4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ

[fordhorse]

Replace ft strut/spring

Looking for recommendations to replace ft struts and possibly springs.
06 V8, Ft Bilstien 5100's and OME 886. Rear 5100's and Toyotec extended spring. No additional weight save for 9500# winch inside factory bumper. No plans for bumper. This combination is getting tired as its beginning to sag and top out the strut more often under hard acceleration. The ft 5100 is set at the factory/lowest ride height setting, using the spring for all the lift.

With this combination-
Likes - Road manners and NVH.
-Lack of brake dive and stable cornering.
Dislikes - Strut top out under hard acceleration. Suspect that the 886 is slightly beyond the 5100 to control properly.
Given I like how the heavier springs control dive and handle reasonably well, do any coil over kits offer a similar combination? Or should I just replace the sagging 886's and get a better matched shock for it?

This is not a common combination and can't find reasonable information in searches. I am an experienced fabricator and mechanic have been doing this kind of stuff for years just not on this platform.
Thanks in advance.

 

[originalg00kster]

Looking for recommendations to replace ft struts and possibly springs.
06 V8, Ft Bilstien 5100's and OME 886. Rear 5100's and Toyotec extended spring. No additional weight save for 9500# winch inside factory bumper. No plans for bumper. This combination is getting tired as its beginning to sag and top out the strut more often under hard acceleration. The ft 5100 is set at the factory/lowest ride height setting, using the spring for all the lift.

With this combination-
Likes - Road manners and NVH.
-Lack of brake dive and stable cornering.
Dislikes - Strut top out under hard acceleration. Suspect that the 886 is slightly beyond the 5100 to control properly.
Given I like how the heavier springs control dive and handle reasonably well, do any coil over kits offer a similar combination? Or should I just replace the sagging 886's and get a better matched shock for it?

This is not a common combination and can't find reasonable information in searches. I am an experienced fabricator and mechanic have been doing this kind of stuff for years just not on this platform.
Thanks in advance.

Whats your budget?

 

[WillCall08]

Help for newbie owner!

Hello everyone! I just became the proud owner of an 08 V6 Limited in Nautical Blue and I am swapping from the 18 inch wheels to the 17 inch Trd pro wheels and I have a few questions. I also will be swapping the shocks to the bilstein 5100’s all around as soon as they arrive just to level the vehicle.
1. Are 265/70R 17 tires I ordered (Michelin defender LTX M/S) going to be adequate or should I change sizes to wider or shorter?
2. The shocks are going to be on stock springs for now, what settings should the shocks be set to most likely to achieve the level look? With a little bit down on the front obviously! And is there anything else I need for now just to have a decent system, startup costs of my business are taking precedent over any other mods until I can afford it unless it’s a necessity I’m not aware of!
3. Are there any concerns I should have from going to these wheels over the factory ones and these new tires?
Thanks to anyone in advance that can help clear this up for me, a little overwhelming in my head right now and I can’t seem to get a straight answer online and from searching here for my specific questions!

 

[fordhorse]

Whats your budget?

I'm open. Willing to invest to get the results I'm looking for.

 

[neverdnf]

This might not be the best place for this question but I thought it might be where most people have encountered weird side effects of having installed a lift.

Got a new to me 2008 V6. Was averaging about 19 mpg with Roof Top Tent installed. Installed a 3" lift and lost a couple mpg. Nothing else changed. No larger tires, etc. The mpg loss doesn't seem to be related to the negative aerodynamics of the increased height. It just seems like something is holding it back slightly. Before you really had to hold the brake or it wanted to go forward without hitting the gas...now not so much. Don't notice anything really dragging, but it just seems to me bogging or fighting itself ever so slightly.

Any thoughts? I was thinking increased CV angle could be the problem. Would a diff drop help? Would be pretty quick install to check. Thought brake dragging possibly, but they weren't before so I don't know why they would after the lift install. I'd really like to get back to the original mpg before I go adding larger tires and dropping it even further.

 

[fordhorse]

Have you spun all 4 wheels by hand yet? If no undue resistance spinning them look towards alignment quality. If you get drag spinning the wheels that should point you closer.

 

[RunnerupMX]

Good information! Thank you all for sharing your knowledge.

 

[rcvoelkel]

What's the stock on 4th gen Limited V8. XREAS or RAS? Thanks.

