4th Gen: Need suggestions on suspension for a 04
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ARK_SWAMP_RIDER
New member
Springs as well, shocks will not change ride height at all. Spring and shocks (Bilstein's if you can find them reasonable) would be my choice.
galactic_04
New member
If you're unhappy with the ride, just get a set of Bilstein 5100's. After that, pick up the 2" leveling spacer off ebay and put that in (not hard). align and voila! It looks much better.
Look up my old thread for details on the install and what spacer I used.
Look up my old thread for details on the install and what spacer I used.
How much stiffer/harsher did the 5100's make the ride?
If you're unhappy with the ride, just get a set of Bilstein 5100's. After that, pick up the 2" leveling spacer off ebay and put that in (not hard). align and voila! It looks much better.
Look up my old thread for details on the install and what spacer I used.
Thanks, that is what I am looking for. a KISS look.
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER
New member
The 5100's are adjustable, seems pointless to me to buy a spacer to use on top of that. Use the shock as it is intended and you can level it out. The FJ Bilsteins and Bilstein 5100's are both more firm than stock, but this is a good thing. A member here has FJ springs with 5100's that he just put on his 4runner, and the difference is amazing. After riding around with him, I'm looking to ditch the stock suspension because it was much smoother than mine (and mine's smoother now than it was before the lift). I went with FJ springs front/rear and a 1/2" Toytec spacer. I wasn't ready to ditch the stock shocks, and this was a great solution. I gained 1.5" lift, although yours will vary based on engine and drivetrain. Here's mine, more info/pics in the link in my sig.
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER
New member
I know 2010+ shocks aren't a direct swap. I do *think* the springs will be a direct swap though. The 2007-2009 shocks/coils are for sure a direct swap (absolutely no modification needed). What is your 4runner (v6 or v8, 2wd or 4wd)? If you do the FJ springs, it will make quite a bit of difference in lift obtained and you'll need to choose a spacer accordingly.
I don't want a stiffer ride, so 5100's aren't an option for me. My 4Runner has XREAS, but I do want to figure out what shocks I'm going to buy when the time comes to replace my XREAS. I just want the same ride comfort I have now and I'm not interested in making the ride more stiff or especially more harsh.
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER
New member
KYB GR2's are a great stock-like replacement shock, and you can find them for $225 for the set, not too bad.
That said, in the case of the FJ stuff and the 5100's, more stiff doesn't equate to harsh. Every single member that I'm aware of that has done the FJ swap in some fasion (whether it be just coils on stock shocks, FJ coils/shocks, or FJ coils on 5100's) has commented on the improvements in ride quality. I know mine is much better than before. I have the FJ springs on the front only (can't do the rears because I have the rear air suspension). I can definitely notice a difference in feel front/back going over bumps. Front is super smooth, rear can be felt. 12guns on here did the FJ springs and 5100's, I rode in his and it's amazing, WAY better than stock (much smoother, and yes more stiff).
That said, in the case of the FJ stuff and the 5100's, more stiff doesn't equate to harsh. Every single member that I'm aware of that has done the FJ swap in some fasion (whether it be just coils on stock shocks, FJ coils/shocks, or FJ coils on 5100's) has commented on the improvements in ride quality. I know mine is much better than before. I have the FJ springs on the front only (can't do the rears because I have the rear air suspension). I can definitely notice a difference in feel front/back going over bumps. Front is super smooth, rear can be felt. 12guns on here did the FJ springs and 5100's, I rode in his and it's amazing, WAY better than stock (much smoother, and yes more stiff).
810moto
New member
i also have an 04 and put fj springs/shock on all 4 plus added the 1" spacer up front. got a good amount of lift in the front and the truck sits level. i recently added the airlift 1000 to the rear as well.
all in all, the fj springs make for a much better ride. things like stupid dips and speed bumps are no longer an issue.
also a quick side note, using the term stiff is not a rigid stiff. it's just more firm and holds up better to daily driving and some off road situations. i call it plush.
all in all, the fj springs make for a much better ride. things like stupid dips and speed bumps are no longer an issue.
also a quick side note, using the term stiff is not a rigid stiff. it's just more firm and holds up better to daily driving and some off road situations. i call it plush.
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Are you sure about that? I remember reading a thread where someone installed the KYB shocks and said the ride was a lot different than the stock shocks. I searched for the thread, but I can't find it.
I wonder how hard it would be to find the specs for the OEM shocks. I'm guessing that would almost be impossible for the XREAS suspension, but maybe I can find that info for the standard suspension on the SR5 or Limited.
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER
New member
I can't say for sure as I've got no first hand experience with the KYB's, I just know they are designed to be a direct OE replacement, and several who have swapped have confirmed that. Take that for what it's worth, because as I said I have no first hand experience with them. I would be interested to see that thread if you can dig it up, that's the first I've heard of them not performing as expected (maybe defective?).
jtanner
Member
I've got the adjustable 5100s on front of my '05 & I love them! They ride so much better than the stock shocks. Like SWAMP RIDER said, the ride smoothness is just as good as stock shocks, but it handles the bumps & dips so much better! It absobrs them so much better that I hardly even feel the speed bumps when I ride over them now. Heck, I like them so much that I've now got a set of rear 5100s ordered to put the back of my 4R. You will like them, trust me!
If you drive over a rough road, do you still have that soft luxury car feel with the 5100's? Or are the impacts harder, more like you would get driving a sports car over rough roads?
