09-18-2017, 06:14 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
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Real Name: KE0OIC
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Dobinsons vs Bilstein 6112/5160 (+ Dobinsons ?s)
Hi all,
I've been doing a lot of reading and have read a LOT (obviously) about the Bilstein 6112/5160 combo. I was actually about to pull the trigger to order that but was having a hard time figuring out which springs to pair them with (or just use the ones in the kit).
What I'm looking to do is firm the ride up, remove the rake and perhaps do a SMALL lift. 3" is definitely more than I want to do. I carry around my mother and mother-in-law frequently and they're both little (emphasis on little!) old ladies. I do run my truck off road a fair amount - I usually get out on the trail at least once a week - but like most of us I live in the city and the 4Runner is my daily driver. I'm used to stiffly sprung cars or lighter weight trucks with good dampers on them so I don't like the "Cadillac" ride of my 5th gen on the street nor the up and down bobbing off-road. Besides, at 110K miles my stock shocks must be sacked out anyhow. I reckon controlling the body movement better is worth at least a couple inches of clearance off road, all things being equal.
I've had several 4Runners in the past and have never felt the need to lift them much. With the Bilsteins I was thinking of only doing the 3/4" front lift or perhaps pairing them with some rear coils to do 1-3/4" front, 1" or 1.5" inch rear.
Along the way I started looking at OME. I had some OME shocks on my 3rd gen and they were really great, but all of the OME lifts are over 3", and somewhere along the line my research led me to Dobinsons. Thinking if I did that I'd do 2" up front, 1" rear.
Is my understanding correct that Dobinsons is closely aligned with OME and in fact their shocks are OME with perhaps a bit different valving? I haven't been able to find any threads comparing the Dobinsons and Bilstein options - can anyone compare/contrast them? Or point me to some threads with this sort of comparison?
Thanks,
Chris
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2011 4Runner SR5 Premium
Past:
1988 4Runner 22re, 1992 4Runner SR5 3.slow, 1998 4Runner SR5 5VZ-FE
Last edited by MossJenks; 09-18-2017 at 06:16 PM.
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09-18-2017, 07:36 PM
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#2
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Marietta, GA
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Mossjenks- contact Mike at dobinsons. He's very responsive and can probably answer all your question;
[email protected]
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09-18-2017, 07:51 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
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Thanks! Yeah, I'm planning to give them a call tomorrow. Just wanted to see what opinions might come up. On trucks I've usually done dampers with stock springs, on cars I always do a combination.
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2011 4Runner SR5 Premium
Past:
1988 4Runner 22re, 1992 4Runner SR5 3.slow, 1998 4Runner SR5 5VZ-FE
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09-18-2017, 07:58 PM
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#4
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I installed Dobinsons lift this past weekend. I have a 2016 trail edition with KDSS;
C59-314 x 1
GS59-574 x 2
DD59-527K x 1
C59-725 with KDSS x 1
GS59-701 x 2
UCA59-002K x 1
BJ59-001 x 2
I've driven it about 10 miles so its hard for me to give you an opinion. Mike is a great guy and he shipped everything extremely quick.
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09-18-2017, 08:09 PM
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#5
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I've definitely been looking at that. A big attraction is that their sales guy is an active member here who always talks about their development process specifically for our trucks. I feel good about the solution being well-customized.
Thanks for the parts list. Good thinking on the diff drop - I'll ask him about that for my application. What are the last two items on the list?
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2011 4Runner SR5 Premium
Past:
1988 4Runner 22re, 1992 4Runner SR5 3.slow, 1998 4Runner SR5 5VZ-FE
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09-18-2017, 08:15 PM
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#6
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I apologize for not removing those. I was going to order those and I kind of wish I did. I believe those are the Dobinsons Upper control arms and Ball Joints. I didn't get those. I went with Camburg UCAs and Ball joints. Hold on and I'll try to send you a pic. This 3rd party pic thing kicks my ass...
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09-18-2017, 08:20 PM
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#7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MossJenks
Hi all,
Chris
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CSM4runner
I apologize for not removing those. I was going to order those and I kind of wish I did. I believe those are the Dobinsons Upper control arms and Ball Joints. I didn't get those. I went with Camburg UCAs and Ball joints. Hold on and I'll try to send you a pic. This 3rd party pic thing kicks my ass...
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09-18-2017, 08:21 PM
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#8
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no idea how to make the pics smaller...
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09-18-2017, 09:29 PM
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#9
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I am in the exact same boat! Settled on 6112/5160 but just trying to figure out springs. Looking for a 1.75-2 inch lift front and back. I have a third row and our family of four camping trips frequently have the back packed to the roof, so not looking to level it out. I want to avoid the reverse rake at all costs.
90+% road driving, but I got the 4runner for the other 10-%, love getting out on moderate, rocky trails and would like to step it up to some more difficult trails. A rundown of spring options would be awesome!
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09-18-2017, 10:04 PM
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#10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CSM4runner
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I'm looking at a similar setup. How much lift did you get? Did you do the install yourself? If you did, how did it go? I've installed lifts before on Bros, but never on an IFS.
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09-18-2017, 10:40 PM
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#11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gundrted+t4r
I'm looking at a similar setup. How much lift did you get? Did you do the install yourself? If you did, how did it go? I've installed lifts before on Bros, but never on an IFS.
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I did install it myself and it kicked my a*s. By far the hardest work I've done on a vehicle. I've lifted my 2001 4Runner, 2015 Tundra, and changed shocks on my 2003 Z06 corvette. this had me banged, bruised, cut, cursing, throwing things...I did it on an Army base with a lift and every tool known to man kind. Thank goodness for the mechanics that assist otherwise it would still be sitting on the lift. The KDSS is unforgiving. My "rookie" mistake was not measuring before install. After install i had 41" in rear and 40" in front.
For all the 5th gen guys wanting to lift their KDSS equipped Runners
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09-18-2017, 10:50 PM
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#12
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Mossjenks- sorry about messing up your thread with those huge pics!!!
I see you live in Colorado. I retire next year and we're thinking about calling Colorado Springs our home.
Last edited by CSM4runner; 09-18-2017 at 11:02 PM.
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09-19-2017, 09:00 AM
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#13
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Join Date: Jul 2017
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No worries, we get a nice close-up view that way!
My mother- and father-in-law just retired here from Florida so if they can do it backwards you can too! The Springs is very nice.
I am required by law to let you know you'll hate it here though. The sun never shines, we're snowed in all winter and we have at most 2 weeks of summer - in a warm year! People are unfriendly and our football team sucks. ;-)
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1988 4Runner 22re, 1992 4Runner SR5 3.slow, 1998 4Runner SR5 5VZ-FE
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09-19-2017, 11:42 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
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^ LOL so true...
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09-19-2017, 10:58 PM
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#15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MossJenks
No worries, we get a nice close-up view that way!
My mother- and father-in-law just retired here from Florida so if they can do it backwards you can too! The Springs is very nice.
I am required by law to let you know you'll hate it here though. The sun never shines, we're snowed in all winter and we have at most 2 weeks of summer - in a warm year! People are unfriendly and our football team sucks. ;-)
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LOL. I've been to Colorado a few times. I did some cold weather and high altitude training at Ft Carson, MTN Biked in Fruita, and went snow skiing in Monarch. My wife wants to stay in Hawaii but i can't afford it although i do like to watch football and 0800 and there's never a shortage of beautiful girls in thongs.
Last edited by CSM4runner; 09-20-2017 at 12:32 AM.
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