Complete suspension overhaul (and questions about '99 spring mod)

[Pyral]

I know this is probably a common question. My 1998 4runner 4x4 still has its original suspension, from what I can tell its been untouched since new. When driving over bumps the suspension bottoms out easily and it transmits a lot of noise by doing so.

I want to replace everything (bushings, shocks, springs), but I want to keep everything Toyota. I read that the 1999 4runners had about a 1.5 inch increase in height, and I find the proposition really tempting.

My only other experience lifting a vehicle was a Jeep wrangler, we gave it a 2 inch lift and it made the car worse in almost every daily attribute. It rode worse, handled worse, it got much less aerodynamic than it already was, and it got 4 fewer mpg. I do not want to repeat that mistake on my 4runner. Now considering that this is using stock parts from a 1999 model year makes me hopeful that if Toyota did it then it might not be that bad.

To those of you who have fitted the 1999 springs did the vehicle see a significant decrease in mpg, handling, and ride?

My other question relating to this mod is that if the rear springs on the 1999 4runner are taller, does that mean I also have to fit the front suspension from a 1999 4runner to keep everything level?

 

[FD7683]

When driving over bumps the suspension bottoms out easily and it transmits a lot of noise by doing so.

Completely unrelated but if you are hearing clunking on bumps, your front sway bar bushings are due for replacement. I would go Poly on these as I felt a good improvement over the regular rubber which went bad.

I think my "2000" has the 1999 springs front and rear as I have 0 sag on the back but my ride is pretty smooth on the highway and on bumps it's rugged and stiff. My rear shocks were replaced 5+ years ago with aftermarket though and I have OEM fronts.

 

[Pyral]

Completely unrelated but if you are hearing clunking on bumps, your front sway bar bushings are due for replacement. I would go Poly on these as I felt a good improvement over the regular rubber which went bad.

I replaced my front sway bar bushings which were worn completely through 3 months ago with poly bushings. It didn't make any difference. I don't hear clunking, it just bottoms out easily and jolts the cabin when it happens.

My 4runner doesn't have any noticeable sag either. But after 175k miles and 23 years they just feel tired. If you put 99 springs on the rear do you have to put them on the front as well?

 

[FD7683]

If you put 99 springs on the rear do you have to put them on the front as well?

I'd say so - just to have a level truck front and back although i'm not an expert at suspension swap/mods. Are your front shocks leaking? You said it's tired but you're only at 175k but I do understand it's 23 year old stuff. For shocks I would go KYB or OEM, I don't have a good experience with Monroe shocks as they went out fast on my Honda.

 

[cl4Rk]

I'd say so - just to have a level truck front and back although i'm not an expert at suspension swap/mods. Are your front shocks leaking? You said it's tired but you're only at 175k but I do understand it's 23 year old stuff. For shocks I would go KYB or OEM, I don't have a good experience with Monroe shocks as they went out fast on my Honda.

EDIT: I see you’re already planning to refresh the bushings, so never mind. LOL

[MENTION=665220]Pyral[/MENTION] yeah at that mileage it MIGHT be all the worn bushings (not just sway bar, but body mounts, steering gear mounts, control arms, links, etc) and maybe not the shocks as much?

Either way, I think 99s in the back would work fine for you, and I doubt you’d really need to do leveling unless you’ve got weight up front (aftermarket bumper, winch, etc). But I’m no expert and of course YMMV.

 

[Pyral]

I've seen people using Billstein 5100s, can anyone vouch for how the perform?

Is there a list of bushings that I should replace? I've only done my sway bar bushings because they were metal on metal and I could do the change in front of my dorm.

 

[Brian.]

I've seen people using Billstein 5100s, can anyone vouch for how the perform?

Is there a list of bushings that I should replace? I've only done my sway bar bushings because they were metal on metal and I could do the change in front of my dorm.

Click the link in my sig for my build thread, there's a section in there where I do all the bushings (minus the panhard, which I somehow missed, and the body, which I really didn't want to do but am now realizing is needed), what bushings, video DIYs for how it's all done, etc...

Can't comment on the Bils 5100s, I went a little more expensive with the Bils 6112/5160 set and they are firm but comfortable on the street/highways (including miles on end of expansion joints) and comfortable on miles of washboard dirt roads. I'm in a overwhelmingly stock vehicle, so I went with the 4runner specific option.... but $1000 is a bit of a bummer for the wallet.

As for your original question about the '99 stuff, it was 1" taller than the LOWEST 3rd gen, which I think were the 2001's. No idea on difference from your '98, but there are several threads in here with hub-center to fender measurements so you can get a good idea on where you stand. I way over-spent by replacing springs... you have to seriously abuse springs for them to need replacement, mine with 190k miles on them were within .25" of what people were reporting with new springs.

