Just a thought, - Anybody have both a new and old shock to lay side by side. I wonder if the spring carrier is in the exact same position along the shock tube?????????????????
J
Are you guys replacing the springs as well, or adding Bilsteins by dis-assembling the coil pack? I'm really curious about this 'cause it doesn't seem like the gas charge would actually keep the truck lifted. New springs would certainly explain the lift better than a gas charge.
OK, not that I disbelieve that the gas charge is lifting the truck, but just another idea to throw out:
I wonder if the spring being allowed to de-compress during the operation is the answer. If I was all scrunched up for a long time, and got to stand up and straighten out, I'd feel a little taller too.
Just a side note, I removed my Cornfed-spacer-modified-coil-packs and installed the fabTech kit today. I don't have the adjusters cranked up that far and the truck is already taller than it was with the Cornfeds. The quality on these is top-notch and the install was a lot easier!
In my quest to figure out why my truck rides so stiff I decided yesterday to unbolt my rear shocks from the axel. I was amazed to find how easy it was to move the rear of the truck up and down! Even though I know that springs provide the lift, I can see why a gas pressure shock would be able to change ride height. I could move the truck with VERY LITTLE effort.
With the shocks attached I can barely move the truck. I have the stock black shocks and I know that they are supposed to be the wimpiest, compared to even the softest Bilsteins. Is it possible that for some reason, these black shocks got changed for 2003?
I can see where shock performance is CRITICAL to ride quality. I'm considering the TRD Bilstein yellow/blues. Are there any choices that offer adjustability? Has anybody made the change from the yellow/blues to the red/blues that that would want to sell their yellow/blues? I guess that wouldn't be a very smart thing for me to do 'cause from what I understand the yellow/blues wear out at about 12,000 miles. If they were cheap enough I would just be experimenting to see if I was going in the right direction.
Originally posted by CYCLONE 123
I can see where shock performance is CRITICAL to ride quality. I'm considering the TRD Bilstein yellow/blues. Are there any choices that offer adjustability? Has anybody made the change from the yellow/blues to the red/blues that that would want to sell their yellow/blues? I guess that wouldn't be a very smart thing for me to do 'cause from what I understand the yellow/blues wear out at about 12,000 miles. If they were cheap enough I would just be experimenting to see if I was going in the right direction.
TOM
I cannot imagine that any shock on the market today would wear out at 12K miles. Many aftermarket replacement shocks come with a lifetime guarantee (i.e. Monroe Gas-Matics) - it is a real stretch for me to beleive that any shock made by Bilstein could be in need of replacement after 12K miles. I would love to know where you got that peice of information..
I sent an e-mail to Steve Ganz to inquire about how to soften up the ride of my 2003. He replied by saying that he agreed with me about the ride I was getting and said he didn't know why Toyota did that. He said that there were two ways to go. Either get the TRD Ivan Stewart red/blue or get the TRD yellow/blue. He said that alot of customers that have the yellow/blue shocks find that they start to go away after 10-12 months and they move to the red/blues from there. I took this to mean 12,000 miles. He didn't say they were shot, just that they started to go away.
Originally posted by CYCLONE 123 I sent an e-mail to Steve Ganz to inquire about how to soften up the ride of my 2003. He replied by saying that he agreed with me about the ride I was getting and said he didn't know why Toyota did that. He said that there were two ways to go. Either get the TRD Ivan Stewart red/blue or get the TRD yellow/blue. He said that alot of customers that have the yellow/blue shocks find that they start to go away after 10-12 months and they move to the red/blues from there. I took this to mean 12,000 miles. He didn't say they were shot, just that they started to go away.
if you think it's stiff with the black oem, you are in for a big suprise with the red/blue. they are a million time stiffer than the black oems. Bilstiens have shown to be 98% effective after 100,000 miles. 12K wear out is bs. No disrepect to steve, but if you want to soften the ride DO NOT GET THE RED BLUE. I wanted to stiffen it big time and went from the yellows to the reds. It stiffened up a lot from the yellows to the reds.
Steve must have misunderstood you cause he is a very knowlageable guy, I have done a lot of business with him and he has deliverd every time. I will say again if you want to soften the ride do not get the yellows or especailly not the reds.
you may consider something from rancho, their 9000 series is adjustable and you could leave it on the softest setting if you like a real soft ride.
