My 01 SR5 has the stock coils, stock shock absorbers in the front and KYB gas adjust in the rear. The coils are 20+ years old and It's starting to feel like a rough ride. After doing some research, at least to me no one seems to sell a simple front and rear pairs/kit. I keep seeing Highlander rear springs, Bilstein shocks, this part for the front etc......

I don't want a lift, 1'2 and inch or 3/4 I can do. No 2-3 inch lift. I just want a smoother daily driver. Budget is important to me, so inexpensive the better as I'll have to pay someone to do the work.

I have a brand new 2022 Tacoma front and rear suspension sitting in my garage which I know won't work, I'm uncertain if they have any trade vaule for 4runner parts?

Again, in my prefect world I'd like minimun lift, or nothing to obnoxoius. I don't need all that clearance. Soft ride for a daily driver.

Naive question also, do springs eventually wear out or is that more of a shock absorber thing?

99 t4r springs and Tokio shocks would give some lift and stock smooth ride. I am partial to t4r bilstein 5100 with front ome 880 or 881 springs and ome 906 in the back(will make the rear end a little higher then the front. The thing with bilstein is that they absorb better at 30mph or better.

Edit: Front springs generally last far longer then the rear. I ran bilstein 4600 and stock front springs for 12 yrs and they were still good.

If you want the exact same height as your '01 came from the factory, check out McGeorge Toyota parts online as they have some of the best online prices for OEM parts. You'll want new coils & shocks for the rear and struts & coilovers for the front.

If you want a slight lift, '98 suspension parts were a little bit taller. If you want a full 1" lift higher (still factory ride quality) then go with the '99 suspension parts. Almost every other suspension brand is made for off-road use, so stiffer shocks to rebound faster after riding over bumps and rocks and firmer springs to take the abuse of off-road driving. If you drive an off-road suspension on the road you'll feel a lot more of those potholes and cracks which is why we suggest stay with OEM Toyota parts. They will not be cheap but not any more expensive than a budget off-road brand.

Yes, the coils definitely do wear out over time. The metal in the coils fatigues over the years and some of that height is lost as the coils sag and compress.

Thank you both! Very informative which was what I needed.

Game, I never thought about this, but it makes perfect sense.

"Almost every other suspension brand is made for off-road use"

Start with measuring the center of your hub to your fender lip on all 4 corners and report back. All the "lift" numbers you see quoted are based off ~20" all around...

Working shocks will help keep you off the bump stops and really improve the ride, even at your current height (whatever it is). Similarly, worn out bushings will cause a lot of crashing and rough riding. You can consider new springs, but it may not be necessary if you haven't lost (much) height.

-Charlie

The front coils might be ok, in very subjective terms, but I've yet to ever find a 20+ year old 4Runner that has decent original factory coil springs. 01-02 are the worst offenders as they were lower than other models making the rear sag even worse. Put some gear in the back and the thing is about to shoot sparks out the back on the road!

I hope I'm wrong yet if mine is any example at 340K it needed Far more than just shocks, struts and coils (all OEM), to get rid of a 'rough' ride because far more was worn out after 22 years.

Mine needed every bushing front to rear, the only part I did not replace was the panhard bar, those bushings were OK and they are not sold alone, the panhard cost more than I wanted to spend at that point.

It is far more car like on road and yet far more truck like off-road, best of both worlds. One good source of parts: Genuine OEM Toyota Parts and Accessories Online - Toyota Parts Deal

I installed these parts on a 1999 2wd and got almost a 2" Lift from factory 280k mile original parts ,

Moog 81041/ 81090
KYB 565002
KYB 565002