Budget Friendly Rear Springs?

[RodrickHeffley]

So i'm 17 and on a tight budget. I also have no clue when it comes to anything suspension related.

I want to get some rear springs to reduce the good old sag, but I don't know what to get. I want to get a 2 inch lift in the future but i can't afford that yet. Are there springs I can use to negate the sag but I can use on the lift?

Unfortunately I can't capitalize on the sag recall...my vin is literally the 4th vin after the deadline.

Help??


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[the_welfare_wagon]

So i'm 17 and on a tight budget. I also have no clue when it comes to anything suspension related.

I want to get some rear springs to reduce the good old sag, but I don't know what to get. I want to get a 2 inch lift in the future but i can't afford that yet. Are there springs I can use to negate the sag but I can use on the lift?

Unfortunately I can't capitalize on the sag recall...my vin is literally the 4th vin after the deadline.

Help??


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If you want dirt cheap then id recommend springs from rockauto. Not sure what your budget is but OME springs are about $190 bucks and will be what you want with the 2 inch lift.

Id recommend OME 906 or 890 for the 2 inch lift. Just keep in mind that they will be stiffer than stock. If you haven't already id look into rear shocks as well.

What is your goal with the car? Offroader? Daily with occasional off-road?

Ive been modifying cars for years and my one piece of advice is gonna be to buy what you originally wanted to start with, Otherwise your gonna end up wasting a lot more money. Sure the OME might be a lot more than $40 Moog springs you can find on rock auto but within 6 months I had to slap a 1.5in spacer on them to level out the sag, which cost me another 60 bucks, which could have been used towards the OME, Just my .02

 

[RodrickHeffley]

If you want dirt cheap then id recommend springs from rockauto. Not sure what your budget is but OME springs are about $190 bucks and will be what you want with the 2 inch lift.

Id recommend OME 906 or 890 for the 2 inch lift. Just keep in mind that they will be stiffer than stock. If you haven't already id look into rear shocks as well.

What is your goal with the car? Offroader? Daily with occasional off-road?

Ive been modifying cars for years and my one piece of advice is gonna be to buy what you originally wanted to start with, Otherwise your gonna end up wasting a lot more money. Sure the OME might be a lot more than $40 Moog springs you can find on rock auto but within 6 months I had to slap a 1.5in spacer on them to level out the sag, which cost me another 60 bucks, which could have been used towards the OME, Just my .02

thanks! i'm looking for basically a daily with occasional off road since i live up in the mountains.


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[UnderFire]

In the grand scheme a couple hundred for some springs won't kill you, but there are options out there.

For a 2 inch lift you can get away with either factory FJ Cruiser rear springs, or 5th gen TRD pro rear springs. You may get lucky and find a cheap pair on facebook.

Another good budget option although many may complain I've used their suspension pieces with good luck. Rough Country sells a complete lift kit with rear springs, rear shocks and front spacers for under $300. The typical preferred "budget" kit used on the forum is more than double that price.

Trust me, I've been there and done it all. No matter how easy the job is nobody likes doing things twice.

 

[RodrickHeffley]

In the grand scheme a couple hundred for some springs won't kill you, but there are options out there.

For a 2 inch lift you can get away with either factory FJ Cruiser rear springs, or 5th gen TRD pro rear springs. You may get lucky and find a cheap pair on facebook.

Another good budget option although many may complain I've used their suspension pieces with good luck. Rough Country sells a complete lift kit with rear springs, rear shocks and front spacers for under $300. The typical preferred "budget" kit used on the forum is more than double that price.

Trust me, I've been there and done it all. No matter how easy the job is nobody likes doing things twice.

oh cool, yeah an all in one sounds pretty good to me, it'd help me a lot not having to figure out what goes with what part.

do you have a link for that kit?


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[UnderFire]

oh cool, yeah an all in one sounds pretty good to me, it'd help me a lot not having to figure out what goes with what part.

do you have a link for that kit?


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3in Suspension Lift Kit for 1996-2002 Toyota 4wd 4Runner [77130] | Rough Country

I'd recommend planning on replacing front shocks too at some point. Either stock replacements or a lift strut like a bilstein 5100 to get rid of the spacers. Big performance difference, but anything new is better than the originals.

 

[RodrickHeffley]

3in Suspension Lift Kit for 1996-2002 Toyota 4wd 4Runner [77130] | Rough Country

I'd recommend planning on replacing front shocks too at some point. Either stock replacements or a lift strut like a bilstein 5100 to get rid of the spacers. Big performance difference, but anything new is better than the originals.

awesome, thank you! compared to some other mods i've done, eg. steering wheel, cutting body for center console, etc, how was it to install?


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[ToyotaBrah]

awesome, thank you! compared to some other mods i've done, eg. steering wheel, cutting body for center console, etc, how was it to install?


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Front strut installation is not bad. Timmythetoolman has a video on this job. Spray PB blaster on the top three bolts and the lower bolt a day before you start the job.

I would recommend taking the struts to a shop with an actual machine spring compressor. '99 tall springs are a good budget friendly option that yields a slight lift in the front.

 

[RomanSchnobrich]

I was in your shoes for awhile too, building up mine on a high school and then college budget. My best advice would be to watch Craigslist and FB Marketplace like a hawk. I've scored nice wheels and great tires, both great deals through Craigslist. I'm about done modding my 4Runner but I still look at both sites every day.
Another option for springs would be front coils from an 80-Series Land Cruiser. Shipping would make them less affordable, but if you can find a pair locally, they're usually under $100 and provide a nice amount of lift.

