DIY '99 Tall Coils vs Sonoran Steel 3.0 - Decisions...

[mccamp82]

Please forgive me if this has been covered somewhere. I've searched a lot and just can't seem to find all the answers I'm looking for. So i thought I'd lay it all out here and see if you guys can help me out a little.

Background: I just got a 2002 2wd Sport Edition. My first thought was to replace the shocks as i feel the suspension is quite rough as is. Then i found this site and started doing research and decided I'd like to go ahead and get new coils as well, and in the process get some lift. I first looked at the Toytec OME setup, but read enough to convince me it will be way too rough of a ride for my liking. I have no off-road plans and I live in the middle of Dallas where i do mostly city driving. So priorities are smooth ride, more height, and preferably cost-effective.

So now I'm debating 2 options: (A) DIY lift by getting 1999 4runner 'tall' coils, some bilstein HD shocks, and using my existing top-plate and other hardware. (B) Sonoran Steel 3.0 lift (2 Wheel Drive - System 3 - $772.00 : Sonoran Steel, Sonoran Steel Custom Metal Fabrication L.L.C. Custom Toyota Truck Parts)

Here's the rundown of each option:

DIY '99 Springs Lift:

Coils from Toyotapartsales.com
-Front Passenger Side Springs - Blue / Yellow (48131-35400): $102
-Front Driver Side Springs - Blue / Pink (48131 - 35350): $111
-Both Rear Springs - Yellow / Red (48231 - 35210): $77 (x2)= $154
Total: $367 +tax and shipping = ~$450

Bilstein HD Shocks from autoanything.com
-Front Shocks: $108 (x2) = $216
-Rear shocks: $71 (x2) =$142
Total: $358 (free shipping, no tax)

Hardware&Top Plates
-Use what i already have on my 4runner
Total: $0

Assembly of front strut:
-Done at a local shop
Total: ~$50

TOTAL PACKAGE: $858

Pros: Cheaper
Cons: uses old hardware, have to have front strut assembled, the off-chance the coils from toyota are not the "tall" springs



Sonoran Steel 3.0 Lift

-Front:
(2)-1999 Brand New Toyota 4Runner front coils from a vehicle made in Japan with a 3.4 V6, 4WD & 16" wheels.
(2)-Tokico Trek > Master R/T front shocks. Limited Lifetime Warranty!
(2)-Genuine Toyota Upper Front Shock Nuts.
*We remove the problem prone Tokico Aftermarket upper front shock nuts and provide Genuine Toyota Replacement nuts.
-Rear:
(2)-1999 Brand New Toyota 4Runner rear coils from a vehicle made in Japan with a 3.4 V6, 4WD & 16" wheels.
(2)-Tokico Trek > Master R/T rear shocks. Limited Lifetime Warranty!
(1)-Rear Fix for 2WD 4Runners (no idea what this could be....any ideas?)
$772.00
Replace Tokico shocks with Bilstein HDs for $30
Total: $802

Hardware&Top Plates
(2)-48609-35030 (Top Plate with Retainer #2) $120.00
(2)-90948-01056 (Rubber Bushing) $16.54
(2)-90948-A2003 (Retainer #3) $23.72
(2)-90948-02159 (Retainer #1) $18.52
(2)-94184-01241 (Nut) $3.50
Total of new Toyota Parts: $182.28

Assembly of front strut:
-Done by sonoran steel with new hardware
Total: $50

Shipping for everything from Sonoran Steel: $50 (?)

TOTAL PACKAGE: $1084

Pros: all new parts and assembled strut. guaranteed to be the right coils
cons: expensive!


So I'm looking for some help in determining which way i should go. Do any of you think the Sonoran Steel lift is actually worth the extra cash for all the new Toyota parts? Also, what is the "2wd Fix" they refer to? Is this necessary? Is there anything i left off of my DIY list that I'd need in order to get the benefit of the taller springs? I definitely feel the Sonoran route would be much easier and less of a headache, but $230 is a lot of money when you realize that would more than pay for a set of sliders, a new tire, other maintenance, or even a few weeks worth of gas!

Thoughts? I really appreciate any help.