 

[thegame7]

What springs are similar to dobinsons c59-505? I’m about to order them, just want to make sure I’ve shopped all the options

 

[pound_it]

Finally able to get my new shocks/springs on this past weekend.

Bilstein 5100's all around
OME 2886/2896

It replaced the original suspension and the previous owner's 3/2 spacer kit.

Need to replace the 265's with 285's then it will look much better.

(apologies for the terrible quality of the picture.)

 

[LarryV]

Finally able to get my new shocks/springs on this past weekend.

Bilstein 5100's all around
OME 2886/2896

It replaced the original suspension and the previous owner's 3/2 spacer kit.

Need to replace the 265's with 285's then it will look much better.

(apologies for the terrible quality of the picture.)

Looks SWEET.

 

[gloch]

How do the rear springs off an FJ compare to 4Runner stock? Are they stiffer?

 

[Oberbürgermeister]

So I've gone down the rabbit hole and now I'm thoroughly confused about the coils I should use.

I have an '07 Limited V6, 145k. I purchased Bilstein 5100s to replace my shocks. I'm only doing road driving. I'm going to have a shop do the work so wanted to take care of everything in one swoop.

What is the best recommended setup as far as improving ride comfort and getting a little lift and leveling. I can't seem to find any FJ coils anywhere, so any ideas would be helpful.

 

[Bluesky 07]

So I've gone down the rabbit hole and now I'm thoroughly confused about the coils I should use.

I have an '07 Limited V6, 145k. I purchased Bilstein 5100s to replace my shocks. I'm only doing road driving. I'm going to have a shop do the work so wanted to take care of everything in one swoop.

What is the best recommended setup as far as improving ride comfort and getting a little lift and leveling. I can't seem to find any FJ coils anywhere, so any ideas would be helpful.

I'm about to install Eibach coilovers on the front of my '07 Sport. The current ones are from a 2020 Tacoma TRD Offroad and have 36K miles since I installed them, less than 40K overall (they had 3700 when I bought them). LMK if having those Tacoma springs would be helpful and we'll work something out. No worries if not but wanted to offer.

I had FJ springs on the back but I sold them a couple of months ago when I did the Eibach install on the rear.

Here are the ones I'm talking about just after the install. If you want them, I'll disassemble the coils from the shocks and just send the coils.

 

[Oberbürgermeister]

I'm about to install Eibach coilovers on the front of my '07 Sport. The current ones are from a 2020 Tacoma TRD Offroad and have 36K miles since I installed them, less than 40K overall (they had 3700 when I bought them). LMK if having those Tacoma springs would be helpful and we'll work something out. No worries if not but wanted to offer.

I had FJ springs on the back but I sold them a couple of months ago when I did the Eibach install on the rear.

Here are the ones I'm talking about just after the install. If you want them, I'll disassemble the coils from the shocks and just send the coils.

Are Tacoma front/FJ rear what is most recommended for on-road drive quality?

I honestly have gotten so confused with all the options.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Are Tacoma front/FJ rear what is most recommended for on-road drive quality?

I honestly have gotten so confused with all the options.

Quite understandable! As for your question, it's a tough one to answer b/c ride comfort and handling are subjective. My experience with the Tacoma front coilover combo, first off a 2015 Tacoma and later off a 2020 (both the TRD Offroad editions), was that they were - for me - a perfect blend of on- and off-pavement ride and handling. The shocks for those Tacoma setups are also Bilstein, though not the 5100 specifically.

 

[kyuss]

What's the stock on 4th gen Limited V8. XREAS or RAS? Thanks.

XREAS, from what I understand. Mine did but had since been disconnected/bypassed
by PO.

 

[Oberbürgermeister]

Quite understandable! As for your question, it's a tough one to answer b/c ride comfort and handling are subjective. My experience with the Tacoma front coilover combo, first off a 2015 Tacoma and later off a 2020 (both the TRD Offroad editions), was that they were - for me - a perfect blend of on- and off-pavement ride and handling. The shocks for those Tacoma setups are also Bilstein, though not the 5100 specifically.

Are they plug and play on the 4runner?

 

[Bluesky 07]

Are they plug and play on the 4runner?

Yes.

 

[ivman]

Just replaced my Bilstein 5100s with the same, as well as tires. I had roughly 100k miles since my initial install of the 5100s with FJ cruiser springs. I went with Cooper Discoverer's with a 265/70/17 profile. The tires have a slight rub on full lock turn, but ride very nicely! 170k miles and this truck still rocks!