TRD Sport on road ride harshness options

[NoSlushbox4Me]

For me it was a toss up between the Sport and OR. I could get the 6MT with either. I didn't want the OR tires or need the sway bar disconnect so I went with the Sport. The OR was what I briefly test drove before my 6MT came in. I didn't realize there was a difference in ride. As the driver I'm fine with it, but need to improve it for my wife.

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[EatMyTaco]

For me it was a toss up between the Sport and OR. I could get the 6MT with either. I didn't want the OR tires or need the sway bar disconnect so I went with the Sport. The OR was what I briefly test drove before my 6MT came in. I didn't realize there was a difference in ride. As the driver I'm fine with it, but need to improve it for my wife.

So, since you drove an OR, you know what they feel like.

is that ride what you want, or softer?

 

[Ironhide]

I test drove the OR, Sport and came home with a SR5. The Sport had a noticeably firmer ride. My SR5 came stock with 245/70R17, door sticker 35psi. I think from the dealer the tires were in the 40psi+ range. At 35psi the ride was decent. Went to an 18” wheel and swapped tires multiple times over this first year. Every time I left the tire shop they would have the tires around 40psi. Immediately I would feel every bump and crack in the road. Finally settled on 275/65R18 and run 32psi. The ride is amazing. Took the wife on a 12 hour roundtrip up north, and she was impressed how comfortable it rode. While up there we explored about 75 miles into Nevada on some county dirt roads and the ride was great. Even in the choppier washouts I was impressed how smooth and in control the ride was. Like @PNWkip said, the SR5 rides like a sedan. So already having the softer shocks/struts, I just had to dial in the tire psi.

 

[NoSlushbox4Me]

So, since you drove an OR, you know what they feel like.

is that ride what you want, or softer?

I drove an OR for 5 miles over a year ago. It seemed reasonable back then, but it was just a short drive.

 

[oxi]

@oxi but why Lowe’s specifically? Lol

My wife oversees 11 stores...

 

[NoSlushbox4Me]

I did a suspension upgrade to Bilstein 6112/6110 with Icon UCAs and rear Icon triple rate springs (add +0.5" rear lift). The front 6112 shocks are set to the 1.6" lift position and it is 0.25" higher in the rear than front, so basically level. On the short drive back from the installer I could notice a difference. The sharp 'pop' on bumps is gone, but you still know you ran over a bump. I'll get a longer road test tomorrow.

 

[NoSlushbox4Me]

I've had a couple days of work commuting and a short road trip that included several miles of rutted dirt road. The harshness of the OEM Sport suspension is gone. The truck doesn't sharply react to bumps anymore. It does follow the road surface contour, but soaks up bumps really well. I've been hypersensitive trying to feel how it's responding now. If driving by myself and focused on it, I can feel very tiny wallowing movement. If just driving and looking for somewhere or talking with passengers I don't notice it. I feel like this setup is what the OEM TRD Sport should have had. So far it seems 99% perfect. Whether it helps my wife with not getting quesy on next month's road trip, I won't know until then. You can still tell you're in a high ground clearance truck and there is some truck motion that's a little exaggerated because of that. It could have to do with tall sidewall tires more than suspension now. But as far as suspension, I think this was a really good solution and what the truck needed. It feels natural and normal to drive.

 

[NoSlushbox4Me]

Multi hour road trip with the wife today. Seems this suspension upgrade did the trick. No complaints and no issues.

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