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2001 SR5 TRD Thunder Gray 4X4 Access Cab V8, TRD Luxury Sport Package, TRD Spec HD Red/Blue Shocks, Borla Exhaust, GT GEM TOP Classic color matched tonneau, LINE-X Bed liner, Auto-Dim mirror with temp and compass, Custom Stereo (NAK 45z CD, MB quart Premium Line 6.5m all 4 doors, Custom built angled and padded armrest sub box with 2 JL Audio 8” subs (8W3-V2-D4), (2) 2ch Alpine power amps), (1) 2ch phoenix gold power amp with volt meter display. Fog light mod, D31m Blue top Optima, LTX A/T 265/75/16 tires
Stiff and soft are relative terms. If your new truck is as stiff as you make it out to be my guess is that you have a defective shock and should be covered under the vehicle warranty.
If your truck feels stiff compared to the way your car rides then you have a little learning to do.
I choose the term stiff because that is exactly what it is compared to the Chevy 1500 and the Ford F-150 that I used to own. Stiff, because I now get to experience every single small bump or expansion crack that the freeway has to offer.
I've owned only pickups since 1986 and have been impressed with the fact that they ride as good as most cars. In fact, my girlfriend owns a 2001 MonteCarlo which I drive frequently and I always thought that my F-150 had a better ride. That no longer is true. Not even close.
A Toyota dealer told me, "it's a truck, it rides like a truck".
"Have a little learning to do"? You have no idea the things that I have learned in the 5 months I've owned this truck. One thing is for sure,----I've learned that MY Tundra is the worst riding, most nervous, vibration inducing vehicle that I've ever driven. I've also learned that a dealer just has to say "that's normal for this truck", and that lets them off the hook and leaves the customer scrambling to take care of something that just isn't right.
Many Tundra owners say their trucks ride smooth and sometimes mushy. That discription does not apply to mine.
Originally posted by CYCLONE 123 I choose the term stiff because that is exactly what it is compared to the Chevy 1500 and the Ford F-150 that I used to own. Stiff, because I now get to experience every single small bump or expansion crack that the freeway has to offer.
I've owned only pickups since 1986 and have been impressed with the fact that they ride as good as most cars. In fact, my girlfriend owns a 2001 MonteCarlo which I drive frequently and I always thought that my F-150 had a better ride. That no longer is true. Not even close.
A Toyota dealer told me, "it's a truck, it rides like a truck".
"Have a little learning to do"? You have no idea the things that I have learned in the 5 months I've owned this truck. One thing is for sure,----I've learned that MY Tundra is the worst riding, most nervous, vibration inducing vehicle that I've ever driven. I've also learned that a dealer just has to say "that's normal for this truck", and that lets them off the hook and leaves the customer scrambling to take care of something that just isn't right.
Many Tundra owners say their trucks ride smooth and sometimes mushy. That discription does not apply to mine.
you might also try driving several other tundras like yours on the lot and comparing. comparing the chevy and ford rides, the tundra 4x2 should be like a lexus.
Forget this crap about people telling you it's a truck, it rides like a truck. That is BS. Since day one the tundra has been hailed as having the most car like ride out there. One tester even said "if you closed your eyes you would think your driving a camry". This is exactly why i got the red/blues, to make it ride more like a my TRD tacoma did, which it "trucky" I like being able to fly over the rough stuff and have the suspension handle it and not "float". Some people like if soft. So maybe they stiffened it up for 03, since most tests since it came out said it is too soft, maybe they finally listened.
When I went from my TRD tacoma to my first tundra 00 4x4 non trd I was sick the first time I went over a rough railroad track and floated. I wanted it like my TRD tacoma which loved the rough stuff and stayed responsive.
Now with my 2001 trd tundra with the red/blues i have the ride I want and can fly over the rough stuff again and have a smile on my face. You just need to find the right one for you.
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2001 SR5 TRD Thunder Gray 4X4 Access Cab V8, TRD Luxury Sport Package, TRD Spec HD Red/Blue Shocks, Borla Exhaust, GT GEM TOP Classic color matched tonneau, LINE-X Bed liner, Auto-Dim mirror with temp and compass, Custom Stereo (NAK 45z CD, MB quart Premium Line 6.5m all 4 doors, Custom built angled and padded armrest sub box with 2 JL Audio 8” subs (8W3-V2-D4), (2) 2ch Alpine power amps), (1) 2ch phoenix gold power amp with volt meter display. Fog light mod, D31m Blue top Optima, LTX A/T 265/75/16 tires
Man I am with these other guys. I wish I knew what part (s) to damage to make mine ride stiffer, rigid whatever you want to call it. My Tundra rode Like a new Lincoln or an ElDorado. I couldn't stand it. It is a truck I WISH it rode MORE like one. I was opting for the Red/Blues until a guy at Bilstein leveled with me and said the Yellow /Blue heavy duties are the Identical part with Red paint on then. He also said to get them at AutoZone. Cost was 50 bucks less than even wholesale mail order Shipping not included.
J
Shock Stuff
Just 'cuz I enjoy being annoying, I guess.
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