Convince me: OME or Adjustable Coilover 5100's 3 inches

[Smokedspoon]

Hey guys.. I know there is a lot of posts related to this but still not enough to convince me either way...

I have an 03' Limited V8 with 265/60/18 tires.

I am looking at either doing a:
-OME 3" complete lift or
- Bilstein 5100 adjustable coilover complete lift (Toytec/Eibach Springs)
all from Toytec

Either or I will most likely add Light Racing Upper control Arms because I want this thing to drive perfect. I am anal about it being right.

About me: Daily driven but anticipate medium to tough off road trails as a weekend warrior. I live in Colorado and will see a lot of snow/ice. Dont intend on adding too much extra weight (maybe a custom rear winch someday). Prices are so similar lets assume that it is not a factor.

Someone with EXPERIENCE please CONVINCE me why one is better then the other.

THANKS SO MUCH

 

[swapmeet]

I have Toytec BOSS on a 07 SR5 V8, but not experience with the OME

IMO, because of settling and the "Toyota Lean" I would go with coil overs. Having to add spacers to get my truck to sit level doesn't constitute "the right way" to do things.

When I installed my kit, I had over 3" of lift at the setting Toytec sent the kit with. The v8 caused it to settle almost an inch. My truck went from being nose high to having rake. Coil overs allow me to crank it back up almost where it was.

BTW, in terms of running UCA's I think i'm still rocking over 3" total lift in front and my truck aligned fine and drives great. Food for thought, and just my experience.


So yeah... Just my .01, since you're looking for $.02


In addition to this post, it might be useful to ask the mfg's. Their job is to sell their solution. If they both answer the question, you'll have two points of view to consider

 

[Loud Runner]

Hey guys.. I know there is a lot of posts related to this but still not enough to convince me either way...

I have an 03' Limited V8 with 265/60/18 tires.

I am looking at either doing a:
-OME 3" complete lift or
- Bilstein 5100 adjustable coilover complete lift (Toytec/Eibach Springs)
all from Toytec

Either or I will most likely add Light Racing Upper control Arms because I want this thing to drive perfect. I am anal about it being right.

About me: Daily driven but anticipate medium to tough off road trails as a weekend warrior. I live in Colorado and will see a lot of snow/ice. Dont intend on adding too much extra weight (maybe a custom rear winch someday). Prices are so similar lets assume that it is not a factor.

Someone with EXPERIENCE please CONVINCE me why one is better then the other.

THANKS SO MUCH

I can not speak about the OME because I've never owned a set but I went with the compelete lift from toytec with the LR upper control arms. It handles amazing on and off road. It is exactly what I wanted out of the lift. There is no sacrifice in ride quality, just improvement. Hitting speed bumps or similar size bumps with my stock setup was horrible, with my new suspension they are handled much better, there is no extra bouncing movement from the vehicle following each bump.

 

[2014 Warthog]

Well being in Colorado... Probably the best way to convince yourself what's best is to go to a group 4runner meet and ask for a ride in various vehicles that already have the lift you are thinking about.

Suspension turns out to be really hard to quantify and highly personal I've found out

Originally I was going for the 5100's all around but they were endlessly backordered so I finally bit the bullet and went for an Icon stage one setup. MUCH more expensive but... It is SO NICE! I don't know exactly what the 5100s would have felt like, though it would have been basically no lift. The 3/2 lift gives the suspension some actual travel, kind of soft, great for the road and it just feels like you are gliding over the trails (to a point).

Anyway, I realized that test driving would have been the only way to really know if I was making the right choice for my personal desires, it was a gamble that paid off for me this time, though I failed 10 years ago when I bought blind and ended up with something terrible.

 

[Smokedspoon]

I've noticed you have "Adjustable Panhard"

Is this necessary? Not many people have it

 

[wkeryder4]

I've noticed you have "Adjustable Panhard"

Is this necessary? Not many people have it

At a certain point it will become necessary to upgrade the panhard bar to an adjustable one. The further you separate the axle from the frame the more the stock links will limit it's capabilities. The stock panhard bar will start to pull the axle to the passenger side and an adjustable one will help to center it again. I'm not certain what height it is necessary at but it's always something good to have if you plan on heavily modifying the suspension.

