Rodtheviking
New member
14.3 inches and about 590 pounds
4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ
- Thread starter ARK_SWAMP_RIDER
- Start date
14.3 inches and about 590 pounds
OC2003
New member
Thanks. Considering an 09 gx weighs 400# more than an o3 the v8 I should get just about what I need without moving to 2nd perch.
jdmsneakerz
Member
Any 2wd guys with 6112 setting the notch higher then recommended?
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4thGenFireAndRescu
New member
What Would Be The Most Reliable Tallest Setup
So I have 2009 Limited V6 4x4 with XREAS. My main goal is to lift it as tall as I can go without a body mount chop, and I think that’s 3.5 inches suspension lift (changing the brake lines to stainless steel and making them longer) and a 1 inch body lift. This is will be occasionally offroaded in a muddy/snowy environment, and would love to eventually turn it into an overlander, so the weight will increase. This vehicle will be driven hundreds and thousands of miles away from home at times. So, I have Stealth F5 wheels measuring 17 x 8.5 inches, backspacing 4.30 inches, -10mm offset. I haven’t checked by having the vehicle up in the air yet but I get a death wobble after hitting a bump on the highway so I’m sure the shocks are shot and my UCA’s. I’m thinking about doing the LCA’s at the same time just because I’ll be there I would like to put Goodyear Duratracs on with the tallest and widest setup I can go and I think that would be 285/70R17. I would prefer to have the most reliable set up (my friend has a Jeep, can’t let him be more reliable), level front to back (no rake) and left to right, all while trying to maintain that stock clean look (if wheel spacers are need I want the ones that’ll make me just clear). Also any type of bushings or steering components that seem to be worn or would be suggested to change will be done. Bumpers/winches might come at a much later date. My friend with a 2002 Grand Cherokee did a 300 dollar lift and now all his bushings got torn up, including any steering component and I do not want that. I looked at ICON lifts, they look great but they’re so expensive, also 900 bucks just for their lowest level grade UCA’s is really hard to pay for. If money wasn’t a true option than I would buy ICON’s top grade UCA’s but they’re 1500 bucks. In the end though I want the best most reliable set up, I pride myself on my vehicles being reliable, and it’s even better when I can tell that to my Jeep friends and BMW Technician friends.
So I have 2009 Limited V6 4x4 with XREAS. My main goal is to lift it as tall as I can go without a body mount chop, and I think that’s 3.5 inches suspension lift (changing the brake lines to stainless steel and making them longer) and a 1 inch body lift. This is will be occasionally offroaded in a muddy/snowy environment, and would love to eventually turn it into an overlander, so the weight will increase. This vehicle will be driven hundreds and thousands of miles away from home at times. So, I have Stealth F5 wheels measuring 17 x 8.5 inches, backspacing 4.30 inches, -10mm offset. I haven’t checked by having the vehicle up in the air yet but I get a death wobble after hitting a bump on the highway so I’m sure the shocks are shot and my UCA’s. I’m thinking about doing the LCA’s at the same time just because I’ll be there I would like to put Goodyear Duratracs on with the tallest and widest setup I can go and I think that would be 285/70R17. I would prefer to have the most reliable set up (my friend has a Jeep, can’t let him be more reliable), level front to back (no rake) and left to right, all while trying to maintain that stock clean look (if wheel spacers are need I want the ones that’ll make me just clear). Also any type of bushings or steering components that seem to be worn or would be suggested to change will be done. Bumpers/winches might come at a much later date. My friend with a 2002 Grand Cherokee did a 300 dollar lift and now all his bushings got torn up, including any steering component and I do not want that. I looked at ICON lifts, they look great but they’re so expensive, also 900 bucks just for their lowest level grade UCA’s is really hard to pay for. If money wasn’t a true option than I would buy ICON’s top grade UCA’s but they’re 1500 bucks. In the end though I want the best most reliable set up, I pride myself on my vehicles being reliable, and it’s even better when I can tell that to my Jeep friends and BMW Technician friends.
Hey All,
Just picked up a '05 SR5 v6 4WD. Super excited to be part of the TR4 club.
This will be a weekend adventurer for me (lots of camping/fishing).
I have 2 goals right now:
1. replace the front and rear struts (they're stock, afaik, and they're shot)
2. level out the forward rake
I'm thinking I'll get the Bilstein 5100s front and rear.
With 5100 in front and rear, would lifting the front strut to the 1st notch (I think .85") level it out?
