I did see that on your website, just wasn't sure if there were any options w/o any lift at all. Thanks for the info.
Dobinsons 5th Gen T4R Suspension options - from Exit Offroad
- Thread starter Crikeymike
- Start date
I did see that on your website, just wasn't sure if there were any options w/o any lift at all. Thanks for the info.
4runick
New member
Ok so I'm looking for help. I had wheelers T12 rear springs in the rear for the longest time with only stock weight or offroad weight (spare parts, bottle jack, tools, shackles, cooler: I'm guessing 200lbs). I only have sliders for added constant weight, I'm not into overlandi f but more speed in Baja. I felt like I was under spring because I would get harsh bottom out even with super stiff valving. Also we bought a 3000 lb ten trailer and it caused the 4runner to sag (not for speed off roading I like to do in Baja). I decided to try out the Dobinson c59-327 (2" with 200-400lbs). Now the springs are great for towing but now I feel over sprung just driving around. So I built a drawer system and loaded it up. I'm guessing it's 200lbs tops! Still the problem persists.
Wondering which way to go? I want to stay in that 1.5 to 2.5 lift in the rear for better performance. I'm not looking to have 3" lift because shock performance goes down the drain.
Should I go back to wheelers T12 springs with air bags or go to a Dobinson spring?
I might not see the reply immediately. I'll check but I'm on insta as @4run_nick
Thanks
Wondering which way to go? I want to stay in that 1.5 to 2.5 lift in the rear for better performance. I'm not looking to have 3" lift because shock performance goes down the drain.
Should I go back to wheelers T12 springs with air bags or go to a Dobinson spring?
I might not see the reply immediately. I'll check but I'm on insta as @4run_nick
Thanks
Crikeymike
Senior Member
Hey bud
You've pretty much answered your own question. You have the correct rated springs for the added weight and towing, but you don't like how it is when not towing. You could go down to a softer spring that isn't up to the task and add airbags to fill in that gap between unloaded and loaded. There's not really another choice.
The Dobinsons standard weight rear springs are all 220lbf/in spring rate. If the Wheeler's springs are only 200lbf/in rate, these are slightly firmer.
4runick
New member
Oh good to know I was looking for the spring rate. I think the 220 would help a lot. Another person was saying to go with the 3inch lightest spring 675v spring. I already have a little bit of weight now with my drawers so might sit at 2.5 inches and when towing it will be more progressive and compress to assist with the load a bit more. Do you think that might be a good option?
Thanks for your assistance
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Anyone else having rust issues with dobinsons springs?
I have the 677v springs on the rear; I bought them slightly used but they were in good condition. I have put maybe 5k miles on them since. They were driven in winter but cleaned regularly and rest of suspension is flawless, but the springs are badly rusted and the coating is cracking off of them all over.
I may need to buy new springs before they rust more and snap.
I have the 677v springs on the rear; I bought them slightly used but they were in good condition. I have put maybe 5k miles on them since. They were driven in winter but cleaned regularly and rest of suspension is flawless, but the springs are badly rusted and the coating is cracking off of them all over.
I may need to buy new springs before they rust more and snap.
baldrik78
New member
I bought my coils new about 5 years ago and the coating has failed on them in numerous places on all 4 corners. The fronts are by far the worst. I can pick a lot coating off with my finger nails. They don't salt the roads here, so the rust isn't eating away at the coil. If I lived in a more corrosive environment, I would have to take these off, get them blasted, and recoated.
I bought my coils new about 5 years ago and the coating has failed on them in numerous places on all 4 corners. The fronts are by far the worst. I can pick a lot coating off with my finger nails. They don't salt the roads here, so the rust isn't eating away at the coil. If I lived in a more corrosive environment, I would have to take these off, get them blasted, and recoated.
Mine looks pretty much exactly like that but its the rears since I have bilstein fronts. It looks like you sprayed oil on them to possibly help stop the rusting?
I may order the metaltech heavy long travel springs next to replace them sometime soon.
baldrik78
New member
No oil. They might have some grease on them from the JBA control arms. Greasing them every 5k is...messy.
Crikeymike
Senior Member
Yes you can. That's the amount they lift without any added weight anyway
Crikeymike
Senior Member
Tubular UCA's are back in stock again!!
4Runner UCA's by Dobinsons, also suit GX470 GX460, FJ Cruiser
Where are all the summer wheeling photos? Post up some of your rig flexed out, or at some killer scenic views!!!
4Runner UCA's by Dobinsons, also suit GX470 GX460, FJ Cruiser
Where are all the summer wheeling photos? Post up some of your rig flexed out, or at some killer scenic views!!!
Crikeymike
Senior Member
Tubular UCA's are back in stock again!!
4Runner UCA's by Dobinsons, also suit GX470 GX460, FJ Cruiser
Where are all the summer wheeling photos? Post up some of your rig flexed out, or at some killer scenic views!!!
4Runner UCA's by Dobinsons, also suit GX470 GX460, FJ Cruiser
Where are all the summer wheeling photos? Post up some of your rig flexed out, or at some killer scenic views!!!
Dat4runnah
New member
Hey Mike looking for rear coil recommendation.
