5100's and fj springs are done!!! Wow what a difference!!! The ride quality is ssooo much better. Did not get much of a chance for highway cruising but driving on city streets and over speed bumps there is less bounce and a nicer ride.

Went with the .85 setting (first notch from bottom) on the front struts. On the front went from 33 3/8 to 35. On back from 35 1/4 to 36 3/8. I do notice a difference on the height, which is nice, but we are in it more for the ride. Will post some before and after pics in the next few days. Too dark outside after I got home.

FYI, have your mechanic check all of your front and rear suspension components while they are at it. The bushings on the rear sway bar needed replacing. Also just plugged the xreas system. My mechanic told me to stop back by after 500 miles to make sure everything is still tight and torqued.

For any of you Phoenix, AZ folks I had Sierra Expeditions in Mesa do all of the work. For all of the above and a four wheel alignment they charged me $326.00. Talk to Will, the owner. He is very knowledgeable about our 4runners. He is my new go to guy for any mods!!!

Total cost: $964.00. Coils/Springs from Partznet $328.00. Shocks/Struts from Down South Motorsports $310.00. Install, alignment, sway bar bushings, xreas plugged from Sierra Expeditions $326.00.

Before and after pics of the 5100's and fj coils.

There is a noticeable difference in lift. The big difference is the ride. Wife really likes how it drives now. It is her daily driver.

Attached Images

       

BigNuge I hope the above helps you out.

So its been about 10 days since the suspension upgrade and I'm getting a consistent squeak from the rear when I'm off the gas traveling 30-45 mph. Its loud enough to be annoying in city driving. If I'm accelerating, braking, going over speed bumps etc, nothing. It seems to be occurring from the rear when under minimal load. I snugged up the spare but that had no effect. I tried running with the seats flat and that was not it ~ a few threads point in that direction. They did not remove the REAS components, disappointed there, asked them to do, but they get a pass as they've been great for 20 yrs. The lines are all zip tied. Shocks and coils seem snug. The rear coils were new take-offs from an FJ. They were quite stout. Perhaps squeaking from not being under load? Ideas?

Before, It's tough to see because I didn't take a good profile shot...



So, here are a couple of pictures after the lift & alignment.




A shot of the front end components, including axle angles (no diff drop used).



TT FJ Coils all around, 5100's all around (fronts set at top setting), 1 1/2" Daystars on the rear.

Build thread coming soon...

**Update** Build thread link in my signature...

Looks awesome bignuge! I am looking to do something very similar. How is the ride?

Thanks!!

The ride is leagues better!! better stance, better ride, better handling....

Dont hesitate, this lift gets 5 stars all day from me!

Also, I didn't see any negative effect on fuel economy...another plus!

Good luck with your lift bojangles

Im planning to purchase a set of 2012 fj 4×4 OEM bilstein set up that came with the Trail Tuned Fj model. These should be direct bolt on to the 2007 sr5? The package comes with 4 springs and 4 OEM bilstein struts. Without spacers, does this set up give me any lift ? And if I want to level the front, toytec spacers or other brand? And size of the spacers? Thanks guys.

You might get 1/4" up front. Some say 1/2".
I added a1" spacer and still have about 1" of rake but my side steps are just about level.

Check out the FJ link in my sig for info on lift amounts. The 2012 shocks will not be a direct swap, some minor modification to the mounts will be required (grind down the lower mount on the front, enlarge upper mounting hole on the rear).

Oh no I thought it was a direct swap, or at least I was told so. Is it a big problem modifying the mounts? And the mounts you are referring to are on the truck or on the struts? I'm not keen to cutting or grinding parts of the truck body.Is it worth to keep these struts ? They are essentially brand new.

The front is modifying the shock, the rear is modifying the mounting hole on the 4runner.

If you wanted, you could use just the FJ coils on your stock shocks and that would still be an improvement.

The 2010 and newer shocks require modification, the 2007-2009 shocks are a direct swap.

So do you think it is worth it to keep the OEM bilsteins and do the modifying or just sell them and get 5100s ? The OEM are new.

2013 TT coils and shocks being delivered Friday.

^^^ you're doing the same package that I'm planning. You plan to go through with the mounts modification?