Upgrade 2016 TRD Pro Suspension?

I have 2016 TRD Pro bone stock with 80k. Just had to get new tires earlier than expected because I kept getting nails and one of the plugs wouldn’t hold. and same as last time the regular tire balance doesn’t do well enough to stop vibrations so had to do road force balance at another shop and drop $170 on top of new tires (prices went up drastically for road force in last 2 years around here!).

Well the road Force shop says my shocks are leaking, control arm bushings are really sloppy and like now is time to just do a lift if all that needs replacing. I kind of felt like they were pushing just to get more business because I do trust the shop that I’ve been using for 14 years for my regular maintenance.

It’s 98% highway miles and only wheeling is forest service type roads not hard core. Can’t imagine the suspension is trashed already the way this guy was talking.

I stopped by the shop that I use for maintenance and that I bought the tires at. They’ve always been honest. The owner crawled under there right away and said yeah sure the front shocks are leaking, the control arm bushings are starting to show wear - but it’s nothing serious or unsafe. The other shop made it sound like my suspension was done….

At some point, I would love to get a lift kit, sliders and a bumper for some light wheeling more than what I’ve done - but the timing is not right financially. I’m a one-man nonprofit primarily for police, but generally all first responders and Veterans. In Southern California first responders and Veterans are into their 4x4s and so I’ve always wanted to do some group trail ride retreats eventually.

I’ve read a number of the different suspension threads on here and it can get quite confusing… and I do know a lot of the cops go way the heck overboard with $7000 suspension systems and they may not even wheel that much if at all. I would never be able to afford one of those pimping suspensions, nor would I need it. Just something practical, with long-term reliability, and prioritizing a ton of southern California highway driving.

What would possibly be a slight upgrade from the Trd pro stock suspension if it was still going to be 98% highway driving and I would like good Street manners, and very mild off roading with a possible front bumper (short insert kind not full size) and sliders as far as extra weight?

I would not want to lift it higher than whatever would be most reasonable for the driveline angles. The tires are brand new 265/70- 17 Wildpeaks and I didn’t know that I might need to replace suspension parts so it’s not like I’m going to buy 285s right now. But I wouldn’t mind the front end being a little higher.

I thought the stock suspension would last more than 80,000 miles without the shocks leaking in the bushings starting to go bad!!

If there are any Southern, California First Responders or Veterans, please check out my website and get in touch if you’d like to try to get some gatherings going: www.TacticalChaplain.com

 

You should have bilstein 6112 /5160. They are pretty good shocks. Are you trying to upgrade?

 

If they are leaking, and they only lasted 80,000 miles. I’m not so sure I would want to replace them with the same thing?

The main reason I got the TRD was I was trying to grow up and not modify the vehicle like every other 4 x 4 I’ve owned. Figured if I got the Trd pro with a little bit better suspension and the rear locker that I would just leave it that way for a couple hundred thousand miles.

But if I were to replace the stock suspension and it only went another 80,000 - if the cost would be equivalent to a lift kit that might improve the performance a little bit over stock I thought I should consider that. Because they said the control arm bushings are going to need replaced at some point soon as well.

 

maybe I wrote too much in the initial thread… but basically I had to take it to a different shop that Had Road Force balancing , and they do specialize in Toyota and Lexus…

They basically told me now is the time to do a lift kit because the stock suspension was pretty much done with leaking shocks and bad bushings…

If the suspension can be upgraded for a similar price as replacing the stock parts that are failing at 80,000 miles, I figured that would be the wise thing to do… I wouldn’t mind maybe another inch upfront over the stock Trd pro and maybe one of these tires wear out I’ll go up to 285

 

You can always go with the Fox from the newer PROs. Check out the Martket place. Members usually sell their takeoffs for a good price.

 

I'm very happy with IronMan Foam Cell Pro. Much better than TRD PRo Fox. For $1800 a well worth setup IMO. I think they even have much better deals sometimes.


