4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ

[slimjj]

I been running on 2015 Tacoma TRD OFF ROAD 4x4 front struts and coils, rear shocks for about 5k miles before switching to icons. The ride is really good firm but not harsh at all, the rear shocks you need to change the eyes to fit with the 4R shock mount, the eyes for the rear shocks is about 10$, I pick them up for 120$ on craigslist with only 2k miles on them. Then maybe you can add spacers to get 3" in front and 2" in the back.
Remember when you get close to 3" up front then you need uca for alignment.

Did you use a stock coil in the rear? What were you riding on originally for comparison? X-REAS?

 

[sto133]

This thread has been so helpful.

 

[86mcss]

so much good info. very well detailed.

 

[cognus]

ride expectations

gang I had a gen 3 2000 model we drove for 150k from new. it was a 'gold' package that had a hitch and heavy duty brakes but I don't recall anything special suspension wise. it rode well. I never recall thinking 'gee this sure is a pain on secondary roads'.

just bought a 07 Gen 4 sr5 2wd with 132K on it, Toyota shocks [i think they're red iirc] and stock springs and nitto crosstek tires with some good wear on them. it "rocks and rolls" and lunges and does not like perpendicular hits very much. It feels to me like the original shocks are shot. really not fun on rough roads which we have plenty of.

happy to spend money giving it a plush, controlled ride if possible. what should I expect by simply ditching the shocks and replacing with Bilstein 5100 front and rear, and new spacers/bushings/caps if necessary. [I assume so]. I need no lift and do not plan to carry a lot of weight.

For those who know: what is a reasonable expectation? will this make a significant difference?

and: with the miles, would you suggest I 'rotate' the springs? I have read that the front left takes a lot of pressure and will give up some length eventually. long as I'm going through the labor, I was thinking that way...

thank you!

 

[El Duderino]

:help: 2 questions on the bilstein 5100s -

I removed the x-reas on 2005 sport and installed the bilsteins around with fronts set to max of 2.5 and the top bushing and washer are loose until the suspension drops an inch or two -
Is this normal or are my coils just worn?

Also is it normal for the rear 5100s to be angled very far forward and require some force to insert into the top mount? - I have 2" toytec rear coils

 

[Morphyne]

:help: 2 questions on the bilstein 5100s -

I removed the x-reas on 2005 sport and installed the bilsteins around with fronts set to max of 2.5 and the top bushing and washer are loose until the suspension drops an inch or two -
Is this normal or are my coils just worn?

Also is it normal for the rear 5100s to be angled very far forward and require some force to insert into the top mount? - I have 2" toytec rear coils

Pics would be nice. and the front coils do sag a bit, but yours is the first I have hard about this issue. I am wondering if everything got installed properly.

 

[Morphyne]

gang I had a gen 3 2000 model we drove for 150k from new. it was a 'gold' package that had a hitch and heavy duty brakes but I don't recall anything special suspension wise. it rode well. I never recall thinking 'gee this sure is a pain on secondary roads'.

just bought a 07 Gen 4 sr5 2wd with 132K on it, Toyota shocks [i think they're red iirc] and stock springs and nitto crosstek tires with some good wear on them. it "rocks and rolls" and lunges and does not like perpendicular hits very much. It feels to me like the original shocks are shot. really not fun on rough roads which we have plenty of.

happy to spend money giving it a plush, controlled ride if possible. what should I expect by simply ditching the shocks and replacing with Bilstein 5100 front and rear, and new spacers/bushings/caps if necessary. [I assume so]. I need no lift and do not plan to carry a lot of weight.

For those who know: what is a reasonable expectation? will this make a significant difference?

and: with the miles, would you suggest I 'rotate' the springs? I have read that the front left takes a lot of pressure and will give up some length eventually. long as I'm going through the labor, I was thinking that way...

thank you!

If it was me, I would repace the springs as well. moogs should be fine. I used moog FJ cruiser springs and bilstein 5100s on my 4runner for a little bit of a lift and a stiffer, more responsive ride.

Also, I replace the stock shocks on my GX470 (lexus branded 4runner) and it rides like stock with no lift. If you want to save a few bucks and not have the adjustability you could go with the Bilstein 4600s with good results.