 

[phattyduck]

4th/5th/FJ rear springs, or even a full F/R set. Use 10mm trim packers in the rear will get you right at 2" of lift in the rear. Should be anywhere from free to $100.

Any new F/R shocks you can afford, and you basically have a full 'lift' for cheap.

I still have 5th gen rear springs, and I'm not even on a budget... so, there you go. (I just don't want to go too high in the rear)

-Charlie

 

[RodrickHeffley]

thanks everyone! i'll keep my eyes peeled for some springs like those. I'll likely go with the 2 inch lift that got linked, then maybe upgrade rear springs /front struts if/when I need to.

I was planning already for new rims/tires off fb marketplace or craigslist already, so that shouldn't be a problem.


also, is there anything i'm missing or should research?

that kit comes with rear springs and shocks, and then when i go to replace the front spacers, what should I look into: front struts,shocks or springs?

I think the 99 tall springs should be fine, or maybe the 4/5/fj front and rear then i'd just need struts and shocks.

then i have the choice between oem or bilstein front shocks, which would be cost effective?

sorry for all the questions, i'm really clueless when it comes to this.


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[TW44LR]

4th/5th/FJ rear springs, or even a full F/R set. Use 10mm trim packers in the rear will get you right at 2" of lift in the rear. Should be anywhere from free to $100.

Any new F/R shocks you can afford, and you basically have a full 'lift' for cheap.

I still have 5th gen rear springs, and I'm not even on a budget... so, there you go. (I just don't want to go too high in the rear)

-Charlie

Have you had any issues with them falling out? I read that some people were saying that might be an issue with the 5th gen springs. Also ~ how much lift is that giving you? 2” with trim packers and like 1.5” without?


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[phattyduck]

also, is there anything i'm missing or should research?

New OEM lower ball joints in the front. OEM only here. You can cheap-out other places, but not with the lower ball joints.

Have you had any issues with them falling out? I read that some people were saying that might be an issue with the 5th gen springs. Also ~ how much lift is that giving you? 2” with trim packers and like 1.5” without?

The 10mm trim packer is 0.4" thick, so those numbers are basically right. With stock length shocks (I have 5100's), the rears won't fall out but they are *just* loose at full droop (can't make it out of the spring pocket). If you put on 5th gen rear shocks (which are 2" longer), then you will definitely risk rear springs getting spit out if you flex/jump.

-Charlie

 

[Spiker Engineering]

Have you had any issues with them falling out? I read that some people were saying that might be an issue with the 5th gen springs. Also ~ how much lift is that giving you? 2” with trim packers and like 1.5” without?

I ran the 5th Gen springs with stock length shocks, no issue with them falling out at full extension.

As for "lift", that term is often misused as the 3rd Gens have different starting heights depending on the year. So what may give a 1" lift on a '98, may give 2" lift on an '01.

For my '97, putting in the 5th Gen springs raised one side by 3/4", and the other by 1-1/4". In comparison, 2906's gave a 2" lift.

 

[Thepedigree13]

I'd avoid the rough country kit.

Go with FJ or 5th gen coils. They are cheapest option, super comfortable ride, and gives you a great suspension refresh.

You can probably run your stock shocks in the rear until you can afford some 5100s. Go with stock length. This will give you an idea of where the coils get you in height, and you can add trim packers later if you think you need too.

I ran FJ coils with 5100 all around for a while. It felt great and looked great.

I later replaced the rear coils with Dobinsons due to my weight requirements (3 kids, hunting load out, tools).

For a reference......I paid 100 bucks for all 4 coils. Super cheap for the quality.

 

[Thepedigree13]

Also factor in alignment is you lift the front, and plan on your cv axles throwing grease from torn boots.

From my experience these older rigs were happy where they have been, and get disturbed even with a 2" lift.

 

[the_welfare_wagon]

Also factor in alignment is you lift the front, and plan on your cv axles throwing grease from torn boots.

From my experience these older rigs were happy where they have been, and get disturbed even with a 2" lift.

I second this. Especially since your rig has 250k+ things that have been in place for a while won't like a different angle.

Have you replaced the lower ball joints at all?

If not I would hold off on the lift till you can get those done. I did mine at 205k and they were still fine but better safe than sorry, especially with that failure, because at that point your not talking about sitting on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck, your talking about body damage and pretty much having the truck be totaled out not to mention possible bodily injury

 

[RodrickHeffley]

I second this. Especially since your rig has 250k+ things that have been in place for a while won't like a different angle.

Have you replaced the lower ball joints at all?

If not I would hold off on the lift till you can get those done. I did mine at 205k and they were still fine but better safe than sorry, especially with that failure, because at that point your not talking about sitting on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck, your talking about body damage and pretty much having the truck be totaled out not to mention possible bodily injury

i don't know when they were done. the guy who owned it before kept up on repairs pretty religiously, so i'm sure they're okay for now.



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[Bad Luck]

i don't know when they were done. the guy who owned it before kept up on repairs pretty religiously, so i'm sure they're okay for now.



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If you don't know when they were replaced then you should replace them with OEM. I get it that you have a limited budget, but a lower ball joint failure will cost you exponentially more than the cost of new lower ball joints. If you need any examples of what can happen: site:toyota-4Runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/ lower ball joint failure - Google Search

 

[RodrickHeffley]

If you don't know when they were replaced then you should replace them with OEM. I get it that you have a limited budget, but a lower ball joint failure will cost you exponentially more than the cost of new lower ball joints. If you need any examples of what can happen: site:toyota-4Runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/ lower ball joint failure - Google Search

yeah, likely will, i know a guy who can get me some oem ones for like 242 OEM. is that a good price?


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