4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ

[RickF]

Heads up for anyone considering the Toytec/OME setup: just talked to them directly, a lot of their components are on backorder, won't get in until mid-August, won't reach customers until late August at the earliest. They'll fill backorders first.

 

[nwt4runner]

Bluesky, thank you very much! You are a true gentleman and a real asset to all of us here. Thanks for everything you do for all of us! I'll dig through your posts.

I would also look into Dobinsons, they seem to be getting some great reviews! If I could do it all over again I would just go with them. Check out exitoffroad.com, I believe they are also sponsor on here. Although I think they might be on back order too…

 

[Prudii]

Level and lift for 255/75R17s

I've got a 07 v6 4x4 without Xreas, I'm looking to get 2" front and 1" rear to fit 255/75R17s.

After reading though what feels like several hundred pages I've decided upon 5100s set at 0 with OME 883s in the front. For the rear however I'm lost. From what I've read the OME 895e are ridiculously stiff, the Moogs don't fit, and I really don't want to spend $400 on aFe SAWS.

Any ideas?

 

[Cdevs67]

I’m a dummy

I’m sorry. This was a great post with amazing information but I’m also very overwhelmed so I need to clarify one thing. I have a 2 inch Bilstein 5100 lift kit on my 09 sport. OME Springs in the back and stock springs in the front. I have wild peak 275/70R17’s. My tires are running bad against my UCA’s. According to the size information, it says I need a 3” front lift and a 2” rear lift to prevent this??? This Bilstein lift kit only adjusts to 2.5” in the front. I am looking to get new rims. Should I max out the front lift to 2.5” and get rims with an offset? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[timbird1219]

Okay, first off, I sincerely apologize for the exasperated eyerolls this will generate among some of us. I've spent so much time digging through this thread that I can't focus anymore. Yes, this is another post asking for help.

So much good information throughout this thread, in some ways maybe too much.

I have an '04 V6 SR5, stock suspension (not XREAS) and tires, 250,000 miles on it. Not an off-roader, but do go offroad for camping and fishing. Daily driver, no other significant weight other than a Rod Vault (fly rod holder, ~30 lbs).

Ride quality is the priority, 1"-2" lift to help out on a couple of trips I take is next. I want to keep the stock rake.

I've been looking at Dobinsons and Toytec/OME.

I'm simply asking for thoughts and recommendations, maybe simplify the mountain of information out there.

Thanks in advance, sorry to the eye rollers.

So personally call me a bilstein fan boy and what not but I have a 03 SR5 with a little over 250,000 and I put the bilstein 5100 kit on the front and back and kept my stock springs and it works just fine and the ride quality is way better than it was. I set the front to 2.5 in and the rear is set to 2 it about leveled out my 4Runner but it’s great and easy to install. It only cost me about $500 for it and then took me all day to install because I did run into some issues but none with the suspension. So all in all easy install and it didn’t hurt the pocket too much. Also I did just move across country driving my 4Runner and she handled fine. You will need longer sway bar end links though. And if you decide to go higher then you’ll also need new UCAs.


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[4R_Dan]

You sound like a perfect candidate for the 3rd Gen Tacoma TRD Offroad swap (details in the post linked in my sig, including links to X-REAS removal steps). The front coilovers with the Bilstein 4600s will give you a level stance; for the rear, to do what you plan to do, I would suggest new 4th Gen 4Runner specific 4600s and new springs of your choice. Spidertrax spacers are an option but they definitely improve the horizontal stance.

Happy to answer any questions, provide specific part numbers, etc. Check out my linked YouTube channel to see trails I’ve done with my set up. I wish you the best with whatever route you decide to take.

So jumped in the thread because rode in the kid's '07 4runner today and he needs shocks replaced. Came across this thread. As I'm wont to do I started looking around checking info. Came across this. Not trying to be a little b#tch, but wondering if actual 4600's would also work?

Trd off road vs Bilstein 4600’s | Tacoma World

 

[Bluesky 07]

So jumped in the thread because rode in the kid's '07 4runner today and he needs shocks replaced. Came across this thread. As I'm wont to do I started looking around checking info. Came across this. Not trying to be a little b#tch, but wondering if actual 4600's would also work?

Trd off road vs Bilstein 4600’s | Tacoma World

Interesting thread on TW and I can’t disagree that the 4600 is different than the OR. Never really thought about the nomenclature.

