5th gen to 4th gen suspension swap?

[Garage Built Rides]

Hi all, I have a 2007 SR5. It has about 150K on it, and both front struts are leaking, and of course braking and turns have gotten a bit dodgy. I looked at buying some new struts and rear shocks at the local parts store. Then I found a complete 2013 5th gen trail suspension (struts, springs and shocks) with 7500 miles on them for $200!! I have seen lots of info on the FJ to 4th gen swap, but not the 5th gen to 4th gen swap. Is it a straight bolt in? can I expect a little lift? stiffer ride? etc etc. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

Hi all, I have a 2007 SR5. It has about 150K on it, and both front struts are leaking, and of course braking and turns have gotten a bit dodgy. I looked at buying some new struts and rear shocks at the local parts store. Then I found a complete 2013 5th gen trail suspension (struts, springs and shocks) with 7500 miles on them for $200!! I have seen lots of info on the FJ to 4th gen swap, but not the 5th gen to 4th gen swap. Is it a straight bolt in? can I expect a little lift? stiffer ride? etc etc. Thanks in advance for any help.

it is NOT a straight bolt it. the lower shock mount bushing is incompatible with the LCA mount. rear shocks aren't totally comparable either, the hole for the top shock mount isn't big enough and would need to be bored out, IIRC. i had inquired about putting a 5th gen OME kit on my 4th gen and found that it would not work out with modification.

 

[JB.]

Garage Built Rides,

The springs should work, though, and should lift the front about like FJ springs would. Slightly less in the back.

 

[Garage Built Rides]

hmmm. This was the only thread that I could find on here about this swap, http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/108454-5th-gen-suspension.html In it a member mentions that he sold his 5th gen suspension to another member with a 4th gen and he says it "bolted right up" Maybe I'll try to shoot him a PM

 

[Silvr Bullet]

I just recently did a 2012 FJ suspension swap on my 2006 T4R. The 2012 FJ and the 5th gen suspension are the same. But as stated above the suspension needed to be modified. The lower bushing on the front struts needed to be grinded down (I used a table belt sander), it wasn't a whole lot but a sanding block isn't going to cut it. The belt sander works really well because it sands both sides evenly. Now the back shocks also won't fit and the hole in the frame of your truck will need to be widened. You will need to get a high speed steel step drill bit, you can get them at harbor freight in a 2pack, the bit you need is an eleven step bit it goes from 1/4"-1 3/8". Do not purchase this from any home improvement store they charge $50-$60 for 1 bit, harbour freights are $11 for 2. This swap takes time and patience, but is possible. The downside is that you are altering the rear holes in your frame and will always need to get parts for a 5th gen when it comes to your rear shocks. On the front you are only altering the strut not the frame, so you can always replace with 4th gen parts. It is a lot to take on so prepare yourself or look for a suspension that bolt up directly for the 4th gen. If you decide to do the swap, let me know and i can help with any question.

 

[Garage Built Rides]

I just recently did a 2012 FJ suspension swap on my 2006 T4R. The 2012 FJ and the 5th gen suspension are the same. But as stated above the suspension needed to be modified. The lower bushing on the front struts needed to be grinded down (I used a table belt sander), it wasn't a whole lot but a sanding block isn't going to cut it. The belt sander works really well because it sands both sides evenly. Now the back shocks also won't fit and the hole in the frame of your truck will need to be widened. You will need to get a high speed steel step drill bit, you can get them at harbor freight in a 2pack, the bit you need is an eleven step bit it goes from 1/4"-1 3/8". Do not purchase this from any home improvement store they charge $50-$60 for 1 bit, harbour freights are $11 for 2. This swap takes time and patience, but is possible. The downside is that you are altering the rear holes in your frame and will always need to get parts for a 5th gen when it comes to your rear shocks. On the front you are only altering the strut not the frame, so you can always replace with 4th gen parts. It is a lot to take on so prepare yourself or look for a suspension that bolt up directly for the 4th gen. If you decide to do the swap, let me know and i can help with any question.

