How good is the TRD Pro suspension

Hello fellow tundra owner

I am currently on the hunt for a 2017+ Tundra and I found a 1794 trim model with TRD Pro suspension on it, installed by dealership (front and rear Bilstein shocks and coilovers and skit plates).

For those of you that have had or currently have a TRD Pro do you guys mind sharing some info on the suspension. Do you guys like it? Do most of you guys go ahead and upgrade it to something else? Any complaints about it? If I’m not mistaken it’s a 2" lift upfront and the upgraded shocks in the rear, correct. No different sway bars or control arms


This will be my weekend truck with plans to go see some Baja races on it.
So I'm just thinking it would be nice to get all the amenities and upgraded interior of the 1794 with the upgraded suspension of the TRD Pro.

Thank you for the suggestions and feedback, have a great day.

 

I thought the TRD PRO suspension was FOX? But maybe that started in like '19 and was Bilstein before?? Will gladly stand corrected if someone else can chime in.

 

I really like mine. Mine is not the Bilstein version from the 2015-2017 TRD Pro trucks; it's the TRD Fox kit for the 2019-2021. I don't know how much they differ. What I really like is how much more suspension travel there is, particularly in the rear. This helps keep tires on the ground for traction. It rides great and performs well off-road.

 

like Terndrerr said the Fox suspesion on the TRD Pro did not start until the 2019 and up models

 

Yeah i read that its about 2-3" more of suspension travel....

 

I've had the regular TRD Offroad suspension on my 2017, then upgraded it to the BOSS kit from Toytec. Now I have the 2019 TRD Pro with the Fox suspension and just added the Coachbuilder TRD Pro kit to it and let me say, this thing rides way better than either of the previous 2 configurations on my old truck. It's night and day different, for the better.

 

The cynic in me would advise you to make sure it is really the TRD Pro Bilsteins. Wouldn't be the first idiot/snake at a dealership to accidentally/intentionally advertise the TRD Sport or TRD Off Road Bilsteins as the Pro versions.

 

What year is the truck? It’s possibly just a TRD off-road package on a 1794, which comes with Bilstein shocks which I’ve seen before. But they are certainly not the Pro version which were available in 17’ and earlier models. The dealership probably had no clue what they’re talking about.

 

I have a 21 Pro with Fox set up

The Bilstein is an upgrade in my opinion - is at the best - meh, it’s as good as most - let’s put it that way - not the best ever, but certainly not worst.

It’s like saying what’s the best oil, tire or whatever - everyone has their favorite. Having driven Tundras with them and without from that year - I much prefer the ones with.

That said - I wouldn’t pay a significant premium just because it has the “Pro” set up on a non pro - it’s worth a little more, but if it didn’t have it - you could add the suspension you like best and achieve a similar result. Having a “pro” suspension doesn’t make the truck a 1794 Pro - it makes it a modded 1794…and there’s nothing wrong with that - in fact it might be preferable to many with 1794 interior and Pro ride.

As mentioned above - make sure it’s what they say it is - a quick review of vin and build sheet on Toyota can confirm if it had a TRD package added.

 

I have a 17 Pro and the ride is much smoother than the ride on my 15.
Here are pics of my dirty shocks if you want to check them against what they said they put on.

 

In 2017, the 1794 was the top trim level and most feature rich Tundra (Blindspot mirrors, ventilated front seats with more power adjustment and non-black leather). MSRP started at $50,130 for 4x4 CM 1794; MSRP started at $46,110 on the TRD Pro from that year. The differences in terms of functional performance between the two is the suspension, that wasn’t offered as a factory installed option (sounds like this was a dealer add/change on the vehicle you’re looking at—as mentioned would want to see if it was the TRD off-road package Bilsteins or truly the TRD Pro Bilsteins as they are different)…in other words, if you want the top of the line Tundra from ‘17, it’s the 1794, and suspension can be changed to make it superior to what the ‘17 Pro offered with the Pro bilstein setup. Everything else would be appearance related.

For ‘21 model years it’s pretty similar although the price of the Pro is now slightly above the 1794 (MSRP $53,400 vs $52,295)…Pros improved with Fox suspension, Rigid fog lights, BBS forged wheels. Interior package still based off limited trim level with Pro details, 1794 still more feature rich in terms of interior options (based on Platinum trim)

 

I have a 21 with pro the fox and I like the ride, they respond well to bumps and the road etc., the Bilsteins are essentially very similar so rude would be relatively the same.

but here’s the food for thought, don’t let the dealer roll there adding suspension to the truck into the price, as more then likely they added it because something was worn out on the old setup so they replaced and trying to roll the cost into the deal. These are non serviceable so although new, they will be replaced one day after lots of mileage, versus kings or icons as an upgrade that can be serviced and parts replaced to keep them like new for a lot longer.

