So jumped in the thread because rode in the kid's '07 4runner today and he needs shocks replaced. Came across this thread. As I'm wont to do I started looking around checking info. Came across this. Not trying to be a little b#tch, but wondering if actual 4600's would also work?

Trd off road vs Bilstein 4600’s | Tacoma World

Interesting thread on TW and I can’t disagree that the 4600 is different than the OR. Never really thought about the nomenclature.

My current rear shocks are the 4600 that’s specified for the 4th Gen, in part b/c I ran across a terrific Black Friday sale but also b/c the 4600 is indeed visibly beefier.



I assumed the difference was that the Tacoma has leaf springs vs. coils. I ran the Tacoma version for several years & 50K miles with no issues. The advantages of the Tacoma swap for me were 1) cost-effectiveness, not b/c I’m cheap (well, not just that) but as I explain in my suspension post, this isn’t a shirt you can return if you don’t like it so the Tacoma swap is a great way to see whether you like the Bilstein ride without breaking the bank; and 2) getting a fully assembled “plug and play” front coilover that bolts right in.

That’s a long answer to a short question. The more succinct version is yes, “actual” 4600s would be an excellent choice.

Happy to answer any other questions you have.

Hello,

I have a 3” Front and 2” rear lift from dobinsons. I also have the spacer on the driver side to correct the lean. I would like to add 1in to the front to make it more leveled. Dobinsons does not recommend adding spacers. Any recommendations?

Thank you

I just happily joined the 4th gen family. I like the xreas, but I want to lift it which would mean getting rid of the xreas. I was thinking of going billstein 5100s. I want to make it as level as I can without any chance of going reverse rake. I don’t hall anything and don’t go off-roading. I bought a 08 sport with 84k miles. Would it be best to go 1.75 in the front with a small spacer in the back? Anyone have experience getting rid of xreas for billsteins? Thanks everyone

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Yes, this post has information on the what, how, and why of my choices when I swapped out my X-REAS. It includes links to X-REAS removal instructions too. Good to follow the procedure as you can make a mess at best and hurt yourself at worst if it's not done correctly.

3rd Gen Tacoma front coilovers with low mileage are often available on FB Marketplace at very attractive prices. They'll level your truck or get it pretty close (My front is .5" - 1" lower) and have the huge advantage of being a bolt-on install, meaning you don't have to assemble the spring and shock together.

You mentioned you won't have extra weight on your truck and will be staying on the pavement, and for those reasons you may be happier with Bilstein 4600s. The 5100 is designed for lifted trucks that carry extra weight such as winches, armor, etc. so some feel they're too stiff on a stock truck. I have 2020 Tacoma TRD Offroad coilovers up front and 4th Gen 4Runner Bilstein 4600s on the rear and really like the ride. They're great off-road too if you ever decide to venture out into the wild. Here's how mine looks:



Happy to answer any questions you have.

I have a 2005 4wd runner with 172k mileage. It hasn't been offroad much and none of the shocks/struts have been changed. Not that it's riding rough but what if anything would you suggest for a smooth, yet road worthy ride. I have new all terrain tires that are stock size and stock rims. Not looking to lift, just sturdy the ride more if at all. Looking for an improved ride.

You guys with a +2 or +3.5 long travel kit, what are you doing in the rear to match the front? Everything I'm seeing short of a custom cantilever setup, severely limits up travel. It might add to the down travel but that's worthless even at a mild desert speed.

For example, the metaltech "long travel" kit. It doesn't seem long travel at all. All they do is limit your up travel and move it to down travel. Good for a lift and flex in the rocks but terrible for desert. What else is out there?

I just picked up a 2007 Sport Edition. The previous owner had it lifted, which I am thinking of removing. Since it is the SE, it has XREAS. A local shop said the lift is is 3”, and since this is all new to me, I have to trust them. I have many questions, if you have the patience to bear with me.

Can I verify that it is 3” by measuring the spacer up front? Can I assume that the spacer would need to be 3”?

Am I correct in believing that the xreas system should have been disabled before lifting? I assume that the system wouldn’t work properly unless the fluid level were adjusted after the modification. The ride feels “soft” to me now, which makes me wonder…

If I return to stock height, would it be as simple as removing spacers up front and replacing springs in the back?

Since it is a 2007, I really don’t want to dump a ton of cash in it. I just want a safe, reliable vehicle for my family to drive. If anyone has gone thru something similar, I’d love to hear from you. Thanks!

I also have a 2007 SE. I don't think you can lift an X-REAS 4Runner but it's easy to tell whether you have X-REAS; each shock will have a hydraulic line to it. More info here and the "X-REAS delete..." post linked in my sig may also be helpful. Happy to answer any other questions as best I can.

Thanks! I have done quite a bit of reading since posting. It has 1.5” front spacers, which I believe gives it a 3” lift. The rear coils are not stock. I was under the same impression about the XREAS and lifting, and it still installed. The ride is softer than my Tacoma, but I don’t see leaks anywhere. It makes me think the suspension system has air in it, but I am guessing.

Can’t wait to upgrade suspension. So much stuff to read. It’s unfortunate though because with so much to read and different ideas. I’ll probably never choose what to do FTW...

You're right, getting "analysis paralysis" is very easy with this. So a suggestion FWIW...find a local 4Runner group on FB or from this forum. Talk to people about their setups, not just what they have but why. Sort out which one(s) you might want. See if those people will take you on a short hop to get a feel for the ride. Even a trip around the block will leave you more knowledgeable than before. That way you can make a more informed choice.

My reasoning is that suspension isn't a piece of clothing you can return if you don't like the look or fit. It's a significant investment and the more you know before pulling the trigger, the better.

As explained in the suspension-related link in my sig, all this is why I initially went with the Tacoma swap. My first setup cost me all of $200 for shocks and springs for all 4 corners. I was very happy with that and have built on it from there but I wasn't that worried about losing $200 if I had decided to go an entirely different direction. Spending what some of this gear costs gets to be a different story real quick. Yes, "buy once, cry once" as to price but you don't want to be crying about the ride too for the rest of the time you own the truck.

Finally, be realistic about need vs. want. The typical 4R owner probably wishes he or she could be on the trails way more than we really can. I do a fair amount of off-roading but it's still less than 5% max of my driving since the 4R is my DD, so it makes no sense for me to have a suspension built for Moab rock crawling. What I have is terrific on the road and off so it's a great fit.

Hey, just joined the 4runner family. 2004 V8 Sport.

I am looking to put a small lift on my 4runner and wanting to make sure I do it properly. I am currently looking at the Bilstein 5100 shcosk for front and rear with Toytec front coil lift springs. Only wanting to lift it 2.5 inches and level out the front with the back. I am planning on replacing the UCA in the next 6 months or so.

What else do I need? Are these solid options? Are there things to look out for? Wanting to make sure I do this properly and don't overlook anything. I appreciate any help in advance!

Anyone got a valid discount code Toytec lift kits? All the ones I can find online show as invalid. TIA

Pulled the trigger on the Accutune stage 3 Fox 2.5 set up. Has Icon ucas and plus 1" springs. Does anyone have any info or experience with this setup?