My current rear shocks are the 4600 that’s specified for the 4th Gen, in part b/c I ran across a terrific Black Friday sale but also b/c the 4600 is indeed visibly beefier.

I assumed the difference was that the Tacoma has leaf springs vs. coils. I ran the Tacoma version for several years & 50K miles with no issues. The advantages of the Tacoma swap for me were 1) cost-effectiveness, not b/c I’m cheap (well, not just that) but as I explain in my suspension post, this isn’t a shirt you can return if you don’t like it so the Tacoma swap is a great way to see whether you like the Bilstein ride without breaking the bank; and 2) getting a fully assembled “plug and play” front coilover that bolts right in.

That’s a long answer to a short question. The more succinct version is yes, “actual” 4600s would be an excellent choice.

Happy to answer any other questions you have.

 

[RoadRunnerVA]

Add to dobinsons lift

Hello,

I have a 3” Front and 2” rear lift from dobinsons. I also have the spacer on the driver side to correct the lean. I would like to add 1in to the front to make it more leveled. Dobinsons does not recommend adding spacers. Any recommendations?

Thank you

 

[808toy]

Wow. What a post! XReas question.

I just happily joined the 4th gen family. I like the xreas, but I want to lift it which would mean getting rid of the xreas. I was thinking of going billstein 5100s. I want to make it as level as I can without any chance of going reverse rake. I don’t hall anything and don’t go off-roading. I bought a 08 sport with 84k miles. Would it be best to go 1.75 in the front with a small spacer in the back? Anyone have experience getting rid of xreas for billsteins? Thanks everyone

 

[Bluesky 07]

I just happily joined the 4th gen family. I like the xreas, but I want to lift it which would mean getting rid of the xreas. I was thinking of going billstein 5100s. I want to make it as level as I can without any chance of going reverse rake. I don’t hall anything and don’t go off-roading. I bought a 08 sport with 84k miles. Would it be best to go 1.75 in the front with a small spacer in the back? Anyone have experience getting rid of xreas for billsteins? Thanks everyone

Yes, this post has information on the what, how, and why of my choices when I swapped out my X-REAS. It includes links to X-REAS removal instructions too. Good to follow the procedure as you can make a mess at best and hurt yourself at worst if it's not done correctly.

3rd Gen Tacoma front coilovers with low mileage are often available on FB Marketplace at very attractive prices. They'll level your truck or get it pretty close (My front is .5" - 1" lower) and have the huge advantage of being a bolt-on install, meaning you don't have to assemble the spring and shock together.

You mentioned you won't have extra weight on your truck and will be staying on the pavement, and for those reasons you may be happier with Bilstein 4600s. The 5100 is designed for lifted trucks that carry extra weight such as winches, armor, etc. so some feel they're too stiff on a stock truck. I have 2020 Tacoma TRD Offroad coilovers up front and 4th Gen 4Runner Bilstein 4600s on the rear and really like the ride. They're great off-road too if you ever decide to venture out into the wild. Here's how mine looks:

Happy to answer any questions you have.

 

[GeorgeM1977]

I have a 2005 4wd runner with 172k mileage. It hasn't been offroad much and none of the shocks/struts have been changed. Not that it's riding rough but what if anything would you suggest for a smooth, yet road worthy ride. I have new all terrain tires that are stock size and stock rims. Not looking to lift, just sturdy the ride more if at all. Looking for an improved ride.

 

[HutchOven]

You guys with a +2 or +3.5 long travel kit, what are you doing in the rear to match the front? Everything I'm seeing short of a custom cantilever setup, severely limits up travel. It might add to the down travel but that's worthless even at a mild desert speed.

For example, the metaltech "long travel" kit. It doesn't seem long travel at all. All they do is limit your up travel and move it to down travel. Good for a lift and flex in the rocks but terrible for desert. What else is out there?

 

[twodogs]

I just picked up a 2007 Sport Edition. The previous owner had it lifted, which I am thinking of removing. Since it is the SE, it has XREAS. A local shop said the lift is is 3”, and since this is all new to me, I have to trust them. I have many questions, if you have the patience to bear with me.

Can I verify that it is 3” by measuring the spacer up front? Can I assume that the spacer would need to be 3”?

