Compiled: FJ Springs Lift Info for 4th gen
- Thread starter Toy4R4Me
- Start date
Concepia65
New member
Awesome thread! Thanks for including my truck as well. If anyone has any questions about my truck pm me. I also just got done fabbing a new light bar up with 2 Hella 500's on it. Will post pics soon
riceandpho
Elite Member
its a little stiffer than the stocks if you look at the numbers.
lift wise, some say 2 or more depending on what you have before.
i say i like the ride right now with the front at .85 first notch.
ParotHead
New member
2005 Limited 2wd V8
Hi Everyone -
So, I've ordered my 5100's, have my 2013 FJ springs, and am almost ready to start the mods... have had my T4R for 10 years now, has 180,000 miles on it, and this is my first mod, so I'm pretty excited!
This is my 90% DD, 10% weekend camping/(very) light trails...
Measured stock fender height last night (wheel centers to bottom of fender) and I'm at:
Front: 18 3/8"
Rear: 21 3/8"
I'm running stock 265/65/17's and am planning on keeping those for now.
I was thinking about setting the 5100's at 1.75" in the front with the FJ coils, which I'm assuming will give me about 2.5 - 2.75" lift?
Given that, do I need the Daystar 1.5" in the rear along with the FJ coils or will the slight additional lift from the FJ's level the truck out enough?
I know it's tough to 'guesstimate," but just looking for thoughts from those a lot more experienced than me!
Hi Everyone -
So, I've ordered my 5100's, have my 2013 FJ springs, and am almost ready to start the mods... have had my T4R for 10 years now, has 180,000 miles on it, and this is my first mod, so I'm pretty excited!
This is my 90% DD, 10% weekend camping/(very) light trails...
Measured stock fender height last night (wheel centers to bottom of fender) and I'm at:
Front: 18 3/8"
Rear: 21 3/8"
I'm running stock 265/65/17's and am planning on keeping those for now.
I was thinking about setting the 5100's at 1.75" in the front with the FJ coils, which I'm assuming will give me about 2.5 - 2.75" lift?
Given that, do I need the Daystar 1.5" in the rear along with the FJ coils or will the slight additional lift from the FJ's level the truck out enough?
I know it's tough to 'guesstimate," but just looking for thoughts from those a lot more experienced than me!
My experience is with the Moog springs so YMMV..
Front at 1.75 and Moog FJ springs front and rear resulted in level running boards for me. Which I am completely happy with. The main point is, if you want a slight factory-look rake you will need a rear spacer.
ParotHead,
I don't know if you have the v6 or v8, but with my v8 I set the 5100's to the highest level and it works with the Moog springs to nearly level out my rig, which is what I wanted. For some reason it seems the Moog springs have a slightly higher spring rate than the FJ oem springs, so depending on which one you are installing you would go with a higher or lower 5100 setting and no spacer in the rear since the springs give you a lift anyway. Check out my post here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...springs-lift-info-4th-gen-66.html#post2380667
It goes into a little more detail and shows a picture of my set up after I installed everything. Also, I would highly recommend going to the bigger 265/70 tire as I did. You're going to all this trouble to lift (slightly) your truck, use the extra space and give yourself a touch more ground clearance with a bigger tire. Mine don't rub anywhere, fill out the wheel well and look good to boot!
I don't know if you have the v6 or v8, but with my v8 I set the 5100's to the highest level and it works with the Moog springs to nearly level out my rig, which is what I wanted. For some reason it seems the Moog springs have a slightly higher spring rate than the FJ oem springs, so depending on which one you are installing you would go with a higher or lower 5100 setting and no spacer in the rear since the springs give you a lift anyway. Check out my post here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...springs-lift-info-4th-gen-66.html#post2380667
It goes into a little more detail and shows a picture of my set up after I installed everything. Also, I would highly recommend going to the bigger 265/70 tire as I did. You're going to all this trouble to lift (slightly) your truck, use the extra space and give yourself a touch more ground clearance with a bigger tire. Mine don't rub anywhere, fill out the wheel well and look good to boot!
