Driver's side sagging

J

Jester4kicks

New member
So I took off my stock side steps today (easy to do BTW, and I highly recommend it)... and I noticed the driver's side of the car was hunkered down more than the left.

I measured to make sure I wasn't imagining things (from the same spot of the hub to the edge of the well above), and the driver's side is just over one inch lower than the passenger's (both front AND rear).

I tried searching, but most threads seem to focus on only one particular spring, not an entire side. Additionally, many seem to only address minor "expected" sags of 1/2" or so, or major sags of 2"+. Falling somewhere in-between, I'm not sure if this is something the requires a major fix, minor fix, or if I just need to live with it.

(Oh, and in case it matters, I removed the front sway bar a couple weeks ago. Not sure if that contributed to the front.)

Ideas?
 
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This is the typical driver side lean, which is most likely exaggerated due to your coils. The stock front coils are two different part numbers. The driver side coil is slightly taller than the passenger side coil. On the OME's, there the same part. So, the stock lean is made even more noticeable. Mine isn't that bad, but my rear suspension setup is different as well. Mine varies from .5"-.75".

You can add the 1.5" Daystar rear spacer and see how that does to correct it. If needed, you can add a top plate spacer to the front as well.

The only other thing I have to add is to check the coils to make sure they're positioned correctly. This could cause the lean to be worse than normal.
 
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
This is the typical driver side lean, which is most likely exaggerated due to your coils. The stock front coils are two different part numbers. The driver side coil is slightly taller than the passenger side coil. On the OME's, there the same part. So, the stock lean is made even more noticeable. Mine isn't that bad, but my rear suspension setup is different as well. Mine varies from .5"-.75".

You can add the 1.5" Daystar rear spacer and see how that does to correct it. If needed, you can add a top plate spacer to the front as well.

The only other thing I have to add is to check the coils to make sure they're positioned correctly. This could cause the lean to be worse than normal.
Click to expand...

I saw in other threads about checking the coil seating... but just so I understand that, it's actually about check the coil on the "high" side, right? From what I remember about the coil installation, if the coil wasn't seated correctly, it would sit too high, not too low, right?
 
Jester4kicks said:
I saw in other threads about checking the coil seating... but just so I understand that, it's actually about check the coil on the "high" side, right? From what I remember about the coil installation, if the coil wasn't seated correctly, it would sit too high, not too low, right?
Click to expand...

Correct. My thought on this is that if the driver side is seated and passenger side isn't, it would cause the lean you describe. Yours seems a little excessive, but not necessarily abnormal if that makes sense.
 
I'm not so sure how it works with the V6, but if you have the V8, stock height is meant to be close to a 1/2" lower on the driver side when the engine is shut down. At the moment of starting the engine it comes close to level and settles back down. I am under the impression that its designed to be level at a certain RPM at highway speed but uncertain about the exact numbers on that one. The sway bar has nothing to do with it as it all about engine tourque. Or like ARK said, the physical location of the coils in the mounts could be off as anything above 3/4 inch difference seems like alot.
 
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
Correct. My thought on this is that if the driver side is seated and passenger side isn't, it would cause the lean you describe. Yours seems a little excessive, but not necessarily abnormal if that makes sense.
Click to expand...

Well I'll give it a look, although I'm pretty sure it was level after the install, so I'm not optimistic.

Let's assume they're seated correctly. What are my options? The spacer seems like it would be too much, and I'm not looking forward to installing it up front.
 
Small thing to add since we're talking coil seating...

I noticed that after the springs settled in on my 2.5 OLW suspension lift... everytime I lift the vehicle off the ground for service or what not, the springs just kind of flop a little and don't always go back into the upper spring seat properly. Anyone else come accross this?
 
Jester4kicks said:
Well here's a possibility.

Front Top Plate Spacer (One - 1/4") - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits

If each one provides 1/2" of lift, can I use two, stacked on top of each other, to correct the full 1" sag?
Click to expand...

Technically possible, yes. However, you'd be better off buying the other front spacer, it's 1/2" thick and give 1" lift. You can only buy these in a pair. However, extended length studs will be required, the 1" kit comes with them, the other doesn't. So, add in the cost of these, it's pretty close.

I would start by using the rear spacer. Many are using the Daystar 1.5" rear spacer on drivers side, it really helps. It'll possibly bring the front up some. The rear is the easiest to install, so I'd do that first and go from there.
 
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
Technically possible, yes. However, you'd be better off buying the other front spacer, it's 1/2" thick and give 1" lift. You can only buy these in a pair. However, extended length studs will be required, the 1" kit comes with them, the other doesn't. So, add in the cost of these, it's pretty close.

