Hi,
I have a 1998 4runner with the Racerunner coilovers in front. A few weeks ago I was pulling out of my parking spot in front of my apartment and heard a LOUD metal SNAP. So loud a neighbor came running out of the house and said what was that?! I immediately backed right into my parking spot and did not move it. I have been driving my 05 Jeep Rubicon due to financial disaster and was going to wait until after January to get the 4runner fixed if I do get my money in order. Well, yesterday my Jeep tranny burned out....nice 3.5 hour tow in Los Angeles rush hour traffic....

This morning I take my 4runner to the shop, its making banging sounds over any bumps. My mechanic takes it for a test drive and crawls under it, says dude your coil snapped, the lowest coil on the right side snapped/broke?!?!?!? I have owned this 4runner for 2 years and put 20k miles on it commuting to grad school. This year I was going to fix it up (sliders, skids, tires) and start wheeling and camping with it. But due to financial issues parked it. Anyhow I have never wheeled this thing, and just pulling out of a parking spot a freaking coil snaps/breaks??? Is that a common thing? I have owned 4x4s my entire life, this is my first Yota but all my Jeeps with coils I wheel, hunt, trail ride no problems and never heard of a coil snapping???

So.....I am clueless. Money is not good...BUT if I am going to fix this, I will be in it to win it. Meaning I will keep this thing for life so better do it right. If it is possible to just get the coil for the coilover, should I replace both sides just to be safe so they are both "new" with same mileage? Should I replace any other parts on the coilover thingie since they will need to take it out?

What parts do they need to take off to replace the coil on the coilover? It looks like they will be able to unbolt the coilover unit without messing with anything else hopefully is that correct? Last year I had the front axleshafts rebuilt (per advice on here I had the stock Yota ones rebuilt and did not get the chinese aftermarket ones), and someone also advised getting the balljoints done since it has 170k miles. My mechanic only replaced the lower balljoints said the uppers were fine. If they going to need to yank off all those parts again, and if so should I get the upper ball joints done too just to save labor costs in the future?

Should I ditch the Racerunner coil overs and go with another brand that is cheaper if I cannot get just the coil for these ones? Is there another company that is reliable but cheaper than Racerunner? Heck these things cost an arm and a leg and did not hold up....

I see so many people with lifts that have new upper control arms, is that something "should do" when lifting front end and if they need to take them off, should I suck it up on a credit card and get new upper control arms too? Which I guess when tire shopping someone said with new upper control arms I can get 285s and not need wheel spacers?

I am a medically retired cop on disability, and wild as it is because I went to grad school (on my own dime and loans I still have to pay back) and because in the winters I coach NFL combine athletes a few hours a day, a new workers comp case adjuster this summer was googling me and saw me online flexing with NFL guys, and saw on my Linkden I just finished a masters degree. He told me on the phone I "cost too much" and he will do anything to get me off my benefits. I am totally allowed to go to grad school, and even work as long as I do not make over what I made as a cop, but this guy got me cut off my income and medical benefits for 5 months. I reported going to grad school, reported my coaching...but they filed with the state I was working full time and failed to report, which their evidence I "failed to report" was my letters to them reporting it. It is insanity but the fact I worked at all on disability is enough to schedule a hearing and to cut off my paychecks and medical care until I prove I was not working over what I am allowed. Well, I already sent in the 1099s and letters from the employer, but their attorney will not negotiate and instead they are on a witch hunt invading my privacy on Facebook and contacting people thinking I am hiding money. I volunteer my time to sports ministry, I have done that my entire life, but now they are accusing me of making money at Christian sports camps somehow and am hiding that...Until January I am without ZERO income and all my doctors treatments got cut off cold turkey. They only authorize me now to be on high dose vicadin for pain and authorized if I wanted to I can get on Xanax and depression medications. I told them to kiss my a$$ essentially....I do not want to be on harsh drugs for rest of my life and have amazing doctors who use nutrition, physical therapy, supplements, and a chiropractor. No drugs...but all of that stuff costs more than them giving me high dose Vicadin and Xanax....so anyways, I need to get this fixed but the cheapest way possible. I looked up the Racerunner coil overs and they are like $800- $1200 EACH!!! And my mechanic said if I replace one, I better replace both since we do not know how much mileage is on it and if one snapped what if the other one will? I just cannot afford $3k in front end parts, let alone the labor. I called Sway Away but they were closed, and their website says they do not deal with individual customers. I just need to know if I can get the coil by itself cheap...or a pair to replace both?

I am in a bit of a panic here without any transportation to even start coaching again and making some money as I was interviewing today to start coaching NFL and other athletes again....but now no wheels....need this 4runner fixed!!

Thanks for any any help.... Camburg is a distributor for Racerunner and probably a 45 minute drive from me....are they worth taking it to for this or my local mechanic will be fine if I can find the coilover?

I think you would be better off finding someone that just lifted their 4runner and just stick stock in the front for now.. or something of that budget. No offense but if money is as tight as it sounds i dont think it would be wise to drop enough money into coilovers for your front for the time being.. a few months on lower stock suspension for your front end isnt a bad idea.