 

As Patch shows above, there is in fact a Bilstein version of the Pro, the earliest version. My 17 Platinum has it, I guess the original owner had sprung for the upgrade. They also offered at the time a Bilstein Off-road package, different setup though (I think the numbering of the shocks tell which it is but not sure), and that is still offered today. So Bilstein for either Pro or OR, but some differences. The change for 19+ Pros is when that became Fox. But the OR package stayed Bilstein. If it looks like Patch’s setup, likely the actual Pro from earlier years. I thought the OR package had black springs, but again unsure.

Anyway, I have the older Bilstein Pro pkg like Patch. What I understand from things I’ve read is the change to Fox was to bring a more off road racing suspension feel, while the earlier one was a softer ride when off road l. Idk how to explain it, but I like the feel. It takes speed bumps and humps in town really well, I’ve had friends with 4Runners and others rigs mention it as I forget and just go through em at reg speed. And I go off road on occasion too, well up into the Cascades, on off road trails. Drive steep drops into and out of creeks, climb hills, hit washboard roads without slowing. So I can’t say I know the difference, but neither I nor the dealer knew what this truck had and I love it. I’ve seen where others with it have had Tundras without it and say it’s night and day. But I’ve also heard you can accomplish better with less if you have the option of going with other brands. I see there’s a King setup, front and back, in the 2.5 gen marketplace. Always when I don’t have the cash, I’ve heard nothing but glowing praise for that one

 

I have the Pro Bilsteins from a 2016 Pro and added the Westcott Designs kit that adds a taller collar and a shim to give another 1.5” of lift. I’m really happy with the performance. I’ve heard good things about the Fox version as well, and you can get the Westcott kit for that as well.

 

I'm not sure about the older TRD Off Road or Sport shocks, but the 2019+ Bilstein shocks are Blue and Yellow or Blue and Red, respectively. They also don't have the piggybacks on any stock shocks but the TRD Pros.

 

I can't say anything about the TRD pro bilsteins, but the trd pro fox are pretty sweet. Night and day difference from the TRD off-road bilsteins I had in my 17'. Make sure which bilsteins are on the truck. Even if just the TRD off-road bilsteins, you can upgrade the suspension with your choosing if you like the truck. Lots out there to choose from for these trucks.

 

I have the 21 TRD pro fox suspension on mine combined with the Westcott lift and they ride like a dream.!

 

Very good point on the the stock 2017 pro suspension being none serviceable.... Thats one thing i haven't thought about compared to kings or other top of the line shock brands.

 

Thanks for all the feedback....

Who makes a directed bolt on king coilovers set up for the 2.5= Tundras?
I ask this cause one thing is fitting some generic brand coilover in the front tundras another things is getting actual wheel travel gains, stability and proper valving for the wight of the truck.

 

Accordingly to the private owner he bought the truck brand new in 2017 and a 1 year or 2 later he then took it back to the dealership to have the trd pro suspension installed. He did send me pictures and he does have the Bilstein coilovers and shocks for the rear with piggy reservoir on them, red springs with silver bodies like the ones someone already posted.


I just wanted to know if the TRD Pro suspension is basically better or at par with other brands that offer a 2 or 3 inch lift.

 

Thanks for the pictures thats exactly what he has on he's 1794

 

How many miles are on the truck and Pro suspension? The Pro Bilsteins are great - they're comfortable, great on road and off, and have been very durable.

If you like the 1794 interior, then it sounds like you found the perfect truck for your use if it all checks out.

 

if you were buying new, I would say go with kings or fox. But since they’re already installed you’re going to have a way better ride / performance than non-Pro billsteins or entry level 2” kits like 5100s, 6112s, hockey pucks, etc.

Buying a new TRD Pro suspension in 2017 I believe would’ve cost you $3k plus install. Better value in a $3500 kings/Fox setup if that makes sense.

 

The TRD Fox kit is an OEM kit if that matters to you. It works with the factory UCAs and wheels. Yes it’s expensive at around $3k, but if you go buy a 3” lift from one of the usual suspects in the aftermarket, you’re going to need aftermarket UCAs to go with it so it can be properly aligned. And you’re going to need aftermarket wheels with a different offset to clear those UCAs, especially with oversized tires. This is why I went with the TRD Fox kit. I’m still on a fully OEM setup, and it performs really well off road.

 

sorry for the late reply....

The whole truck has about 48k miles on it and the suspension has about half of that.

Owner has all the receives from the dealership when the pro suspension got installed.

 

Completely understand... for a complete stock ride and offroad handling I guess the 2017 Bilstein suspension its pretty good.

 

I love the suspension on my new TRD Pro. Coming from a Tacoma TRD Pro, it’s much softer and more pleasant for a daily commute. It’s not too firm, not too soft, and handles pot holes very well. It’s a very comfortable ride. No off-roading yet, it’s only got 500 miles.

 

got the same setup just as dirty
Rides great
295/70/18s fit like money

 

I decided to add the OEM TRD PRO Fox shocks to my 13. Do I need any other parts other than the speed sensor relocation bracket?
I have researched but can not determine if a need a diff drop kit or a carrier bearing drop kit after I put on these shocks.
Does anyone know if I need either of these two drop kits?

 

Toyota does not make or sell a "diff drop kit" or a carrier bearing drop kit. So no.