Let’s keep it real. Stock suspensions just don’t cut it. So, let us introduce you to the best Toyota Tacoma suspension upgrade. As truck owners, we know pretty well how annoying it is when your truck is sagging. It just looks terrible.
That’s why we’ve spent a reasonable amount of time reading reviews on the best suspension upgrades for this truck.
But aside from that, we also wrote an in-depth guide on how you can install them. Want to know more?
Contents
3 Best Tacoma Suspension Upgrades Reviews in 2021
Down below, you’ll find three candidates for the best suspension upgrades for the Toyota Tacoma:
01. Firestone W217602407 Suspension Kit – Best Overall
Highlighted Features
- 5000-pound capacity
- Heavy-duty metal
- Wear-resistant
- Clearance improvement
If you want a reliable suspension kit that can handle difficult surfaces, then this kit from Firestone is your best bet.
This kit is designed to level out your truck without making it look weird. That way, you’ll have a more aggressive stance.
As far as the installation goes, you’ll still have to spend some time to get it done. However, compared to other models we came across, this one is a lot easier.
Better yet, this model is truly something else when it comes to towing. For instance, it can handle up to 3,200-5000 pounds. That is, per pair.
“We just said the installation is a walk in the park. However, they left out some important details, making it incredibly hard for consumers to install the unit. Luckily, there are plenty of videos out there you can watch.”
What We Liked
- ISO certified
- Perfect for towing
- Levels up truck
- Easy to install
What We Didn’t Like
- Poorly written instructions
02. PartsW PW1482 Suspension Kit – Best for Durability
Highlighted Features
- Heavy-duty steel
- Ride quality boost
- Wear-resistant
- Metallic finish
We know how annoying it is to get a Toyota Tacoma suspension upgrade only to notice that you’ve sacrificed so much ride quality.
Don’t worry, though. This kit from PartsW will level up the truck and boost your ride quality.
Unlike cheap knock-offs, this kit is made to last. All the parts are built from the highest-quality components available so that drivers can safely drive.
Furthermore, this model totally beats the stock one when it comes to performance. By the time you’ve installed it, you’ll notice the boost.
Last but not least, installing this kit is relatively simple. Again, you’ll spend some time working on it, but they’ve included everything so you won’t get stuck mid-job.
“You should know that this suspension kit is not compatible with the 4WD version. We’ve seen some consumers that found this out right after purchasing the item. So, watch out for that.”
What We Liked
- Easy to set up
- Designed to last
- Perfect for heavy loads
- Better than OEM
What We Didn’t Like
- Not compatible with 4WD
03. Air Lift 59561 Suspension Kit – Best for Performance
Highlighted Features
- Sagging reduction
- 2000-pound capacity
- Wear-resistant
- Performance boost
There’s just something so satisfying about travel suspension that can make any non-car enthusiast appreciate how awesome it is.
Well, that’s the AIR LIFT 59561 for you. It’ll drastically improve your riding experience.
If you’re one of those folks that hate reaching the lower side of suspension travel, you’ll love this model.
Its primary purpose is to help drivers lift up their trucks to prevent bottoming out.
This model is the ideal upgrade for anybody that needs more towing power. For instance, the maximum loading capacity is 2000 pounds.
Bonus point, if you want to increase your ride significantly, then giving this one a try.
If anything, consumers on Amazon have reported a massive improvement after the assembly process.
“The only thing we wish they would’ve done better is that the suspension has a tough time when going over bumps.”
What We Liked
- Prevents sagging
- 2000 LBS towing capacity
- Improves ride
- Ground clearance boost
What We Didn’t Like
- It might bottom out over bumps
How to Replace a Tacoma Suspension
Pulling out the old suspension to install Toyota Tacoma suspension kits is pretty tricky on its own. But with our help, you’ll breeze through this process regardless of how experienced you are.
1. What You Will Need
To install a suspension kit, get the following tools:
- A hammer and a flathead screwdriver—you might need these tools to remove the knuckles and some stuck bolts.
- A floor jack and jack stands—you have to jack up your truck, so get these tools.
- Penetrating oil—nuts and bolts might be too rusty, so get any penetrating oil you have at home.
- An impact gun, a 19mm socket, and a wrench—are the right tools for removing and tightening nuts on the Toyota Tacoma.
2. Jack Up The Truck
Before getting started, please jack up your vehicle. Make sure to use jack stands for this job. A floor jack is not enough, and there’s a high chance it won’t be able to handle the truck’s weight.
Once you’ve done that, remove the six lug nuts from the wheel. Then pull the wheel out.
Now that you have access to the suspension, you might have noticed there’s a cover on the corner side; get it out of your way.
Simply grab a wrench and pull it down. You don’t have to remove it entirely. You just have to put it to the side so that it won’t get in your way.
3. Spray Penetrating Oil
With the cover out, you should be able to see a nut on the control arm.
But here’s the thing, you can’t just move that nut as it is right now. You’ll have to use WD-40 or any other penetrating oil.
Nuts can get pretty rusty over time—especially if you’ve never sprayed them before.
That said, once you’ve sprayed the nuts, use a 19mm wrench and a 19mm socket to remove both nuts on both sides.
4. Remove The Cotter Pin
From there, if you take a closer look at the spring, you’ll notice that there’s a nut looking downward.
