Sulastic Rubber Springs and Tundra Bed Bounce
Jason Lancaster | Mar 26, 2010 | Comments 19
Many Tundra owners have found that their truck suffers from something we call “bed bounce,” which can be very pronounced and uncomfortable for some Tundra owners at highway speeds.
Note that we emphasized the word ‘some.’ Many Tundra owners report their trucks ride perfectly fine, while others say the ride is very harsh. Here at TundraHeadquarters, we’ve noticed an overall decline in the number of complaints after the 2008 model year, which might seem to indicate that 09′ and 10′ Tundras don’t have the same problem.
If your Tundra suffers from bed bounce, there are a few solutions. First, it seems that changing shocks can mitigate bed bounce. We’ve also found that the spare tire can have a damping effect if it’s mounted with a foam pad. Finally, we’ve profiled a commercial treatment for the problem known as the Willy Bar. Today, we’d like to add one more item to the list – Sulastic Rubber Springs.
Based on test data forwarded to us from Spectrum Technologies, Inc., Sulastic’s Rubber Springs are a legitimate option for Tundra owners dealing with bed bounce. Spectrum specializes in NVH (that’s noise, vibration, and harshness), which means they’re fully capable of testing a Tundra with bed bounce.
The report shows that Sulastic’s rubber isolators – which mount between the rear leafs and the frame – are an effective treatment:
The Sulastic Isolators made a significant difference in the overall performance of the Tundra. The Sulastic isolators significantly reduced the impact harshness over potholes, railroad crossings and broken pavement. The Sulastic isolators reduced “highway Hop” by 50 percent.
Sulastic has created a video that shows how their system works in the real world (only the music they’ve chosen is pretty lame)…
A set of Sulastic springs cost about $500, which makes this option seem comparable to the Willy Bar in terms of price (more on that later). However, unlike the Willy Bar, Sulastic’s system won’t diminish your effective payload or reduce your fuel economy like adding hundreds of pounds of weight to your truck’s bed. Sulastic also claims that, in the time since their springs were tested by Spectrum, the springs been re-tuned them and are now even more effective than before.
Sulastic Springs can be mounted on your Tundra pretty easily if you have the right tools. If not, your local shop or dealership shouldn’t charge more than a couple hours of labor. They don’t effect your factory warranty (no after-market parts will effect your truck’s warranty), and Sulastic says they should last about 10 years with normal use.
We found some reviews of Sulastic’s kit for the Tundra on TundraSolutions (here and here), and the feedback isn’t too exciting. Most of the people who have tried it weren’t too impressed. HOWEVER, it’s important to note that Sulastic recommends buying new shocks to go along with your new Sulastic springs/isolators, and based on the forum posts it doesn’t look like those Tundra owners added both Sulastic’s kit and a new set of shocks.
SO, if you buy a softer set of adjustable shocks for the rear plus a set of Sulastics, Spectrum’s testing says that you’ll see a pretty sizable reduction in the bed bounce problem.
Here’s What We Like:
- Sulastic’s kit doesn’t reduce payload capacity like adding sand bags or the Willy Bar
- The report from Spectrum said that Sulastic’s kit improved vehicle stability and reduced lean while cornering
- The report says that bed vibrations were reduced
Here’s What We Don’t Like:
- $500 is a lot of money for a set of rubber springs
- Sulastic warns the springs aren’t completely effective unless you buy a new set of shocks to go with them
Bottom Line: Until we drive a set of Sulastics, we’ll reserve judgment. However, if you’re desperate for a solution and don’t like adding weight the bed of your truck (the cheapest and easiest way to “solve” the problem), Sulastic’s kit might be worth trying. On the other hand, $500 for the springs + new shocks + installation = more than the Willybar, another kit that’s been shown to reduce Tundra bed bounce.
Anyone with first-hand experience of Sulastic’s kit, please comment below.
Filed Under: Toyota Tundra Accessories
sorry, no real world use of this product or the willybar. I looked on the willybar website and it seems to be 400lbs. being pretty expensive over 400 bucks as well. Couldn’t cost much over 100 bucks tops to get a thick piece of flat scrap iron, drill a couple holes on the ends for eye bolts and strap it to the back end inside bed hooks. I really cannot see anyone spending 500 bucks on either product. Instead, more like four 70lb. tubes of sand at 3 bucks each in the back would do the trick, but gas mileage would suck probably 1 less mpg tops. Either that, or why buy a 1/2 ton truck to get a cadillac ride although I do agree, but can deal with it, the tundra has more of a so-called ‘bed bounce’ than any of the other Big 3 mfgs. 1/2 ton trucks.
