Dobinsons 5th Gen T4R Suspension options - from Exit Offroad

[@jrfordlandia]

Mike, I’m still loving the 302/505 setup you sold me. Now it’s time for UCA’s. I love the idea of sticking with Dobinsons for those as well, but I also like the concept of adjustable UCA’s and a bit more flex. With my longer springs setup and factory control arms, I can’t get the Caster in spec, but I realize with 3-more degrees I should be fine. Camber is cutting it close as well in spec but tires don’t wear. However, the truck doesn’t feel as well planted on the road with my 285’s on K02s with 8.5” and -10mm offset. How much will the new UCA’s help with feeling less drifts on the highway? I assume the new caster will help with the tire rub? thanks, Mike.

 

[Crikeymike]

Mike, I’m still loving the 302/505 setup you sold me. Now it’s time for UCA’s. I love the idea of sticking with Dobinsons for those as well, but I also like the concept of adjustable UCA’s and a bit more flex. With my longer springs setup and factory control arms, I can’t get the Caster in spec, but I realize with 3-more degrees I should be fine. Camber is cutting it close as well in spec but tires don’t wear. However, the truck doesn’t feel as well planted on the road with my 285’s on K02s with 8.5” and -10mm offset. How much will the new UCA’s help with feeling less drifts on the highway? I assume the new caster will help with the tire rub? thanks, Mike.

Hi Mike

It's the caster part of the alignment that plants the front end properly, so that's what you need, more caster. 3* is all you need. By adding more caster, the upper arm ball joint is moved rearward while the lower ball joint is moved forward, and moving the lower ball joint position forward by adjusting the camshaft is how you get the caster right and also move the tires away from the rear body mount that it's rubbing on.

And as far as camber, that will be easy to set with the new arms.

 

[@jrfordlandia]

Hi Mike

It's the caster part of the alignment that plants the front end properly, so that's what you need, more caster. 3* is all you need. By adding more caster, the upper arm ball joint is moved rearward while the lower ball joint is moved forward, and moving the lower ball joint position forward by adjusting the camshaft is how you get the caster right and also move the tires away from the rear body mount that it's rubbing on.

And as far as camber, that will be easy to set with the new arms.

That’s good to hear. I’m not getting any rubbing on the rear body mount (whew!) but it is rubbing on the rear inner fender liner. Same difference I guess. Thanks for the quick reply. I understand that some of the major shipping companies may be delaying packages to accommodate more urgent needs such as critical supplies. I’m not in a hurry and can wait a couple weeks. That said, are y’all open for business now or working remotely?

Jason

 

[Crikeymike]

That’s good to hear. I’m not getting any rubbing on the rear body mount (whew!) but it is rubbing on the rear inner fender liner. Same difference I guess. Thanks for the quick reply. I understand that some of the major shipping companies may be delaying packages to accommodate more urgent needs such as critical supplies. I’m not in a hurry and can wait a couple weeks. That said, are y’all open for business now or working remotely?

Jason

Yes, everything is still running like normal as far as shipping goes. Still open and don't expect to have to close since the warehouse isn't open to the public

 

[joshers22]

302/505

Finally got the 302 and 505s installed on the 2020 TRDORP with KDSS. There’s a 1/4 inch difference between left to right so within spec from talking to crickeymike. The dobinsons UCAs were pretty tight to fit in but were simple to install. Only snag we hit was the UCA abs mounting stud broke off so we ended up zip tying the abs line and gave it slack for full range of motion. Everything went in smooth beyond that. Thanks Mike for your assistance and communication during the ordering process.


Don’t know why my pictures keep showing up upside down. Probably because I’m uploading from my phone. Will edit later.

 

[T3XAS4Runner]

Dobinsons 5th Gen T4R Suspension options - lots of choices

3/2” on my limited finally on!

Thanks Mike for all your help!


Front: C59-314 with GS59-700
Rear: C59-325 with GS59-705

 

[T3XAS4Runner]

Love the red springs. I’ve seen a few with the classic dobinson teal/yellow but I wanted to mimic the TRD pro look. Maybe in the future you could offer silver struts? That’s be a great look under the red.

 

[Crikeymike]

Love the red springs. I’ve seen a few with the classic dobinson teal/yellow but I wanted to mimic the TRD pro look. Maybe in the future you could offer silver struts? That’s be a great look under the red.

Yeah, that won't be happening with a 3rd color for struts and shocks. Those are easy to paint though, anyone could do that at home. Coils need to be powder coated.

 

[cobbrg]

Installed C59-302/GS59-700, C59-325/GS59-701 on my 2017 TRD Off-Road w/KDSS. Took it out for a shakedown and nothing fell off

After settling, the truck is sitting 2.5" higher front and rear. One side or the other can be up to an inch higher than the other, but that seems to be the nature of KDSS as it behaved the same way before the lift. I did install a 15mm spacer on the right rear.

I had to buy most of the tools for this project, but the opportunity to work on the truck is one of the reasons I bought the 4Runner. Here are the instructions and notes I prepared for myself. I installed SPC upper control arms.

