Dobinsons 5th Gen T4R Suspension options - from Exit Offroad

Looks great! Can you please post which coils you got as well as pics of the rear MMR shocks installed? Thanks.

My springs were specific to my needs. The rears are a touch stiffer to accommodate gear hauling and towing an offroad trailer.

Speak with Mike re: springs for your needs. He will definitely hook you up.
 
any reason why the UCAs dont come with ball joints pressed in already?

Yes, there are a couple.

1. Some may want to use a different brand of balljoint, so they can buy just the arms only if they want.
2. The ball joints come from a different supplier than the factory where the arms are made, so we get them delivered at different times.
3. It would add extra labor cost, raising the price.
 
I should have posted this a long time ago!!!

This comes up almost daily now. Pay attention to the assembly sequence of washers (flat and locating), and the bushings, and then the step in the coil seat as well.
 

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For those that switched to Dobinsons from the Metaltech or Icon overland rear coils, what variable coil option did you go with?
 
Any update on release date / pricing for the 2" TRD Coils? Eagerly waiting!

Waiting for the prototype samples to be sent over in the coming weeks so that we can install and test the 2" lifted coil.

The 1" lifted coils for pros have been made and should be here in late April.
 
For those that switched to Dobinsons from the Metaltech or Icon overland rear coils, what variable coil option did you go with?

The guys were mostly going with the 677V or 701V, I'm pretty sure. I believe the MT's are stronger than the Icon's in handling weight. We made the extra heavy load options for guys packing a lot more weight but keeping the lift height up too.

Guys running 677V's or 701V's, can you post up what sort of rear accessory weight you're running? That should help [MENTION=119442]tristero[/MENTION]
 
Waiting for the prototype samples to be sent over in the coming weeks so that we can install and test the 2" lifted coil.

The 1" lifted coils for pros have been made and should be here in late April.

Just to understand how that works, the springs themselves are 1" longer than oem? So if you put them on Bilstein 6112's at the lowest setting which advertises a .85" lift, theoretically you should achieve 1.85" of lift without adding pre-load by moving the clips up to achieve the same lift?
 
Just to understand how that works, the springs themselves are 1" longer than oem? So if you put them on Bilstein 6112's at the lowest setting which advertises a .85" lift, theoretically you should achieve 1.85" of lift without adding pre-load by moving the clips up to achieve the same lift?

Our 1" lift springs will be about 1/2" taller than stock, to produce the 1" lift.
Our 2" lift springs will be about 1" taller than stock, to produce the 2" of lift, that is if they work without maxing out the strut, or bowing under the preload and making contact with the larger body strut. That's our biggest concern.

Just remember, the listed Bilstein heights are rated with the coils they're using, so if you use a stronger or taller coil, there's no way to say what the extra lift height will be. Actually, if you measure the amount that the clip height goes up, double it to get the lift height, approximately.

For example, 5100's with our 1.75" lifted coil, but set to 0.85" clip height, maybe it's 2.5" or maybe it's more. It's 0.85" lift with the stock coils, but our coils are heavier rate and taller/longer than stock. Typically I tell everyone to run adjustable height shocks at the lowest setting, then use the right coil to get the lift, if there's an option for that.
 
Finally, after the parts have been sitting in the garage for six months. Bilsteins set at zero. 302 and 505 coils. No pre or post measurements taken. Going to stuff some 285 KO2s with bronze FN Pro wheels.

That looks awesome, A bit confused reading the descriptions on the first page about the 302s, does it mean with a heavy load it sits at 2.0 and with no load its 2.5? Or are there a heavy and stock load version?

C59-302 - 100-220LBS heavy load front weight, 2" lift. 395/395mm, 17mm wire, 586LB
C59-302 - Stock front end load, 2.5" lift (or comfort option C59-448 for 3" lift). 395/395mm, 17mm wire, 586LB
 
That looks awesome, A bit confused reading the descriptions on the first page about the 302s, does it mean with a heavy load it sits at 2.0 and with no load its 2.5? Or are there a heavy and stock load version?

The weight added to the truck changes the lift height.

So if you have a "heavy front end", you'll get one lift height, and if you have a "stock front end" you'll get a different one.

You see the spring rates for each are listed as well. A taller coil will support more weight and keep the lift height where it's supposed to be.
 
Hey Mike - I have a 2011 4Runner with 3rd row seating and DOM sliders. (Front is all set, but need to replace the back springs.) I have Bilstein 5100s, stock springs, airbags, and a 1.5" spacer. The airbags make it WAY too stiff even at the lowest recommended pressure, so I want to swap all of that out with some of your springs.

I want to maintain about 1.5" lift so I am looking at the 505s. So when it says 220 lbs, does that assume an additional 220 lbs over stock without 3rd row? I will have kids in the back too and want to make sure it is pretty level when off road. Do you think the 505s will accomplish what I want, or should I go the next one up?
 
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Hey Mike - I have a 2011 4Runner with 3rd row seating and DOM sliders. (Front is all set, but need to replace the back springs.) I have Bilstein 5100s, stock springs, airbags, and a 1.5" spacer. The airbags make it WAY too stiff even at the lowest recommended pressure, so I want to swap all of that out with some of your springs.

I want to maintain about 1.5" lift so I am looking at the 505s. So when it says 220 lbs, does that assume an additional 220 lbs over stock without 3rd row? I will have kids in the back too and want to make sure it is pretty level when off road. Do you think the 505s will accomplish what I want, or should I go the next one up?

