2016 TE Suspension Upgrade

[Jasalvas]

I will be upgrading my suspension within the next couple of months and would like some recommendations.

My two overall goals for the change are for an increase of ride comfort and a raise of about 2" in the front and most likely .5-1" in the back.

The runner is primarily a commuter, secondly a family vehicle, third my fishing/camping/outdoor toy.

I will put the truck in 4WD every chance I get, though I have never done anything crazy when it comes to off roading and I really don't plan to.

Overall goal for the lift is cosmetic (I don't like the look of factory rake) and to smoothen out the ride.

I am currently focused on Bilstein 6112's in the front and Bilstein 5160's in the rear. Not sure about the rear springs yet.

I am mostly interested in this set up due to the lifetime warranty on the suspension and the feedback received on the products.

I would like to hear feedback and recommendations from those who understand why I would like to make the change and the products that will get me there.

I look forward to hearing your recommendations.

Cheers!


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[Cymon]

I will be upgrading my suspension within the next couple of months and would like some recommendations.

My two overall goals for the change are for an increase of ride comfort and a raise of about 2" in the front and most likely .5-1" in the back.

The runner is primarily a commuter, secondly a family vehicle, third my fishing/camping/outdoor toy.

I will put the truck in 4WD every chance I get, though I have never done anything crazy when it comes to off roading and I really don't plan to.

Overall goal for the lift is cosmetic (I don't like the look of factory rake) and to smoothen out the ride.

I am currently focused on Bilstein 6112's in the front and Bilstein 5160's in the rear. Not sure about the rear springs yet.

I am mostly interested in this set up due to the lifetime warranty on the suspension and the feedback received on the products.

I would like to hear feedback and recommendations from those who understand why I would like to make the change and the products that will get me there.

I look forward to hearing your recommendations.

Cheers!


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My advice would be to go through the lifted pics thread and this thread

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/183858-when-will-bilstein-6112-released.html

(which it seems like you already have done) and pm the guys with the set-ups you like. If you're lucky they'll post here but will probably get more specific info that way. I've researched some similar info and off the top of my head [MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION] and [MENTION=117446]CSix[/MENTION] have similar setups to what you're describing although I believe [MENTION=117446]CSix[/MENTION] is running 2" Icon overlands in the rear. A lot of guys also run the 1.5" Saw coils but you're lift will likely be more then 1.5" due to not having a 3rd row. If you just want less then 1.5" in the rear you will have to go spacers (OME/ Daystar) or custom coils.

Good Luck and post what you decide.

 

[marshal]

FYI if you're trying to increase ride comfort over stock, you're going to have a problem. There isn't any suspension options that make the suspension softer than its fat mushy ass already is.

 

[Jasalvas]

FYI if you're trying to increase ride comfort over stock, you're going to have a problem. There isn't any suspension options that make the suspension softer than its fat mushy ass already is.

Marshal, I found this post in the lifted thread:

Finally got the Toytec springs and Total Chaos UCA's installed with Icon 2.5" remote reservoirs all the way around. What a difference rear springs make! It's sooo smooth now. New tires are coming next. This is near Panama City Beach FL last week. Also got some weathertech's which are great for the beach!

"What a difference rear springs make! It's sooo smooth now."

I don't understand how Enkrypt3d and I can have a different understanding of the word smooth...

From what I have read in other threads, ride comfortability can be increased.

 

[Misterquad]

What is your budget? Then, we can have a realistic conversation.

 

[Jasalvas]

My advice would be to go through the lifted pics thread and this thread

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/183858-when-will-bilstein-6112-released.html

(which it seems like you already have done) and pm the guys with the set-ups you like. If you're lucky they'll post here but will probably get more specific info that way. I've researched some similar info and off the top of my head [MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION] and [MENTION=117446]CSix[/MENTION] have similar setups to what you're describing although I believe [MENTION=117446]CSix[/MENTION] is running 2" Icon overlands in the rear. A lot of guys also run the 1.5" Saw coils but you're lift will likely be more then 1.5" due to not having a 3rd row. If you just want less then 1.5" in the rear you will have to go spacers (OME/ Daystar) or custom coils.

Good Luck and post what you decide.

Hi Cymon,

I have thumbed through the 6112 thread and the lifted thread and have come across many runners I like the look of. I do t have a lot of free time these days but I will go through hen again to an idea of what would beat fit my needs.

Thanks for the feedback, I will post what I decide to do. [emoji106]

 

[Jhalko]

"What a difference rear springs make! It's sooo smooth now."

I don't understand how Enkrypt3d and I can have a different understanding of the word smooth...

From what I have read in other threads, ride comfortability can be increased.

Ride comfort is subjective based on several factors, personal preference and usage play a big role. Some people think E rated tires ride great, others think they will rattle out their fillings. When you change shock valving, spring rates, center of gravity, small changes may or may not dramatically change perceived ride quality.

