4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ

[Direwolf82]

Hello all,
I'm sure it's somewhere but I haven't seen it or found it yet.
I have an 03 limited with RAS, I know about moving the sensor to raise the rear up but I'm confused on why you shouldn't use longer shocks with them. I've heard that can damage the bags but how?
I assume longer shocks can cause the bags to stretch too far in a lifted position? With the bump stop I would think compression isn't an issue.
Also wondering if adding a one or two inch spacer to the bottom of the bag to raise it and get a little more flex out of it would work or not. I can fabricate some steel spacers if it's worth it.
Any constructive thoughts?

 

[Rodtheviking]

Hello all,
I'm sure it's somewhere but I haven't seen it or found it yet.
I have an 03 limited with RAS, I know about moving the sensor to raise the rear up but I'm confused on why you shouldn't use longer shocks with them. I've heard that can damage the bags but how?
I assume longer shocks can cause the bags to stretch too far in a lifted position? With the bump stop I would think compression isn't an issue.
Also wondering if adding a one or two inch spacer to the bottom of the bag to raise it and get a little more flex out of it would work or not. I can fabricate some steel spacers if it's worth it.
Any constructive thoughts?

You are only increasing ride height, not wheel travel.

 

[Direwolf82]

You are only increasing ride height, not wheel travel.

With moving the entire bag up travel should increase as the resting position should be more towards the middle of the bag instead of the bag being pre stretched by increasing air pressure to raise it.
But I need to know how the bags get damaged by longer shock travel. If it's the up travel that damages the bags then spacing the bottom will allow the bag to expand "taller" in effect and with the stock bump stop in place there may be an issue of compression but again, I need to know what is actually damaging the bags to know if that's truly a valid thought.
Any constructive thoughts on this?

 

[DuranDarren]

I'm looking to get my wheels, some all terrain tires, and a lift kit done at a local shop here in the Midwest.

What kind of rough ballpark should I expect? Currently my 03 is stock with no XREAS. I'm planning a 3" suspension lift, 17" wheels(same as stock), and some slightly larger than stock All Terrain tires. I'm expecting to need to replace the upper control arms as well, per the recommendations in this thread.

I know this is pretty vague but wanted some opinions before I talk to them. Thanks.

 

[drewj]

I'm looking to get my wheels, some all terrain tires, and a lift kit done at a local shop here in the Midwest.

What kind of rough ballpark should I expect? Currently my 03 is stock with no XREAS. I'm planning a 3" suspension lift, 17" wheels(same as stock), and some slightly larger than stock All Terrain tires. I'm expecting to need to replace the upper control arms as well, per the recommendations in this thread.

I know this is pretty vague but wanted some opinions before I talk to them. Thanks.

Yeah, tough to say without more details, but this is what I was quoted via email from a place in NJ for an OME lift kit:

The price on the kit installed without arms will cost $1646.00, the kit with arms and labor will cost $2434.00

Hope that helps.

 

[epicchaos]

It should be closer to a 3/2 lift with new springs, those lift heights are for "stock" or new height. Keep that in mind. I have essentially the same set-up, and that is what I got. If you use the OME (which I would) set the front to "0" and it should be close to level. And the ride is a little stiff but not bad at all, wife doesn't complain... much.

Thanks for the Info. I think I'll go with the 884 and 895e with blinsten set to 0 and see how it looks and feels.

 

[Islander1]

Rubbing UCAs

Hey I recently got a 3/2 OME suspension lift put in my 2004 v8 runner, I put 275/70r17 KO2s on stock rims on it, I havent got an alignment done yet but my tires are rubbing the UCA, would getting some JBAs fix that?

 

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Hey I recently got a 3/2 OME suspension lift put in my 2004 v8 runner, I put 275/70r17 KO2s on stock rims on it, I havent got an alignment done yet but my tires are rubbing the UCA, would getting some JBAs fix that?

... go get an alignment first.

 

[Islander1]

Id prefer to only do an alignment once if the UCA would help

 

[Rodtheviking]

Hey I recently got a 3/2 OME suspension lift put in my 2004 v8 runner, I put 275/70r17 KO2s on stock rims on it, I havent got an alignment done yet but my tires are rubbing the UCA, would getting some JBAs fix that?

I still had to run a spacer.

 

[Jason B]

I have read through this forum and many more for days now. I feel like I won't know until I do it but I'd feel a little more confident with some opinions. As this forum has over 200 pages its hard to see if my question is answered exactly. Without further ado I'm looking to lift my 4th Generation 4Runner Sport. Right now I have stock everything for weight reasons. I will be traveling with a rooftop tent and camping gear in the back but nothing that just throws tons more weight.

I hit up Utah and 4x4 with stock gear but am looking to add bigger tires. I just bought the Blisten 5100 lift kit. BIL24-239370 and BIL33-187174

I'm looking for a 2"/1" lift I believe for some BF Goodrich AT tires. I'm now stuck with what springs to go with. I was gonna pull the trigger on the 884 for front and 895e for back. Wondering will that level it out with a 2/1? Will the ride be rougher? What setting should I put Blisten 5100 at with those springs? Or should I ditch the spring ideas and go with something else.

Im looking

I found some info on the ratings below and it's making me question my original thoughts.
Coil Rates: OEM 4runner, OEM FJ, Moog, & Others - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

Thanks for any and all help and sorry if this is a repetitive post.

Been super busy and haven't had a chance to reply. I've had people with the Bilstein's use our spacer lift with them adn they've told me it gives a better ride then with the bilsteins adjusted all the way up. I've now done this for 6-7 people. They had the bilstens adjusted up and I did a 2/1 spacer kit for them and they all said it rode better. They turned the bilsteins down to the lowest settings and installed the 2/1 kit in conjunction with it. There are posts on here from multiple guys that have done this.

