97 Tacoma shock absorber question

Rancho 9000's are also very good, if they have your application.

above that are the Bilsteins, but the Rancho's you can adjust from your dash....

"Kryptoknight" wrote in news:oORtc.5534 $ snipped-for-privacy@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:

uncontroled

Edelbrocks are supposed to be good too. Important to note that skipping is pretty normal in any unloaded pickup, no matter what size. If the springs are stiff enough to haul ANY load, even Mini loads, then it's going to be stiff when there is NO weight on them. Its the springs that take the movements, the shocks acting to control the springs rebound. Make them soft enough to handle each of those little bumps and you couldn't put any weight in the bed. So better shocks will help, but don't be bummed if you still skip sometimes.

Your real problem is the pathetic Tacoma springs in the rear. Bilsteins are stiff as hell and will never wear out. I have 110k on my set and they are good as new. But the cure is a new set of spring packs and/or traction bars to stop the axle wrap.

"Dan G" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

Does anyone make a replacement spring that is a real VERY noticable improvement? (I'm assuming they'd cost 300-400). I'm talking for 2wd.

I responded to your "Shocking Suggestions" post, but you didn't scroll down to read it or something, so, here it is cut-and-pasted for you:

I put a set of these puppies on my friend's '97 4Runner (pretty much the same setup as Taco)..

They are SWEET.. definitely expensive though... Here is a picture of the truck... bad picture, but you get the idear. The truck has 2.5" lift up front with those coilovers and 3" out back with the Old Man Emu setup.. Makes for a very comfortable ride. Truck also has a 3" body lift that I didn't install so I don't know the brand. Sits on BFG A/T 33x12.50s with AOR beadlock wheels: I also installed the sway-away upper control arms: Worth every penny... and really not too bad to install all that stuff. The truck rides smoother than my car... even through the woods.

I realise now there are leaf springs on the back of your Taco. That site has new ones of those as well..

Did you keep the receipts for the old shocks -- they should have a lifetime warrantee! This applies to:

Qualifying Products . Monroe® ReflexT Shocks and Struts . Monroe® Sensa-Trac® Shocks and Struts . Monroe® Gas-Magnum® Shocks

I had a single Gas-Magnum leak on my '90 Toyota 4Runner and they gave me a complete new set at my local autoparts store.

Adjust in what way? Their firmness or ride height? Or both?

Thanks, Corky Scott

Good point, I'm not sure where the receipt might be.

On the other hand, replacing shocks is one of my least favorite things to do, the less often the better. I'd rather have something that doesn't wear out at all than get a free shock because it's under warrantee, and have to put it on every several years.

Corky Scott

Axle wrap is occuring just rolling around a curve and hitting bumps?

I admit, I've had to get used to the idea that a truck is a truck and not a soft riding plushmobile. I used to drive a 74 GMC half ton pickup and it sure rode a lot better than the Toyota.

The Tacoma does do what I ask it to do, plow my drive in the winter and get me up the hill when it's covered with snow. It also holds what I need it to hold, which is terrific when that is stuff like gravel or dirt or whatever.

The wife's Subaru doesn't work well as a pickup.

I also can see and feel that at least some of the bounciness is happening because of the tires: they are contributing their own natural rebound frequency to the equation. The shock may be snubbing the up and down movement, but the tire is still vibrating all by itself. Gentle dips are non events, but sharp jolts, like dips that are the same diameter as the tire just launch the truck into the air.

Not much I can do about that except swerve around the dip, when no one is coming the other way. The wife's Subaru is of course hardly affected by the same bump.

I can tell that without greatly changing the spring rates, things aren't going to change much, but I'm glad to be told that the Bilsteins could stiffen up the ride. I don't think I need stiffer, it's plenty stiff enough at the moment.

Corky Scott

<