enough travel on 3.5 springs. All you have to do it change out the bushing in the eye.

What size bushings do you use for the Tacoma shocks for your 4th gen?

 

[Bluesky 07]

What size bushings do you use for the Tacoma shocks for your 4th gen?

I used Energy Suspension’s 9.8108G. Comes in red too if that’s your thing.

Lots of useful info here.

 

[ToyoTacoTurner]

5th Gen

Is there an equivalent thread that addresses this for a 5th Gen? I've got someone willing to sell me the fronts+ coils, rears, and UCAs and I'm trying to figure out what all I would need to do to get it to work.

 

[RunninWarrior]

Will 2017 Tacoma SR5 shocks front and back be a direct bolt on for 08 4R, and would it be worth doing?

 

[Snowking]

Hey guys I have a 2005 V6 Sport with 227k. Just found a set of 2018 trd off road fronts and rears for $125 I'm picking up this weekend. Was told he swapped them out with just under 20k so should be a world's difference to my old Xreas.

Anyways I'm hoping the front will net me closer to 1.5 to 2inches. With that said I don't mind the stock rake but want a little less. I can't find any FJ rears I do already have a 1.5 spacer in a box. I have a minor pull out table and bike fork mount rack system in the rear with some tools like small air compressor, jumper cables and ratchet set(sometimes cordless impact). Not certain how much this all weighs and if it really makes my rear sag but this is all constant weight for the most part. Occasionally take out the bike mount part.

I do pull a small 5x8 utility trailer I converted into a camper almost 3 days a week to every other week. This I guess is the biggest variable for me.

Should I get a 1.5inch rear spring like the t12 or I saw deal on dobinsons c59-505? Do I look for 1inch spring? Or keep my old stock spring and throw the 1.5 spacer? Or no spacer and keep stock rear.

On another note I already have 265/70r17 now but am looking to go 255/75r17 or 275/70r17

Any input helps. Thanks

 

[rwelch53]

Hey guys I have a 2005 V6 Sport with 227k. Just found a set of 2018 trd off road fronts and rears for $125 I'm picking up this weekend. Was told he swapped them out with just under 20k so should be a world's difference to my old Xreas.

Anyways I'm hoping the front will net me closer to 1.5 to 2inches. With that said I don't mind the stock rake but want a little less. I can't find any FJ rears I do already have a 1.5 spacer in a box. I have a minor pull out table and bike fork mount rack system in the rear with some tools like small air compressor, jumper cables and ratchet set(sometimes cordless impact). Not certain how much this all weighs and if it really makes my rear sag but this is all constant weight for the most part. Occasionally take out the bike mount part.

I do pull a small 5x8 utility trailer I converted into a camper almost 3 days a week to every other week. This I guess is the biggest variable for me.

Should I get a 1.5inch rear spring like the t12 or I saw deal on dobinsons c59-505? Do I look for 1inch spring? Or keep my old stock spring and throw the 1.5 spacer? Or no spacer and keep stock rear.

On another note I already have 265/70r17 now but am looking to go 255/75r17 or 275/70r17

Any input helps. Thanks

I just installed the same 3rd gen Tacoma TRD setup in the front of my 168k mile 2006 V6 SR5 the other day, and I am super happy with it. My suspension was sagging for sure, so I actually gained right at 3" lift. It is dead even with the rear now, which is still stock, but I do have the .5" driver side lean LOL. I am leaning towards the OME 895e springs for the rear with the Tacoma Bilstein shocks that I got, and from research and even talking to Toytec this should get me about 1.5-2" lift in back. I also carry about 100lbs around in the trunk normally, and occasionally tow a jetski or small trailer, so I think it will give a slight rake and handle the load fine. Pics below so you can see the difference in just the front.

 

[rooneyy]

Hi there, lots of great info here. I've learn a lot and think i have a grasp on what I need but just wanted to verify and get second opinions from the experts!

I have a 4WD Limited V6 220k miles. Shocks need to be replaced obviously. I've purchased the follow for the new setup:

-OME 895e Rear springs
-2017 Tacoma TRD Offroad front shocks and springs and rear shocks
-2017 Tacoma TRD Offroad front UCA's
-1" front spacers

I know I need to get rear lower bushings for the the rear shocks (Energy Suspension 9.8108G).

Would you happen to know what the ending lift would be? I am completely new to suspension and this is all the info I've gathered. I appreciate any and all feedback from you guys/gals!

 

[T4R4Brando]

Should end up with 3-3.25 front and 2 in rear:thumb::frog:

 

[04rnr]

I never really understood these types of swaps, I mean in this case, those shocks are designed for the tacoma, not the heaver 4runner, my feeling is, Just because it fits, doesnt mean you should do it, lol.
I may be missing something, nut if you're doing to save a few bucks thats one thing, but I personallly would rather use what was designed and tested for my vehicle.