4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ

[mrshanno]

Thanks to Bluesky07, here is what they said about it on the Tacoma forum:

2016 TRD Off Road stock Bilstein shocks left or right side? | Tacoma World

Thanks all

 

[Bigdog1807]

Interested in leveling not lifting an 07. I’ve seen several videos using a 1” difference in a lift. Think pure stock starting point, what spacer would you recommend to level it, 1, 1.5, 2…? Thanks

 

[Kneelb4Mee]

Interested in leveling not lifting an 07. I’ve seen several videos using a 1” difference in a lift. Think pure stock starting point, what spacer would you recommend to level it, 1, 1.5, 2…? Thanks

1" spacers in the front will net 2" lift for the front end. This will give you your level look.

 

[Bigdog1807]

Great, I think I heard 1” nets 2” on a video so now you’ve convinced me. Thank you! This also matches the rough measurement in difference in fender clearance heights. Is there anything else that should be considered with this slight adjustment?

 

[Chief_Surf]

Lift/Suspension for speed instead of crawling

I want to take my 4L 06 2WD out to the desert and hit some high speed trail. At first I was thinking of going with simple Bilstein shocks but now I'm considering going with a mid-travel kit that has front coilovers (remote reservoir), UCAs, rear shocks (remote reservoir), and rear springs.

Will I still need to make other modifications to make speed running possible? There are definitely times I'll be going slow on fire roads and whatnot but I'd prefer the speed option. This is also my daily driver!

Kit is Mid Travel Suspension Kit from Accutune San Diego

I live nearby and can pick it up myself.

 

[gaber6]

Great, I think I heard 1” nets 2” on a video so now you’ve convinced me. Thank you! This also matches the rough measurement in difference in fender clearance heights. Is there anything else that should be considered with this slight adjustment?

Consider if you ever tow or carry weight. I got rid of my front lift and kept the rear Daystar for towing. Otherwise it was nose high. Looked bad and drove bad.

Keeps suspension components in line with stock setup as well. Otherwise you may wear parts quicker

 

[CO4x499]

On a stock 08 SR5 V6, what else would I need to replace on the vehicle if I went with the Eibach Stage 1 Pro Lift kit?

 

[Bluesky 07]

On a stock 08 SR5 V6, what else would I need to replace on the vehicle if I went with the Eibach Stage 1 Pro Lift kit?

Not sure how to answer that. Nothing, if all you're wanting is new springs and shocks (and I strongly endorse Eibach, which I have). At some point, most people look at wear items like the sway bar bushings, UCAs, LCAs, etc. depending on the mileage, but just that kit will get you a long way toward a great ride on and off road.

 

[CO4x499]

Not sure how to answer that. Nothing, if all you're wanting is new springs and shocks (and I strongly endorse Eibach, which I have). At some point, most people look at wear items like the sway bar bushings, UCAs, LCAs, etc. depending on the mileage, but just that kit will get you a long way toward a great ride on and off road.

Thanks. I just wasn't sure with it's lift that the OEM control arms would work?

How much did you lift raise the front? I spoke with Eibach and they say it's not adjustable, but I feel like I read people adjusting it's settings(?). This might seem funny, but my hesitation with this lift kit is it's too tall for my older dog to get in and out of the truck.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Thanks. I just wasn't sure with it's lift that the OEM control arms would work?

How much did you lift raise the front? I spoke with Eibach and they say it's not adjustable, but I feel like I read people adjusting it's settings(?). This might seem funny, but my hesitation with this lift kit is it's too tall for my older dog to get in and out of the truck.

I get the dog thing; we had to get our girl a ramp for the last year or so of her life.

The factory upper & lower control arms work fine with the Eibach kit. Not good to go much higher than that without thinking about something different.

When you’re ready for new UCAs (due to wear) check FB Marketplace for later model Tacoma takeoffs. Lots of Tacoma owners pull theirs because they put lifts on brand new trucks. For example, my UCAs came off a 2020 Tacoma TRD Offroad. They’re plug & play on ‘06-09 4Runners.

LCAs are a different animal. I ended up buying 1A Auto replacements (again, only b/c the bushings were shot) and they’ve been solid.

IIRC, Eibach makes an adjustable kit but it’s significantly more expensive.

Here’s my truck with the Eibach setup. Not the greatest angles. Lift was ~2/1. It’s nearly level, just a smidge lower in front.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Here, I took a profile shot with the Eibach setup.

 

[CO4x499]

^ That's great, thanks so much. You're an awesome addition to this forum and I sincerely appreciate your help!

 

[Bluesky 07]

^ That's great, thanks so much. You're an awesome addition to this forum and I sincerely appreciate your help!

Greatly appreciate that. I'm only paying forward the support and kindnesses given to me here and on the Xterra Owners Club board before this.

 

[CO4x499]

Out of curiosity, do you know if the Eibach springs pair with a different shock? I have the springs, but no shock as of yet.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Out of curiosity, do you know if the Eibach springs pair with a different shock? I have the springs, but no shock as of yet.

I don’t see why not. Coincidentally, I recently read a post on another forum where somebody had Bilstein 5100s and Eibach springs. There are people here who really get deep into the numbers of spring loading and shock valving and how it all meshes together, but that’s not something I know about.

What makes recommendations iffy is that ride quality is subjective. The only way to know what you like is to drive the setup.

 

[dfontes]

I'm on the lookout for an 06-09 V8 T4R and want to make sure I understood this correctly..

