4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ

[grave]

Thanks for the input. I had someone on the Florida 4runners Facebook group tell me, "Go eibach with bilstein or ome with ome. Bilstein is a monotone shock so it works better with a softer coil, ome is twin tube gad charged so the coil needs to be stiffer. Ome coils with 5100 is going to be a wagon cart." He also said, "4th gen I believe needs a front sway bar drop."

I can understand about the sway bar drop, but I have seen a lot of people on T4R.org talk about pairing OME with 5100's. Thoughts about this?

Ome with ome would be best, handle better and definitely last longer. I'm not a fan of Bilsteins. I've blown 1 front and both rears.
I think the Bilsteins can handle the normal ome, many run higher coil rates to compensate for bumpers and such and don't have an issue, but I agree it'll be better with eibach coils or full ome.
Sway bar drop is necessary, I forget how high you can go before needing it though. I don't run sway bars so I forget about them. Lol

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

I had Eibach shocks installed this weekend... Pro Truck Sports in the rear and Pro Truck Sport Leveling in the front. Eibach is developing springs for 4th gens and I know a guy, so I got hooked up with everything for testing. I'll be driving around with the new shocks + stock springs for ~6 weeks, then I'll be getting the new springs. So far I love it. I was worried I was going to miss my XREAS, but two of the shocks were leaking anyway so it wasn't riding how it should have in the first place. Got 2½" lift in the front and it soaks everything up so nice. I have a couple big sweeping freeway interchanges on my commute, and it handles those just as well as the XREAS did.

before (stock)

after:

removed the mud flaps and gave her a much-needed wash:

 

[DT04R]

Hey, I'm looking to get a little extra height on my Runner so I can switch to a set of AT tires (Would like to switch from 265/60/18 to 265/65/18 or 265/70/18). I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to suspensions, but based on OP's suggestions and looking around on here, I think I have decided on OME coils and Bilstein 5100's.

What made you go with the OME vs. a set of FJ springs? I realize the used market for the FJ parts dried up, so you're looking at $400-ish vs. about $335 for the OMEs.

I'm in the same boat, replacing a blown out XREAS system in a '08 V8 AWD, budgeted about $700-800 for parts as I figured that would be enough for my light off road use, mostly street driven vehicle.

Side not, I would get new top hats for the assembly. They are cheap and since you are buying new coils with the shocks you can put them together beforehand and plug them right in. Your old ones probably aren't in the best shape even if you can't see it.
https://www.amazon.com/KYB-SM5640-Mount-Kit/dp/B00C7S0KA8

Great tip, thanks!

 

[jrm]

Wheelers mentioned

Eibach is developing springs for 4th gens and I know a guy, so I got hooked up with everything for testing. I'll be driving around with the new shocks + stock springs for ~6 weeks, then I'll be getting the new springs. [/IMG]

a new coil offering from eibach that yields less lift then the rear T12s but said it was a ways off. I for one would love to have another option with less than 1.5"s of lift. Do you have any more info?

 

[grave]

a new coil offering from eibach that yields less lift then the rear T12s but said it was a ways off. I for one would love to have another option with less than 1.5"s of lift. Do you have any more info?

Not yet. I will ask when I am back in a few weeks. For what it's worth, they are only replacing my front coils.

 

[Jason B]

I had Eibach shocks installed this weekend... Pro Truck Sports in the rear and Pro Truck Sport Leveling in the front. Eibach is developing springs for 4th gens and I know a guy, so I got hooked up with everything for testing. I'll be driving around with the new shocks + stock springs for ~6 weeks, then I'll be getting the new springs. So far I love it. I was worried I was going to miss my XREAS, but two of the shocks were leaking anyway so it wasn't riding how it should have in the first place. Got 2½" lift in the front and it soaks everything up so nice. I have a couple big sweeping freeway interchanges on my commute, and it handles those just as well as the XREAS did.

before (stock)

after:

removed the mud flaps and gave her a much-needed wash:

I was just going to make a new post about this. I'm a dealer for Eibach and have been working with my guy there and am offer this new line of shocks.

I will even work with someone and offer a free set if you will do a thorough write-up and take a bunch of photos!

This new line is a direct competitor to the bilstein 5100's and they ride great and same warranty.

Grave, how do you like the setup???

 

[t-man]

I was just going to make a new post about this. I'm a dealer for Eibach and have been working with my guy there and am offer this new line of shocks.

I will even work with someone and offer a free set if you will do a thorough write-up and take a bunch of photos!

This new line is a direct competitor to the bilstein 5100's and they ride great and same warranty.

Grave, how do you like the setup???