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Hmm, that's odd, because with my '06 V8, the front 5100 at 0.85 and Moog FJ
springs all around, running board is only 1/4" lower in the rear than front.
Now if I wanted to equalize the wheel gap (between top of tire and fender)
then I'd have to raise the front another full inch, but that definitely would
create a reverse rake at the running board (and almost everywhere else).
[edit]Oh, I did fix the bottom of the rear springs so they would seat properly. Before
that, the rear was at least 1/2 higher, but over large bumps or flexed out, the rear made
horrible noises. Something to keep in mind when comparing ride heights and rake.
Overall after about two weeks installed I feel like the suspension has
become a little bit more compliant. For first week or so it was fine on big or
continuous high frequency stuff (bumpy gravel road), but stuff like expansion joints
on the highway were pretty unpleasant. That seems to be getting
better. But it's got a new issue that it didn't start with. The front
left coilover (maybe right too, but I can't hear it from driver's seat)
is creaking softly every time it starts to move even a tiny bit, so I hear
it while initiating or ending a turn, accelerating, decelerating..
creak.. creak..
Please tell me there's an easy fix for this.
Attachments
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ParotHead
New member
Thanks Rugger92...
I have the V8 and am using OEM FJ springs.
Thanks for the link to your build - that's pretty much the look I'm going for, so I'll before and after pics this weekend once I'm done.
I'll definitely be moving up to bigger tires, as well, but unfortunately I have a decent amount of life left on these so I can't quite justify getting rid of them just yet!
I have the V8 and am using OEM FJ springs.
Thanks for the link to your build - that's pretty much the look I'm going for, so I'll before and after pics this weekend once I'm done.
I'll definitely be moving up to bigger tires, as well, but unfortunately I have a decent amount of life left on these so I can't quite justify getting rid of them just yet!
No problem. Yeah, with the oem FJ springs you probably wouldn't want to put the 5100 shocks at the highest setting. Worked for me, but after reading almost all of these threads, one thing that is true is that every truck is a little different and what works for someone with the same setup won't necessarily work for you.
Luckily I had not too much tread left on my much despised Bridgestone Dueler HT's (HATED those tires) so I just gave them to the tire shop to recycle or resell or whatever. Had I had more tread on them, though, I would have probably searched out a used tire dealer to sell them for a little cash to fund the new tires. No big deal either way, I budget for more frequent tire purchases to have a decent tread on them at all times, even before they are "done", since I consider them the single most important safety feature on the truck and this is my wife's daily driver and primary kid mover!
Luckily I had not too much tread left on my much despised Bridgestone Dueler HT's (HATED those tires) so I just gave them to the tire shop to recycle or resell or whatever. Had I had more tread on them, though, I would have probably searched out a used tire dealer to sell them for a little cash to fund the new tires. No big deal either way, I budget for more frequent tire purchases to have a decent tread on them at all times, even before they are "done", since I consider them the single most important safety feature on the truck and this is my wife's daily driver and primary kid mover!
I've done a lot of first DIY to my 2003 4runner 4x4 V8 from this forum. Now I want to start doing the strut and coil conversion, but I am very lost with what everyone is saying. I don't know the reasons behind using a spacer and the reasons for the lift height. I am totally lost and need someone to educate me.
Basically. I know my struts are wearing out due to it almost being 200k miles and the previous owner never changed anything. I want to change out the struts and coils so then the ride would feel smoother like it once was if I was to drive it new. Which setup would best suit my needs as a daily driver (no offroading) ? Thanks.
Also, I don't really intend to raise my vehicle height to share my dominance on the road, but I see some people have unintended height increases, which seems unavoidable.
Basically. I know my struts are wearing out due to it almost being 200k miles and the previous owner never changed anything. I want to change out the struts and coils so then the ride would feel smoother like it once was if I was to drive it new. Which setup would best suit my needs as a daily driver (no offroading) ? Thanks.
