Hey guys, I have a 99 4runner I just installed some new Bilstein 5100's on with the stock 99 springs in the front to replace some used ones with unknown springs I purchased for cheap when I was in a pinch.

First thing I noticed was the drop in height. Like I said, the used ones had unknown springs on them but they were at the 3rd circlip which I understand gives it a lift.

The other thing I noticed though was that the ride was much less harsh with the stock springs without sacrificing maneuverability.

I'm looking for advise, I loved the right height I had with the used ones but also love the way the used springs aren't as harsh. Is there a way to get both the extra height as well as the ride quality? I drive about 100 miles a day on the thing so want to be as comfortable as possible on it but will also go camping about once or twice a year, maybe more now that I actually live in by the desert and mountains but the majority of the the time it's mainly being used to commute.

Will me moving the circlip up give me the height and comfort since I'd be using the same springs or would moving it make the springs harsh as well since they'd constantly be compressed?

What about for the rears? When I added the lift in the front, it seemed that the rear remained low but that again was with the stock springs.

grab some OME 881/890s front and rear. They drive great, I think better than stock. A little more firm but very forgiving on road

The springs are always constantly compressed by the weight of the vehicle. You'll be fine moving up a circlip notch. That should be 3/4" or so, if I remember right? A small top spacer might also do what you want (like 1/4" = 1/2" of lift) without other mods. Did you use the 4Runner specific 5100s? There are multiple options that otherwise fit and can have an affect on ride height and quality (for better or worse, depending on your goal).

Did you also put 5100's on the rear? How high do you want the rear? Do you carry any weight or want the ability to carry weight?

What are your current hub center to fender lip measurements all around?

-Charlie

Do you mean buy some 881 for front and 890 for rear or do you mean buy one or the other for front and rear? What's the difference between them?

I used the 4runner specific ones. You mentioned the springs are constantly compressed, do you mean that whatever the circlip is set to the ride would be the same? I'd have to get the measurements.

881's are for the front and will give you about a 2.5" lift with stock weight. 890s are for the rear and will give the same lift at stock weight. Alternatively if that is too much lift for what you want, you can go with 880 up front ant 906's in the rear for ~1.5" of lift over stock. I have the 881/891 combo and LOVE them. They ride amazing on and off road.

Here's a breakdown of weight/lift from SRQ's website:

Front coils:

OME 880: Stock front weight, 1.5 inch lift
OME 881: Stock front weight, 2.5 inch lift
OME 883: 200+ lbs additional front weight (heavy bumper and winch) 2.5-3.0 inch lift

Rear coils:

OME 906: Medium 1.5 inch lift coils
OME 890: Medium 2.5-3 inch lift coils
OME 891: Heavy 2.5-3 inch lift coils (Great for 200+ lb of added weight such as aftermarket bumpers and storage systems)
OME 861: Heavy 3-3.5 inch lift coils (Great for 300+ lb of added weight such as aftermarket bumpers and storage systems)

Thanks for this! May I ask, why did you go with the 891 vs 890 since they provide the same amount of lift in the rear? And would these provide that lift without moving that circlip on the front from the bottom most setting? Or would I still need to move it up to the 2-4 setting?

No, no. The spring length at ride height will be the same for all circlip settings (for the same spring, of course). Since you are changing where the bottom of the spring mounts, the total length of the spring+shock is longer at ride height, you get a lift.

Too much pre-load gets harsh when you have so much preload you run out of droop travel. This causes very sudden changes in suspension loading and will be very harsh. Shocks can also change valving depending on where they are in their travel, which can also change suspension comfort. This is not an issue with the 5100s when using a stock spring - Bilstein is reasonable with the lift heights available.

890 rear springs and 891 rear springs only have the same lifted height if you add the recommended load listed. You'll want either 906's or 890's unless you have a specific need for something else.

Make sure you get an alignment when this is all done... hopefully your front alignment cams aren't seized.

-Charlie

I went with the 891 because I don't have additional weight (yet) and wanted a better ride. The 890's are a stiffer spring designed to ride well with additional weight. Without, at stock weight, they'd be harsher.

The rears don't have a circlip, the spring and shock are mounted separately. If you're referring to the fronts, I believe the given lift measurements are assuming the circlip is on the lowest perch

I have the 890's & LC 5160's they ride great stock weight, have loaded cargo area with 11
80# bags of Sacrete 1 row between wheel wells one rearword had 2" gap between bumpstop and axle tube.

Sorry, did you mean the opposite then? Because according to this, the 891's are for additional weight right? Or am I missing something?

OME 890: Medium 2.5-3 inch lift coils
OME 891: Heavy 2.5-3 inch lift coils (Great for 200+ lb of added weight such as aftermarket bumpers and storage systems)

Yeah got them mixed up, sorry. I have the 881/890 combo.