You can get 1.5in rear springs instead on 2in rear springs and dial down the front to 2in minimum to keep them low. Here's my video where you can check the height measurements in the beginning, I set it to 2.25front and 1.5rear
https://youtu.be/Xrp-LYkTLf8


Or if you are looking for "buy once, cry once" there is suspension kit called ELKA 2.5DC. They have 0 lift option as well. I got 2-3in lift on my TRD ORP an myself and wife shocked how good they are on rough trails the ability to absorb all the bumps.
https://youtu.be/WCyzwYRZqwc

 

Have you verified yourself that the shocks are leaking?

 

So you have upgraded twice with two different suspensions?

 

yes. They’re leaking.

 

Ironman are on my Limited (Had Bilstien 5100 before this)
ELKA on my TRD ORP (Had Old Man Emu before this)
Stock TRD Pro Fox on my TRD Pro
My SR5 had ReadyLift (spacer lift kit).. Four 4Runners drained my bank account, LoL

 

Ive been gaining interest in the ironman pro cell foam shocks. From the reviews it rides great on road. And they are huge (2.8" diameter) compared to other twin tubes on the market.

 

But once in awhile back of my head say why I didn't pay double that price and didn't get another set of ELKA.

I also hate to see green springs.

 

hahah

 

I guess it comes down to, what you can afford and what you using your rig for. I don't get offroad enough anymore to justify paying 2k+ for shocks.

I think the green springs are neat but they'd look goofy with my red uca.

 

I simply cannot afford $2000 for shocks period. And 98% of my driving is on Los Angeles and San Diego freeways so I want highway manners more of a priority along with reliability and durability.

I guess I didn’t do my homework because I thought the stock suspension would last a lot longer than 80,000 miles without having to replace the shocks or control arm bushings… that’s why I got the Trd pro in the first place even knowing all of the forums said just to get the Trd off-road and then upgrade the suspension. Since I do not do my own work, I figured just get the Trd pro with the minor upgrade in suspension and thought it would last a lot longer.

 

Most high performance shocks require a rebuild every 50k-100k miles. The trd fox shocks are rebuildable. I don't think the bilsteins are.

You can find trd pro fox shocks for $1500 or less. Or get new 6112 and 5160 for $1300ish. Those are the two options I'd do if I was you since you have a trd pro.

Is it your upper control arm bushings or lower?

 

If I was in your shoes, based on your requirements, I'd go Bilstein 6112/5160. It is unusual that your shocks failed at 80,000 miles, as I'm at 103,000 and mine are barely showing signs of their age.

 

Thank you, these are the types of things I don’t understand so that was very helpful.
If I get new Bilsteins am I going to be able to possibly do a minor lift over the Trd pro level?

I will need to dig up the receipt to see if it was the upper or lower control arms… I was getting overwhelmed by the laundry list of things that shop was telling me you were messed up, and he just kept revisiting now is the time for you to buy parts for a lift kit and us to do the install… rather than explaining to me perhaps you just need to get new shocks and is it possible just to put new bushings in the lower control arms if that is what is wearing? And if I get a new shocks and I want to lift it, I’ve already read threads that tell you whether or not you need to get upper control arms… highway manners are my priority… and because I just got new stock size tires I don’t need to go to high but it would be nice to lifted enough that next time I need tires I could consider to 285s

 

yeah, most of my miles are just Los Angeles freeways…. And any off-road excursions were forest service roads for the most part and I was not beating on it.

 

Unlike the factory 6112. The aftermarket 6112 are adjustable to 2.5", there's also aftermarket springs available so you can lift it a inch or so higher then factory. Keep in mind adding a lift of around 2.5" may require aftermarket upper control arms.

If its the upper control arms you can find oem low mileage used ones for $200 and less.

 

Thanks - seems like on forums and online articles this is common suggestion. Just curious if it allows me to lift the front a little more over stock Trd pro height? Please excuse the ignorance. Wouldn’t mind a tad more height up front and option of 285 perhaps next time I need tires.

 

So for 1” over stock I’d need the shocks and new springs as well? I doubt I want 2.5” if highway manners and reliability is my priority. Just looks like front end is lower than back and annoying plus if I’m gonna do new shocks and can fit 285 next time around would be nice to have that option.

 

Yes the 6112's if I remember correctly can facilitate up to 3" of lift, its all based on where you (or the shop) sets the circlip. The OEM 6112's don't have that ability to change ride height.