Do you like going fast and catching some airtime? Are you coming down hard while carrying some extra weight in the bed of your truck? Or do you want to get the best performance out of your suspension?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it might be time to ditch those rear rubber bump stops for high-performance hydraulic ones.
Table Of Contents
Benefits
Hydraulic bump stops (aka hydros) are small shock absorbers that protect your vehicle’s suspension components from harsh bottom-outs. As indicated by their name, “hydraulic”, these bumps use shock oil to help absorb your vehicle’s suspension energy and act as the final cushion to prevent metal-to-metal contact when your suspension reaches its travel limits.
Typically designed for high-performance/high-speed off-road vehicles, over the years, hydraulic options have become popular among rock crawlers and overlanders alike, and we are about to tell you why.
Reduce harsh bottoming out: Hydros act like a spring with a progressive spring rate, as the piston of the bump stops gets compressed, it becomes more resistant to the compression. This helps provide smoother, more controlled suspension compression, reducing the harsh impact of bottoming out.
Improved ride quality: They also provide rebound damping, slowing the rebound speed of the bump stop. This helps reduce bucking associated with regular bumps, leading to better ride quality in both on- and off-road conditions.
Tunability: Since hydros are filled with oil, charged with nitrogen, and have adjustable shim packs, they can also be tuned like traditional shock absorbers. Both the rate of compression and rebound can be tuned to your driving style by adjusting the nitrogen pressure or the internal valving.
Longevity under harsh conditions: They are sturdier than their rubber counterparts, which means they can hold up better and longer under frequent use. They can also withstand harsh weather conditions better, making them less prone to deterioration.
Drawbacks
Hydraulic bump stops are noisy. At the end of their shafts, hydraulic bump stops typically have a heavy-duty nylon cap that contacts a metal strike plate. When riding around, you might not even feel your suspension bottom out, but you will definitely hear it. The good news is that there is a solution in Perry Parts’ Hydro Silencer replacement caps. Still, it’s another part and added cost to consider.
Another thing to note is that due to their design, hydraulic versions do require more frequent servicing. Whether it’s replacing the bump stops end caps, replacing the shock oil, or charging the nitrogen, they will be another part that will require servicing.
You should also consider the installation. Bolt-on options still require removing OEM frame parts by cutting/grinding. Naturally, the weld-on versions are the most labor intense and hardest to reverse. Not that many people usually go back to stock.
Cost Analysis
Because a hydraulic bump stop is a much more complex piece of machinery than its rubber counterpart, it carries a heftier price tag. A single one can cost more than a pair of rubber, and that does not include the mounting hardware, which brings us to our next point.
Since your Tacoma is not designed to hold factory hydraulic bump stops, some customization is required. You’ll need to start by removing your factory bump stop strike pad. To do this, you must remove large factory rivets, so it’s not that simple to go back to stock once you go down this path.
Once you have removed your factory strike pad, you will need a mount to hold your new stops. Currently, there are both-on and weld-on kits, and we will cover the pros and cons of each option below.
Bolt-On Kits
The majority of mount kits on the market are bolt-on kits, as they are a great option for any DIYer willing to take on the task.
The thing about bolt-on kits is that they do come with their own limitations. Most of these bolt-on kits are designed to factory specifications, but chances are, if you’re looking into this modification, your suspension is far from stock. If you’re running a shock relocation kit, you’ll likely need to make slight modifications to your mount to ensure it clears your relocation kit and that the mount holes line up with the factory holes in your truck’s frame.
When I installed my bolt-on Total Chaos kit, I had to shave down the side of the mount a bit and enlarge the bolt holes on the mount to get everything to line up correctly.
Weld-On Kits
Now, weld-on kits are a bit more of an advanced installation, but they are superior to a bolt-on kit for a few different reasons. For starters, you can cycle your vehicle’s suspension to find the best placement for your new hydraulic bump stop to ensure you maximize your suspension’s up travel. With bolt-on kits, you’re stuck with a fixed mounting location, and if anything in your suspension shifts, there’s no way to make adjustments to compensate. Since weld-on kits can be installed anywhere along your frame, they are a great option for anyone running a custom setup.
Another thing to consider is that when you’re coming down hard, your bump stops are absorbing most of the energy, but some of that energy is being transferred onto the bolts on bolt-on kits. What that means is that, after repeated abuse, the mounting holes in your frame can start to wear out. This then leads to a loose mounting bracket, which can result in an inefficient bump stop and possible damage to your vehicle’s suspension. This is one less thing you will need to worry about when running a weld-on kit.