SR5 would be easiest to lift because there is no RAS.
Limited is next as long as there is no RAS.
Sport is the hardest to lift because they all have RAS.

Did I get that right?

 

[Bluesky 07]

I'm on the lookout for an 06-09 V8 T4R and want to make sure I understood this correctly..

SR5 would be easiest to lift because there is no RAS.
Limited is next as long as there is no RAS.
Sport is the hardest to lift because they all have RAS.

Did I get that right?

Not exactly. RAS is Road Active Suspension as I understand it and 4th Gens didn't have it. I think what you mean is X-REAS ("Cross Linked Relative Absorber System"). This video explains it. As for the relative difficulty of lifting with X-REAS, any 4th Gen you buy with X-REAS is 99% certain to need it replaced. The refit cost with OEM parts (there are no aftermarket X-REAS components to my knowledge) is so ridiculous ($2K+) that everybody simply removes the X-REAS system - it's easy, see the suspension post linked in my sig - and installs standard suspension components. Bottom line is that I wouldn't worry about whether a truck has X-REAS. If the frame is relatively clean rust-wise, the 4WD is confirmed to work (frozen actuators from disuse is a known issue), and it's otherwise reasonably solid, go for it.

Happy to answer any other questions as best I can, whether X-REAS or whatever.

 

[dfontes]

Not exactly. RAS is Road Active Suspension as I understand it and 4th Gens didn't have it. I think what you mean is X-REAS ("Cross Linked Relative Absorber System"). This video explains it. As for the relative difficulty of lifting with X-REAS, any 4th Gen you buy with X-REAS is 99% certain to need it replaced. The refit cost with OEM parts (there are no aftermarket X-REAS components to my knowledge) is so ridiculous ($2K+) that everybody simply removes the X-REAS system - it's easy, see the suspension post linked in my sig - and installs standard suspension components. Bottom line is that I wouldn't worry about whether a truck has X-REAS. If the frame is relatively clean rust-wise, the 4WD is confirmed to work (frozen actuators from disuse is a known issue), and it's otherwise reasonably solid, go for it.

Happy to answer any other questions as best I can, whether X-REAS or whatever.

Thanks for the clarification. Now I won't limit my search based on trim and will pay attention to the 4WD.

 

[07LTD GarageQueen]

Stock '07 Limited - what would you do?

Hi forum - long time listener, first time poster:
Need the wisdom of the crowd here to guide some possible investments:

Current state:

• 
  2007 Limited, fully stock, clean, and dealer maintained with 130K

• Drivers will include wide range; a ~70year old disabled grandma, and ~40year old children+ next generation.

Future state questions:

• 
  Given new tires/ wheels that are going to be pretty close to stock size...Is 2.5" lift in the front suitable to back to level?

• Out of OME, Bilstein, Eibach, etc. which is the best for a result that will be "that's how it should have looked out of the factory" but increases both on-road and off-road comfort?

• How much overall should be invested in a truck that is already at 130K miles? (And won't ever become a proper overland/ expedition machine)

• What is your reaction to this OME BP-51 4Runner (03-09) 2.5 - 3 inch Lift Kit Old Man Emu Suspension OME4R-4GEN-BP51 Fits 4th Gen Toyota 4Runner
  – Mudify?

• Are there any Boston-area/ metro-north shops you'd recommend working with?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Bluesky 07]

Hi forum - long time listener, first time poster:
Need the wisdom of the crowd here to guide some possible investments:

• Out of OME, Bilstein, Eibach, etc. which is the best for a result that will be "that's how it should have looked out of the factory" but increases both on-road and off-road comfort?

I have Eibach now but previously had Toyota TRD Offroad OEM front coilovers made by Bilstein. There's more in the suspension post linked in my sig but the short version is that you can typically get those parts with very few miles at very low cost on FB Marketplace and the like. They're takeoffs from late model Tacomas that people lift and are plug and play on 4th Gen 4Runners. They give you just about perfect leveling at a fraction of the cost of new parts by any of the brands you mention. Here's a pic of my truck with the Tacoma front coilovers. Since you mentioned "how it should look from the factory," I think another element of that is Spidertrax spacers that give you a wider stance. This pic is handy b/c my truck had the Tacoma front coilovers and the before/after shows it with and without the spacers.

This is now, with Eibach all around.

• How much overall should be invested in a truck that is already at 130K miles? (And won't ever become a proper overland/ expedition machine)

Well, mine's at 242K. Properly maintained, you can get 500K out of these trucks if the frame is reasonably clean rust-wise. See the "High Mileage 4th Gens" thread for examples. Anything you invest in replacement parts will be a fraction of the ridiculous prices people are paying for new vehicles.

• What is your reaction to this OME BP-51 4Runner (03-09) 2.5 - 3 inch Lift Kit Old Man Emu Suspension OME4R-4GEN-BP51 Fits 4th Gen Toyota 4Runner
  – Mudify?

My reaction is holy s***! I would never put that kind of money into suspension unless I was competing in the Baja 1000. My personal limit was ~$1000 and I haven't spent much over that since buying my truck in 2014. And that's going through two iterations of Tacoma takeoffs (from a 2015 and later a 2020), FJ rear springs, Bilstein 4600 rear shocks, and my entire current set of Eibach front and rear shocks and springs.

There are too many options at much lower cost, especially for the use you describe. But anything around suspension is tough to answer b/c ride is so subjective.

• Are there any Boston-area/ metro-north shops you'd recommend working with?

Can't help you there, I'm in metro Atlanta.

Hope that helps.