Any recommendations on the spring coils I should include with front and rear if I want this setup to work (included leveling)?
I'm a novice, so apologies if this has been asked or doesn't make sense. Tried to do my research :typing:
Just picked up a '05 SR5 v6 4WD. Super excited to be part of the TR4 club.
This will be a weekend adventurer for me (lots of camping/fishing).
I have 2 goals right now:
1. replace the front and rear struts (they're stock, afaik, and they're shot)
2. level out the forward rake
I'm thinking I'll get the Bilstein 5100s front and rear.
With 5100 in front and rear, would lifting the front strut to the 1st notch (I think .85") level it out?
Any recommendations on the spring coils I should include with front and rear if I want this setup to work (included leveling)?
I'm a novice, so apologies if this has been asked or doesn't make sense. Tried to do my research :typing:
mjotrainbrain
New member
If you plan to use the coils on it now, measure it to see what setting will level. If you're going to be putting aftermarket coils on, you'll have to look into others' experience of course. I'd suggest doing FJ springs with the front shocks set at 0.85"; I don't have experience with that setup (in the midst of installing 5100's myself) but it seems like a popular low-buck option.
NativeRunner
New member
5th gen 5100's
I picked up a set of 5100's off a 5th gen, the fronts are set to 2.5 w/5th gen coils and the rears came with a 1.5 spacer.
Can I use the spacers with 4th gen springs or will I need a stock set off a 5th gen?
Are aftermarket UCA's required with this amount of lift, if I plan on running 255's or 285's?
I picked up a set of 5100's off a 5th gen, the fronts are set to 2.5 w/5th gen coils and the rears came with a 1.5 spacer.
Can I use the spacers with 4th gen springs or will I need a stock set off a 5th gen?
Are aftermarket UCA's required with this amount of lift, if I plan on running 255's or 285's?
Hey Guys, I'm in the same boat. Just bought an 07 SR5 V6 and the shocks are shot all around. The tires are in good shape so I don't want to upgrade them right now. I'm thinking of doing the Bilstein 5100s and adding a little lift to the front.
My question is, do I HAVE to do springs at the same time or can I utilize the stock setup and just replace the shocks and add a little lift up front?
mjotrainbrain
New member
You can use the stock springs. They may be a little saggy, but they'll still work as good as they do now. However, if you're planning to add "a little lift up front" with spacers or something, for about the same cost you could get Moog FJ coils from Advance Auto Parts (use discount code RADIATOR online for 25% off right now -> $60/pair of coils) and get a little lift. Just my personal opinion.
Thanks for the reply! When I said "a little lift up front" I meant by utilizing the adjustable ride height on the 5100s. I've read that using the 1.75" setting and keeping the stock springs it'll look nice. When my tires need replacing and I can afford to go with larger tires, I'd look into lifting beyond that and increasing the tire size to compensate and fill the hole. Don't want this go around to look like I skipped leg day at the gym!
mjotrainbrain
New member
Ah, ok! Sounds like my plan, haha. Got Bilsteins set at 1.75" being installed now. A word of warning...it's a pretty easy job unless your LCA bushings are seized, in which case it will be a long job if you want to replace them (which I am).
Best Bang for Buck to replace XREAS?
Hey all, long time reader first time poster. When my 94 SR5 5-speed finally died 2 years ago I picked up an 06 V8 Sport with front leveling kit already installed.
I have been reading up and was planning on buying a full front/rear kit to replace the worn out XREAS next year. However I recently had to have the lower control arms replaced on both sides before my extended warranty ran out. While that work was being done the right front strut was broken in the process. I was in a time crunch so I ended up getting stuck with a $600 bill to get that one replaced and get my truck back on the road. So I figured I would just wait a little longer before doing the suspension upgrade...
But when I got the truck back, I'm not sure if the front has actually lifted or if the rear has lost pressure and dropped. But now my front is a good inch higher than the rear and the ride is terrible. The front wheels now skip and shudder over bumps, especially when braking. It drives like I'm towing a heavy load. The Toyota dealer that did the work is now telling me that the only way to stop that is to take the front lift kit out because there's "not enough weight on the front wheels".
So obviously they are wrong about removing the leveling kit, but I'm not going to find a solution there and I'm not going to spend any more money trying to get the old XREAS system right with only one new ($600 each) strut. I believe the whole system is compromised and I'd have to replace it all.