Edit: It will NOT fell plush if you have been bouncing around on bad shocks. New shocks will feel stiffer.

 

[El Duderino]

Pics would be nice. and the front coils do sag a bit, but yours is the first I have hard about this issue. I am wondering if everything got installed properly.

Thanks for the reply Morphyne....indeed it was improper install. After removing one strut, found I didnt replace the lower washer from the oem strut. Everything is tight now!

 

[El Duderino]

gang I had a gen 3 2000 model we drove for 150k from new. it was a 'gold' package that had a hitch and heavy duty brakes but I don't recall anything special suspension wise. it rode well. I never recall thinking 'gee this sure is a pain on secondary roads'.

just bought a 07 Gen 4 sr5 2wd with 132K on it, Toyota shocks [i think they're red iirc] and stock springs and nitto crosstek tires with some good wear on them. it "rocks and rolls" and lunges and does not like perpendicular hits very much. It feels to me like the original shocks are shot. really not fun on rough roads which we have plenty of.

happy to spend money giving it a plush, controlled ride if possible. what should I expect by simply ditching the shocks and replacing with Bilstein 5100 front and rear, and new spacers/bushings/caps if necessary. [I assume so]. I need no lift and do not plan to carry a lot of weight.

For those who know: what is a reasonable expectation? will this make a significant difference?

and: with the miles, would you suggest I 'rotate' the springs? I have read that the front left takes a lot of pressure and will give up some length eventually. long as I'm going through the labor, I was thinking that way...

thank you!

I just replaced the oem xreas on my 2005 sport at 185k with bilstein 5100s and wow!! I cant even feel the pavement markers when changing lanes anymore. Handles much better. I have stock coils in front and 2" toytec rear coils (that dont feel any different than my stock coils with 1.5" spacer)

 

[Bennmann]

MooG coils?

If it was me, I would repace the springs as well. moogs should be fine. I used moog FJ cruiser springs and bilstein 5100s on my 4runner for a little bit of a lift and a stiffer, more responsive ride.

Question!
I've read terrible reviews on the rear moog FJ coils not sitting correctly in the perch and I don't know if I want to take the chance on them. I have an '03 SR5 and just ordered 5100s all the way around. I am about to purchase moog front Fj coils and will most likely set the front shocks at 2.5". I do a lot of towing (3000lb boat) so I'm going to beef the back up with firestone airbags as well as a daystar 1.5'' spacer but no new rear coils. Will this give enough lift to my back if I leave the stock rear coils, add firestone airbags + 1.5" spacer, then set the front at 2.5" with fj coils? Any other suggestions on coils that would fit my needs besides OEM Fj and rear Moog? I'm pretty handy in a shop, could I easily fix the Moog coils if need be? Appreciate your time

 

[thedorman005]

How should i lift my $runner while replacing struts and shocks

So im new to this just got a 06 4runner and wanted to lift it with a 3 inch in the front and 2 inch in the back. Im am also in need of new struts/shocks. What would you recommend for me to do?

 

[Morphyne]

Question!
I've read terrible reviews on the rear moog FJ coils not sitting correctly in the perch and I don't know if I want to take the chance on them. I have an '03 SR5 and just ordered 5100s all the way around. I am about to purchase moog front Fj coils and will most likely set the front shocks at 2.5". I do a lot of towing (3000lb boat) so I'm going to beef the back up with firestone airbags as well as a daystar 1.5'' spacer but no new rear coils. Will this give enough lift to my back if I leave the stock rear coils, add firestone airbags + 1.5" spacer, then set the front at 2.5" with fj coils? Any other suggestions on coils that would fit my needs besides OEM Fj and rear Moog? I'm pretty handy in a shop, could I easily fix the Moog coils if need be? Appreciate your time

I don't think so. Moogs in the front add. 0.5-1.0 inches of lift. Us the 2.5 will lift you 3+ inchs. If I were you I would look at it the Bilstein 6112 for the front with icon 2" in the back.

But with your boat that makes things hard. Bc lifted vehicles rarely to well.

 

[Morphyne]

So im new to this just got a 06 4runner and wanted to lift it with a 3 inch in the front and 2 inch in the back. Im am also in need of new struts/shocks. What would you recommend for me to do?

