Original post by Bryce Campbell of TrailTundra
SUPERSPRINGS SUMOSPRINGS REAR BUMP STOP UPGRADE FOR 2ND GEN (2007-2021) TOYOTA TUNDRA – DETAILED INSTALLATION GUIDE, REVIEW & OVERVIEW
Besides your driver’s seat and steering wheel, your Tundra’s suspension is likely the part of your truck that you feel the most. Given the capability of our trucks, especially with regard to payload and towing, it’s no surprise that many people experience suspension sag, sway, and/or increased bounce.
Whether you’re hauling a bed rack and rooftop tent, a few sheets of plywood, or towing a camper, the leaf springs underneath our trucks are under immense stress. Throw in some off-road driving or poorly maintained streets, and you have a recipe for spinal aggravation! Maybe it’s time you consider upgrading your bump stops.
WHAT ARE SUPERSPRINGS SUMOSPRINGS?
SuperSprings SumoSprings are polyurethane bump stop replacements that physically replace the factory bump stops. As your rear suspension compresses, they provide much-needed consistent resistance to prevent harsh bottom-outs and let your truck’s suspension respond more appropriately.
The compression resistance helps reduce side-to-side sway, negates excessive bouncing, and virtually eliminates rear-end sag. In my case specifically, my truck sagged noticeably with a bed rack and rooftop tent permanently mounted. After installing a set of SuperSprings SumoSprings, that sag was eliminated entirely.
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INSTALLATION FOR 2ND GEN TUNDRA
Though this installation does require removing both rear wheels (and may appear technical), both sides can quickly be done within 45 minutes. Ensure you have replacement U-bolts (if you have old/damaged ones – I replaced mine with a set from Toytec) and at least two jack stands. And, always use redundancy when jacking up your truck.
Tools & Materials
- 19mm socket (axle U-bolt nuts)
- 22mm socket (wheel lug nuts)
- Socket wrench/impact gun
- Breaker bar and/or torque wrench
- Jack and jack stand(s)
- Blue Loctite (included with kit)
- (8) 9/16 x 2-1/2 x 7-1/2 U-bolts
- Wheel chocks
STEP 1. LIFT THE REAR OF YOUR TRUCK
Begin by placing your truck on a level surface. Chock the front tires and engage the parking brake.
Once in the air (with the e-brake applied), loosen the wheel lug nuts with your 22mm socket wrench and breaker bar (but do not entirely remove them). Begin lifting the rear of your truck by the axle (to prevent the suspension from drooping on the side you’re working on).
Once the wheel is no longer making contact with the ground, place a jack stand underneath the axle and lower the truck onto it. Use your hydraulic jack as a safety by raising it, so it barely makes contact.
STEP 2. REMOVE REAR WHEEL
Altogether remove the lug nuts and place them aside. Remove the wheel and place it underneath the frame rail as another failsafe.
STEP 3. REMOVING FACTORY U-BOLT
With the truck on the ground, crawl underneath and undo the two U-bolts holding the leaf spring to the axle bracket using your 19mm socket wrench. Once the nuts are removed, the U-bolts will hang off the leaf springs. Be sure to save your washers and nuts.
The U-bolts may need to be replaced, so you can dispose of the stock set if so. When the U-bolts are manufactured, the threads are rolled (not cut), and they can distort when torqued, especially over time. Mine were worn and needed replacing. I ordered a replacement set from Toytec Lifts, but you could always purchase a set from your local suspension or frame shop.
STEP 4. REMOVE THE FACTORY BUMP STOP
With the U-bolts and axle bracket removed and loose, wiggle the factory bump stop out.
STEP 5. INSTALL THE NEW BUMP STOP BRACKET
Now, unscrew the SumoSpring from the metal bracket it’s attached to. Place the SumoSpring bracket on the leaf spring in the same position as the factory bump stop. Using the U-bolts (new or used), attach the axle bracket back on and hand-tighten the nuts. Position the bracket so that the SumoSpring itself will contact the same area as the factory bump stop. This should be pretty easy to center.
STEP 6. INSTALL SUPERSPRINGS SUMOSPRINGS
Apply the included blue Loctite to the SuperSprings SumoSprings bracket screw and screw on the new bump stop. Hand-tighten only and do not use tools. Remember that blue Loctite has a 24-hour cure time, so try to minimize heavy use during that period. Torque the axle U-bolts to 74ft/lbs with a torque wrench.
Remember to retorque the U-bolts after 200 miles.
With the new bump stop attached to the bracket and the bracket attached to the leaf spring, put the wheel back on and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
Remove the jack stand and slowly lower the truck back to the ground. Torque specifications differ depending on your wheels.
- Factory steel wheels – Torque each lug nut to 154ft/lbs in a star pattern
- Factory aluminum wheels – Torque to 97ft/lbs in a star pattern
WHAT TO EXPECT – REVIEW & IMPRESSIONS
My truck constantly has hundreds of pounds of weight in the bed with a rack and rooftop tent. On top of that, my factory leaf springs have 180,000 harsh miles on them. I’ve found that the SuperSprings SumoSprings have restored a factory ride to an otherwise bogged-down rear end.
You’ll notice the first change when you finally get them installed as soon as you hit the road. If your truck sagged before, like mine, that is now a thing of the past. As soon as you get in and leave your driveway, you’ll feel it on the first bump. I was genuinely shocked at how much of a difference the SumoSprings made. Small bumps are firm, not harsh, and without the bounciness, I experienced before.
Even with hundreds of pounds in my bed and 180,000 miles on my factory leaf springs, my truck now feels like it has just left the showroom. There is no endless bouncing when I cross a set of train tracks and less sway when I accelerate around a bend on the interstate on-ramp. In short, my truck, with constant weight in the bed, feels as though all the weight has disappeared.
As for off-road performance, you might anticipate that something designed to eliminate sag and bouncing would harshen your off-road ride. However, I’ve found that it does the exact opposite, especially on a Tundra with well-used leaf springs. Obviously, I haven’t gained suspension travel, but I certainly haven’t lost any. Bottoming out still occurs, though much more gently. Make no mistake, SuperSprings SumoSprings will not make your truck ride like a long-travel whoop cruiser. In fact, in some instances, it may ride harsher, such as with an empty bed. But they will absolutely soften the blow from your truck’s added weight, whether it’s a rooftop tent, a bed rack, tongue weight from a trailer, or even worn leaf springs.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The benefits to a set of SuperSprings SumoSprings are simple: no more squatting, alleviating excessive bouncing, practically eliminating side-to-side sway, an easy DIY install, and a limited lifetime warranty. I’d highly recommend them to anyone whose Tundra is under added pressure.
Use our application guide to see what we have for your vehicle.