Jason! You know I'm your man and I am thoroughly disgusted with Bilstein!

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[sport2004]

I was just going to make a new post about this. I'm a dealer for Eibach and have been working with my guy there and am offer this new line of shocks.

I will even work with someone and offer a free set if you will do a thorough write-up and take a bunch of photos!

This new line is a direct competitor to the bilstein 5100's and they ride great and same warranty.

Grave, how do you like the setup???

Need to make a change, not in a hurry, and I'm watching.

 

[Powder_Hound]

Thanks for the input. I had someone on the Florida 4runners Facebook group tell me, "Go eibach with bilstein or ome with ome. Bilstein is a monotone shock so it works better with a softer coil, ome is twin tube gad charged so the coil needs to be stiffer. Ome coils with 5100 is going to be a wagon cart." He also said, "4th gen I believe needs a front sway bar drop."

I can understand about the sway bar drop, but I have seen a lot of people on T4R.org talk about pairing OME with 5100's. Thoughts about this?

I'm running OME 895 with Toytec 2.0HD with OME struts on both. I did NOT need to relocate or drop the sway bar. However, I did need to replace my UCA's as my caster dipped to .5. Other than that the lift was perfect for my needs and rides great. FWIW.

In my reading here and elsewhere it is almost unanimous to pair springs with the appropriate valved shocks for best performance. I.E OME with OME or anything that is sold as a "kit". Unless you understand spring rates and valving this is the simple way to get it right (and I don't know Jack!!!). This forum and [MENTION=101553]t-man[/MENTION] helped me get it done right!

 

[grave]

I was just going to make a new post about this. I'm a dealer for Eibach and have been working with my guy there and am offer this new line of shocks.

I will even work with someone and offer a free set if you will do a thorough write-up and take a bunch of photos!

This new line is a direct competitor to the bilstein 5100's and they ride great and same warranty.

Grave, how do you like the setup???

I've only had it a few days but love it so far. The rear end feels a little stiffer/harsher than with the XREAS, like going through dips in my neighborhood, but the front end soaks up everything real nice and it corners great. I need to get out into some dirt soon!

 

[sport2004]

This forum and @t-man helped me get it done right!

:rockon::rockon:

 

[Ther00ster]

I have 884/90021 shocks omu with toy Tec spacer and with 895e/60004 in the rear. Very Minimal rack.

 

[iversong]

I'm running OME 895 with Toytec 2.0HD with OME struts on both. I did NOT need to relocate or drop the sway bar. However, I did need to replace my UCA's as my caster dipped to .5. Other than that the lift was perfect for my needs and rides great. FWIW.

In my reading here and elsewhere it is almost unanimous to pair springs with the appropriate valved shocks for best performance. I.E OME with OME or anything that is sold as a "kit". Unless you understand spring rates and valving this is the simple way to get it right (and I don't know Jack!!!). This forum and [MENTION=101553]t-man[/MENTION] helped me get it done right!

Thanks for the suggestion! The "kit" idea makes sense. I guess those guys know what they are doing, after all...

 

[iversong]

Hey, I'm looking to get a little extra height on my Runner so I can switch to a set of AT tires (Would like to switch from 265/60/18 to 265/65/18 or 265/70/18). I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to suspensions, but based on OP's suggestions and looking around on here, I think I have decided on OME coils and Bilstein 5100's.

Can anyone tell me if the list below would be sufficient for what I'm trying to do, or do I need some other parts?

Old Man Emu 2885 Front Coil Set
Old Man Emu 2896 Rear Coil Set
Bilstein 5100 Height Adjustable Front Shock Pair
Bilstein 5100 Rear Shock Set
Front Strut Stem Cushion and Washer kit


Thanks!

Well, I think I have decided to keep my suspension stock and just add a Daystar 2.5" Spacer Kit for now.

I am beginning to understand how one mod can change a bunch of other things... If I do the spacer kit, would I have any problem running
265/70/18 Falken Wildpeak AT3W's? Do I need any other parts, or should I be prepared to trim?

 

[TrailHunterBen]

Great thread! I'm with Iversong, the 2.5in daystart or maybe the FJ3-RSP - 3" lift is what I'm gonna do first. I mainly wanna DD my T4R so nothing to massive needed here! :smokin:

 

[t-man]

Well, I think I have decided to keep my suspension stock and just add a Daystar 2.5" Spacer Kit for now.

I am beginning to understand how one mod can change a bunch of other things... If I do the spacer kit, would I have any problem running
265/70/18 Falken Wildpeak AT3W's? Do I need any other parts, or should I be prepared to trim?