Thanks sooo much for that reply. It was exactly what I was looking for! I actually ended up buying an FJ suspension with less than 10k miles on it. He bought the suspension for his 4th gen but then sold his 4th gen and had the parts laying around forever. He "thinks" they are from a 2010, we'll see. I picked it all up for $100 he even threw in some extra 4th gen headlights and a complete 4th gen XREAS suspension ?? I guess I'll sell that. I'm sure I'll be bugging you with a couple questions. Thanks again

 

[Silvr Bullet]

Not a problem, sounds like you got a great deal! Just pm me if you need anything or need to talk it over before you start.

 

[JDMcQ]

I did the 5th gen Trail edition swap on my 2006 4Runner. The install was just like that for the FJ swap.

I found the shocks to be way too soft for my truck. It bobbed up and down and nose -dived heavily under braking. By comparison, the 2013 FJ Trail Teams suspension I have now is much firmer and more controlled.

 

[Garage Built Rides]

Thanks again for the info guys! I'll keep you posted on how the install goes, maybe even post some pics

 

[Code2]

OMG i would even think of using the 5th gen suspension its lacking BIG for a better word. so loose and flopping is scary

I have a 5th gen and took it to tenn. and OMG the curving roads were beating the hell out of that thing. to soft in turns cause to much side to side action. so soft couldnt feel the road. had to put thru like a old fart since i didnt feel like rolling the truck and the brakes on it lets not even go there they are junk


Took the 08 down there and it was like it was on rails. handles the curve like a dream and way above the speed limit and the braking so much better and efficient

 

[Garage Built Rides]

Done

Hey guys the swap is done and it came out great. The donor suspension ended up being a 2011 FJ with about 8k miles. The mods to the struts and rear shock mounts were not bad at all. With the brake job, I was in 8hrs. I used the no spring compressor method to remove the front struts, WAY easier and safer than stupid spring compressors. The rig feels much stiffer and more in control than before. Gained about an inch up front and about a half inch out back. Maybe I'll level it out with some spacers down the road. Thanks for the input and help everybody! I'll post a couple pics as soon as I figure out how.

 

[alia176]

Does anyone know the spring rates for the 5th gen? They look bigger than a 4th gen, so I assume they have higher spring rates.

 

[jrm]

rear coil lift?

same as the FJ or less/more? TIA

 

[AJD0331]

5th gen on 4th gen questions

Hey guys I'm new to this forum even though I've been using it for a long time for information on my vehicle this is the first time I've ever posted. I see it's been awhile since this thread was last going so hopefully someone with more knowledge than me still looks at it once and a while. I received a full suspension off of my friends 2015 4runner ( front and rear shocks w/ coils/springs and upper control arms off vehicle w 5k miles). I've already done new upper and lower control arms and ball joints and I'm about to remove the xreas and install the new shocks. Ive researched that I have to widen the hole for the upper bolt on the rear shocks. Does anyone know to what size exactly it needs widened and what size bolt it will need? Also is the Lowe bolt for rear shocks the same from 4th to 5th gen? And last question, I'm picking up a rough country level kit for it and I feel like I should know the answer but I'm confused. Would need the 4th gen kit or the 5th gen kit? Thank you in advance for any help or if someone could direct me to a more recent thread.

 

[Elan750]

Hey guys I'm new to this forum even though I've been using it for a long time for information on my vehicle this is the first time I've ever posted. I see it's been awhile since this thread was last going so hopefully someone with more knowledge than me still looks at it once and a while. I received a full suspension off of my friends 2015 4runner ( front and rear shocks w/ coils/springs and upper control arms off vehicle w 5k miles). I've already done new upper and lower control arms and ball joints and I'm about to remove the xreas and install the new shocks. Ive researched that I have to widen the hole for the upper bolt on the rear shocks. Does anyone know to what size exactly it needs widened and what size bolt it will need? Also is the Lowe bolt for rear shocks the same from 4th to 5th gen? And last question, I'm picking up a rough country level kit for it and I feel like I should know the answer but I'm confused. Would need the 4th gen kit or the 5th gen kit? Thank you in advance for any help or if someone could direct me to a more recent thread.

I have rear 5th gens and DID NOT have to widen the frame holes. I did modify the bushings. I cant tell you specifics but I cut one in half. Once you get the old one off, and you have the new ones, you can figure it out. you just need a rubber sandwich with the right washers.

