99' talls, in-a-fix need help

[kbar]

ok, so I'm in a fix. I had the 99' tall springs and HD Billys installed all around on my 2002 4x2 SR5. Got the truck back from the shop and the back look's about right, an inch or so of lift, but the fronts are almost at 37" from the ground to wheel well flare and disproportionate to the rears which gives a sag appearance. Could the shop have installed the front coils improperly? They did add new Monroe top plate mounts to the front shocks because Blistein doesn't provide them. I'm trying to figure out what to do next, go to Toyota and see if the coils are installed correctly or do an alignment first and see where I stand. The front feels soft/loose compared to the rear which feels right. Obviously, the shop does not have my confidence to solve the problem at this point, but they are willing to help and take the front apart again. However, I need to have a game plan before I go back and I'm really not confident where to go right now. Reinstall old front springs, buy different front shocks, spacers for the rear?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, this car is supposed to be a DD that can also do a light camping treks. I have Toyo Open Country LT/AT IIs on the way, and would love to resolve this soon.

Thxs so much,

-Kbar

 

[drabbits]

Post a couple pic's, it sounds like something was installed wrong. Did you need new top plates? The old one's would have worked unless they were well worn. Where in LA?

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Are the springs used?

 

[Bama_Runner]

I can't remember if the spring perch on the BD Billys is removable or not, but make sure they didn't install the spring perch upside down on the front struts. The cone part of the perch should point up.

 

[Millerad1651]

/\/\/\ That would be my guess. I've seen it before. The perch does not come pre mounted, and people have installed it upside down, effectively lifting the spring higher than it should be on the strut. Take a pic and post and we should be able to tell you for sure.

 

[kbar]

Post a couple pic's, it sounds like something was installed wrong. Did you need new top plates? The old one's would have worked unless they were well worn. Where in LA?

I do have old top plates they don't look too bad, but to be safe I just ordered two new OEM top mounts and I'm going to have the shop take the Monroes out. I live in Highland Park just next to Pasadena.

 

[kbar]

Are the springs used?

Springs are new

 

[kbar]

Just got back from some freelance work and dove under the truck and snapped some crappy phone pics, curious to understand what's going on. Just need to figure out how to upload images now!

 

[kbar]

suspension top mount pics

here are the pics I hope.

 

[A.Wilson013]

It looks like the old nuts are still on the bolts... Between the top plate, and the mount. I could be wrong?

 

[drabbits]

Well, I don't see anything wrong. Could it be the rears where well worn? Also can you measure from the center of the hub to bottom of fender...

 

[Millerad1651]

Take a pic of the bottome of the strut...the plate where the spring rests specifically.

 

[kbar]

Well, I don't see anything wrong. Could it be the rears where well worn? Also can you measure from the center of the hub to bottom of fender...

the springs got a bit scuffed in transit, but they are new from Toyota.

 

[kbar]

will do

 

[kbar]

Well, I don't see anything wrong. Could it be the rears where well worn? Also can you measure from the center of the hub to bottom of fender...

front measurements from center of hub to bottom of fender flare are 22.5" exactly for both sides.

Rear Measurements are 21" Passenger side, 21.25" drivers side.

 

[kbar]

Well, I don't see anything wrong. Could it be the rears where well worn? Also can you measure from the center of the hub to bottom of fender...

all that white stuff is from the labels that toyota had plastered all over the springs.

 

[kbar]

Front struts

here's the view of the front perches.

 

[lilsid112]

I got done installing the same set up on my 4runner and also noticed the front sitting a bit higher then the rears. I'm going to give them a bit to settle and get an alignment. Hopefully it levels out a bit too.

 

[kbar]

I got done installing the same set up on my 4runner and also noticed the front sitting a bit higher then the rears. I'm going to give them a bit to settle and get an alignment. Hopefully it levels out a bit too.

I can say that I did notice that my front is firming up a bit and does not feel as loose as it did which I think is due to the progressive spring rate. I'm hoping that they will also settle and in the end all I will need is some trim packers in the rear.

 

[02SE]

They did have different springs for the different configurations of 4Runner.

Ie: 2wd vs 4wd, V6 vs I4, manual trans vs auto. Also for the various combinations of those drivetrains.

If you have springs that were for a 4wd, auto trans, and V6, that could be the sole reason for the truck's nose-high attitude. Without the added weight of the extra 4wd equipment (t-case, front diff, driveshaft, axle shafts, etc.) weighing down the front of your 4Runner, it would sit higher than it otherwise would.