 

[Jasalvas]

What is your budget? Then, we can have a realistic conversation.

Great question. I need to spend as little as possible. The War room does not support the any more than necessary for the lift.
I do not want to go with spacers especially in the front, there I really want to make a change. Rear I guess I don't mind using a spacer.

 

[marshal]

Marshal, I found this post in the lifted thread:





"What a difference rear springs make! It's sooo smooth now."

I don't understand how Enkrypt3d and I can have a different understanding of the word smooth...

From what I have read in other threads, ride comfortability can be increased.

well good luck with that, because paring Toytec springs with bilsteins will not make the ride softer. promise.

if you wanted a softer ride, you probably should have started with a different platform.

 

[Jasalvas]

well good luck with that, because paring Toytec springs with bilsteins will not make the ride softer. promise.



if you wanted a softer ride, you probably should have started with a different platform.

What platform would that be?

 

[Danimal]

 

[Vulgarian]

Having just gone through this with one of the best suspensions on the market I can tell you that the ride will change. The quality of the ride is relative to your expectations around what a good ride is. That said, you will be shifting from what I will call a touring type of ride that is softer/passive with less road feel to one that is more of a performance ride that will give you more of an active response and road feel. The springs are stiffer and the shocks more resistant. For example, when you upgrade the annoying brake dive largely goes away.

I have adjustable shocks on my truck specifically so I could control the ride characteristics. I turn them all the way down to soft when I take my wife on a road trip or commute to work and I make them firmer according to load and use. So far, I'm really happy with that. I will point out though that the shocks on the softest setting are still much more firm and responsive than the stock suspension. The difference is very much like switching from a Camry to a BMW M3.

 

[Jasalvas]

Ahh... Yes. My thats where we started in our search for a vehicle. Decided against it since we thought of the highlander as a 4wd minivan...



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[Wild Duck]

You can definitely upgrade the ride quality, as noted earlier your budget will set the bar on how far. I went with an Icon based on a lot of research and would do it again in a heartbeat based on how it performs compared to my past rigs. DO YOUR HOMEWORK and remember " you get what you pay for".


Oh what a feeling.....

 

[cjacob316]

Marshal, I found this post in the lifted thread:





"What a difference rear springs make! It's sooo smooth now."

I don't understand how Enkrypt3d and I can have a different understanding of the word smooth...

From what I have read in other threads, ride comfortability can be increased.

Smooth meaning less roll and nose dive, less bouncing on a smooth surface, a little better handling (firm suspension)
Vs
Smooth over bumps and a rough road surface (soft suspension)

Very easy to have different ideas of "smooth"

I don't know of a rear spring that will provide the small amount of lift you want.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

Honestly for the "best" ride aka less nose dive and wont feel like a giant fat chick on wheels. would probably be the bilstein 6112s in the front and 5160s rear with Metaltech medium springs in the rear. its not "cheap" but i think itll give you what you want.

 

[Jasalvas]

Smooth meaning less roll and nose dive, less bouncing on a smooth surface, a little better handling (firm suspension)

Vs

Smooth over bumps and a rough road surface (soft suspension)



Very easy to have different ideas of "smooth"



I don't know of a rear spring that will provide the small amount of lift you want.

I was thinking of "Smooth over bumps and a rough road surface (soft suspension)."

We will see what I come up with. A lot of research to do.

 

[Jasalvas]

Honestly for the "best" ride aka less nose dive and wont feel like a giant fat chick on wheels. would probably be the bilstein 6112s in the front and 5160s rear with Metaltech medium springs in the rear. its not "cheap" but i think itll give you what you want.

That is what I had in mind but I know there are some guys that swear by Icon. I have spoken to a couple of shops and one guy had an Icon set up in stock he wanted to throw on right that minute. I couldn't tell if it would have really fit the bill or if he was trying to make the sale.

Thanks for the recommendation of the Metaltech Medium springs, I will defiantly look into them. [emoji106]

 

[mcarey86]

One thing to keep in mind with the Icons, is that you're gonna have to get them rebuilt at some point.

IDK how long that will take, or if you have a shop that can even do it, but it's something to keep as a consideration.

 

[enkrypt3d]

The reason I said it's so smooth, is that it's able to take bumps much better without totally disrupting the entire truck.

OEM shocks would just bounce all over the place or feel really mushy. Now it's very compliant and very stable where as before you'd just have to go along for the ride. Sure oem is fine for most people. but I didn't replace my OEM springs at the time of the ICON install. So now with the toytec's it feels like I was expecting from the first time. Being able to bomb over speed humps without losing control is one example Even my wife noticed which shows you how dramatic the difference is.

Ride quality over OEM is firmer but not stiff. It's able to absorb the bumps without causing so much drama as it did before with OEM suspension. HTH!

The term smooth may not be the best term here.... I think compliance really is what we're looking for. Being able to beat the hell out of the truck and it still handle well over rough roads etc without shaking your teeth out.