Front suspension: non-kdss ome bp51 20mm preset with 2 eckstrom shim each side
Rear suspension: ome bp51 with ome 898 coils
Weight:
Full prinsu rack
Tire swing out
Wescott ladder/ sliders
Xl rtt (not daily)
Gear 300-400 lbs (not daily)
When loaded. There is a squat. When unloaded, vehicle looks level. My buddy recommended the dobinsons c59-701v, but wanted to get your input before buying them. I want to rid of the squatting when loaded, but I fear the 701 may be too high when unloaded.
Thanks in advance !
Front suspension: non-kdss ome bp51 20mm preset with 2 eckstrom shim each side
Rear suspension: ome bp51 with ome 898 coils
Weight:
Full prinsu rack
Tire swing out
Wescott ladder/ sliders
Xl rtt (not daily)
Gear 300-400 lbs (not daily)
When loaded. There is a squat. When unloaded, vehicle looks level. My buddy recommended the dobinsons c59-701v, but wanted to get your input before buying them. I want to rid of the squatting when loaded, but I fear the 701 may be too high when unloaded.
Thanks in advance !
Crikeymike
Senior Member
Hey bud,
Coils have to carry the load, and when loads change, they squat. How much is it squatting when you add whatever weight it is that you're putting on there? Most likely you're over-lifted when not loaded and then sitting at the right height when the weight is added.
You can't run the C59-701V unless you have 500-600LBS of constant weight on them, which you don't, so you'd be overlifted and really tall in the back.
The 2898 coils are 318LBF/in spring rate, which is incredibly stiff. That's a rate in between the C59-329 and C59-331.
Can you give the hub to fender measurements on all 4 corners when it's unloaded so I can see how much lift you have?
CrawlCulture
New member
Attachments
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Crikeymike
Senior Member
That's awesome!!
4 RunnerBoxer
New member
So have 302 front springs and 325 rear springs installed. Listed as 2.5” lift on both.
Have noticed now that has been several months the front seems to have settled a bit, the rear not so much. I only very rarely load down the back.
Seems to my eye I have a little more rake than I’d like. Wanted to keep the factory rake a bit, but maybe the lift exaggerated it. Did not want the completely level look, where the front looks higher.
Thinking would like to level it just a bit, take away a bit of the rake but not all of it. Would the easiest and best solution be to just swap out the rear 325 coil springs for 505 springs? 505s listed at 2” vs the 325 at 2.5”
I also had a bit of driver’s side lean, probably a bit to do with me being a heavy set fat ass . Installed the Dobinson 1/4 inch spacer on the drivers front strut and that seemed to mostly correct.
Thanks for feedback.
Have noticed now that has been several months the front seems to have settled a bit, the rear not so much. I only very rarely load down the back.
Seems to my eye I have a little more rake than I’d like. Wanted to keep the factory rake a bit, but maybe the lift exaggerated it. Did not want the completely level look, where the front looks higher.
Thinking would like to level it just a bit, take away a bit of the rake but not all of it. Would the easiest and best solution be to just swap out the rear 325 coil springs for 505 springs? 505s listed at 2” vs the 325 at 2.5”
I also had a bit of driver’s side lean, probably a bit to do with me being a heavy set fat ass . Installed the Dobinson 1/4 inch spacer on the drivers front strut and that seemed to mostly correct.
Thanks for feedback.
Crikeymike
Senior Member
Can you measure all 4 corners from the center of the hub up to the fender edge? That will show what lift heights you're actually at.
505's are only 1/2" less than what you have, so you'd have to decide if that's enough of a difference. The measurements will help see how much rake you have.
2.5" lift front and rear should keep factory rake, which is 2".
4 RunnerBoxer
New member
If I measured right , I’m at right close to 24.5” on both left and right rear
Around both 22.5” front passenger Side and just about right at 22.25” on front drivers side . Still a bit of lean even with the spacer installed.
Hard for me to be real accurate with my older eyes and lean real well with my bad back (just an old veteran falling apart - lol) But looking at the vehicle as a whole there is more pronounced rake. Probably the lift shows it more.
So would 505 springs then lower me 1/2 “ in the rear , or would it raise the front up a bit also? Just a slight reduction in rake is what I’m looking for, not level. (I know I’m probably being a little OCD).
Around both 22.5” front passenger Side and just about right at 22.25” on front drivers side . Still a bit of lean even with the spacer installed.
Hard for me to be real accurate with my older eyes and lean real well with my bad back (just an old veteran falling apart - lol) But looking at the vehicle as a whole there is more pronounced rake. Probably the lift shows it more.
So would 505 springs then lower me 1/2 “ in the rear , or would it raise the front up a bit also? Just a slight reduction in rake is what I’m looking for, not level. (I know I’m probably being a little OCD).
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Crikeymike
Senior Member
OK, thanks for that. Yeah, the lift definitely shows the rake more, since it opens up the rear fenders more, visually.
The baseline we use for new and stock weight 5th gen 4runners is 20" front and 22" rear.
That's 2.5" lift in the rear in the rear and 2.25-2.5" lift up front.
Yes, the C59-505 would bring it down to ~24" in the rear. The front won't be affected at all by that little drop. And for another reference, C59-599 would be about 23.25-23.5" in the back.