 

[AJD0331]

5th gen suspension installed

Alright, so I've been using this forum as a reference on how I needed to go about installing a suspension off a 5th gen onto a 4th gen. So far I have taken the factory suspension off of a friend's 2016 4runner sr5 premium and swapped most of it onto my 4th gen(2003 4runner sport w xreas). I removed my stock xreas system that had 280k on it and so far have installed front shocks and coils, rear shocks and upper control arms w ball joint off of it. My lca's are new as well, I bought new lca w bushings and ball joints from some toyota dealer in Arizona. The only thing I've had to modify was shave down the lower front shock bushing a mm or so to fit into the lca and I also had to cut a 1/8 inch of rubber off of the top of the upper rear shock mount.

I am not really liking the driver side sag that it now has and I am also experiencing a slight wobble feeling while driving. Almost like the tire is bouncing. The shocks and springs came off a 2016 when it had 4k on it so they shouldn't be bad. Pretty much the entire suspension has been replaced other than inner tie rods.

Is the driver side sag normal? Does anyone know the coil count for the driver side /passenger off a Sr5 4x4? I don't know if I'm going crazy but I'm counting 9(driver) and 8 coils on passenger. Is this correct? Does anyone know what Color paint marking is supposed to be on which side?

 

[vegas4runners]

5th gen to 4th gen suspension swap

I know this thread seems dead, but I am about to swap over 5th gen suspension onto my 4th gen with 195k miles. the 07 is a SR5 2wd v6, the donor 5th gen suspension has around 1000 miles on it and is off a Trail Premium with KDSS. I am thinking because that is the heaviest version of the 5th gen outside limited that I should get decent lift on my 4th gen as its the lightest of the 4th gens. My research says my 4th gen weighs 4045 lbs and the 5th gen is at 4750 so 705 lbs is a fair difference!
From internet research there is some minor modification required on the lower control arm to make everything play nice, but it shouldn't be an issue.
I am replacing front coils, front UCA's, front sway bar bushings (not in pic), rear springs, rear shocks, and rear sway bar bushings ( not in pic)

Wish me luck!

 

[Her_TRD His_SR5]

I know this thread seems dead, but I am about to swap over 5th gen suspension onto my 4th gen with 195k miles. the 07 is a SR5 2wd v6, the donor 5th gen suspension has around 1000 miles on it and is off a Trail Premium with KDSS. I am thinking because that is the heaviest version of the 5th gen outside limited that I should get decent lift on my 4th gen as its the lightest of the 4th gens. My research says my 4th gen weighs 4045 lbs and the 5th gen is at 4750 so 705 lbs is a fair difference!
From internet research there is some minor modification required on the lower control arm to make everything play nice, but it shouldn't be an issue.
I am replacing front coils, front UCA's, front sway bar bushings (not in pic), rear springs, rear shocks, and rear sway bar bushings ( not in pic)

Wish me luck!

I'm very curious how this works out! It sounds like we're in a similar situation. I'm considering installing an aftermarket lift on our new 2020 TRD ORP w/KDSS and then using the stock 2020 suspension to replace the worn out and sagging suspension on my 2008 SR5 4WD V6. I'm hoping the 2020 suspension will provide a slight lift or at least level out the 2008 so it will work well with 275/70r17 KO2s.

 

[vegas4runners]

I'm very curious how this works out! It sounds like we're in a similar situation. I'm considering installing an aftermarket lift on our new 2020 TRD ORP w/KDSS and then using the stock 2020 suspension to replace the worn out and sagging suspension on my 2008 SR5 4WD V6. I'm hoping the 2020 suspension will provide a slight lift or at least level out the 2008 so it will work well with 275/70r17 KO2s.

I just finished it last night. You get around .75 inches in the rear and 1 inch in the front, but I am 2wd, so no diff or transfer case up front. One thing I will say is the 5th gen suspension leaves the truck with the passenger side about a half inch higher than the driver. I would find a 1/2 inch top hat spacer to put on the driver side shock so its level.

Not sure if a 275 would fit, but I got 265/70/17 Falken Wildpeaks to fit.

 

[colton.soffe]

This isn't directly related, but I just finished installing a set of 2010+ King coilovers on my 2006 4.0L SR5 and it was a direct bolt on. I didn't have any problems with the lower bushings, and the external reservoir mount fit correctly.

For reference, the part number is 25001-278A-EXT.