Coil Questions

[Rishi3]

So I have realized that coilovers are out of my budget (for now). So I am thinking with going with just front and rear coils with possibly a topout spacer in the front. I will be using stock shocks with XREAS.
Was thinking eibach coils in the front and ome in the back.
Front:
112-620 - Toytec/Eibach front coil lift springs
Front spacer:
Front Top Plate Spacer Kit
Rear:
Rear OME 895 & 895E Rear Coils (FJ & 03-09 4Run)

Anyone have any experience with this kind of setup and/or know any advantages or disadvantages?

I have already asked in other suspension threads but can't seem to find the right info.

 

[Rodtheviking]

Not sure you can or should use the XREAS shocks with lift springs, I swear I read that someplace. Has to do with the amount of travel in the rear shock? And if you remove one you have to do it all...

 

[Inv4drZm]

I haven't seen anybody do this. Sounds like a major pain in the butt and I'm not sure how much lift you will get in the front because most people use 5100s and I'm not sure if the coil mount distance is the same on those as it is for stock.

The front coilovers would need to be unbolted and XREAS lines disconnected at the correct hydraulic junction. Then use a spring compressor to remove the factory springs and install the new springs. Then bolt the shocks back on and reconnect the XREAS lines hoping no air got in or oil out. All of this so you can tear it all out later and replace it with what you really want. If you need to lift it now, I would just throw on a 2" front spacer and 1" rear and call it a day.

The XREAS shocks have enough downtravel to be lifted IMO:

 

[jrm]

id also add

I haven't seen anybody do this. Sounds like a major pain in the butt and I'm not sure how much lift you will get in the front because most people use 5100s and I'm not sure if the coil mount distance is the same on those as it is for stock.

The front coilovers would need to be unbolted and XREAS lines disconnected at the correct hydraulic junction. Then use a spring compressor to remove the factory springs and install the new springs. Then bolt the shocks back on and reconnect the XREAS lines hoping no air got in or oil out. All of this so you can tear it all out later and replace it with what you really want. If you need to lift it now, I would just throw on a 2" front spacer and 1" rear and call it a day.

The XREAS shocks have enough downtravel to be lifted IMO:

the xreas system is damped for OE spring rates not aftermarket

 

[simple]

For what it's worth I just installed a cornfed 1" spacer in the front with FJ Springs and a 3/4" spacer in the back with 5th gen rear springs. It is indeed a PITA for the fronts. I disconnected the steering tie rod which was crucial in giving you room to work. I did everything with the shocks still connected, just resting on my toolbox. J.A.'s 4runner site was a big help, although I differed by not disconnecting the upper ball joint.

 

[Rishi3]

For what it's worth I just installed a cornfed 1" spacer in the front with FJ Springs and a 3/4" spacer in the back with 5th gen rear springs. It is indeed a PITA for the fronts. I disconnected the steering tie rod which was crucial in giving you room to work. I did everything with the shocks still connected, just resting on my toolbox. J.A.'s 4runner site was a big help, although I differed by not disconnecting the upper ball joint.

Did you need to compress the spring or did yours just sit on top of the coilover? How long did it take you and how much harder was it having to leave the shock in there?
Thanks

 

[simple]

Did you need to compress the spring or did yours just sit on top of the coilover? How long did it take you and how much harder was it having to leave the shock in there?
Thanks

Yes, I had to compress the spring. It wasn't really more difficult as much as as its more of a PITA. I removed the bolts on the lower control arm(?) leaving the castleated nut in tact. Then I popped the tie rod ball joint and removed that and basically swung the CV axle and all the shit to the side which gave me
Plenty of room to work. I forced up the upper control arm up enough to allow me to bring the strut out underneath it. From there essentially I laid the shock down towards me on a box or crate with the bottom of the shock kind of leveraged on top of the CV axle. And I did all the work in there. The slack on the hose doesn't allow you to do it any other way. I used spring compressors, the bolt kind, in there to remove the coil and then I compressed the FJ spring by itself before installing that. And reversing everything.

It took me 5hrs on the dot, and a lot of that was me trying to figure out how to not mess with the steering tie rod. Normally when I've done this on my old 4runners, I leave that in tact and just rotate the strut along the tie rod and 'unscrew' it out. Ultimately, it's the same process, you just have a lot tighter area to work with. I didn't enjoy it, but I did enjoy the fruits of my labor.

 

[camp332]

Yes, I had to compress the spring. It wasn't really more difficult as much as as its more of a PITA. I removed the bolts on the lower control arm(?) leaving the castleated nut in tact. Then I popped the tie rod ball joint and removed that and basically swung the CV axle and all the shit to the side which gave me
Plenty of room to work. I forced up the upper control arm up enough to allow me to bring the strut out underneath it. From there essentially I laid the shock down towards me on a box or crate with the bottom of the shock kind of leveraged on top of the CV axle. And I did all the work in there. The slack on the hose doesn't allow you to do it any other way. I used spring compressors, the bolt kind, in there to remove the coil and then I compressed the FJ spring by itself before installing that. And reversing everything.

It took me 5hrs on the dot, and a lot of that was me trying to figure out how to not mess with the steering tie rod. Normally when I've done this on my old 4runners, I leave that in tact and just rotate the strut along the tie rod and 'unscrew' it out. Ultimately, it's the same process, you just have a lot tighter area to work with. I didn't enjoy it, but I did enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Ugh! I look at this picture and think back to December when I put the spacer lift in my 4R. Those safety pins on the rental spring compressors eventually came out of the equation for me, and we just prayed the dogs never let go of the springs while compressing LOL.
The next lift for me will be true coil overs.

OP, where there is a will, there is a way. You will get it done. Just embrace patience while you take on the project.

 

[jrm]

Just rent a spring compressor

Did you need to compress the spring or did yours just sit on top of the coilover? How long did it take you and how much harder was it having to leave the shock in there?
Thanks

be careful and get er done..