Bilstein & FJ Suspension Install - Write-Up

[JP1]

Thanks for both the write-up and follow-up. I have been toying around the idea of doing what you did JB40, only difference being is that mine is the v8. SO either go the full height or leave it at the 1.75.
By the time I purchase it all I might should have my mind made up.

Thanks again to you both.

 

[Svtrickey]

I am looking at ordering the 5100 shocks and using fj springs. I was planning on setting the shocks to 1.75 to give me a lift around 36" ground up fender. Does this seem right? Also, I still want a take of about 1.5-2" up front. Would this still happen or would I need to order something else?

 

[Alexdmn]

Hi
Wanted to thank the forum and NOVA46 for ton of detailed and verified information. That helped to install the Bilstein 5100 + Moog FJ coils suspension and lots of other smaller things

To add to the information – craftsman damaged bolt remover set did a great job removing the threaded skid plate bolt, it actually worked while screw extract failed in my case…


I waned to ask for advise – as Moog FJ coils are a bit smaller, I wanted to ask if the coils seating on the axle looks correct and safe
Driver side:


Passenger side:


Thank you!

 

[chompster4runner]

Hi
Wanted to thank the forum and NOVA46 for ton of detailed and verified information. That helped to install the Bilstein 5100 + Moog FJ coils suspension and lots of other smaller things

To add to the information – craftsman damaged bolt remover set did a great job removing the threaded skid plate bolt, it actually worked while screw extract failed in my case…
View attachment 121815

I waned to ask for advise – as Moog FJ coils are a bit smaller, I wanted to ask if the coils seating on the axle looks correct and safe
Driver side:
View attachment 121812
View attachment 121813
Passenger side:
View attachment 121814

Thank you!

My rear moog coils are sitting just like that. I have yet to notice any adverse affects from it. No noise or uneven looking. Took it off roading a couple of times just to see if it would unseat or make noise. Nothing so far. But with that said I did manage to get my hands on some FJ coils so those will be put on in the future. No rush to do it since the moogs are doing fine. :lookout:

 

[Alexdmn]

Thank you chompster4runner

Will soon try on on offroad!

 

[NOVA46]

Thank you chompster4runner

Will soon try on on offroad!

Seconded: Thats exactly how mine sat for the first few days. They still haven't seated perfectly, but they're in there snug.

I am looking at ordering the 5100 shocks and using fj springs. I was planning on setting the shocks to 1.75 to give me a lift around 36" ground up fender. Does this seem right? Also, I still want a take of about 1.5-2" up front. Would this still happen or would I need to order something else?

You can find the ground-fender measurements in the first post. I got more than 36". You'll get about 3" in the front

 

[bassmacka]

I am about to do the same , blistein 5100 and oem 07 fj springs.

I was convinced that I was going to leave them at.85 , I was worried that if I left them at 1.75 it would lift the front too much and I would need a spacer in the rear.

Did yo leave use a spacer in the rear? I was actually going to run the exact same tires as you. Whats your thoughts on .85 vs 1.75 since the install?

 

[Code2]

Actually for us midwest folks forget pb blaster i found it just didn't work on the rust from the salt etc and i did spray 2 days in advance.

Before even trying to remove bolts just heat the bolts up till they stop smoking meaning the rust is broken off, and they come off great after that. I learned after 2 broken bolts heat with a blue bottle or yellow if you have it for at least a min then you should be good.

 

[hearno]

Marked

 

[l3lake]

Thank you this write up was perfect!

 

[buckeye4runner08]

Thanks so much for this thread. I know it's an old one, but have couple of questions. I currently have the daystar 2.5/1.5 and I like the way it sits, don't want to go too much higher. So billies on front set to 1.75 plus new fj coils is a little bit more than the daystar spacer only? Does the rear spring give enough lift to match the front, or would I need to leave the spacer in the back? Or spacer in the back only if I'm leaving the stock coils on?

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[Jtlange]

Issue with Isolators?

Hi, thanks for the great write up. I do have a question though, I am having a problem getting the nut back onto the new rear shock. I am pretty confused honestly, it looks like the isolators are too large or something... Any ideas on this?