Sorry for the long story, but what I'm looking for now is the least expensive and easiest way to upgrade the whole suspension. Would I also have to replace all springs/coils to get the whole thing leveled out and slightly lifted, or can this be accomplished with only a set of 4 Billstein 5100's? I know there's a ton of info here in this thread on this, but I'm having a hard time sorting through all the possible combinations. If anyone were able to summarize the easiest approach to this on a budget and which kit/setup I should go for I would really appreciate it!
Can anyone help me out?
Hey all, long time reader first time poster. When my 94 SR5 5-speed finally died 2 years ago I picked up an 06 V8 Sport with front leveling kit already installed.
I have been reading up and was planning on buying a full front/rear kit to replace the worn out XREAS next year. However I recently had to have the lower control arms replaced on both sides before my extended warranty ran out. While that work was being done the right front strut was broken in the process. I was in a time crunch so I ended up getting stuck with a $600 bill to get that one replaced and get my truck back on the road. So I figured I would just wait a little longer before doing the suspension upgrade...
But when I got the truck back, I'm not sure if the front has actually lifted or if the rear has lost pressure and dropped. But now my front is a good inch higher than the rear and the ride is terrible. The front wheels now skip and shudder over bumps, especially when braking. It drives like I'm towing a heavy load. The Toyota dealer that did the work is now telling me that the only way to stop that is to take the front lift kit out because there's "not enough weight on the front wheels".
So obviously they are wrong about removing the leveling kit, but I'm not going to find a solution there and I'm not going to spend any more money trying to get the old XREAS system right with only one new ($600 each) strut. I believe the whole system is compromised and I'd have to replace it all.
Sorry for the long story, but what I'm looking for now is the least expensive and easiest way to upgrade the whole suspension. Would I also have to replace all springs/coils to get the whole thing leveled out and slightly lifted, or can this be accomplished with only a set of 4 Billstein 5100's? I know there's a ton of info here in this thread on this, but I'm having a hard time sorting through all the possible combinations. If anyone were able to summarize the easiest approach to this on a budget and which kit/setup I should go for I would really appreciate it!
Can anyone help me out?
FJ Spring
Hey all, just a quick follow up question: Anyone know a good online store for the OEm FJ Cruiser springs? I've already ordered the Bilstein 5100s, and those are arriving soon.
I ordered the FJ springs from TRD Shop and both the front and springs are on back order. Got me wondering if there's a cheaper option than the $100-115 they're asking per spring.
Haven't had any luck on Ebay, forum classifieds, or anywhere else. Just gotta take my medicine?
Spring, RIGHT 48131-35541
Spring, LEFT 48131-35551
Coil Spring 48231-35321
Hey all, just a quick follow up question: Anyone know a good online store for the OEm FJ Cruiser springs? I've already ordered the Bilstein 5100s, and those are arriving soon.
I ordered the FJ springs from TRD Shop and both the front and springs are on back order. Got me wondering if there's a cheaper option than the $100-115 they're asking per spring.
Haven't had any luck on Ebay, forum classifieds, or anywhere else. Just gotta take my medicine?
Spring, RIGHT 48131-35541
Spring, LEFT 48131-35551
Coil Spring 48231-35321
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Primetime4370
New member
Thanks Primetime, any idea how this compares in quality to Old Man Emu? Pricing is not much less and I've seen OME mentioned several times on this forum.
Jason B
Official Vendor
I can get you the EIBACH kit. I'm a dealer for them and will try to help you guys out when you're ready.
Primetime4370
New member
From what I've read they are comparable to the Bilstein shocks and, Eibach makes springs for other company's such as, Toytec. There is a thread here regarding this kit as well.
Primetime4370
New member
You can send me that info too Jason, thanks for your help guys
Hi Jason, I'd be interested in the pricing for these too. I like that they come in a complete strut unit instead of how the Bilsteins come as just a shock requiring a trickier installation. However, I don't want to do a lift right now, I simply want to level it out by raising the front. I've heard that by going up to the 1.75" setting in the front of the Bilsteins and leaving the back as is, it levels out the 4Runner. It appears the Eibach kit has customized adjustments up front as well.
Are there any other parts/pieces I should buy along with the shocks/struts like bushings, or other mounting hardware I'm not aware of? I've never done this before, but I've got a "mechanic" friend who's going to help me. We're doing rear brakes at the same time. Gonna be a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to learning a ton!
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