Hey. The 505's will be at 1.5" with no rear weight. 220LBs means 220LBS/IN spring rate, and that's per coil, so for every 440LBS on the pair, they would drop 1", theoretically.

Why do you have air bags? What loads are you carrying? You might need the C59-325's, which are 15mm taller than the 505's. Having some rake when empty will give you the ability to load up and have it be level with the weight (depending what weight you've added. With the 3rd row and having kids back there, that puts extra load on those coils of course, plus whatever you're carrying.
 
Our 1" lift springs will be about 1/2" taller than stock, to produce the 1" lift.
Our 2" lift springs will be about 1" taller than stock, to produce the 2" of lift, that is if they work without maxing out the strut, or bowing under the preload and making contact with the larger body strut. That's our biggest concern.

Just remember, the listed Bilstein heights are rated with the coils they're using, so if you use a stronger or taller coil, there's no way to say what the extra lift height will be. Actually, if you measure the amount that the clip height goes up, double it to get the lift height, approximately.

For example, 5100's with our 1.75" lifted coil, but set to 0.85" clip height, maybe it's 2.5" or maybe it's more. It's 0.85" lift with the stock coils, but our coils are heavier rate and taller/longer than stock. Typically I tell everyone to run adjustable height shocks at the lowest setting, then use the right coil to get the lift, if there's an option for that.

Mike, first of all, I love your products and can't wait to order springs in the next couple of weeks. I have a 2016 trail that is pure factory right now. In my garage are some 5100s i've been waiting to install until I got everything in order. the front shocks are ride height adjustable. I'm staying with a 265 toyo AT2 since I cover a lot of distance. I'm only looking for a slight lift. I had planned to use the C59-238 in the front and the C59-599 in the rear. the goal is to preserve some of the factory rake so I don't have a negative rake when towing. All loads will be factory 75% of the time. the rest I carry moderate overlanding and camping gear. not too heavy. Do you think these springs with the 0 setting on the height adjustable front shocks will do the trick for around 1" of total lift?
 
Mike, first of all, I love your products and can't wait to order springs in the next couple of weeks. I have a 2016 trail that is pure factory right now. In my garage are some 5100s i've been waiting to install until I got everything in order. the front shocks are ride height adjustable. I'm staying with a 265 toyo AT2 since I cover a lot of distance. I'm only looking for a slight lift. I had planned to use the C59-238 in the front and the C59-599 in the rear. the goal is to preserve some of the factory rake so I don't have a negative rake when towing. All loads will be factory 75% of the time. the rest I carry moderate overlanding and camping gear. not too heavy. Do you think these springs with the 0 setting on the height adjustable front shocks will do the trick for around 1" of total lift?

Hey, yeah those would do the trick for you. The only thing that would affect the ride height would be if you add extra weight to it. They're an upgraded spring rate too over stock, so that would help add extra support for the towing.
 
Hey. The 505's will be at 1.5" with no rear weight. 220LBs means 220LBS/IN spring rate, and that's per coil, so for every 440LBS on the pair, they would drop 1", theoretically.

Why do you have air bags? What loads are you carrying? You might need the C59-325's, which are 15mm taller than the 505's. Having some rake when empty will give you the ability to load up and have it be level with the weight (depending what weight you've added. With the 3rd row and having kids back there, that puts extra load on those coils of course, plus whatever you're carrying.

I have a third row and may want to move up to the 325 coils from the 505s I currently have installed to maintain a factory rake when loaded with all seats occupied to include the 3rd row.

Mike, will it be safe to keep the the Bilstein 5100s or a 701 rear shock since the 325 coils are a 2" to 2.25" coils outside of the recommended lift height of 0-2" lifts of those rear shocks? Or do I move up to the 705 rear shock?
 

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Is the general consensus that trim packers and strut spacers not needed with the dobinson's lifts?

seems like the other kits people are staggering the spring perch in front or spacer in driver's front and/or trim packer driver's rear...

I have a 2014 Trail and it seems generally driver's rear low vs passenger rear but while 80% of the time it measures that way, it's randomly measure different... Arg
 
I have a third row and may want to move up to the 325 coils from the 505s I currently have installed to maintain a factory rake when loaded with all seats occupied to include the 3rd row.

Mike, will it be safe to keep the the Bilstein 5100s or a 701 rear shock since the 325 coils are a 2" to 2.25" coils outside of the recommended lift height of 0-2" lifts of those rear shocks? Or do I move up to the 705 rear shock?

The 5100's are about 1/2" shorter in full extension than our 701 rear shocks, from memory. Going to the 325's from 505's will add 15mm of lift. You can check your current travel now in the rear to see if those will work with extra height. Lift the vehicle from the frame and see how much down travel you have now. You'll want at least 2".

C59-325 and GS59-701 go together just fine.
 
Is the general consensus that trim packers and strut spacers not needed with the dobinson's lifts?

seems like the other kits people are staggering the spring perch in front or spacer in driver's front and/or trim packer driver's rear...

I have a 2014 Trail and it seems generally driver's rear low vs passenger rear but while 80% of the time it measures that way, it's randomly measure different... Arg

Every vehicle is different. But trim packers are designed to trim, just like shims used in carpentry are to make small adjustments once the thing is in place. I usually recommend a 1/4" top mount spacer for the low side on the front (if it is low after everything is installed and settled), or a 10mm rear spacer on the rear low side.

But the majority of 5th Gen suspensions I've sold haven't used any spacers. 4th Gens have a bigger leaning issue it seems.
 

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