 

[t-man]

Hi, thanks for the great write up. I do have a question though, I am having a problem getting the nut back onto the new rear shock. I am pretty confused honestly, it looks like the isolators are too large or something... Any ideas on this?

They always do that. I usually manage to push down hard enough to barely get the nut started. A set of channel locks may help squeeze it tighter to get the nut started too.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[Bennmann]

Lift height?!

I measured the ride height before and after installing the suspension with a consistent tire pressure of 38 psi (BFG All Terrain 265/70/R17). After allowing a one week break-in period (~500 miles) to allow my springs to fully seat, I measured the final ride height difference. Please note that I did not measure my ride height before my Daystar 2.5/1.5 spacers were installed; the original height is calculated.

Before: Height with Daystar Spacers - (Calculated Original Height)
Front Driver: 36" (33.50")
Front Passenger: 36.25" (33.75")
Rear Driver: 37.94" (36.44")
Rear Passenger: 38.25" (36.75")

After: Final with FJ/Bilstein Shocks @ 1.75 - (Difference from Daystar 2.5/1.5 Spacers) - (DIfference from Original Height)
Front Driver: 37.125" (1.125") (3.625")
Front Passenger: 37.125" (0.875") (3.375")
Rear Driver: 38.375" (0.435") (1.935")
Rear Passenger: 38.875" (0.625") (2.125")

After looking at the above data, the FJ/Bilstein swap netted about 3.5" of lift in the front and 2" in the rear, while leveling all four corners of the truck (much better than the Daystar lift).

I don't understand how this achieved 3.5" in the front? Thats incredible.1.75" + Moog fj (14.4") should net 2.85-3" since stock T4R has 13.38" (v6) and 13.58" (v8).
No alignment problems with UCAs?

 

[JeratBP]

Bilstein & FJ Suspension Install - Write-Up

Here's what I found for the V8, by doing the math:



FJ Moog is 14.4" over stock 13.58", difference of .82"

Bilstein @ .85" + 14.4" = 15.25", from stock 1.67"

Bilstein @ 1.75 + 14.4" = 16.15", from stock 2.57"

 

[BenjMN]

I know this is an older thread, but thanks to Nova for taking the time to put this write up together, it was absolutely invaluable as I just completed the replacement of my failing xreas system on my '04 sport edition. I went with 5100's all corners with stock springs, new top strut mount hardware, .85" setting for the front struts, & new swaybar bushings f/r. Being in MN, LOTS of rust on every. single. bolt & nut, but I prevailed. Only had one skid plate bolt snap off & one of the rear sway end links break, but probably was due to change the endlinks anyway as one was bent (the one that broke). Found that to remove the rusted in front struts that an air chisel is your best friend.

With the added lift from the adjustment on the 5100's, now my truck looks fantastic & almost rides like new. The difference is amazing. That xreas system was totally shot even though there was still fluid in the system. I chalk that up to possible failure of any internal valving in the shock bodies themselves. The bumpsteer, body roll, rattles, clunks, machinegun-like rebounding.....all gone!

A couple of things I found: didn't have to loosen the LCA ball joint in my case, just used a bottle jack to force the LCA low enough to slip the new strut assembly in. Couldn't get the top nut on the rear shock started for the life of me. Tried jacking up the axle, putting the weight of the struck on the shocks, squeezed with vice grips, had someone stand on the back bumper, so ended up shaving off about 1/16+ off the top isolator bushings only. Before doing this, I checked with a buddy who is a mechanic & he felt this should not affect anything, they're no thinner than the stock bushings & I'll probably swap them out with new ones once the bottom bushings settle & compress.

In for an alignment tomorrow, and I'm good to go.

 

[MRpink]

Great write up OP, this thread helped me immensely!

I definitely had to use spring compressors on the rear springs to get them installed.

One thing I'd add/correct is the rear shock bushing orientation. The way you had it didn't seem right so I did some research and found this posted on the FJ forums.

 

[TheUltimateBohab]

I'm just going to go ahead and post on this so I can find it again