 

[shadow247]

Go for the package that you put together yourself. If your upper mounts are in good shape, there is no reason to replace them. You can run your existing shocks with the 99 tall springs if you want.

 

[Kanger328]

Both seem pricey for such a small lift. I do see that your priority is comfort. Have you considered piecing together a kit with used parts? If around $1,000 isn't going to set you back much, I'd also say the DIY option. GL!

 

[mccamp82]

Both seem pricey for such a small lift. I do see that your priority is comfort. Have you considered piecing together a kit with used parts? If around $1,000 isn't going to set you back much, I'd also say the DIY option. GL!

Thanks for the responses, guys. I could possibly be talked into going another route if any of you know a way to get around 2" lift (max) and still give a close to OEM quality/smooth ride. One friend suggested 2" spacers in front and the '99 coils in rear. But i think i'd like to avoid using spacers if i can (unless you guys think they are an excellent option for me. According to the Lift FAW sticky, spacers have quite a few "Cons" involved). Am i missing other options? Seems like the OME stuff is too stiff, and the LC/Tundra stuff is too tall.

By the way, i could go cheaper on shocks if i do the DIY version. The Bilsteins are a direct comparison to the Sonoran 3.0 lift.

Thanks again for any advice.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Its pretty much billy HDs vs stock Tokico shocks.

The SS kit will feel like it did when the truck was new because those are the shocks new 4runners had. Billy HDs will improve the ride quality imo because they stiffen things up a tiny bit and have less body roll.

Either setup is great. Its just what you want. You can take the "extra Toyota hardware" off of the SS kit and save a bunch because you dont need new top plates, just get those other parts from the dealer for $60.

 

[sportscarfan]

Go for the package that you put together yourself. If your upper mounts are in good shape, there is no reason to replace them. You can run your existing shocks with the 99 tall springs if you want.

I agree ^^^

Not saying that this works for everyone, but that is exactly what I did. I got a set of craigslist/t4r member '99 coils for $60. I put them on my '97 over whatever shocks are in there (original? I have no idea). Along with ~$50 in materials for a DIY 1" bodylift, I've been running it this way for 2 years & ~20k miles.

My 0.02, if you are going to spend a grand on suspension, go bigger than just '99 coils.

 

[dhalsey]

Get the 99 coils. If you ever want to go higher get spacers. Don't go higher at the expense of sacrificing you ride quality. Unless you have a rear bumper and carry around more then 300 pounds around everywhere you go stick to the 99 spring rate. It seems rare here that people care about the performance of their suspension over how tall it is. Save up for quality dampening if you want to spend extra.

 

[curtperry]

I'd suggest used 99 coils with Tokico TrekMaster or KYB MonoMax shocks all around. No reason to spend more if you want to stay close to stock ride.

 

[mccamp82]

Thanks, everyone for all the quick responses. This forum is awesome!

I'm still not 100% sure on my plan, but at this point I am sure I'll be skipping the Sonoran option. Its just way too expensive for what is offered.

So OEM '99 coils plus new shocks is the way I'll go. Not sure exactly which shocks yet.

More opinions still welcome.

 

[mccamp82]

Just in case anyone is interested or searches for this info later on, this is what i decided to go with (based on the advice i received here):

1999 OEM 4runner coils: ~$400 (new)
KYV Shocks and new top mounts ( 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER KYB Gas-a-Just Shocks and Struts - RWD Drivetrain - SummitRacing.com ): ~$300
Strut Assembly at a local shop: ~$50

Total: $750

I'm happy with this price point. I think I'll get exactly what I'm looking for out of a "lift". Should be a comfy ride, give me a 1.5-2" of lift, and be a fairly easy DIY job. And saving $300 over the Sonoran lift definitely doesn't hurt!

Thanks again for all the help. I'll definitely be posting progress images/info when i get there. Hopefully by end of march depending on when i can find a free weekend.

 

[Siddler]

Did you ever get this done? I'm curious how you like the ride?

And how much lift did it actually give you in the end?

 

[Bama_Runner]

I've got the Toytec/Eibach 3" and the Tundra Bilststeins set on the second notch and my ride isn't harsh at all. Rears are OME 890s with Tundra 5100s. If I had to do it over right now I wouldn't do anything differently.