Seems intresting. I need the bounce first in order to try it.
[…] Rubber Springs Has anyone tried these to stop bed bounce?Sulastic Rubber Springs and Tundra Bed Bounce | Tundra Headquarters __________________ […]
Jason: This must have been sitting in your IN-box for quite a while – the Tundra Solution links go to threads that haven’t had a post in almost 2 years. : )
You’re right on about the downside – I have a 2010 DC and get some teeth-rattling bouncing on some concrete sections of freeway here in the Los Angeles/SoCal area. But, it doesn’t bug me enough to shell out $500-$600 for something that others have found to be ineffective.
TerryM – Guilty as charged. I have a pile that I go to for story ideas, and this was pretty far down. I think it works better than nothing, but mk’s idea to buy a few bags of sand makes the most sense to me.
Hey MK – if you had bed bounce you’d be looking for a solution and a $500 working solution would make you happy. It’s not about Cadillac ride. There is literally a nasty, annoying vibration from the bed that jars your teeth. It has happened to me in certain areas of southern California near L.A. Had I lived anywhere near there and had to deal with it on a daily basis, I would be unhappy. No one wants to haul extra weight that doesn’t belong in the bed with sand bags, etc. =) And over time you’d have to calculate if that saves more than a functional option. Let’s just all be happy we don’t experience it and the complaints have decreased.
LOL… I just bought a 2012 that I can’t drive b/c the bed bounce is so pronounced that my eyes blur from 45-95mph.
The main problem of the Tundra is the harmonic frecuency of 7 MHZ that is reached between the 65 to 80 mph, the distance between the expansion joints determine the speed, That vibration affects the comfort of the driver and all the parts of the vehicle, Sulastic already did a set up of the system with a stock shackles and only with the installation of the sulastic system the problem of the harmonic vibration is solved.
Read a testimonial on http://tundrageeks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=309
Roberto – I adjusted your comment because it was a little too “ad-like.” BTW, now that Toyota has provided a fix for this issue, what reason do we have to buy the rubber springs? Not saying they don’t have value, just curious to hear your response.
Jason,
What is the fix that Toyota has that voids Sulastic springs?
Miles – It doesn’t void the value of sulastic springs, but it does address some of the bed bounce complaints – check out this post for more info: https://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2010/09/20/toyota-finally-addresses-bed-bounce/
The new cab dampers of Toyota don’t actually fix the frequency resonance issue. Sulastic springs do, so Toyota “fix” (only damps)do not voids Sulastic Springs
I have a 07 Tundra and I had it serviced to reduce the bed bounce and but a fraction of it went away. All they did was swap the rubber stopper or bushings if that’s what it’s called. On certain hiways and roads, the bed bounce is more pronounce. I find it annoying because during the bed bounce, my leg to the gas pedel bounces along with it. Not really safe! Until we find a real solution, I say live with it because Toyota won’t fix the problem. I wish Toyota would step up to its’ name and fix the problem. So disappointing!
Nick,
Have you checked back with the dealer about the issue? What did they say?
-Tim
I haven’t checked back but all i know is that that’s all they could do for me. Do you know something I don’t?
Nick,
Not really. Sounds like the dealer switching the bushings was part of the TSB Toyota offered a while back (https://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2010/09/20/toyota-finally-addresses-bed-bounce/). As that article states, the Tundra should ride very similar to all pickups under the same conditions.
Unfortunately, we don’t see Toyota spending any more resources on this issue. Frankly, it seems that they don’t see it as an isolated issue affecting all Toyota Trucks when other manufacture’s truck ride the same way. Now, the newer Toyota Tundra reportedly don’t “bounce” as much, but that is likely more about model year improvements more than anything else.Overall, with more and more consumers using trucks in the place of mini-vans, the ride quality will simply keep improving as manufactures build vehicles for this demographic.
As the post above states, there are several different solutions you might try from the relatively inexpensive putting foam around the spare to changing shocks. Have you tried any of the above solutions?
-Tim
No I haven’t tried the the above but am thinking about it. I’ll update once I try it. Thanks.
Does anyone know if the Sulastic rubber spring solution accomodates for the fact that the toyota tundras leaf springs are mounted THROUGH the frame and do not actually have attached leaf spring mounts? Based on reading the discussions and the products i’ve seen in the video above, there would not be room for the Sulastic rubber springs to actually fit. Thoughts? Concerns Points of order?
Follow the next link http://tundrageeks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=309 , there are good pictures showing the product installed.