Am I correct in believing that the xreas system should have been disabled before lifting? I assume that the system wouldn’t work properly unless the fluid level were adjusted after the modification. The ride feels “soft” to me now, which makes me wonder…

If I return to stock height, would it be as simple as removing spacers up front and replacing springs in the back?

Since it is a 2007, I really don’t want to dump a ton of cash in it. I just want a safe, reliable vehicle for my family to drive. If anyone has gone thru something similar, I’d love to hear from you. Thanks!

 

[Bluesky 07]

I just picked up a 2007 Sport Edition. The previous owner had it lifted, which I am thinking of removing. Since it is the SE, it has XREAS. A local shop said the lift is is 3”, and since this is all new to me, I have to trust them. I have many questions, if you have the patience to bear with me.

Can I verify that it is 3” by measuring the spacer up front? Can I assume that the spacer would need to be 3”?

Am I correct in believing that the xreas system should have been disabled before lifting? I assume that the system wouldn’t work properly unless the fluid level were adjusted after the modification. The ride feels “soft” to me now, which makes me wonder…

If I return to stock height, would it be as simple as removing spacers up front and replacing springs in the back?

Since it is a 2007, I really don’t want to dump a ton of cash in it. I just want a safe, reliable vehicle for my family to drive. If anyone has gone thru something similar, I’d love to hear from you. Thanks!

I also have a 2007 SE. I don't think you can lift an X-REAS 4Runner but it's easy to tell whether you have X-REAS; each shock will have a hydraulic line to it. More info here and the "X-REAS delete..." post linked in my sig may also be helpful. Happy to answer any other questions as best I can.

 

[twodogs]

Thanks! I have done quite a bit of reading since posting. It has 1.5” front spacers, which I believe gives it a 3” lift. The rear coils are not stock. I was under the same impression about the XREAS and lifting, and it still installed. The ride is softer than my Tacoma, but I don’t see leaks anywhere. It makes me think the suspension system has air in it, but I am guessing.

 

[Toy4er]

Can’t wait to upgrade suspension. So much stuff to read. It’s unfortunate though because with so much to read and different ideas. I’ll probably never choose what to do FTW...

 

[Bluesky 07]

Can’t wait to upgrade suspension. So much stuff to read. It’s unfortunate though because with so much to read and different ideas. I’ll probably never choose what to do FTW...

You're right, getting "analysis paralysis" is very easy with this. So a suggestion FWIW...find a local 4Runner group on FB or from this forum. Talk to people about their setups, not just what they have but why. Sort out which one(s) you might want. See if those people will take you on a short hop to get a feel for the ride. Even a trip around the block will leave you more knowledgeable than before. That way you can make a more informed choice.

My reasoning is that suspension isn't a piece of clothing you can return if you don't like the look or fit. It's a significant investment and the more you know before pulling the trigger, the better.

As explained in the suspension-related link in my sig, all this is why I initially went with the Tacoma swap. My first setup cost me all of $200 for shocks and springs for all 4 corners. I was very happy with that and have built on it from there but I wasn't that worried about losing $200 if I had decided to go an entirely different direction. Spending what some of this gear costs gets to be a different story real quick. Yes, "buy once, cry once" as to price but you don't want to be crying about the ride too for the rest of the time you own the truck.

Finally, be realistic about need vs. want. The typical 4R owner probably wishes he or she could be on the trails way more than we really can. I do a fair amount of off-roading but it's still less than 5% max of my driving since the 4R is my DD, so it makes no sense for me to have a suspension built for Moab rock crawling. What I have is terrific on the road and off so it's a great fit.

 

[treeshadeamateur]

Lift noob and need help

Hey, just joined the 4runner family. 2004 V8 Sport.

I am looking to put a small lift on my 4runner and wanting to make sure I do it properly. I am currently looking at the Bilstein 5100 shcosk for front and rear with Toytec front coil lift springs. Only wanting to lift it 2.5 inches and level out the front with the back. I am planning on replacing the UCA in the next 6 months or so.

What else do I need? Are these solid options? Are there things to look out for? Wanting to make sure I do this properly and don't overlook anything. I appreciate any help in advance!

 

[RickF]

Anyone got a valid discount code Toytec lift kits? All the ones I can find online show as invalid. TIA

 

[TreeRunner]

Pulled the trigger on the Accutune stage 3 Fox 2.5 set up. Has Icon ucas and plus 1" springs. Does anyone have any info or experience with this setup?