bilteins on 3rd gen 4runner

[4x4Runner09]

I've decided to put new shocks on my 2000 limited 4wd. It has 75,000 miles on it.

I'm debating between the Toyota tuned bilsteins or the real Bilseins that are heavy duty.

The HD are stiffer I think.

Whats your opinions on this?

Where should I buy em also?

Thanks

 

[pat161]

I've never ridden in a truck with the TRD bils, but I do have the HD's in my 2000 4Runner and love them. I switched to bils in my Tacoma at 70k and liked them so much that I didn't wait with the Runner, I removed perfectly good stock shocks and never looked back. Go with the HD's. As for buying them check ebay, I got mine through perf products, but a friend found his on ebay for a much better deal.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Here's lee's truck with Bils and PP springs and this is the combo I'll be doing soon;the ride is a bit stiff but offers much more control over rough paved roads as well as doing the job off road also.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11197

 

[4x4Runner09]

Do you buy the pp coils and shocks as a package? How much of lift do you get? How does it handle on road?

 

[bflooks]

i got all 4 hd billies on ebay for under $300. lee got the parts seperate. had them installed all together along with some goodyear mt/r's. i just saw him on saturday. i would say he gained about 2-2.5 inches of lift from the springs. here is a pic of me and him on the trail. i am stock height, he is lifter with 265/75's which i would say gives him yet another inch of lift. you can really tell the diff. in height in these video's as well.

http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=CIMG1766

http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=Goffstown,-NH-07.02.95-031

 

[lee]

im the 'lee' that theyre referring to

once you get used to the change in height (took about 48 hrs for me), you will absolutely fall in love with the way it rides.

its on-road manners are much improved over the stock's harsher, almost bike-like ride.

the bils are smoother and tougher.

imo, everyone should upgrade

 

[khaug]

Here's another vote for the HD (non-TRD) Bilsteins. Installed a set on my '98 LTD at about 50K miles, and it was the best thing I ever did to the truck.

The oem shocks are dreck! They have wimpy damping that allows the rear axle to chatter over bumps and lose contact with the road. The Bilsteins will fix that at the cost of a slightly firmer ride.

I bought mine on line, but don't remember where. Try Googling "Bilstein Shock Absorbers".

 

[RonMAIDEN]

www.shox.com

 

[4x4Runner09]

I bought a set of Bilsteins off of eBay and droped the car of tonight to get them installed. Anything else I need to do to the car along with the replacement of shocks... allignment, ect???

What else should I keep in mind? Should I ask to keep the old shocks?

thanks.. Im pretty excited?

Oh ya... Is there a break in period... will they soften up after some miles?

 

[bflooks]

pretty sure just the shocks is all you need. with the 2000 model year, you should not be having the rear sag problem, so you should be in the clear. when was the last time you had an allignment done? it is never a bad idea to have it done. some people suggest once a year. however, if yuo just had one done, say 6 months ago, then i would say you are all set.


as for the break in period. well, everything changes slightly after a thousand miles or so. so, yes, they will. not very much though, and they tend to hold up much much longer. just prepare yourself for the ride and control. you will think you have a brand new truck! i love mine! good choice.

 

[lee]

bah that break-in period is a farce.. its always the same as far as i have seen. im still loving em.

i would keep the old shocks, of course. theyre yours, you paid for em.

 

[4x4Runner09]

Heres some pics with my new Bilsteins!

 

[4x4Runner09]

2

 

[4x4Runner09]

3

 

[lee]

awesome

 

[rharout]

Help with installers in Boston area: Bilsteins, etc.

Hi Lee,

Need your advice. I have a 97 sr5 4wd and i'm getting the compnents you have installed. Performance products springs and Bilstein Hds.

Q. Any recommendations on where to get them installed in Boston area? I live in worcester, ma.

Also, any recommendations on other stuff to replace under there while I have this done?

I am getting tires (any recommendations here would be great as well).

The truck sways a lot, one of those stabilizers snapped a while back.

Thanks so much for your help!

Rich

im the 'lee' that theyre referring to

once you get used to the change in height (took about 48 hrs for me), you will absolutely fall in love with the way it rides.

its on-road manners are much improved over the stock's harsher, almost bike-like ride.

the bils are smoother and tougher.

imo, everyone should upgrade

 

[lee]

well if you havent changed your diff fluid in a long time, might just wanna get it done while youre at it.

i got all my stuff installed at a guy i trust hugely:

RPM Automotive
1090 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA
(617) 739-0935

ask for Ross.

I'm not sure if he'll do it for you, or if it will be cheap for you there, but he did it for me because ive been going to him for years, and he gave me a pretty good deal on it all.

as for tires: you know im gonna suggest goodyear wrangler mt/rs!

 

[RockyMtRunner]

Lee's setup

Lee, I am considering your setup with the Performance Products 1" inch lift springs and the Bilsteins. My question concerns your tires with the larger profile than the originals: 265/75R16's vs. 265/70R16's. Are there any cirumstances where they rub?

 

[phishman9]

^^^

I'm looking at that setup as well, and I already have 265x75x16R's on, and they do rub a bit on sharp turns. Will the 1" lift springs solve this? Might be close...

 

[RockyMtRunner]

Lee's setup, part 2

Lee, I found a reply in an older thread from you, stating that you have absolutely no rubbing with the tires. Great. New concerns: (1) With the one inch lift springs and larger tires, are there any other mods needed, like chassis drops or brake line extensions, or steering shaft extensions, etc.? (2) The Bilstein HD shocks listed for my 2000 4Runner 4WD on the Perfomrance Product site are for "original height." Did you use Bilstein HD's for the "original height" listing for your 2001 Runner, or is there a better choice? Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Your Runner rocks, but I gotta ask you one more thing. I can't afford changes that just "look great." I need performance. I'm used to going anywhere and everywhere on Colorado's Jeep trails in my original but reliable '95 Tacoma, which I just sold with 168K miles. I would like to beef up my newly purchased 2000 4Runner to equal or better the Tacoma's trail ability. Will your PP 1" lift, Bil shocks, and 265/75R16 Goodyear's give significantly better rock and rutt performance, or do I need to go for heftier mods or maybe even back to a Tacoma? Right now my pudgy, original Runner with 108K rides more like a Buick than my good old Tacoma, even though a Runner is supposed to be somewhat similar to a Tacoma. Can you give me some encouragement? The SUV concept is much more useful to my dog and me than the truck bed, and that's why I went to a 4Runner.