What if? What if you've got a '95.5-'04 Tacoma 4x4 or six-lug PreRunner and you want a better ride, and you want it in a hurry? What if you want an easy bolt-on that you can do yourself? If you see yourself and your truck in any of these "what-if" scenarios, we've got a suspension for you. It makes a real-world improvement to your truck, and it bolts on quickly. Got a free afternoon? Grab your wrenches... and grab a trail map. You'll have time for both.
1. Our test bed belongs to Off-Road's art director, Brad Crowder. Brad is part of the throng that's forced to commute on So Cal's clogged freeways, so any modifications done to his '01 double-cab PreRunner needed to keep his truck street- and mpg-friendly. Brad's stock P265/70 tires were long on mileage and getting short on tread, so a swap to Mickey Thompson LT265/75R16 Baja ATZ Radials came just in time. The ATZs ride quietly on the pavement, yet retain an off-road grip suitable for a variety of terrains and weather conditions. The Mickey Thompson rubber was wrapped around a set of Mickey Thompson Classic II aluminum wheels. The Classic IIs have classic (go figure) good looks and feature lug holes with steel inserts for longevity. The new rolling stock was just slightly bigger than the OEM rubber and kissed the rear corner of the fender opening under full-lock steering. This truck needed a little more tire clearance.
2. The stock Tacoma front suspension design is reliable and provides a respectable ride. Add in lots of mileage and/or hard use, and the OEM dampers fade away with ever-diminishing performance.
3. All-Pro Off-Road's Bilstein coilovers are the result of two full years of meticulous Bilstein research and development. They are a cut above the Bilsteins included in the factory TRD package. The proprietary valving is designed to remove body roll while cornering and to improve ride quality at all speeds. Since these coilovers use a 2-inch shock body with a 2.5-inch-id coil spring, they do not hit the stock upper control arm. For those wanting even better performance, All-Pro also offers an upper control arm upgrade that boasts greater strength and range of motion than the stock upper control arm. The Bilstein coilovers can be used with or without the upper control arm upgrade. The shock eyes can be turned as needed to fit in their mounts.
4. Machined aluminum coil seats are indicative of the quality that pervades the rest of the shock. The OEM-style rubber shock eyes with steel sleeves do a great job of damping noise and high-frequency vibration.
5. Aesthetically, there's no comparison between the OEM shock and the Bilstein unit. Fortunately, the beauty of the Bilstein is far more than skin deep. The upper eye bolts into an adapter for the Tacoma's bucket-style upper shock mount.
6. If you're installing this kit in the driveway, you'll need a pair of sturdy jackstands and a basic assortment of handtools. Start by securely chocking the rear wheels and cracking loose the front lug nuts while the truck's front end is still on the ground. Next, lift the front off of the ground, support the frame on jackstands, and finish removing the front wheels. You won't be doing anything with the electrical system, but it's still a good idea to disconnect the battery as a matter of course when working on a vehicle. The coilover install starts on the bench with the assembly of the coilover's upper eye into the adapter. Next, disconnect the sway bar to allow freer movement of the control arms. Unbolt the OEM coilover's lower mount and use a prybar to force the suspension to droop down far enough to easily remove the lower coilover mounting bolt. With the lower coilover mount free of its mount, remove the three nuts that secure the factory coilover's upper mount. Carefully extract the factory coilover; it's heavy. Our test truck was a 2WD, which meant we didn't have a CV shaft to work around. It's still possible to install the Bilsteins on a 4WD without disconnecting the upper control arms, but the CV shaft makes things a little trickier. If you don't have the tools, the experience, or the time to install this kit yourself, a competent off-road shop can easily do it for you.