That said i do have my old pair of assembled front shocks and coils sitting in my garage.. they have about 50k on them

I don't care what their site says, I would still be calling and emailing them until you get a response to see if you can purchase a new coil or maybe get one for free (who knows).

Something was totally screwed up with the spring if it snapped like that and should be in no way your fault. I would contact the company that makes those coils and get a new one, that is some major manufacturing error. You can replace a coilover yourself in an hour if you have (or rent) a spring compressor and have basic tools.

Cool the original owner emailed me and remembers they are 2.5" Sway-a-way racerunner adjustable coilovers for the 96-04 tacomas, they are 13" 650# rating.

If anyone has suggestions on if I can get just the coil part please let me know...and if I should order both sides, and if any other parts need replaced while they are out??

Thanks guys, I did not refresh page to see your response. I will call SWAY AWAY first thing in the morning...

So this is NOT common for a spring on a coilover to just snap, especially when just pulling out of a parking spot??

Blizz..you are in LA? if I cannot get a replacement coil, I might be begging for the stock units you have just so I have wheels...

I looked up the coilovers and if I cannot just get the spring they are freaking expensive...which all the more reason this company should build stuff a little more stout...

Maybe I can get one for free if I get the right person on the phone tomorrow

Yea. snapping coils is not normal at all.

You should be able to purchase just the coil. And im unsure if the warranty would transfer since some warranties like to be voided when ownership is transferred.

I just sent them an email explaining the situation....and will call SWAY AWAY first thing in morning...its 818 # so its close enough to LA maybe they can drop a coil in the mail if they are super cool whether its under warranty or not..I am not bad mouthing them but it would not be good for business if there are discussions about that thing snapping when I have yet to even wheel this 4runner, and just put 20k miles on it driving from LA to OC for grad school, and coaching gigs.....this was the year I wanted to set it up to try to off road and do camping in it....

Glad I wasn't on the 405 going 70mph and have it snap or off roading and snap and maybe lose control....I literally was in first gear letting off the clutch moving it and it snapped on a flat surface.

If not I will call Camburg as they are a distributor see if I can bum a ride to Huntington Beach tomorrow to pick it up...or limp the 4runner down there if they can replace it

Yea im from the valley.. ill be back this friday night but ill also be passing through santa monica/long beach area on sunday on the way back to OC.

OP sounds like you have bigger issues than worrying about the 4runner. If money is that tight. Fix the jeep and sell it, with money left over. Then get used oem springs for the 4runner?

Just my thoughts.

Yes, coil Springs fail. A buddy just had one fall a couple weeks ago. It's usually the very top or bottom wind that snaps for some reason. I doubt they will warranty it because it's a wear and tear part. Sorry this happened to you but it's part of offroading and owning a modified vehicle.

I have a set of Icon coils that will fit your coilovers perfectly if you are interested. I'll cut you a deal since I'm sure camburg is going to want around $80 a coil.

Yup its the very bottom coil....

So all these coilovers are interchangeable? I would not need a SWAY AWAY Racerunner coil at the same right as the other side? Or if I replace it with a pair of coils that are matching I am good to go?

Yea money is tight....but it is what it is, going to have to use credit card for now....Jeep tranny guestimating between $2k-3k....and seems like this coil thing might end up fairly affordable. Will get both fixed and ride it out until January praying I get my pension turned back on...

I am not faking any medical issues, have numerous hospitals verifying major permanent damage from botched surgeries caused by the work comp doctors they choose....and my "fail to report work" evidence is my letters and emails reporting my work to them, and far far below the allowable amount I am permitted to make....its a witch hunt, and its awful to know they probably do this to many disabled cops, fireman, soldiers.....the guy would not document it in email but just said over and over I "cost too much" and kept talking about we need to switch doctors, because my doctor prescribes physical therapy and chiropractor, and supplements....their doctors offer vicadin, percocet, xanax, depression meds, and sleep meds...thats what they want, take the pills its cheaper, live a life as a zombie stoned on addictive and harmful drugs...bad stuff...

yea....the way it went down Im forced to fix both vehicles on credit....was hoping the Jeep would last until January and then I could put tires on the 4runner, sliders, skids and fix the pop whatever it would end up being....is what it is.....

Hoping Sway Away is cool, if I dont get the freebie I will call around for cheapest coil, or pair of coils? Do you guys think its good to replace both so they have same miles and wear on them?

Yes any 3" inside diameter coil spring will fit your 2.5" bodied coilover. You do not need any specific brand, I pulled my icon Springs off to run a heavier King spring. They are interchangeable, let me know if you want the pair I have. Replace both sides at the same time.

Natemob....skimmed your thread on your rig, looks sweet....looks like you have stuff I had on my wish list, Savage full skid package, sliders....and I need new tires and did not consider the size you have, was going to stick with 265/75 17 on the Tundra rims or bump it up to 270/75 or 285s....oh well thats for after January when I hopefully get my pension back!!!

What do you want for your coils, and they are similar to what I have now, 13" 650# rating? So it would be same lift and ride etc?