Sticking with all Toyota is a fine proposition if you can handle the costs, but you're going to be spending a lot more money. I'd guess roughly 3 times the money as using aftermarket stuff (bushings especially). I don't feel that cost is worth it, it's a bushing, not a fuel injector or throttle body. Pretty hard to screw up a chunk of rubber/poly ~ I've been very happy with the Whiteline brand. Look through my posts and you'll see me say Many times over that replacing all o the bushings was Easily the single best thing I've done to my 4runner.

 

[Pyral]

I'd be okay going aftermarket on the bushings. Don't usually carry large amounts of weight.

 

[Bad Luck]

I'd be okay going aftermarket on the bushings. Don't usually carry large amounts of weight.

Most of the aftermarket bushings will be poly which will transmit more vibration compared to OEM rubber bushings. Some people hardly notice it and some people really can tell the difference. It comes down to the individual in the seat.

As for springs you can replace just the rears. Depending on the amount of sag your springs have in the rear will depend on how much of a lift you will end up with.

Bilstein shocks will be a stiffer ride compared to OEM shocks as well.

 

[spartacus]

front springs rarely go bad.

 

[Pyral]

So the front springs likely don't need replacement, what about the rear springs? How can you tell if a spring is bad other than sagging

Are the KYB gas-a-just shocks any good?

I don't do that much off road driving and I am not carrying serious amounts of weight. They are a good price and seems like a popular choice.

 

[phattyduck]

KYB's will be fine for on-road driving. I have 5100's and do mostly street and they are good too...

Measure your hub center to fender lip on all 4 corners. They should be right around 20" - the "99 Tall" springs get you up near 21" all around. The shorter 01/02's are down closer to 19" all around. Likely only your rear springs need replacing, if anything. Measure first and see what you want to do/change from there.

If your shocks are worn out, it will allow you to bottom out much more often even without sagging springs, which is what you are feeling. It could also be bad bushings clunking around a bit.

Sag is the ONLY way to tell if springs are old - if they aren't holding the weight, they are worn out, rusted, etc.

-Charlie

 

[Pyral]

Current dealership price/availability of replacement springs

I went to my Toyota dealership to pick up a part today. While I was there I inquired about what it might cost to get a new set of springs so I would have a maximum cost for the parts.

The guy at the counter used my VIN to find the correct ones for my vehicle. The status of the supply is as follows:

48131-35160 SPRING, COIL, FR, RHF-- $186.71 UNAVAILABLE

48131-35330 SPRING, COIL, FR, LHF-- $249.05 AVAILABLE

48231-35151 SPRING, COIL, RR, REAR-- $175.00 x2 AVAILABLE

The total price (ignoring the fact they don't have them all) would be 786.76 plus tax which would get me well over $850 just for springs alone (price as of 8/21). My 4wd 4runner is a 1998 model year, but this likely can apply to 1996-1999 4runners with 4wd and 16 inch wheel option.

These are the prices at my local dealership (Bay Area), I could find better prices elsewhere and maybe find that unavailable part. Even the dealerships own website has the parts listed for way way less, think of this as an absolute maximum.

Are there any aftermarket brands that make good replacement springs for our 4runners?

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

Here are the part numbers for the 1999-2000 4Runner:
48131-35350 -- LH Front

48131-35400 -- RH Front

48231-35210 -- Rear


HTH

I went to my Toyota dealership to pick up a part today. While I was there I inquired about what it might cost to get a new set of springs so I would have a maximum cost for the parts.

The guy at the counter used my VIN to find the correct ones for my vehicle. The status of the supply is as follows:

48131-35160 SPRING, COIL, FR, RHF-- $186.71 UNAVAILABLE

48131-35330 SPRING, COIL, FR, LHF-- $249.05 AVAILABLE

48231-35151 SPRING, COIL, RR, REAR-- $175.00 x2 AVAILABLE

The total price (ignoring the fact they don't have them all) would be 786.76 plus tax which would get me well over $850 just for springs alone (price as of 8/21). My 4wd 4runner is a 1998 model year, but this likely can apply to 1996-1999 4runners with 4wd and 16 inch wheel option.

These are the prices at my local dealership (Bay Area), I could find better prices elsewhere and maybe find that unavailable part. Even the dealerships own website has the parts listed for way way less, think of this as an absolute maximum.

Are there any aftermarket brands that make good replacement springs for our 4runners?

 

[Pyral]

bump

 

[blarchitect]

Stay clear of 99 "tall" springs. Like all other OEM ones from other years they will soon sag in the ass big time. I bought mine new as part pf the SS3 kit (no now longer available) and they dropped that coveted inch after a couple of years with just a dog in the back and no spare! Put that money towards OME or others.

 

[Its GSatt]

OME (old man emu) or dobinsons if you’re going to consider the price of OEM Toyota prices. I did bilstien 5100 all corners and did 99 tall front springs and Dobinsons rear all for ~$900 total.

The 99tall might have lifted me an inch on a ‘96.

Just don’t buy Moog or other cheap as dirt springs. They’re junk. Spring rates matter


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