Also, I don't really intend to raise my vehicle height to share my dominance on the road, but I see some people have unintended height increases, which seems unavoidable.
faye, if you're looking for comfortable as stock with no lift, then the FJ (or Moog FJ-like) replacements are probably not for you. They are stiffer than stock
and will provide some lift.
Generally the easiest thing you can do to improve your ride quality is
to simply replace the dampers (shocks). Often just replacing the
rears will do wonders.
and will provide some lift.
Generally the easiest thing you can do to improve your ride quality is
to simply replace the dampers (shocks). Often just replacing the
rears will do wonders.
Well, that do make sense. But now I got an issue that I forgot to mention. Ever since getting my KO2's 17 inch. I noticed that the tires would rub the fender when doing a hard U turn. Would the lift erase the rubbing sound? I asked the dealership and they said it was ok and not a big deal if I left it as is.
Just considering my options. Even though it is stiff, maybe the lift will help for that.
P65-70 R17. It is not bad to where it is serious enough to damage the tire, just a light rub. But I plan to just swap it out for the 5100's everyone is talking about and keep the stock coils after giving thought from input. It was very helpful, thanks!
ParotHead
New member
So I finished my install last weekend. Still need to get bigger tires and will do so as soon as these wear out a little more.
2005 4Runner Limited 2WD V8
Front: Bilstein 5100's @ 1.75", OEM FJ Springs
Rear: Bilstein 5100's, OEM FJ Springs, 1.5" Daystar FJ spacer
Tires: Bridgestone Dueler 840 265/65/17
Wheels: Stock Limited Wheels
Center of wheel to bottom of fender measurements:
Before:
Front: 18 3/8"
Rear: 21 3/8"
After:
Front: 22"
Rear: 23 3/8"
2005 4Runner Limited 2WD V8
Front: Bilstein 5100's @ 1.75", OEM FJ Springs
Rear: Bilstein 5100's, OEM FJ Springs, 1.5" Daystar FJ spacer
Tires: Bridgestone Dueler 840 265/65/17
Wheels: Stock Limited Wheels
Center of wheel to bottom of fender measurements:
Before:
Front: 18 3/8"
Rear: 21 3/8"
After:
Front: 22"
Rear: 23 3/8"
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Sporin
New member
"Budget" XREAS replacement with a little bit of lift?
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2008 FJC Coils, new, all 4 from Rock Auto = $86.00
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Bilstein 5100 Series, front (lift adjustable) and back = $$407 (fixed)
https://www.suspensionconnection.co...tein-5100-shocks&vqt_4x4-or-2wd=4-wheel-drive
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Going from everything I've read here that should give me about 2" of lift in the front and a negligible amount in the rear, correct? A lot cheaper than an OME kit even if I decide to do new strut mount plates and hardware.
Does that all sound right? I have nearly new, stock sized General Grabber at2's and wouldn't be upsizing the tire anyway. I just need to replace my tired XREAS and gain a bit of clearance at the nose.
Will I need a spacer, too? Thoughts?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 FJC Coils, new, all 4 from Rock Auto = $86.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bilstein 5100 Series, front (lift adjustable) and back = $$407 (fixed)
https://www.suspensionconnection.co...tein-5100-shocks&vqt_4x4-or-2wd=4-wheel-drive
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Going from everything I've read here that should give me about 2" of lift in the front and a negligible amount in the rear, correct? A lot cheaper than an OME kit even if I decide to do new strut mount plates and hardware.
Does that all sound right? I have nearly new, stock sized General Grabber at2's and wouldn't be upsizing the tire anyway. I just need to replace my tired XREAS and gain a bit of clearance at the nose.
Will I need a spacer, too? Thoughts?
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"Price shown is for (1) shock, quantity (2) shocks required for most applications."
I wish it was $203 for front and back... lol
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