euy build thread! FJ springs/shocks + Daystar

[euy]

what up T4R...new to the board but not new to 4runners. recently sold of my 1990 T4R (really sad to see it go, a lot of good times in that truck).

picked up a used new to me 2006 LMT V8 runner. first overall impressions, the ride was way too soft for my liking and the rake was hurting my eyes. after all the research and recommendations, settled on FJ springs and daystar budget boost.

found a full set of FJ springs and shocks locally that also included the upper spring perch. got the daystar's from amazon because i had a gift certificate.

getting the extra set of upper spring perches worked out really well as i was able to rent some spring compressors to get the upper spring perches off to swap out the studs without having to uncompress the springs. took 1.5 hours to knock this out. did this the night before. tips that helped out a lot:

1. mark the spring and upper spring perch. i just used a center punch to scratch some marks so i could line up them up when time to re-assemble.
2. if you don't have a bench vise a few 2x4's and a hammer work just fine for swapping out the stock studs with longer aftermarket studs. wear some ear protection

got some time to swap out the T4R fronts suspension with the FJ suspension sunday morning. took just about 2.5 hours to do. side one took 2 hours as i was trying to figure out how to do it and i had a smoker going so i was tending to that in between breaks. the other side took 25 minutes there are plenty of write ups out there, this one helped me out: Toytec tips that helped out a lot:

1. read the install instructions.
2. i used a 3 foot section of 2x4 to pry the lower control arm down to get the shock assembly out. 2x4 is really nice as you can put a knee on it and have both hands free to manuver out the shock.
3. use the 2x4 and a hammer to get the bottom of the shock back in line to get the bolt in.
4. this is a great half day project. no special tools to use, spring compressors can be rented at autozone/pep boys places for free. pay for them when you pick them up and they refund you the money when you bring them back.
5. my tool list: 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm sockets and ratcheting wrenches. breaker bar, jack stands, and a jack.
6. ratcheting wrench is a BIG time saver. one bolt on top of the shock tower is limited on space, i couldn't get a ratchet in there.

sorry i dont have any pictures of the actual install but i will be updating this post with before and after pics soon as well as driving impression.

-euy

big thanks to ARK SWAMP RIDER for the PM's and all the other T4R posters for all the great info!!!!

finally done: here is a pic the details are in the rest of the post:

final step up: front FJ shocks/springs DS 1" and no front wheel spacer, rear FJ springs 4R shocks DS 1.5" AP 1.25" wheel spacer

7-8-2010 update: alignment done

after lift: + 1/2 degree
after alignment: - 1/2 degree

 

[euy]

UPDATE: 6/23/2010

i was able to get the rear FJ springs only. did not get the FJ rear shocks on.

the daystar budget boost with FJ springs/shocks lifted the front end more than i expected. now the rake is gone and the body is level. the space in the wheel wells are almost even BUT the running boards are now at an incline towards the front. it is slight but still doesn't look right to me. i was hoping that the rear FJ springs would correct it but it did not make too much of a difference. now i am debating on whether to lower the front with the toytec 1/2" lift OR raising the rear 1.5" with toytec rear sparer....hmmmm what to do.

pics and measurements coming soon.

overall driving impression: the FJ springs are AMAZING!!!! my 4R rides and handles so much better now. front nose brake dive is almost eliminated. body roll is a lot less. HIGHLY recommended.

-e

 

[8086bruce]

I'm doing mine this week just fj springs and shocks no spacer how do you think it will look with no spacer?

 

[euy]

I'm doing mine this week just fj springs and shocks no spacer how do you think it will look with no spacer?

i think it will look fine but i think that the spacer would look a lot better. if you decide on going with a spacer go with the toytec spacer as the daystar will give you more lift than you may want. also since you got the upper spring perch along with the rest of the stuff you can do what i did and install the longer bolts before you pull out the stock shocks. this is a big time saver as you can do this before hand.

 

[euy]

here are my measurements:

before lift: the first number is from center of wheel to top of wheel well and the second is from the ground to the top of the wheel well

Front: 18.5 / 33 Rear: 21.5 / 36
Running board: Front 12 / Rear 13.5
Hitch: Top 19 / Bottom 16

after lift with the following:

Front: FJ shocks and springs / Daystar 1" budget boost
Rear: FJ springs 4R shocks

Front: 22 / 36.5 Rear: 20.5 / 35
Running board: Front 14 / Rear 12.5
Hitch: Top 16.5 / Bottom 13.5

i gained 3.5" in the front. my guess is 2.5" from the DS spacer and 1" FJ springs/shocks. lost 1" in the rear and 2.5" at the hitch. the front end looks really good and rear needs to be raised.

ordered the 1.5 DS rear spacer. should be at the shop tomorrow and i will get it in this weekend.

-e

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

Post pics as is. I'm confused what the hitch measurements are indicating.

