Right now i am laughing out of insanity, it is official i have finally lost my freaking mind. I have posted a few threads looking for ideas on how to lift my 99 4Runner, the front no big deal, figured that out in about a minute, but the rear is what is causing me to loose it. I have heard, LC 9 wrap, 850, 851, & 861's. I will have somewhere around 120lbs. of constant weight in the back, while it will go up to around 200lbs. on the weekend when wheeling and long trips with the fam, but i also want at least a 1" rake. So i have been told not to go with the lc's go with the 851's, but researching i found the 850's are taller and handle more weight, so what do i use. Do i go with the 851's, the 861's or try the 850's. If i had money i would just buy all of them and see which ones i like, but i dont. I could use the lc's or the 861's if i put it on a diet, but if i dont then i am guessing i should go with the 851's or possibly try the 850's. Now you can see why i am loosing my mind

Making these choices is quite the daunting task! I feel ya! When I did mine I decided to call Toytec and talk with a guy that owns a 3rd gen there. I took his advice and so far have been quite happy with my choice.

Lift and weight support are very different. In my opinion, go with a spring that is designed to handle the weight, not a taller spring that will compress to handle the weight. I have OME 891's in the rear and they are holding up to the weight OK, I have more that 200lbs in the rear with the bumper and cargo box I have. The 891's will lift the vehicle about 2.5 to 3" and support the added weight you have. You can always throw in a trim packer if the lift isn't enough, but at least you will have a heavier duty spring to start.

I would not get a taller spring to compensate for weight, I think they will sag over time.

Keep researching though, it is daunting I know, but its a choice you will have to make yourself. And unfortunately sometimes it is trial and error. We all use our 4runners differently, not everyone is a mall crawler, or a hard core rock crawler, and so lift choices are different.

Keep the thread going, and check with others. I know Brian2sun has had the same problem, with lift and weight, and he wheels pretty hard, more than I do, so check out his latest setup as well if that fits your style. He may chime in here too.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer and quite brave then browse the forums, pic some coils and hope for the best.

If you have the cash $1200-$1500 order a full lift "kit" from either Toytech or Sonoran Steel. I have a SS 1.2 kit; it came in the mail for $1300 (in 2007) and I installed it with a buddy. I have been happy EVER SINCE.

One common never-ending thread on the forums is people trying to fix their lift kits, swap their coils in order to account for sag or bad ride or something.

What spring should I choose? The answer is going to be based on a lot of factors but if you buy a kit at least you will be buying on for your specific year.

Steve at Sonoran Steel sells each kit customized for the model & year. This is because Toyota actually shipped each year with a different suspension.

If you can afford it buy a kit! You could probably put something together yourself and save $500 but you might have to redo your lift another two times over the next few years as well.

891's just get them chill and install when they come in, They will be just right


edit 891's

its been a bad week sorry for the confusing info

I used the LC coils and it raised the rear more than the toytec coilovers in the front. My logic was that I was going to build a rear bumper(done) and occasionally go camping/wheeling loaded. However I will never put the weight of a straight six LC engine in the back, which these springs will support very well.

882's and 861's sit perfect for me. Topouts in the front, 10mm trim packers in the rear.

Get Steve Schaffer (Sonoran Steel) call and talk to him.

Sheesh, yeah there's alot of info, but this shouldn't be that difficult. I agree with everyone else, if you aren't finding the answer here, then just call toytec or sonoran.

You are going to have to trade something off no matter what, and it sounds like you are trying to get a solid 4in of lift in the back with weight, so you are going to have to use something most guys here don't, because most don't want that much lift.

So what front lift are you getting?

i planned on using either the Toytec 3" front or the OME 882 with top out, and i think i am going to try the 851's for the rear, they seem to be fairly tall spring and seem to be able to handle the extra weight without sagging, and i think i will also pick up some trim packers just in case. I think i will be able to get the weight support i am looking for while maintaining a good rake, which i hope will end up somewhere around a 1" difference, and you know what you are right i can always buy some different ones and sell the ones i have if i dont like the setup. But would still like to hear what you guys have to say about it.

Just a thought, you can always get air bags for the rear springs to maintain the height while loaded, this would make for a smoother ride when empty.
As you said, sell what you don't like, I see springs for sell all the times on several forums.

Take it from me (I have the 861s), you want way more than 200 extra lbs. if you want a comfy ride with 861 coils. I have about 700 lbs (~400 in the rear) and it barely even smashes the coils down - and 850s/851s have the same 220# spring rate so they will ride the same. My 861s gave me over 4" of lift with the extra weight. For your 200 lbs., you'd be much better off with LC 8 or 9 wraps IMO.

get adjustable colovers like the toytec if your picky on the ride stance. that way you can dial it in. 851's will be perfect. it you want the rake leave the rubber cone/ bumpstop. if you want a more level stance you can run it without that cone bump.

I'm thinking you should do the 861's like Brian and myself. You wont be able to level it out with 851's. Its a 2" lift coil for the 80 series. Plus , like the 861, its got a higher spring rate than the 891's which alot of people run and a thinker coil diameter.

I don't think you'll set anywhere close to level without a ton of weight in the back