Bilstein 5100 and FJ Cruiser Coils

[michael33r]

Haha... yeah. Will do some toying around. I really should just cut the silliness and order what is known to work which is the tundra 5100's + FJ front springs. If anything, it will look really funny I cannot find a single post of anyone just trying the FJ strut assembly in a 4runner. Or a 4th gen in a 3rd. Lots of talk but no one has actually done it. Need to google more - likely give me the answer I am looking for.

And then I saw on gov planet some sweet humvee's going for around $7500 (some locally more or less). now my ADD is in full swing :jump: Why would I need a real hummer? For the same damn reason my wife needs so many shoes.

I think I'm going to go with the FJ Coils all around and the 5100s from the Tundra. I wish the rear shocks were adjustable though. I like being able to jack up my rear end just by throwing some air in. Just wish they didn't leak. But the Tundra 5100s in the rear will still add about a 1.5" lift right?

 

[Jhelms]

That is what this post says. Looks like a SMART choice.

Did a few quick measurements today and came to my senses.
- If I used the 4runner tophap, it would lower the piston by about 2" allowing even further drop
- Likely this would cause the uca to hit the spring hard or worse

Ah well, all good! FJ Springs on tundra 5100's it is!

 

[AZBub]

I thought we were going to see a 4Runner with a Humvee Shock jammed up in it. dammit.

 

[Jhelms]

I thought we were going to see a 4Runner with a Humvee Shock jammed up in it. dammit.

Told the wife my really bad idea on the picking up a hummer from the gov auctions... Well she did not say no... but said we would talk about it tonight HA! These stupid ideas I come up with often have the same effect on me the next day as they do other people. I just look in the mirror and say.. REALLY? :madgrin:

 

[csp]

I wish the rear shocks were adjustable though.

You really don't understand what it means for a shock to be adjustable. It doesn't mean adjustable height.

Shocks in the rear have nothing to do with the height either. It's all dependant on the height of the coils and the spring rate. Rear shocks are only there to control compression and rebound. You could remove shocks on the rear completely and it wouldn't change the height. It would bounce like a mother f'er though.

 

[michael33r]

You really don't understand what it means for a shock to be adjustable. It doesn't mean adjustable height.

Shocks in the rear have nothing to do with the height either. It's all dependant on the height of the coils and the spring rate. Rear shocks are only there to control compression and rebound. You could remove shocks on the rear completely and it wouldn't change the height. It would bounce like a mother f'er though.

I fully understand all of that. I drove without my rear passenger shock for a while. The Gabriel HiJackers literally lift the rear end up.
I should show you a video.

 

[D Farms]

The guy with the red 4runner on 3rd Gen 4runner mafia is running fj struts up front, his truck is a combination of every bad idea combined. It's got 5" of lift front and rear, the rear is two coils per side one inside the other, he doesn't run a skid plate, his tire carrier is made of 1 16 gauge 1" square tube that comes out of the hitch. He has no rear bumper. He recently made a Panhard drop bracket that consisted of a single plate and bolts on. he has lights that are stacked on top of each other on the bumper, and it seems like he's constantly replacing the cv joints.

So yes someone has done it, but it's like using a 3" top plate spacer

 

[csp]

The Gabriel HiJackers literally lift the rear end up.
I should show you a video.

Ok, so you're talking about air shocks, not adjustable.

I'm 48 years old and those were very popular and used on every muscle car trying to get clearance when I was your age, just so you have some perspective on "showing me a video".

 

[AZBub]

You can raise and lower the height with air shocks. I had a 72 Nova with air shocks in the back I used to mess around with ride height.

In all honesty though If you are just going for the "look" of a lifted vehicle go ahead and run those air shocks. I'm no expert but I would be concerned on how those would do off-road.

Sonoran Steel sells an air bag made to fit inside a rear spring on a 4Runner to help with load carrying but it's not there to lift the vehicle.

 

[AZBub]

The guy with the red 4runner on 3rd Gen 4runner mafia is running fj struts up front, his truck is a combination of every bad idea combined. It's got 5" of lift front and rear, the rear is two coils per side one inside the other, he doesn't run a skid plate, his tire carrier is made of 1 16 gauge 1" square tube that comes out of the hitch. He has no rear bumper. He recently made a Panhard drop bracket that consisted of a single plate and bolts on. he has lights that are stacked on top of each other on the bumper, and it seems like he's constantly replacing the cv joints.



So yes someone has done it, but it's like using a 3" top plate spacer

Must be one of those Guadalupe 4runners oye ve.

 

[michael33r]

Ok, so you're talking about air shocks, not adjustable.

I'm 48 years old and those were very popular and used on every muscle car trying to get clearance when I was your age, just so you have some perspective on "showing me a video".

