4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ

[ddnww]

You should be fine with 265/70/17 at stock height with those tires. As long as you are running stock wheels and are not running wheel spacers, they shouldn't rub or require trimming. BFG AT's have a very square profile and have more rubbing that most tires in the same size, which is the reason for the note.

thanks ... now i can get my tires first.. then save for lift and spacers..

 

[lehiguy]

I got my OME full suspension lift put on yesterday, and I had the LR UCAs to put on with it. When I went to pick it up, my mechanic (who works at toyota dealership but works for me on the side for cash) said I didnt need new UCAs. I tried searching before I ordered them, and thought I came to the conclusion that it was better to just get em and have em on so I didnt run into problems later...
So, my question to all of you even though I know its been talked about numerous times is....what should I do? Put on the new UCAs or leave the old ones on. He is doing the alignment Monday so we'll see if there are problems there but he insisted on returning them.

The more lift, the less caster you will have. After market UCAs have the upper ball joint (or uniball) positioned farther back in the arm. The reason for this is the axis on which the UCA pivots compared to the lower control arm. Take a look, you will notice that it makes the upper end of the spindle move forward as the arm moves down. This has a negative effect on caster. I just had mine aligned today, 3" lift spacers with FJ springs. It sits a good deal higher that stock, about four inches. Toe is easy to make work, camber I had them set to zero, caster however, is out of spec. The only way I will get it back is to either hack up my UCAs and weld them back together in an altered state, or buy after market UCAs. So far it seems to drive just fine, so I think I'll just let it be although I am seriously considering getting a set of stockers, relocating the upper ball joint more rearward (and outward) with compensation for my new static angle, and using a bolt-on ball joint from a Gen2 4Runner. It sounds like a fun engineering anyway!

 

[deedst4r]

[MENTION=44866]ARK_SWAMP_RIDER[/MENTION]

What did you end up doing for your body lift? Install yourself?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

[MENTION=44866]ARK_SWAMP_RIDER[/MENTION]

What did you end up doing for your body lift? Install yourself?

Yea, I did the install myself. It took me a while, but wasn't really difficult. The front two mounts were the most time consuming, but I took it slow and got it done.

 

[AKmoney]

I have a silly / stupid question about Bilstein 5100s. I thought ride height was determined (more or less) by what kind of springs you run. How is the shock absorber able to change this setting? Also, how many ride height settings are available and what (approximate) lift amounts do they correspond to?

 

[Evan B]

I have a silly / stupid question about Bilstein 5100s. I thought ride height was determined (more or less) by what kind of springs you run. How is the shock absorber able to change this setting? Also, how many ride height settings are available and what (approximate) lift amounts do they correspond to?

They adjust the height of the collar that the spring sits on increasing the height of the spring relative to the lower control arm. They have 4 settings. 0, .85", 1.75", 2.5"

 

[AKmoney]

They adjust the height of the collar that the spring sits on increasing the height of the spring relative to the lower control arm. They have 4 settings. 0, .85", 1.75", 2.5"

Thanks... Do these settings correspond with actual (or expected) suspension lift? Is the 0 setting the same offset as a stock shock?

 

[Evan B]

Thanks... Do these settings correspond with actual (or expected) suspension lift? Is the 0 setting the same offset as a stock shock?

They seem to be pretty darn close. Yes, the zero setting would be the same height as a factory replacement.

 

[AKmoney]

Not enough clearance, Clarence...

Having bashed up my original skid plate not too long ago I took the opportunity to upgrade it to an RCI. This also made it easy to measure the minimum ground clearance:

It's a little hard to see but I measured approximately 7 3/8". I'm a little perplexed at this considering the 4WD 4Runner was spec'd as having 9.1" of clearance. Could the stock suspension have really sagged that much over the nine year lifespan of my 4Runner? My tires are stock-sized (265/65-17) and are inflated to 35psi.

I would like to get this clearance measurement back up to the 9.1" that Toyota originally claimed it would be. I have a set of low-mileage FJ springs ready to go; I'm thinking maybe these plus a set of Bilstein 5100s set at 0.85" may do the trick? Thoughts?

 

[HHIRunner]

Would Front FJ springs with 5100's all around front set at max with Toytec Superflex in the rear work? And if not, would buying new FJ coils from Moog or Raybestos off RockAuto be a good or bad idea compared to buying used from someone over at the FJ forums? If that worked it would come out between 2.5-3"?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Would Front FJ springs with 5100's all around front set at max with Toytec Superflex in the rear work? And if not, would buying new FJ coils from Moog or Raybestos off RockAuto be a good or bad idea compared to buying used from someone over at the FJ forums? If that worked it would come out between 2.5-3"?

That'd work very well and put you at 3" front and 2" rear (approximately). Pretty much everyone buys used, I would think the others would work though.

 

[HHIRunner]

That'd work very well and put you at 3" front and 2" rear (approximately). Pretty much everyone buys used, I would think the others would work though.

Sweet I've been lurking around the FJ forums for a while looking for low mileage ones, and for the prices I've seen for used its almost worth it to just buy new as long as the quality is just as good.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Sweet I've been lurking around the FJ forums for a while looking for low mileage ones, and for the prices I've seen for used its almost worth it to just buy new as long as the quality is just as good.

You're probably going to have better luck posting in the WTB section over there than waiting for a set to pop up for sale at a reasonable price. You're right though, buying a new aftermarket set may be the way to go, IF quality is good. I have no experience with them so can't say one way or another.

 

[HHIRunner]

You're probably going to have better luck posting in the WTB section over there than waiting for a set to pop up for sale at a reasonable price. You're right though, buying a new aftermarket set may be the way to go, IF quality is good. I have no experience with them so can't say one way or another.

Did a little reading up on Aftermarket Moog coils. From what I read, everyone either hated them and removed quickly, or replaced them after a year when they were too saggy and needed replacing. Looks like I'll be putting up a WTB over on FJForums.

 

[stanleybb50]

Did a little reading up on Aftermarket Moog coils. From what I read, everyone either hated them and removed quickly, or replaced them after a year when they were too saggy and needed replacing. Looks like I'll be putting up a WTB over on FJForums.

Wow that's very good to know. I was considering those actually..

 

[HHIRunner]

Wow that's very good to know. I was considering those actually..

I didn't really find anything about the Raybesto coils from RockAuto, but I don't know how much I trust them being that they don't even reference the fact that they make coils on their own website.

 

[oljedi11950]

FJ coils

If you can afford it buy new , just me but found mine @ carsontoyota.com pretty good prices & they beat partznet by a good bit ! Just punched n 07-09 fj off to the races . I like to err on the safe side , most people are ok but .....ray2:

 

[HHIRunner]

If you can afford it buy new , just me but found mine @ carsontoyota.com pretty good prices & they beat partznet by a good bit ! Just punched n 07-09 fj off to the races . I like to err on the safe side , most people are ok but .....ray2:

How much did you find them for?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Did a little reading up on Aftermarket Moog coils. From what I read, everyone either hated them and removed quickly, or replaced them after a year when they were too saggy and needed replacing. Looks like I'll be putting up a WTB over on FJForums.

Wow, that's good to know. Another suggestion, log on to the Tacoma forums and see if you can find a set from a 05-? Tacoma. The coils are beefier than the FJ's, give about double the lift, but still ride very well. I was running Tacoma shocks/coils on the front of mine for a few weeks until my new parts came in, I was very impressed. Since the Tacoma swap isn't a popular upgrade (yet), maybe you can find a set for cheap/free.

 

[oljedi11950]

Just looked their right @ 78$ for fronts & some change, rears bout 90 per .