I have a 2002 Limited 4x4 Auto with 175K. I live in the Northwoods of Maine so a good amount of time is spent on dirt roads; I'd say it's about 50/50 dirt vs paved. Weekly I drag a light trailer to the dump (2000# max, but usually a lot less). The suspension is original and pretty tired. It actually feels worst on Maine's poorly maintained paved roads. I'm going to need tires soon too, so I figured I'd replace all this all at once.

My 2 sons each have 3rd gens which they purchased in the last 3 or 4 years. One is a 2002 Sport Edition, 4x4, Automatic. He installed OME suspension with 33s. The other is a 1998, SR5, 4x4, manual, with stock suspension.

The OME gives an impressive ride on the dirt roads but I don't need all the lift the OME/33s combo provides. I love the way the '98 sits. His is sitting on stock '98 suspension and 265/75R16 Cooper tires. It "only" has 130K miles. So, lots of years holding that body up, but not so many miles bouncing around on dirt roads.

Anyway, I'd like to end up with a stance and ride close to the '98, which I think is about 1"-1.5" taller than my 02 sits now. I'm kinda locked in on the 99 talls for the coils. From what I've read, the 99 talls are a little taller than the stock '98 springs he's running, but not much (correct me if I'm wrong). Below is the general setup I'm considering but have choices still to make. I'd appreciate any feedback from folks who have used 99 talls on an 02 Ltd or similar.

Looking to achieve:
Ride: Stock-ish
Lift: 1"-1.5"

Coils: 99 talls on all 4 corners
Shocks: Bilsteins 4600? or 5100? or Tokico blacks?
Tires: 265/75R16?

That is a good setup because it is close to stock and most things will last longer on these old 3rd gens. The diffs definitely wear faster with big heavier tires. I run the same tires with eibach springs front and rear. My Eibach are slightly stiffer and taller than stock in the rear so the truck doesn't sag especially when 2 100+lbs dogs are in the rear. I have 4600 bilsteins on the 3rd gen for over a year and offroad it is a night and day improvement over stock. Offroad my 5100 ride better on our 5th and 4th gen 4 runners but that has more to do with the size weight and updated suspension parts than shocks.

I put a set of 99 springs on my '97 + a 1" body lift. At the time I didn't have the $ for new shocks so I kept the stockers and ran them for a few years. This combo will accommodate 285/75-16's.
4 years ago I moved and to facilitate hauling lots of stuff, I got a set of Gabriel hijacker air shocks in the rear. They've held up surprisingly well. Still running and happy with the 285's (duratracs).

Thanks. I was not sure how well 4600's "fit" 99 talls. But, it sounds like you have '99 talls and 4600's on one of your 3rd gens and that combo works well.

Thanks for the reply. My son's 2002 has an OME lift (no body lift) and the same Duratracs. He loves the combo. I'm 61 and occasionally it's a little tough for me to get in and out of his truck, especially when on uneven terrain. He's on his second set of Duratracs but got 60K out of the first set! My wife has K02s on her totally stock 5th gen and they seem to be good too. They seem a but harder riding than the Duratracs, but it's a totally different setup so hard to tell.

I drove '99 Talls for 15 years. I still have them in front, but I hated the rears. They sagged with weight when new, and it just got worse. Now I have the original '99 Talls in front, and OME 906s in the rear and I love it. I do have 4600s in back, but my offroading is the softer kind, sand, snow and mud, no rocks or flexing, so I can't address the 'fit'. I like the ride. The 906s give a slight rake with the Talls in front, which is perfect for me.

Anyway, 906s >>>>'99 Talls in back.

The '99 Talls are still 'stock' height, so they work just fine with the 4600's. My dad ran 4600's on his (now my) 4Runner for years on plenty of dirt roads (its a '99, but was 2WD at the time, so not 'tall').

Most of the reason your '02 is uncomfortable is because it is too low - it is probably hitting the bump stops more often than you realize. Just a very mild lift with new shocks (just back to stock '98 height or '99 height) will do wonders for you.

KYB, OEM, Tokico and Bilstein 4600 will all work great for you.

-Charlie

I have 99 talls, kyb and 265/75/16 and all works good

Any pictures with this set up?

I just setup this on my winter beater

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3503654-post189.html

setup for 1" in the front and OME 2″ rear 2906 coils. I have always felt the rear of these trucks looked like they sagged to me, the 2" in the back end makes it look level. the 99 talls still look saggy in the rear to me. Maybe my eyes are crooked?

these shots show the 3" vs 1" setup, 3" too much, 1" is nice with these tires 265/75/16.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3505306-post194.html

I personally own 3x 3rd gens right now, all in working driving condition. yes I have an addiction issue. but this setup rides just as nice as OEM, but not quite as nice as my icon setup.