As far as the 5100's I'm running them with OME 885's and Icon 2" rear coils and I'm happy with the ride. I like my ride to be a bit stiffer than soft to avoid nose dive and body roll around corners and they seem to do the job just fine. I don't plan on changing much on it until I can pick up a set of true coilovers. ie; Icon, Radflo, King.

 

[Smokedspoon]

I dont plan on going any bigger then 3"

I havnt heard of many people replacing it- so this is a new dynamic to consider. If it will truly cause me trouble down the road I'd rather do it now when the car is in pieces

 

[preacher35]

Hey guys.. I know there is a lot of posts related to this but still not enough to convince me either way...

I have an 03' Limited V8 with 265/60/18 tires.

I am looking at either doing a:
-OME 3" complete lift or
- Bilstein 5100 adjustable coilover complete lift (Toytec/Eibach Springs)
all from Toytec

Either or I will most likely add Light Racing Upper control Arms because I want this thing to drive perfect. I am anal about it being right.

About me: Daily driven but anticipate medium to tough off road trails as a weekend warrior. I live in Colorado and will see a lot of snow/ice. Dont intend on adding too much extra weight (maybe a custom rear winch someday). Prices are so similar lets assume that it is not a factor.

Someone with EXPERIENCE please CONVINCE me why one is better then the other.

THANKS SO MUCH

Not sure why anyone has to "convince" you. Regardless, have you read the following thread?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/102272-4th-gen-suspension-options-faq.html

It has most of the answers that you are looking for.

 

[Smokedspoon]

Not sure why anyone has to "convince" you. Regardless, have you read the following thread?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/102272-4th-gen-suspension-options-faq.html

It has most of the answers that you are looking for.

All I meant by that is "If anybody has strong feelings for one, tell me why"
OME has an excellent reputation off roading but adjustable coilovers are.... well awesome. I was hoping to hear from someone who has a crazy story how either brand's product stood up to the test of time and or beat the crap out of it and its still running 100%

 

[HokieRunner]

To the OP. I'd take the advice of the poster who said to try to ride in trucks with those suspensions to see which you prefer. Beyond that it's a question of adjustability. Do you want it or not? I think you'll find that folks running every type of suspension have some good 'war' stories so both options are well tested.

As far as the adjustable panhard bar, that's a whole other issue. Most folks running lifts in the 2-3" range don't put them on and I guarantee you the majority of lifted vehicles are all still running stock rear links.

When you lift the rear of the truck, you're adding a new normal operating range so this throws the factory designed links out of ideal geometry at the new normal ride height.

Ideally, the panhard bar should be as parallel as possible to the rear axle. When you lift the rear, the panhard angle changes and can shift the axle off center (towards the passenger side). Adding an adjustable panhard bar will (as another poster said) give one the ability to re-center it.

But that only tackles part of the issue and arguably the smaller one. Now that you've re-centered the axle, the panhard bar is still at an angle and ideally would be near parallel to the axle.

To make the panhard near parallel, your options are a panhard drop bracket or to raise mounting point on the axle side. Most companies do the panhard drop as it's the easiest but raising the axle mount higher and keeping the body side mount in it's original spot is the better option.This all has to do with MC (Moment Center) and COG (center of gravity).

If you check out 'The Josh' build and his install of a Currie rear axle, you can see where the mount is properly located higher on the axle side. Obviously the more expensive way but it is the proper way.

In the end, most folks are not going to really notice an issue if they're doing a 2-3" lift in the rear.

**Edit - sorry for getting a bit off topic haha....

 

[Smokedspoon]

What I bought

Ended up purchasing today a ToyTec Boss Kit with JBA upper control arms. Will post up pics and details once installed.

 

[flipflopnfly]

I have the Boss kit on the '07 for 8000 miles, ordered another for the '08 V8. Boss full kit seems ok to me for $1200.

I'd like to keep this XREAS suspension on the '08, this is a sweet suspension. I'd keep it but I need a lift for better approach/departure angles.

 

[S p a r k y]

Ended up purchasing today a ToyTec Boss Kit with JBA upper control arms. Will post up pics and details once installed.

Hope you like it! I thought my wife was indecisive! 2.5ish years is a long time to decide!

 

[Smokedspoon]

Hope you like it! I thought my wife was indecisive! 2.5ish years is a long time to decide!

Haha right!? Just a better time in my life to do it.