I would start by using the rear spacer. Many are using the Daystar 1.5" rear spacer on drivers side, it really helps. It'll possibly bring the front up some. The rear is the easiest to install, so I'd do that first and go from there.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't a 1.5" spacer be an over-correction though? Just make it lean the other way by 1/2" instead?
 
1.5" for the rear seems to be perfect. The reason being is that the coils are not where the tires are, they are closer to the middle. When you lift on the left side coil, it'll also slightly raise the right side as well. Not a great explanation, but hopefully it makes sense.
 
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
1.5" for the rear seems to be perfect. The reason being is that the coils are not where the tires are, they are closer to the middle. When you lift on the left side coil, it'll also slightly raise the right side as well. Not a great explanation, but hopefully it makes sense.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, guess it's worth a shot. I'm assuming you're referring to these for the rears?

Rear 1.5" lift Black Spacers Poly for FJ/4Runner - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits

Do you know of any way to buy these individually?

Where can I find the fronts you're talking about?
 
Here's the front spacer kit I'm talking about:
Front Top Plate Spacer Kit - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits
Here's the rear:
Daystar Part KT09127BK - ComfortRide Suspension Coil Spring Spacer Kit

Alternatively, you can purchase the spacers individually from Wheeler's Off Road. You can get the 1/2", just be sure to order the extended length studs as well.
03-Current Toyota 4Runner Suspension Equipment -Wheeler's Off-Road
 
Jester4kicks said:
It says each spacer provides 3/4" of lift, are you suggesting to just use one? Or stack both on top of each other (or is that even a possibility)?

Thanks again for the ideas!
Click to expand...

From my experience, their description is wrong, that spacer gives 1"lift. You'd just use one spacer for the drivers side. I'd try the rear spacer first, the front may not be as low once the rear spacer is added.

This thread should help as well.
rear spacers? - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
 
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
From my experience, their description is wrong, that spacer gives 1"lift. You'd just use one spacer for the drivers side. I'd try the rear spacer first, the front may not be as low once the rear spacer is added.

This thread should help as well.
rear spacers? - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
Click to expand...

Ok cool, I think I understand the principle now. I'll start with the rear spacers and go from there.

Thanks a ton! I'll post results.
 
Well, the install is complete, and the verdict is in...


Great success!

I installed the daystar spacer that ARK recommended on the driver's side only (despite my concerns that the box did not list the part as being compatible with the 4runner).

The install was a royal PITA! There's barely enough room to get the toytec coil in there WITHOUT the spacer. With the spacer on, there was no way I was going to squeeze it in there without some convincing. I used the stock jack between the axle and the bumpstop to push the axle down and make room... but you can only go so far till the ABS lines look like they're going to snap.

I ended up borrowing a spring compressor from advanced auto. After a little trial and error, I was able to get it all in place, along with the spacer.

Special note, this particular spacer is actually a little too big around to easily fit up against where the top of the stock spring sits. I got it as close as I could, then let the weight of the car and the pressure of the spring do the rest. I looks pretty solid now.


So... the results...

Wheel...........Before.....After (measured from the top of the hub ring to the fender)
Driver Front...21 1/4"....21 3/4"
Pass Front....22 1/4".....22 1/16"
Driver Rear...21 7/8".....23 3/16"
Pass Rear.....22 3/4".....23 1/8"

Cliff notes: Nice and level side to side, and just slightly higher in the rear than the front (which I like).

Many, MANY thanks to ARK for the advice!!
 
Last edited:
So... is it ok from a handling perspective, to just raise one side?

Would it be reasonable (or proper) to adjust the shocks differently from side to side if you had adjustable shocks ? Perhaps not as that would change the coilover spring compression and that would affect handling.

apologize for questions that may be obvious to some.

Jon
 
jdkilroy said:
So... is it ok from a handling perspective, to just raise one side?

Would it be reasonable (or proper) to adjust the shocks differently from side to side if you had adjustable shocks ? Perhaps not as that would change the coilover spring compression and that would affect handling.

apologize for questions that may be obvious to some.

Jon
Click to expand...

Technically, the spring should be compressing as much now as it was before, the spacer just keeps the body sitting up a little higher on top of the compressed spring. Ergo, no change in handling.

Someone correct me if my reasoning is off here.
 
I need to try this, everytime I look at my truck directly from the front or rear the sag drives me nuts. I actually park it on a little hill at home so that you cant tell its like that. I guess I should not be so lazy and just put in the rear spacer. I need to hurry up before I rip into the lift install on my womans wrangler, which is in desperate need of new shocks and springs @ 95k .I must be having a positive effect on her, she says its time to lift it and I won't argue with that, I'll even install it for her as long as she stays away from my 4runner !
 
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