Best Suspension Upgrade for the Money

MarkBlack

MarkBlack

New member
So this is a topic I’ve seen over and over. The debate goes on and on. And I would just like to clarify a few things.

I just bought my 97 4runner and it has stock suspension. I want something that feels like it’s floating over speed bumps.

I’m thinking the best and cheapest option is 6122 in the front and the 5100 in the back.

However I keep reading that coil overs stiffen the ride. Is that only if you have them at max hight? I don’t care about lift. I want something that feels like long travel.

Is it worth it to get the Kings, or icons? Or will the 6112s be good enough.

I don’t want to get the 6112s and regret it.
So for guys who have the 6112 do love it? Or did you settle for the cheaper option.

Thank you for the replies!
 
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MarkBlack said:
So this is a topic I’ve seen over and over. The debate goes on and on. And I would just like to clarify a few things.

I just bought my 97 4runner and it has stock suspension. I want something that feels like it’s floating over speed bumps.

I’m thinking the best and cheapest option is 6122 in the front and the 5100 in the back.

However I keep reading that coil overs stiffen the ride. Is that only if you have them at max hight? I don’t care about lift. I want something that feels like long travel.

Is it worth it to get the Kings, or icons? Or will the 6112s be good enough.

I don’t want to get the 6112s and regret it.
So for guys who have the 6112 do love it? Or did you settle for the cheaper option.

Thank you for the replies!
Click to expand...
For what it's worth there are 2 versions of 6112's that will fit: a 3rd gen 4Runner specific and a 1st gen Tundra specific. The 3rd gen 4Runner 6112's have a softer coil spring rate (550 lbs/in) vs 1st gen Tundra 6112's (650 lbs/in) so they will ride better without any extra front end weight like an aftermarket bumper, winch, and skid plates. Lower height settings will ride better as well.
 
"For the money" really spends on your budget and goals, and also what you're willing to get rid of in the process. A very good suspension setup can be had for in the neighborhood of 600$ all said and done, but you can't just order it all online and be done with it.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk
 
MarkBlack said:
So this is a topic I’ve seen over and over. The debate goes on and on. And I would just like to clarify a few things.

I just bought my 97 4runner and it has stock suspension. I want something that feels like it’s floating over speed bumps.

I’m thinking the best and cheapest option is 6122 in the front and the 5100 in the back.

However I keep reading that coil overs stiffen the ride. Is that only if you have them at max hight? I don’t care about lift. I want something that feels like long travel.

Is it worth it to get the Kings, or icons? Or will the 6112s be good enough.

I don’t want to get the 6112s and regret it.
So for guys who have the 6112 do love it? Or did you settle for the cheaper option.

Thank you for the replies!
Click to expand...

I run 5100 in my 5th gen 4th gen, 3rd gen and my tundra and it was the best change I made on my suspension. The 4th really drives great on the road and handles fabulous on fire roads. The 3rd gen had to get new springs n bushings because they were old as the vehicle. So if u have a 97 be prepared to replace some other stock suspension parts as you upgrade to new high performance struts shocks which point out weakness in other places.
 
Last edited:
Okay thanks for the warning on the extra suspension parts. I think ive decided to go with the 4runner 6112's and upgrade other suspension parts. Going to 4wheel parts to get the low down on everything I need!
 
If you want it to feel like you're floating over speed bumps good luck with the 6112s. Bilstein makes nice shocks believe me. I have them on my truck but the 6112 series couldn't begin to be compared to a king coilover.
 
I have 6112's in the front with 5100's with OME coils in the rear. Absolutely an upgrade from stock. I definitely don't feel like I'm floating going over speed bumps. Still lots of road feel. Really good bang for your buck. Also a factor is the tire you will be running and the type of terrain you'll be on. So many options make your head spin.

If you are going to lift, definitely budget in the panhard correction kit.

Would I recommend the 6112's and 5100's, yes. If you can wait for a black Friday sale, then even better.

But I have never ridden in someones ride with Kings. Hear they are worth it...
 
808Waterman said:
I have 6112's in the front with 5100's with OME coils in the rear. Absolutely an upgrade from stock. I definitely don't feel like I'm floating going over speed bumps. Still lots of road feel. Really good bang for your buck. Also a factor is the tire you will be running and the type of terrain you'll be on. So many options make your head spin.

If you are going to lift, definitely budget in the panhard correction kit.

Would I recommend the 6112's and 5100's, yes. If you can wait for a black Friday sale, then even better.

But I have never ridden in someones ride with Kings. Hear they are worth it...
Click to expand...

808Waterman,

What perch are you running the 6112's on, what OME coils are you using and how much lift did you get?

I've been searching like crazy to get info on this lift or something similar with possibly the 5160 in the back.
 
VernySanders said:
If you want it to feel like you're floating over speed bumps good luck with the 6112s. Bilstein makes nice shocks believe me. I have them on my truck but the 6112 series couldn't begin to be compared to a king coilover.
Click to expand...

Obviously I was exaggerating on the floating.
But you answered my question. Get the Kings lol.
 
looks Like I’m going to be running the Stage 1 icon extended travel coil overs! And the icon rear shocks! I’m so stoked!! I love this community!
 
MarkBlack said:
Obviously I was exaggerating on the floating.
But you answered my question. Get the Kings lol.
Click to expand...