If any one is interested, I can help ya.

Burtman Industries lift/leveling kits for 4th gen

 

[lockon!]

Hi everyone. Longtime lurker with a first post.

I have a question about raising the rear of my 4th gen Limited using the RAS. Do I need to remove XREAS if I'm using the stock shocks?

Right now I have a 1" Daystar spacer to level the vehicle, but I want to bump up to a 2.5" spacer for a 3" total front lift, then adjust the RAS arm on the rear maximum level to raise the airbags 3". This way I get a mild lift while retaining car trailer towing leveling ability.

The threads I've found on this mention removing XREAS, but don't explain why. I assume it's because they are going with different front shock / spring set ups, that don't have the XREAS connectors.

If I intend to use the factory front shock, just with a larger spacer, does that mean I can just keep XREAS intact?

Here are the threads I found for reference:

I easily added a 3 inch lift to RAS equipped 4runner

I added 3 inch lift and kept RAS working.

 

[Dustin1]

Any Milwaukee area shops or 4R members that will do a RAS & XREAS conversion?

Hello all, I have a 2005 4Runner Limited, V8 equipped w/ RAS and XREAS. The bags in the RAS are shot. Currently have 127,xxx on our truck and plan on keeping it. I have searched high and low and cannot find a non-dealership shop that will do a suspension conversion. Can anyone here recommend a place or know any 4R member that would do this type of work (sorry mods if this is not acceptable, I glanced over the rules and didn't see anything so...)? I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Thanks you guys!

 

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Hello all, I have a 2005 4Runner Limited, V8 equipped w/ RAS and XREAS. The bags in the RAS are shot. Currently have 127,xxx on our truck and plan on keeping it. I have searched high and low and cannot find a non-dealership shop that will do a suspension conversion. Can anyone here recommend a place or know any 4R member that would do this type of work (sorry mods if this is not acceptable, I glanced over the rules and didn't see anything so...)?
Thanks you guys!

Might help if you posted what city you live in boss. Have you tried any of the chain 4x4 stores, like 4WheelParts? They're in pretty much any major city.

If not, there's bound to be some 4x4 shop nearby.

 

[epicchaos]

It should be closer to a 3/2 lift with new springs, those lift heights are for "stock" or new height. Keep that in mind. I have essentially the same set-up, and that is what I got. If you use the OME (which I would) set the front to "0" and it should be close to level. And the ride is a little stiff but not bad at all, wife doesn't complain... much.

Hey guys. I reached out to a lift website with questions on if I should go with Toytec superflex for the back since the stiffness is so much closer to stock versus the 895e and I got this reply.

Well,
Actually Bilstein shocks and OME springs are a bad combination, the
reason why is because Bilstein shocks use a digressive valve system
which means "the faster you go, the softer they get" and OME springs are
designed to carry weight.
So if you mix a "stiffer" spring with a "softer shock it will be like
mixing water and oil and at that point the shock won't perform as
designed and the spring won't hold the weight properly.
ARB, OME, Bilstein and some other companies DO NOT recommend that
combination at all and all warranties will be voided from both
manufacturers

Whats your thoughts because there's tons of people on these forums that have mix matched. Furthermore would y'all recommend OME 884 for front and Superflex for the back? Since my back won't have much added weight except when traveling to camp I figured the additional weight scales wasn't needed. Thanks for help on this stuff.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Hey guys. I reached out to a lift website with questions on if I should go with Toytec superflex for the back since the stiffness is so much closer to stock versus the 895e and I got this reply.

Well,
Actually Bilstein shocks and OME springs are a bad combination, the
reason why is because Bilstein shocks use a digressive valve system
which means "the faster you go, the softer they get" and OME springs are
designed to carry weight.
So if you mix a "stiffer" spring with a "softer shock it will be like
mixing water and oil and at that point the shock won't perform as
designed and the spring won't hold the weight properly.
ARB, OME, Bilstein and some other companies DO NOT recommend that
combination at all and all warranties will be voided from both
manufacturers

Whats your thoughts because there's tons of people on these forums that have mix matched. Furthermore would y'all recommend OME 884 for front and Superflex for the back? Since my back won't have much added weight except when traveling to camp I figured the additional weight scales wasn't needed. Thanks for help on this stuff.

uke:

They don't even know what digressive valving means. Or how springs work.

 

[JShipps]

I did the 3” package, the rear springs are rated for medium load since we off road a lot but rarely pack heavy


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Also, did you have to do the UCA kit or did you keep the original?

 

[Kid4runner]

Ok, just looking for suggestions and there is just too many options/combos. Here is what I have: 06 4 runner sport that I will be deleting the Xreas system. It is a v6 2wd. It has daystar 2.5/1.5 that I would like to remove but keep the height at 2.75 all the way around. I do have a bit of driver lean. I am running 275/65r18 duratracs. I rarely off road but do pull a boat at about 2800-3000lbs. The truck has 175k on everything original except the LCA/UCA/Stabilizer/sway bars up front. Would like to replace shocks springs that will give me a good ride while towing and give like 2.75 lift. Thoughts?

 

[Dustin1]

Oops. Thanks for catching that and for the info.

 

[Niffnorf]

Need advise on levelling kit

2003 4Runner LTD V8 with RAS
XREAS removed bilstien HD installed

Looking at 2.5 levelling kit and bfg ko2 265/70/17

Anything I need to watch for?

Thanks ahead !!