08 Front springs and shock issue

[Tooltime19]

Just purchased a clean 08 SR-5 with low miles. The only issue I can see at this point is that the front end is practially sitting on the bump stops at a stand still. In my mind, there should be no reason for this thing with so few miles to have sacked out springs and the front shocks toast.
Has anybody else had this issue, or is there any TSB's out there for this?

 

[Kmvreter]

Does it bottom out when you drive? Can you measure from the center of the wheel up to the fender on both sides. Maybe someone here with an '08 can do the same to compare. Or visit the stealership lot with your tape measure.

 

[Tooltime19]

I should have mentioned that this thing bottoms out at the slightest hint of any dip, bump, cough, small pebble ect...It really seems that the ride height is way low, and the compression and rebound is gone in the front shocks.

 

[Tooltime19]

I forgot to mention. The rear appears just fine.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I thought the same of my 07. Mine rides better with a little more height on the front. I agree with your assessment that they touch the bumpstops too easily. They are low in the front, too low IMHO. Toyota had to set them low to meet crash standards (hitting a car in front of you).

Yours may have an issue, it may just be 'normal'. I second the "measure it" suggestion.

An important thing to keep in mind though is that an inch of clearance at the bump stop will equal a lot more than an inch of wheel travel.

Good luck and welcome.
:cheers:

 

[chaz]

couldnt stand my 06 sr5 front (nose dive, handling,etc.) so did the adjustable coilover thing, (with alot more mods) love it now!

 

[Tooltime19]

Check this out,just dropped it off @ toyota, and before i left i did measure some new ones on the lot. I measure about 33" up front from the ground to the bottom of the front fender at the wheel center line on mine. Im also running about 40psi of air pressure due to my needs around town. Most trucks on the lot looked like they had less air than what Im running, so that might factor in to what I found. Most new 08's had about 3/4" to a full 1" more ride height than mine. Yet, I did look under those rigs and noticed the front bump stops sit just about as close as mine.
So, at this point, Im not sure what to think except that Im probably going to end up paying 1 hr diag time and the dealer rejecting my claim...
Lastly, what leveling spacer kit should I purchase, and from whom? Eventually I will be putting on a full coilover kit and system, but not for a while.
Thanks for the assistance.
T

 

[HB 4X4]

Check this out,just dropped it off @ toyota, and before i left i did measure some new ones on the lot. I measure about 33" up front from the ground to the bottom of the front fender at the wheel center line on mine. Im also running about 40psi of air pressure due to my needs around town. Most trucks on the lot looked like they had less air than what Im running, so that might factor in to what I found. Most new 08's had about 3/4" to a full 1" more ride height than mine. Yet, I did look under those rigs and noticed the front bump stops sit just about as close as mine.
So, at this point, Im not sure what to think except that Im probably going to end up paying 1 hr diag time and the dealer rejecting my claim...
Lastly, what leveling spacer kit should I purchase, and from whom? Eventually I will be putting on a full coilover kit and system, but not for a while.
Thanks for the assistance.
T

Buy this setup:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50211

 

[chaz]

did you remember to measure both sides? there not the same, (one side is higher than the other) & since you said you have an SR5, when you went to dealership, did you take only numbers from other SR5 or did you take em from the sport & limited also? i did the budget boost of 1 in. (1/2 in. spacer) until i could afford the coilovers & it did seem to help a little even if it was only in height, it was a cornfed (metal spacer) daystar might be a little cheaper. how much lift do you want when you have the $? 2 or more? are you going to run stock size tires, or 265/70 or 275-285?

 

[Tooltime19]

just recieved the dreaded call form toyota saying," the tech reviewed your vehicle, and all suspension components fall within Toyota specs for your model year." So now im on the hook for a 1hr diag of 135.00. Oh well!
Ok boys, here is what i want for the time being; I want at least a 1.5" spacer. Not just any old spacer, but one that sits in the spring between the spring and the spring seat thus increasing the spring rate. I dont want one that sits on top of the spring and shock bucket just pushing the whole assembly away from the top mount. Any thoughts out there??? Bueller?Bueller?:biggrin2:

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Look into a Cornfed from www.burtmanindustries.com . Jason Burtman is a member here. His customer service doesn't always occur at lightspeed but it's always good, fair and accurate. It may take a day or two to reply to an email is all I'm trying to say... Everything else is 1st class.

I have a custom dimension preload spacer in conjuction with my FJC springs; love it!:bigok: Click links in my sig also read the link HB 4x4 posted. BlairB has the larger Corfed which uses a combo of preload and top-space.

Good luck!
:cheers:

 

[Kmvreter]

... I measure about 33" up front from the ground to the bottom of the front fender at the wheel center ...

Should measure from the fender to the center of the wheel. Take the ground and tire out of the equation.

Sorry about the no result for big $$$ at the stealership. I looked under my '04 and also have what appears as small clearance at the bump stop but I don't get regular bottoming out.

Good luck with the spacers.

 

[chaz]

sorry to here about the dealership but not surprised. are you getting a mech. to do the work for you? if so, maybe bite the bullet & cough up another 200 or so & get the adj. coilovers now, then bolt them in your self. by the time they remove em, take apart , reassemble & install, depending on how many hrs. they charge you for ,the cost is fairly close to what you can spend for the CO. just hunt down a good deal, & bolt in yourself. maybe check out blairb , i think he has a lift for sale. too bad that 135 didnt go towards spacers in the first place. oh well, good luck.

 

[Tooltime19]

A friend insists I call the District office regarding my issue.Bottom line is that my front shocks are done! If its one thing I know, its chassis stuff, including shocks and such.
Im really interested in some of the higher end kits. I like the Fox kit with coilovers in the front with a single Fox and a new coil in the rear. However, I've always been a Bilstein guy from way back. Everything I own has Bilsteins on them. I did see a nice Bilstein kit, but Im excited about a kit I can re-valve when my needs be, or when I feel like fine tuning stuff.
As for now, I need a spacer lift for the front until I can justify a cool kit and tires. I just bought the truck, so I need time to schmooze the wifie to come to the dark side! lol lol:biggrin2:

 

[BlairB]

As some of the other guys mentioned, I am selling my lift kit.

I have them on my 08 but am finally going to spend the cash and upgrade to Coilovers. Let me know if you are interested, in my old lift. The spacers alone yield about 2.5-2.75" inches of lift in the front and 1" in the rear. The springs yield about .75" all around.

And welcome to the board! :bigok:

 

[Tooltime19]

Ok, catch me up to speed here. It looks like you have spacers for the front, and new coils front and rear right? What shocks are you using with this set up? How does it ride off-road, and on the street?

 

[BlairB]

In there front there is a new topout and preload spacer and a new spring, and in the rear there is a new spacer and new spring. I am still using the factory shocks.

It actually rides surprisingly well, maybe Josh (HB 4x4) can chime in as he has ridden in my truck before. It might be a little stiffer, but I do not mind it whatsoever. Off road is done just fine, I have wheeled with guys with OME, Coilovers and even Long Travel, and I have yet to have any problems. Also, if you are looking for a more minor lift you could only run the spacers and not the springs.

Still flexes well too