 

[euy]

Post pics as is. I'm confused what the hitch measurements are indicating.

i will get them up soon. i posted up the hitch measurements cause i noticed that no one does. i noticed that when i was trying to figure out what lift i wanted that as i raised the front the rear went down. so i added the trailer hitch height just to show how much raising the front affected the height of the hitch.

btw...noticed from your post that you are into honda's. check my sig, my integra was featured in superstreet and car audio and electronics.

-e

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

Clean Integra build. I was just trying to visualize what you were explaining by the hitch height as the other ones were easier to figure out/visualize.

 

[euy]

pics added. daystar 1.5 rear spacer going in this weekend.

-euy

 

[jpless]

looks great man! I have my FJ bilsteins sitting in storage waiting for time to do the install. I'm also mulling over the same decision you are: 1/2 toytec in front or do the budget boost with 1.5 in the rear.

I don't really like the incline of the running boards and think it will eat away at me over time. I also tow things and don't want too much sag in the rear when I do.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

I think it looks pretty good, but I know I'm in the minority. I would rather see the rake like you have it than have the rear sitting higher than the front.

 

[PharmSCRunner]

looks good! good job. keep us posted with the rear spacers

 

[euy]

I think it looks pretty good, but I know I'm in the minority. I would rather see the rake like you have it than have the rear sitting higher than the front.

i agree with you and i would keep it like this but since i am not taking off the running boards having them raked towards the rear bothers me. i think the 1.5 inch lift in the rear will be perfect. i should have them in this weekend.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

How much have you drove it after the install? I know on mine, I showed over 2.5 " of lift in the front, then after a few hundred miles everything settled to about 1.5". It seems like for some reason you've got much more lift than others reported. Typically the rear FJ springs give .3-.5", and the Daystar spacer anywhere from 1.75-2.25 from what I've read. It seems you got about 3/4" more than I would have expected, and so I'm hoping the suspension just hasn't settled yet.

 

[euy]

i have driven the truck about 250 miles since the install. forgot about the possibility of it settling after time. i remember in my days of lowering cars that we would see 1/4" to 1/2" of settlement a few days after lowering a car. we'll see what happens in the next few weeks. also, i think that the rake didn't bother me so much and i think it was more of the fact that the front was so much lower and gap between the tire and wheel well was so small in stock form. now that i have raised it i think a little rake looks fine as long as the top of the tire isn't right up on the bottom of the wheel well. now that i have done all the work and i know my way around the suspension fine tuning the height is really easy with the different leveling pads available. i will keep you guys posted!!

 

[MSU4Runner]

Hey euy, thanks for posting this. I have installed the same stuff as you have on mine and have toyed with the idea of a little bit of rear lift. My measurements indicate I am sitting real close to perfectly level, but on any slope or while towing my boat, carrying bikes, etc I appear to have some sag. I'm curious to see how it turns out after this weekend. Also considering wheel spacers, so your pics will help me out a lot

Thanks and good luck with it. I can't imagine tossing in the rear spacers will take too long.

-Hal

 

[euy]

thanks hal. i can't wait to see the finished project as well. i also can't believe that i got the wheel spacers so soon and wasn't expecting to put them on this weekend. i ordered them on thursday and had them in my hands by friday in less than 24 hours. i got them from ALL Pro and they are over 100 miles from me. so i am getting more done this weekend than i had planned. i will be posting pics soon.

-euy

 

[euy]

got the 1.5" DS rear spacer in as well as the 1.25" AP wheel spacers. the pics below are with only the rear AP spacers on.

here is a shot with both AP 1.25 spacers in. wheels come nice and flust with the wheel wells. i had some rubbing issue with the plastic liner so i took them out. i think it still looks fine with out the spacers.

and a side by side comparison without and with the rear 1.5" DS spacer.

Front: 22 / 36.5 Rear: 20.5 / 35
Running board: Front 14 / Rear 12.5

Front: 22 / 36.5 Rear: 23.5 / 38
Running board: Front 14 / Rear 14

finally i am very satisfied with the way the lift turned out. it is a little higher than i expected and wasn't what i wanted before i started the project. initially i wanted to get rid of the rake, but after raising it and getting rid of most of the rake i realized that i didn't really like the way it looked. i like the fact that the space in the wheel wells was the same but i couldn't stand seeing the running board with the reverse rake. i am glad that i decided to lift the rear as opposed to lowering the front. i need to take some measurements as i think the last ones were a little off.

-euy

 

[MSU4Runner]

Looks great, euy! I agreee about the running boards. Also, when you look at the body line along the underside of the windows, as well as the roof line, it looks like it needs to sit with a little forward rake.

I think I will order the 1.5" rear for sure now. I don't mind having a little rake now that the front end isn't squashed. It won't be as much as it was from the factory since the 1.25" front spacer provides about 2" of lift.

I've decided wheel spacers are on the list as well, just not sure when.

Was it a tight fit getting the rear Daystar spacer in with the coil?

 

[euy]

thanks man. i agree a little rake is good =) even with the spacers on there is still enough play in the axle to get the springs in just gotta put a little more pressure to push the axle down. still just as easy as swapping out the springs first time around.

4wheelpars has the rear spacer on sale DS 1.5" spacer

-euy