2026 Toyota HiLux build: Terrain Tamer suspension

The current-model Toyota HiLux has a very good suspension package straight off the showroom floor.

It’s your basic IFS set-up with a live axle on leaf springs at the back and, when you consider the wide range of applications the HiLux is designed to cover, it does an exceptional job. It rides well, carries a load and handles the bumps, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement.

Our 2026 HiLux SR5 won’t be used to carry heavy loads regularly, nor will it be a tow tug, so we were keen to soften up the rear end and sacrifice some of that load-carrying capacity to improve ride quality. The fact is, we didn’t have to lose any load capacity to achieve our goals.

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Why we chose parabolic leaf springs 

Parabolic leaf springs might be relatively new to the touring four-wheel drive scene, but they have been used in trucking and heavy industry for decades.

The leaves used in a parabolic spring pack are unique in that each leaf is thicker through the middle section and tapers towards the ends. This design allows the thinner sections of the spring to do most of the work when there is little load on them, but as load is added the thicker section of the leaf comes into play, providing extra support and control.

With the popularity of four-wheel drive utes in Australia, almost all of which use leaf springs on the rear axle, parabolic leaf packs have become more popular with drivers wanting a better ride and improved driving manners from their vehicle. They are also popular for builds and restorations of classic 4x4s that use leaf springs front and rear.

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Terrain Tamer has jumped right into parabolic springs and offers an extensive range for most popular 4x4s that use leaf springs. It was only natural that we would find our way back to Terrain Tamer HQ for a set of parabolic springs and a full suspension upgrade for our HiLux.

As well as improving the ride of the unladen ute, we wanted additional ground clearance for off-road use, and a full replacement suspension package matched front to rear is the best and easiest way to achieve that.

We say unladen because the HiLux won’t be used to carry anything near its full payload, but it does carry a fair few accessories in the back, including an Ironman canopy and roof rack, MSA drawers and a Projecta power system that includes a pair of lithium batteries mounted at the rear of the tub. All of those items needed to be considered when selecting the springs and shocks for the 4×4.

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Fitting the new suspension set-up 

Tony runs the workshop at Terrain Tamer and has worked on most of our project vehicles and some of our personal 4x4s.

He knows Toyota 4x4s inside out and could probably replace the suspension in the HiLux blindfolded but, being the first 2026 SR5 he’d had on the hoist, it did throw up a couple of little niggles – nothing he couldn’t overcome.

Specifically, the alcove created in the cargo tub to accommodate the rear access steps on the SR5 sits very close to the rear bolt on the leaf springs, meaning they can’t be removed as easily as they should be. This meant undoing the fasteners on the alcove and dropping it out of the way to gain access to the bolts. Nothing major, but it did add some extra time to the install. Aside from that detail, the rear springs, Terrain Tamer Fortified shock absorbers (↗), new shackles and hardware all went in with little fanfare.

It was a similar story up front, where the pre-assembled struts with taller and heavier coil springs and Fortified shocks were a straightforward install. There was also a change here, as the ninth-generation HiLux uses a four-bolt strut top as opposed to the three-bolt top on eighth-generation HiLuxes. Once the 4×4 was back on the ground and all bolts checked and torqued to spec, Tony reset the headlight height adjuster and measured the new ride heights against the OEM set-up.

All up, the front end of the HiLux sat 35mm higher than when we drove it in, while the rear end was 90mm higher. This gave the 4×4 a nose-down stance, but it has settled considerably and is now closer to level. We’ll be heading back to the workshop shortly for the 1000km spanner check now that everything has settled.

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How the HiLux now drives on and off road 

One of the benefits of getting the work done at Terrain Tamer’s workshop is that we were able to take the HiLux straight out onto its in-house off-road test track.

Here, the suspension displayed nice, compliant articulation across the mounds and humps while maintaining the excellent rear-axle movement Toyotas are known for. Out on the road, the extra compliance in the rear end was instantly appreciated. The parabolic springs softened the ride over rough roads without sacrificing control or stability.

We’ve had the HiLux out on the highway and bush tracks supporting a few jobs now, where the suspension is working well with the Radar R/T tyres to give great control across corrugations, ruts and bumps. In fact, the tyres really come into their own once you leave sealed roads.

Our aims of improving ride quality and increasing the ride height of the HiLux were achieved with the Terrain Tamer suspension upgrade, and it feels like it’s getting better the more miles we put on it.

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FAQs

How much does the suspension kit cost?

The RRP for the SK125F Suspension Kit (↗) is $3897.06.

Why did we fit parabolic leaf springs to the HiLux?

We wanted to soften the rear end and improve ride quality without losing load-carrying capacity.

What are parabolic leaf springs?

Parabolic springs use leaves that are thicker through the middle section and taper towards the ends, allowing the thinner sections to do most of the work when lightly loaded while providing extra support as load is added.

How much did we increase the HiLux’s ride height?

The front end sat 35mm higher and the rear end 90mm higher than the OEM set-up immediately after installation. The suspension has since settled considerably and is now closer to level.

What suspension did we fit to the HiLux?

We fitted parabolic rear springs, Terrain Tamer Fortified shock absorbers, new shackles and hardware, plus pre-assembled front struts with taller and heavier coil springs and Fortified shocks.

How does the HiLux ride after the suspension upgrade?

We found the parabolic springs softened the ride over rough roads without sacrificing control or stability, while the suspension is working well with the Radar R/T tyres across corrugations, ruts and bumps.