Hi

So i eventually managed to get the new springs and Daystar spacers in but now the KYB shocks are to short.
I can jack up the axel, compressing the spring and then the shocks will fit but i don't know if thats a good idea?

What should i do...
Take off the Daystar Spacers?
Or
Compress the spring so that the shocks will fit?

Thanks in advance...

Need some more details on the springs and shocks? Do you have part numbers?

Mike

Moog Springs 81041
KYB Gas Adjust Shocks KG54317

How thick are the spacers. When you drop the truck down with rear springs under load, are the shocks still too short.?

Not 100% sure on this, but you could have the wrong springs. Those springs are only listed to work on 96-00 4runners, and then change to the 81043 for 01-02 4runners. I'm sure if that's the issue, but it's worth looking into since you have an 01.

Mike

Thanks for the input Mike...
Let me clarify.
The Springs are fine and the shocks fit IF I remove the 1.5 inch spacer.
With the spacer on the spring the shock is not long enough.

I can make the shock fit by jacking the axel up which compresses the spring...
My question is, is it ok to make the shock fit by compressing the spring.

Thanks
Theo

Those Moog springs have the dimensions of the '99 Limited springs, which give about 1" of extra height over any other stock spring. Combine that with 1.5" spacers and your in the neighborhood of a 2.5" lift, which is what's stretching the shock to it's limit. Is the brake flex line being stretched tight as well?

If you compress the spring to get the shocks on, your going to kill the shocks quickly because they will be constantly being extended to their max length. They're basically becoming a limiting strap for the suspension.

You'll need longer shocks to keep the spacers installed if you want a properly functioning rear suspension.

It looks like you have 2 options.

(1) ditch the silly spacers and let the suspension function properly
(2) get rear shocks that are designed to work with a 2-3" lift

For what it's worth, I used the same moog springs on my 'runner, mainly at the time as a cheap way to hold me over until I'd get a OME suspension. I'm at 1 1/2 years with the springs and they still work fine and they have not sagged. I'm not getting rid of them now!

It’s all relative....

It’s expected that your springs will have some preload when the shocks are fully extended. Otherwise the springs may fall out when you fully extend the suspension.

The nuance is “how much preload”.

Given that your running OEM spec coils and OEM spec shocks + a 1.5 inch spacer, Id expect your preload to be 1.5 inches more than factory spec.

Everyone who’s ever installed such spacers as a lift option would experience the same preload scenario.

Agreed

Thanks for all the advice...
Last nite I was contemplating getting longer shocks to keep the extra height but judging by the replies it's a bad idea.

So I'm going to take off the spacer's and live with the lower ride...

Good choice.

I personal wouldn't listen to the ones that are telling you it's fine. The idea behind getting an OEM length shock it to match it with the OEM length spring. While you do have an OEM length spring you don't have the corresponding length shock for the taller spring. It would be fine IF you have the tall shocks to match the tall springs. But, essentially your shocks are at minimum an inch short.

Mike

To me, “keep the extra height” is an odd statement, as well as your comments in the OP about jacking up the axle.

The shocks wouldn’t allow “extra height” unless they were so short they held the springs compressed more than the static ride height.
I can’t imagine that’s the case.

It sounds to me like you have the frame on stands and the axle hanging.

But you probably took it apart.... Did you not then have to remove the shocks to allow the axle to drop down low enough to remove the stock coils?
In that scenario you still would need to compress the springs to install the shocks.

Whatever you choose, when your done you need to set the rig on the ground before tightening the bolts for the upper and lower track bars. Hopefully you loosened the bolts prior to letting the axle hang with no shocks.

And hopefully your not stretching your brake line(s) and brake cable too bad.

You should have to jack up the axle at least a little bit to get the shocks on in the rear... A 1.5-2.5" lift in the rear is not too much for stock length shocks to handle.

While you are at it, loosen all of the pivot bolts for the links (10 places) and re-tighten once you are back on the ground at ride height. It makes getting the springs/suspension assembly easier to put together and keep the bushings 'relaxed' at the new ride height.

-Charlie

Sorry to hi jack this thread but.... what if you don’t change the spring and put a 1.5 to 2” spacer will it be ok for the original rear shock? Or gotta go longer?


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People install 1-2” lifts, coils or spacers, all the time with stock length shocks.
It’s as ok as lifting a rig ever is.