Depends on how much you want to spend. Someone told me once. Do it once, do it right. 6112 in front with icon 2" on back.

 

[Bennmann]

I don't think so. Moogs in the front add. 0.5-1.0 inches of lift. Us the 2.5 will lift you 3+ inchs. If I were you I would look at it the Bilstein 6112 for the front with icon 2" in the back.

But with your boat that makes things hard. Bc lifted vehicles rarely to well.

Yeah I really am only looking for 2" of lift. My truck has 120k so keeping stock springs might be a bad idea as well. What about doing MOOG Tr4 coils all the way around? with the rear 1.5'' spacer and bilstein fronts on 2.5"? only thing is, the coil chart shows rear moog tr4's are shorter then oem rear tr4's. I bet their stiffer too?

 

[alia176]

Question!
I've read terrible reviews on the rear moog FJ coils not sitting correctly in the perch and I don't know if I want to take the chance on them. I have an '03 SR5 and just ordered 5100s all the way around. I am about to purchase moog front Fj coils and will most likely set the front shocks at 2.5". I do a lot of towing (3000lb boat) so I'm going to beef the back up with firestone airbags as well as a daystar 1.5'' spacer but no new rear coils. Will this give enough lift to my back if I leave the stock rear coils, add firestone airbags + 1.5" spacer, then set the front at 2.5" with fj coils? Any other suggestions on coils that would fit my needs besides OEM Fj and rear Moog? I'm pretty handy in a shop, could I easily fix the Moog coils if need be? Appreciate your time

I can't speak to the Firestone bags but I run the Air Lift 1000 bags inside the rear coils on all of my SUVs. The Air Lift bags have never failed me and I mainly use them during the popup camper tow, which has a tongue weight approx 200 lbs. These air bags will lift the rear up about 2.5" if you inflate them to 25 PSI of air.

 

[Bennmann]

still lost

I can't speak to the Firestone bags but I run the Air Lift 1000 bags inside the rear coils on all of my SUVs. The Air Lift bags have never failed me and I mainly use them during the popup camper tow, which has a tongue weight approx 200 lbs. These air bags will lift the rear up about 2.5" if you inflate them to 25 PSI of air.

I just looked up the Air Lift 1000 and that looks like my general idea. I guess since I already bought 5100s, and I only want 2"-2.5'' max I'm going to go with Moog TR4 coils at 2.5'' on the front and airlift the back.

 

[Bennmann]

ICONS for the win

-I think I figured it out-
Going to run 2.5" setting up front on the bilstein 5100s with moog tr4 coils. The OEM front tr4 coils are 13.6" and the moog tr4 coils (81090) are 14.00'' , so that .4" increase should put my front around 2.9-3''. In the rear I'm going to use morphyne's advice and use Icon 2" coils along with the airlift 1000 bags and 5100s shocks. Hoping this will give a practical 3/2 look and the ability to bring the back up even more if need be by the airlift 1000 bags. Right now with the stock suspension at 120k, I hate the loose and bouncy springs and excited for a stiffer feel. Can someone confirm that this all should work? I'm going by the coil rates chart for relative sizing. I figure I should do new front strut mounts with this also? What else should I replace? bushings?

I really appreciate everyone's help and sorry for blowing up this forum with my long posts. :sorry:Just want to do this "right".

 

[Bennmann]

I'm wrong. Since I have the V6, My stock coils in the front are more like 13.4" so if I set the front bilstein 5100s to 2.5" I'm looking at at 3.1" in the front which doesn't make sense to me. I've read that replacing the front tr4 coils with moog tr4 coils does not change the height of the vehicle at all? But my calculations and the spring chart shows it's almost .6" higher. I'm thinking of running the bilsteins at 1.75" now with front fj moog coils. This should bring me to roughly 2.75" in the front. what should I accompany for springs in the back then? I would need 1.75" springs ? Would 2" toytecs or 2" icons still work?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[thedorman005]

[

Lots of information i love it thanks so much! Im new to all of this and was wondering if you could help me out? i want to lift my 06 Sport edition with a 3 in the front and 2 in the back i think i need to replace my struts idk about shocks thou what would you recommend doing

 

[noahwass]

So much great information! Thanks for helping me plan my upcoming modifications!