Depending on wheel offset or wheel spacer thickness if you add that, they should fit without issue with minimal lift. Anything above 1" lift and you should be good. Wheel offset can make them contact different spots because it changes where they rotate.
Nothing wrong with stock. You can always save up and put a great system on later!

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[pipo6007]

Well, I think I have decided to keep my suspension stock and just add a Daystar 2.5" Spacer Kit for now.

I am beginning to understand how one mod can change a bunch of other things... If I do the spacer kit, would I have any problem running
265/70/18 Falken Wildpeak AT3W's? Do I need any other parts, or should I be prepared to trim?

I did the Daystar lift several years ago and was happy with it. The only thing I will add is that installing the D.S. kit is $300-$400. Then if you upgrade to better shocks and coils later you'll have to pay that and maybe more all over again. If you don't need new tires now save up for whatever lift you want to buy and then get the lift. You will be saving money in the long run and also have a more capable vehicle.

 

[iversong]

Depending on wheel offset or wheel spacer thickness if you add that, they should fit without issue with minimal lift. Anything above 1" lift and you should be good. Wheel offset can make them contact different spots because it changes where they rotate.
Nothing wrong with stock. You can always save up and put a great system on later!

I did the Daystar lift several years ago and was happy with it. The only thing I will add is that installing the D.S. kit is $300-$400. Then if you upgrade to better shocks and coils later you'll have to pay that and maybe more all over again. If you don't need new tires now save up for whatever lift you want to buy and then get the lift. You will be saving money in the long run and also have a more capable vehicle.

I found a Daystar spacer kit for $125 on Amazon. I don't mind paying that for now, even if it's only a temporary fix. The tires I have on now are some brand I've never heard of (Dealer put them on when I bought it). I want to get something I can go off road with, even if it's nothing serious. That will give me enough to take my Runner out and see if I want to go bigger down the road. If not, I think this would at least be a good set-up for camping trips and such.

 

[pipo6007]

I found a Daystar spacer kit for $125 on Amazon. I don't mind paying that for now, even if it's only a temporary fix. The tires I have on now are some brand I've never heard of (Dealer put them on when I bought it). I want to get something I can go off road with, even if it's nothing serious. That will give me enough to take my Runner out and see if I want to go bigger down the road. If not, I think this would at least be a good set-up for camping trips and such.

The DS kit does cost $125 but the installation of the kit is what costs $300-$400 depending who you take it to. If you are doing it yourself then that's another story. I took off my DS kit a few days ago and added the Bilstein 5100's with Toytec coils. You can really tell the difference with new shocks and coils. It's also 2 inches higher than where I was at before. I would guess that my shocks and coils were so used with 159K miles that it made a huge height difference. You can also invest in the front with shocks and coils then just do the rear 1.5" Daystar spacer in the rear for now until you change tires.

 

[iversong]

The DS kit does cost $125 but the installation of the kit is what costs $300-$400 depending who you take it to. If you are doing it yourself then that's another story. I took off my DS kit a few days ago and added the Bilstein 5100's with Toytec coils. You can really tell the difference with new shocks and coils. It's also 2 inches higher than where I was at before. I would guess that my shocks and coils were so used with 159K miles that it made a huge height difference. You can also invest in the front with shocks and coils then just do the rear 1.5" Daystar spacer in the rear for now until you change tires.

Oh, gotcha. Yeah, I am planning on putting the spacers in myself. I like the idea of switching out the shocks and coils, especially since it probably still has the original ones from 2007, but I'll try out these spacers and see how I like them for now, I guess. I want to do so much all at once, but I have to remind myself that everything adds up very quickly and gets expensive!

 

[t-man]

The DS kit does cost $125 but the installation of the kit is what costs $300-$400 depending who you take it to. If you are doing it yourself then that's another story. I took off my DS kit a few days ago and added the Bilstein 5100's with Toytec coils. You can really tell the difference with new shocks and coils. It's also 2 inches higher than where I was at before. I would guess that my shocks and coils were so used with 159K miles that it made a huge height difference. You can also invest in the front with shocks and coils then just do the rear 1.5" Daystar spacer in the rear for now until you change tires.

Oh, gotcha. Yeah, I am planning on putting the spacers in myself. I like the idea of switching out the shocks and coils, especially since it probably still has the original ones from 2007, but I'll try out these spacers and see how I like them for now, I guess. I want to do so much all at once, but I have to remind myself that everything adds up very quickly and gets expensive!

So easy to do even a caveman can do it! I can't bring myself to pay somebody for such simple things. Not knocking anyone, but I have less than $600 into my suspension total.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.