I'd consider them adjustable still. They adjust by airing up rather than turning a dial though. They're just a different kind of "adjustable" shock. Somehow, they need to make a reliable good quality adjustable shock for the rear that will lift it up and lower it when you want to. What are some other alternatives to the Gabriel Hijackers that would be more reliable and smooth? I love being able to air them up they just suck and don't hold air. These are my second pair too and they're rusting really bad just from last fall till now.

 

[AZBub]

I'd consider them adjustable still. They adjust by airing up rather than turning a dial though. They're just a different kind of "adjustable" shock. Somehow, they need to make a reliable good quality adjustable shock for the rear that will lift it up and lower it when you want to. What are some other alternatives to the Gabriel Hijackers that would be more reliable and smooth? I love being able to air them up they just suck and don't hold air. These are my second pair too and they're rusting really bad just from last fall till now.

read above. airbags. It sounds like you are trying to give your 4 runner rear lift without doing it the tried and true way with springs and shocks.

 

[michael33r]

read above. airbags. It sounds like you are trying to give your 4 runner rear lift without doing it the tried and true way with springs and shocks.

Well I want to have the ability to raise and lower. So air bags would probably work. As long as they don't leak. How much lift will the FJ Coils give me in the rear just by themselves?

 

[csp]

I'd consider them adjustable still.

Consider them whatever you want, but if you want the rest of the automotive world to know what you're talking about you might think about it differently.

There's a sticky thread on lifts with info on FJ80 springs. There are other threads about current FJ springs that mention how much lift they can give.

 

[Jhelms]

My before and after FJ lifts. On the newer springs, got a 2" lift on very saggy stock 01-02 springs! Darn near 2" on the more used FJ springs! Big improvement to me. Exactly what I was going for and cost virtually just gas to go pick up the 2 sets of springs from local FJ owners (paid $25 for one set)

- Did the lifts on both 4runners
- Measurements are not settled much, drive around the block and 1/2 tanks of gas. Stock springs were shot and riding low. Big improvement visually
- Wish the lift gave .25 - .5 more in the rear on both. This will be an easy fix when I recover
- Used #2 spacer setting on the 5100s


Silver 4runner FJ lift. Ground to fender - this pic may have been from when I tried setting 3 from the bottom on the bilsteins - will have to take another photo to make sure. Measurements for sure are on the #2 setting on the bilsteins (these springs looked almost new)
Drivers front 2 1/16"
Pass front 2 1/16
Rear drivers 2"
Rear pass 2 1/16

White 4runner FJ lift. Ground to fender (these springs looked to have some miles and I used stock / crushed strut mounts / KYB's not in yet)
Drivers Front 1 3/4"
Pass Front 2"
Rear drivers 1 3/4
Rear pass 1 3/4

That is all I managed today and I am SHOT. General first impression, ride is smoother all around. Driving up on a curb was pure butter!



Silver 4runner front before FJ lift. Ground to fender

Silver before lift

Silver lift after

White lift before

White lift after

 

[Jhelms]

Followup:
100% happy with the FJ spring lift. Ride is multitudes better than stock. Very plush feeling / big truck like.

 

[michael33r]

So just to double check, the parts I need for the complete install will be:

Tundra 5100's Front and Rear
FJ Cruiser Coils Front and Rear
Stock 4runner Shock Bushings

I do not need different mounting hardware at all?

 

[Jhelms]

So just to double check, the parts I need for the complete install will be:

Tundra 5100's Front and Rear
FJ Cruiser Coils Front and Rear
Stock 4runner Shock Bushings

I do not need different mounting hardware at all?

I used the bilstein bushings but they are a tad thick and a pain to compress enough to put the top nut on.

Also make sure they are coils from an 07-09 FJ 4wd. They are the tallest.

Only thing I noticed that I may look into in the future.... the FJ rear coils are larger diameter than the 4runners. So the stock cone bump stop(s) are just barely large enough for the spring. I think the FJ versions may work better in this situation.

 

[michael33r]

I used the bilstein bushings but they are a tad thick and a pain to compress enough to put the top nut on.

Also make sure they are coils from an 07-09 FJ 4wd. They are the tallest.

Only thing I noticed that I may look into in the future.... the FJ rear coils are larger diameter than the 4runners. So the stock cone bump stop(s) are just barely large enough for the spring. I think the FJ versions may work better in this situation.

If I order the shocks from amazon I'm not sure if they come with the bushings. It doesn't say for sure. They are the cheapest on there though so if I need to I'll just buy factory 4Runner ones from the dealership. There are only shock and strut bushings on the bottom though not the top correct? Because on both the front and rear the top just bolts into a mounting plate. EDIT: I actually see in the picture it shows the bushings. They're just already in the shock eyelet (correct term?) in the picture.

 

[michael33r]

Another question: What needs to be done with the alignment after this is installed?