2008 SR5 Suspension question?

[lost_in_the_woo]

Hi,
I am new to this forum and I have been looking around trying to find some answers to my suspension questions. So far I have not found exactly what I need for my application. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Here is what I have:
2008 4Runner (obviously) V8 with 30K miles all stock 4x4 driveline SR5.
I have placed firestone air bags inside the rear coils for towing reasons. I am very pleased with them.

Here is what I want:
I need more ground clearance.
I have a set of 265/70R17 tires sitting at home that I would like to get on the vehicle. Someday I may go a little larger but not much. I plan on keeping a more AT tire on the vehicle, as my wife uses it as a daily driver. Most of the trail stuff this vehicle has see is what I would consider fairly light. I do have problems with the skid plates rubbing and thus the need for more clearance. I am considering a full belly skid plate. I do not want to loose the drivability or towing which are very critical for me.

Here is what I was thinking I needed:
Something like the Bilstein 5100's up front set around 2" of lift and longer than stock 5100's out back
I don't know what to do about the rear since I need / want to keep the air bags?

Do I need, or should I put on 1.25" wheel spacers? I am planning on keeping the stock rims? I think the largest tire I would put on would be a 285/65.

I would like an overall lift of 2" so the back does not sag too much when towing. Does this seem reasonable? I haven't read too may post about sway bar end links? Any thoughts there?

Thank you,

 

[kylebacc]

You could put a 2" spacer on top of the rear coils, and still keep the air bags, and not sag. I don't know about the spidertrax, someone will post and tell you though.

 

[JCR]

It all depends on your budget. You can do it cheap or you can spend a butt load of money.

If you want the 5100 you could get 1-1.5" rear spacer which you can still use your airbags with. Or you can go all out with a full suspension setup. Toyteclifts.com have several options for a rear setup, I would suggest browsing that site and you can get a good idea on prices and different options.

If you tow a lot of weight you may want to consider beefier rear coils.

 

[chaz]

my 2c,...if u kinda like the ride now but & dont want to make it too much firmer get the 5100s, front & rear, reuse ur stock springs & firestone airbags, get a 1.5 spacer for the rear, cost around 450 before labor & alignment. new rear coils will cost ya more than spacers, bout 170, if u can afford them then do it, if not im sure u'll be fine. u may also need to trim bumper or move inner fender liner forward if u get the spidertrax. http://www.top4runners.com/ja/2007/wheelspacers.html 265/70/17 will fit good at this height, 285 might be a problem without a full 3 in. lift, there also may be rubbing on the uca & ur body mount may need trimming depending on what tires u get. good all new skids are heavier & will cost u but r worth it for the protection they provide. http://www.budbuilt.com/new/03+4Runner.html

 

[lost_in_the_woo]

Thanks for the input so far.

I will have to check the rear spacers out. I though that most of them were more like a glorified washer with a hollow center. I will have to check to see which ones have a more solid top to support the top of the air bag. I found that the Cordfed spacers were not recommended for air bag setups.

Are the 5100 in the front with a stock spring a good setup or should I be looking at somthing else like just a spacer? I know with any spacer combination I will be at the limit of the stock shock lenght and I have always had good luck with Bilsten.

 

[chaz]

use of the 5100 with stock springs or a spacer instead is up to u, i posted "about "cost of each above, people have used spacers for lift with the airlift1000 bags, i dont see why u cant use the FS airbags with the spring spacers , it doesnt matter if the bags run the whole length of the coil top to bottom, but if ur talking about when towing, doesnt firestone provide a spacer to go on top of they're bag? who said u couldnt , firestone or cornfed? how about with daystar or revtec spacers? http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/24216-ome-rear-coil-spring-spacer-canshould-done.html http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/65544-airlift-1000-ome-890-rear-coils.html http://www.toyota-4runner.org/accessories/53088-airlift-firestone-suspension-air-bags-rock.html u might consider getting new coils instead of just spacers for the rear, they will give ya lift but also firm up & since u tow that maybe a better option for u. http://www.toyteclifts.com/index.ph...ategory_id=70&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=72 as a last thought, do u have the old bumpstops? maybe they can be cut shorter, & modded with bag spacer to work with the firestones.

 

[lost_in_the_woo]

Thanks for your insight and links to these threads. I will start reading through them as soon as I can you have been very helpful.

 

[chaz]

this is what the company said about airbag use with spacers,---The 4135 kit will work with spring spacers but not with longer coils.