Tires waiting for install!

Thanks to Mike for his communication while ordering.

 

[pDubs]

5th gen, non KDSS here.

Just to clarify, if I have Bilstein 5100s front and rear (not installed yet). I can run the Dobinsons 302 springs in the front, at the 0 lift setting on the 5100 and get 2.5 lift?

I know the rear 5100s don't add lift, so the 505s would be ~1.5" lift, I am trying to get to 2.5/1.5 running the 5100s but want new springs.

 

[CHIEFone]

correct, 302 spring 2.5" tall on 5100 at 0 perch. 2.5" lift

 

[Crikeymike]

Looks good!! The rear shocks aren't tightened down tight enough though on the top bushings. The bushings should be almost as wide as the washers when sitting at ride height, otherwise the shock could get excess movement.

 

[Crikeymike]

correct, 302 spring 2.5" tall on 5100 at 0 perch. 2.5" lift

5th gen, non KDSS here.

Just to clarify, if I have Bilstein 5100s front and rear (not installed yet). I can run the Dobinsons 302 springs in the front, at the 0 lift setting on the 5100 and get 2.5 lift?

I know the rear 5100s don't add lift, so the 505s would be ~1.5" lift, I am trying to get to 2.5/1.5 running the 5100s but want new springs.

That's right, set the struts to the standard coil seat height (lowest clip). Lifted coils give the lift as opposed to preloading stock coils

 

[cobbrg]

Looks good!! The rear shocks aren't tightened down tight enough though on the top bushings. The bushings should be almost as wide as the washers when sitting at ride height, otherwise the shock could get excess movement.

Thanks. Once the truck was on the ground, I tightened the top shock bolt until the shock body began to spin. Does this look good or do I need to put a strap wrench on the shock and tighten it up some more?

 

[Crikeymike]

Thanks. Once the truck was on the ground, I tightened the top shock bolt until the shock body began to spin. Does this look good or do I need to put a strap wrench on the shock and tighten it up some more?

Looks perfect!!

 

[B...]

Another data point for Dobinsons/Exit Offroad. I messaged Mike on Sunday. He responded Monday. Parts ordered on Tuesday night. Assembled/shipped on Wednesday. Delivered on Monday. Can't beat that!

Parts installed: C59-300 front coils. GS59-700 front struts. C59-599 rear coils. GS59-705 rear shocks.

Parts removed: Bilstein 6112 (busted). Bilstien 5100 rear shocks. OEM rear coils.

Tires: 265/70/17

Current hub to wheel well measurements after 150 miles: 22.50" Front. 23.25" Rear.

Took a nice 120 mile drive today. 100 miles on the hwy at 70-80 mph. 20 miles on the dirt at 30-50 mph. This setup rides great. Two thumbs up.

 

[Crikeymike]

Another data point for Dobinsons/Exit Offroad. I messaged Mike on Sunday. He responded Monday. Parts ordered on Tuesday night. Assembled/shipped on Wednesday. Delivered on Monday. Can't beat that!

Parts installed: C59-300 front coils. GS59-700 front struts. C59-599 rear coils. GS59-705 rear shocks.

Parts removed: Bilstein 6112 (busted). Bilstien 5100 rear shocks. OEM rear coils.

Tires: 265/70/17

Current hub to wheel well measurements after 150 miles: 22.50" Front. 23.25" Rear.

Took a nice 120 mile drive today. 100 miles on the hwy at 70-80 mph. 20 miles on the dirt at 30-50 mph. This setup rides great. Two thumbs up.

Nice!! Glad you got the parts there and installed so quickly!!

Is that a reservoir you're driving by there?

 

[B...]

Nice!! Glad you got the parts there and installed so quickly!!

Is that a reservoir you're driving by there?

Those are evaporation ponds on the Great Salt Lake - magnesium extraction infrastructure.

 

[pinegreen]

Another data point for Dobinsons/Exit Offroad. I messaged Mike on Sunday. He responded Monday. Parts ordered on Tuesday night. Assembled/shipped on Wednesday. Delivered on Monday. Can't beat that!

Parts installed: C59-300 front coils. GS59-700 front struts. C59-599 rear coils. GS59-705 rear shocks.

Parts removed: Bilstein 6112 (busted). Bilstien 5100 rear shocks. OEM rear coils.

Tires: 265/70/17

Current hub to wheel well measurements after 150 miles: 22.50" Front. 23.25" Rear.

Took a nice 120 mile drive today. 100 miles on the hwy at 70-80 mph. 20 miles on the dirt at 30-50 mph. This setup rides great. Two thumbs up.

How is the ride difference between your old set up and the Dobinsons?

 

[B...]

How is the ride difference between your old set up and the Dobinsons?

It's totally different. I'm sitting 1-1.25" higher with the Dobinsons kit, so its not really fair to compare the two apples to apples. The most noticeable thing is that the center of gravity is that much higher. I was taking some big curves today at speeds that wouldn't have been concerning previously, but I felt the need to slow down just a bit to stay comfortable. Taller truck, drive slower.

That said, I'd pick the new setup over the old setup.