1. Locked Offroad
Find It OnlineÂ
- Locked Offroad Bump Stop Kit: Check Price
This kit includes mounting brackets, strike pads, two Locked Offroad hydraulic threaded bump stops, and all required mounting hardware. This kit also lets you choose between bump stops with 2 inches of travel and 4 inches of travel. It is also worth noting that Locked offers a one-inch-style mounting sleeve for those looking for a weld-on option.
2. DRT Fabrication
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- DRT Fabrication ADS Kit: Check Price
This kit includes the two ADS hydraulic bump stops, mounting brackets, strike pad, and U-bolt flip kit, making it an all-in-one kit. This is a great option for anyone who hasn’t already invested in a U-Bolt flip kit. Since this kit uses the ADS threaded bump stops, you can adjust your bump stops to optimize your suspension’s up travel and prevent your shocks from bottoming out.
3. Trail Gear
Find it OnlineÂ
- Trail Gear Bump Stop Kit: Check Price
This is another all-in-one kit that comes with mounting brackets, strike pads, bump stops, mounting hardware, and a U-bolt flip kit. Trail Gear states that their unique automatic velocity-sensitive valving technology will save you time by eliminating the need to adjust shim packs and offers their bump stops in 2″, 3″, and 4″ of travel.Â
4. Icon Vehicle Dynamics
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- Icon Bump Stop Kit: Check Price
The kit comes with mounting plates, strike pads, Icon hydraulic bumps, and all necessary mounting hardware. A few things to note, Icon’s website states that these are the industry’s only Toyota Tacoma specific tuned bump stops, and the only kit to allow adjustment to the leaf pack height so no up travel is lost, and states to have a linear-digressive piston which complements a bump stop over the industry’s standard linear-linear piston.Â
5. ADS
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- ADS Bump Stop Kit: Check Price
This ADS kit comes with bolt-on mounting brackets, strike pads, and uses 2.125″ diameter by 2″ travel hydraulic bump stops. ADS states that installation of this kit is a breeze with their bolt-on design and that their advanced damping technology ensures a smooth ride, minimizing shock and vibration for maximum comfort.Â
6. Total Chaos
Two different options are available here.
FOX
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- Total Chaos Bump Stop Kit For Fox: Check Price
These mounting brackets are made by Total Chaos and are made specifically for the FOX 2.0″ diameter by 2.5″ travel bump stops. This kit includes the mounting brackets, strike pad for factory U-bolts, and mounting hardware. Bumps are not included and would need to be purchased separately.
King
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- Total Chaos Bump Stop Kit for King: Check Price
These mounting brackets are made by Total Chaos and are made specifically for the 2.0″ diameter by 2″ travel King bump stops. This kit includes the two mounting brackets, two strike pads for factory U-bolts, and mounting hardware.
7. King
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- King Air Bump Kit: Check Price
This kit comes with brackets, strike pads, two threaded King hydraulic bump stops, and required hardware. The bump stops are 2.0″ in diameter by 2″ of travel, and since this kit also uses threaded bump stops, you can adjust them to your suspension needs.Â
8. TKO Offroad
Find it OnlineÂ
- TKO Bump Stop Kit: Check Price
The TKO Bump stop kits come with two frame bump stop perch plates (fully welded without bump cans), two fully welded axle strike pads (Tacoma models include a bump plate), two stainless steel TKO badges, nine 1/8″ aluminum rivets, and frame caps. You can also add the bump stops on the TKO website, choosing from a few styles.
Final Thoughts
I had already upgraded from the stock rubber pucks that the Tacoma comes with to polyurethane rubber bump stops. That in itself was already a major improvement, but upgrading to hydraulic bump stops was a total game-changer.
I feel safer and more in control while going fast down dirt roads. Even with the extra weight of my rooftop tent and camping gear, you can really feel the rebound damping at work, as there is less bucking in the rear end, and I am no longer being tossed all around inside the cab of the truck. I no longer have to worry about a harsh bottom-out because I know my hydraulic bump stops are there, ready to absorb much of that force.
This is definitely an upgrade I would recommend to anyone. You will not be disappointed with the added benefits on and off-road. And lastly, they look way cooler than those stock rubber bump stops.
My only regret with my current setup is choosing a bolt-on kit versus a weld-on kit. If I could do it all over again, I would take my truck down to Tanner at TKO Offroad. Not only does his weld-on kit provide more benefits when compared to a bolt-on kit, Tanner’s work and welds are a work of art in themselves.