MarkBlack said:
looks Like I’m going to be running the Stage 1 icon extended travel coil overs! And the icon rear shocks! I’m so stoked!! I love this community!
Click to expand...

I think you just need to look at your needs and uses for the truck, as well as your expectations for maintenance costs and wrenching time.

I've built a lot of trucks and ran Fox 2.5's with DSC's and resi's, Icon 2.5's with resi's, OME stuff, Bilstein 5100's, and now have Bilstein 6112's on my 3rd gen. I wrote a small review in my build thread you might find interesting.

Kings/Icons/Fox/ADS etc will perform better than the Bilsteins. They will also squeak more and need more maintenance which comes at a physical cost (repalcement parts) and time (yours or the shop you're paying to rebuild/repair them). Is it worth it? Depends on your uses and needs.

Check post #66 in my build thread HERE.

GL!
 
rickashay said:
I think you just need to look at your needs and uses for the truck, as well as your expectations for maintenance costs and wrenching time.

I've built a lot of trucks and ran Fox 2.5's with DSC's and resi's, Icon 2.5's with resi's, OME stuff, Bilstein 5100's, and now have Bilstein 6112's on my 3rd gen. I wrote a small review in my build thread you might find interesting.

Kings/Icons/Fox/ADS etc will perform better than the Bilsteins. They will also squeak more and need more maintenance which comes at a physical cost (repalcement parts) and time (yours or the shop you're paying to rebuild/repair them). Is it worth it? Depends on your uses and needs.

Check post #66 in my build thread HERE.

GL!
Click to expand...

So I just purchase the Icon stage 1 extended travel kit with 2.5" front coil overs, and 2" rear shocks. Along with the set of tubular upper control arms for extended travel and alignment correction. Upgraded hardware from All pro for the upper control arms. An All Pro diff drop kit. Toytec superflex rear springs, a weld on EMK panhard correction kit, and new oem rear shock bolts!

Im debating tackling the job myself or I can get a shop to do it for $450. Do you guys think this is something a novice can do on their own? I dont want to do it, and mess it up and waste all the money I just spent.
 
Replace bushings. To me, that's the best bang for the buck. Cheap, but takes a good amount of time/effort to install. I installed KYB shocks in mine. They're good, but a bit stiff. I would inspect the strut mounts too.
 
MarkBlack said:
So I just purchase the Icon stage 1 extended travel kit with 2.5" front coil overs, and 2" rear shocks. Along with the set of tubular upper control arms for extended travel and alignment correction. Upgraded hardware from All pro for the upper control arms. An All Pro diff drop kit. Toytec superflex rear springs, a weld on EMK panhard correction kit, and new oem rear shock bolts!

Im debating tackling the job myself or I can get a shop to do it for $450. Do you guys think this is something a novice can do on their own? I dont want to do it, and mess it up and waste all the money I just spent.
Click to expand...

Nice! That's a pretty solid setup. Depends on how handy you are... it's a pretty basic job but you will need a welder for the Eimkeith PCK.
 
MarkBlack said:
Im debating tackling the job myself or I can get a shop to do it for $450. Do you guys think this is something a novice can do on their own? I dont want to do it, and mess it up and waste all the money I just spent.
Click to expand...

Would definitely recommend doing your own suspension work. There's good youtube videos on it. Usually when you start modifying a vehicle, or maintaining an older one, there's going to be a lot of unplanned tweaking, adjusting, fine tuning, replacing other parts you didn't know needed replacing, etc. If you have to take it into a shop every time something is needed it, the total cost will add up & will seem like it's not worth keeping anymore. It's a labor of love but the benefit is you get to learn the platform.

3rd Gen T4R DIY Maintenance, Repair and Modification Videos

As far as welding, that may be something worth finding a qualified person to do if you don't have any experience with it.
 
MarkBlack said:
Obviously I was exaggerating on the floating.
But you answered my question. Get the Kings lol.
Click to expand...

Yeah if you look up Opt Offroad on YouTube hes got kings on his 3rd gen with a BTF fab front long travel kit amongst a bunch of other sick upgrades but you can really see how much those kings can flex watching his videos. In one he get prolly 10 ft of air at some sand dunes and lands without a problem lol
 
Figured I would share where im at so far. Got new UCA, 2.5 Icon extended travel coilovers, Icon 2.0 rear shocks, toytec superflex coils, and extended the panhard bar.
 

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rickashay said:
I've built a lot of trucks and ran Fox 2.5's with DSC's and resi's, Icon 2.5's with resi's, OME stuff, Bilstein 5100's, and now have Bilstein 6112's on my 3rd gen. I wrote a small review in my build thread you might find interesting.

Kings/Icons/Fox/ADS etc will perform better than the Bilsteins. They will also squeak more and need more maintenance which comes at a physical cost (repalcement parts) and time (yours or the shop you're paying to rebuild/repair them). Is it worth it? Depends on your uses and needs.

Check post #66 in my build thread HERE.
Click to expand...

When you wrote you initial review of the Tundra 6112/650# in your build thread, I'm assuming that was with a stock front end?

Looking back would you still recommend 650# on Tundra 6112 with a stock front?

How would you compare your previous TRD Tundra coil/5100s to the Tundra 6112/650#? Was there anything you liked better about the TRD Tundra coil/5100 over the Tundra 6112/650#?

When you had the higher end Kings/Fox/Icons/ ADS, how long/miles did they last before you had to be serviced/rebuilt? Where did the squeaking come from?
 
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