You have to remove the locking clip from it. Use a flathead screwdriver to get it off.
Next up, remove the bolt on top of the control arm. Be careful, though. These nuts tend to freeze up, so they might be hard to pull out.
5. Remove The Sway Bar Link And The Knuckle
So far, you’ve done a lot of work, but there’s still some ahead of you. This time, you’ll have to remove the nut from the sway bar link.
To do this, grab both your impact gun and wrench. After that, pull the stud out.
After removing the stud, you should have enough space to remove the upper nut. Once again, remove that single nut using your impact gun.
But that’s not enough for the knuckle to come out. Instead, grab your hammer and hit it repetitively.
As you’re doing this, you’ll notice that the control arm sort of bounces up and down. That’s precisely what you’re aiming for.
After a few hits, lift the control arm, and you’re good to go. After doing that, please put the knuckle to the side, or it’ll get in the way.
Also, watch out for the ABS wire. You really don’t want to hit that.
Next up, remove the knuckle from the upper ball joint on the opposite side. Now, you have to toss all those parts away.
6. Remove The Mounting Nuts
Now that you’ve exposed your entire working area remove the three nuts on top.
We suggest starting off with the forward two and then unscrew the rearward one. After that, pull down the shock.
Next, remove the bottom bolt. Once again, use your impact gun and wrench to remove it.
The bolt might not come out when you have removed the nut. So, get a screwdriver and hit it with a hammer.
From there, get your pry bar right underneath the suspension and try to get it out of there. Once that’s done, do the same for the upper side.
How to Install a Tacoma Suspension Upgrade
Well, that was a lot of work, wasn’t it? But you still have to install the new one. Don’t worry, though. Now that you’ve become familiar with the process, it’ll be way easier.
1. Toyota Tacoma Suspension Install
First and foremost, remove the nuts on top of the new suspension.
That said, put the new one into the body of your truck. Start from the bottom. It’ll be easier this way.
Once you’ve gotten it into place, carefully lift the control arm and then line up the upper bolts.
Now put the nuts back in. Do not tighten them just yet—we’ll back to it in a second.
2. Line It Up
The bottom side might not be lined up by now. So, you’ll have to pull down the lower control arm.
For this, get the pry bar in the middle of the cam bolt and the lower control arm. Next up, press the pry bar down.
As you’re pressing it down, try to line up the lower side of the suspension upgrade. Now put the bolt through.
If you can’t get it in, use a hammer and hit the lower control arm underneath.
As soon as the lower side of the suspension gets close, wiggle it around using your screwdriver.
After that, drive the bolt through from the rear to the front. Then put the washer and the nut. Finally, snug it up.
Do not overtight the nut. You’ll later have to torque it according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
3. Tighten The Upper And Lower Bolts
Here, you’ll have to tighten the upper bolts. To do this, make sure to tighten them to forty-seven foot-pounds.
Otherwise, you’ll run into Toyota Tacoma suspension problems.
Frequently, drivers forget about properly tightening the nuts. This inevitably leads to severe issues in the long run.
That being said, torque the lower nut to one hundred foot-pounds.
4. Install The Upper Control Arm
Next up, set up the upper control arm. For this, you’ll have to set it to the right height. Just pretend that the vehicle is sitting on the ground and set it to that height approximately.
After that, hold the left side with your 19mm wrench and snug the other side with your impact gun. Now, torque it to eighty-five foot-pounds.
Next up, attach the upper control arm to the knuckle. Finally, snug it up by using your impact gun and then torque to eighty-one foot-pounds.
But here’s the important part: the castle nut portion should line up with the cotter pinhole. Otherwise, keep tightening it until it lines up. Once that’s done, get the cotter pin inside.
Now put the bolt back on the upper control arm and install the square bar link on the knuckle. After that, snug it up and then torque to fifty-two foot-pounds. Finally, put the wheels back on.
Need help getting through these steps? Here’s a video that goes through every step we covered:
How to Replace Front Shocks 05-15 Toyota Tacoma – YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Have any questions about the suspension upgrades on the Toyota Tacoma? Check this out:
Can I upgrade my suspension?
Yes, you can upgrade your suspension on the Toyota Tacoma. If you’re shopping online for new upgrades, make sure to select your vehicle before purchasing them. Most modern websites like Amazon have search bars for most vehicles.
How much does a suspension upgrade cost?
If you go to any local suspension wheel shop, you should expect to be quoted about $750 for this job. Also, in some cases, this might include an alignment service. As for how long it takes, this job can take anywhere from 2-4 hours.
Do you need alignment after replacing suspension?
Always get an alignment done after installing a suspension kit. Keep in mind that you’re changing your truck’s geometry. So, it’s not a bad idea to get one.
When should you change your suspension?
You should replace the suspension after nearly 100,000 miles on your Toyota Tacoma. Otherwise, replace them if you feel like upgrading your old suspension kit.
Conclusion
Increasing the ride height with a Toyota Tacoma suspension upgrade feels fantastic.
Being able to drive on pretty much any road makes you feel like you own the streets. But choosing a suspension takes a lot of time.
Hence, we chose three options. By doing that, we genuinely believe that you won’t feel overwhelmed by the number of options out there.
And now you also know how to install your new upgrades. Remember, it takes time, but it’s doable if you put in some time.