Evan B's 2006 Limited

[Evan B]

I bought this 2006 Limited a couple months ago and this forum has been great. Thanks for all the info and advice.


The day I picked it up at a small town Chev dealership.

Parked behind my wife's Yaris.

My first offroad trip for a winter camping excursion.

Starting the lift install. It's FJ coils and Bilsteins front and back with the front set to 1.5" and a 1.5" spacer in the back.

The stupid freakin' nut that broke off on the inside of the frame when I was taking the sway bar off.

The complete bumper removed to access the little whole on the front of the frame rail to fix the stupid freakin' nut.

Messing around trying to find a solution for the stupid freakin' nut.

All wrapped up before the springs settled. They were off of a brand new FJ that a dealer put a lift on before selling. I put on Spidertrax spacers too.

After a day of driving around.

For anyone that's wondering, in my case 265/65/18 (even when very worn out) rub on the front of the inner fender with the spacers and lift installed.

 

[Evan B]

Hopefully I'll be able to get these installed sometime this week. They're 275/65/18 General Grabber AT2. I figured since I have to do some trimming anyway I might as well get the size I want.

 

[ebg18t]

Looks good. I love the smell of tires in the car. Based on the rake and the new tires going on, why not move the fronts up 1 more notch?

 

[Siebs]

Gawd I love those tires.

I'm just waiting for an excuse to put a new set in that size on my limited. I am excited to see them all mounted up!

 

[Cali4Runnea]

Looking good! You do gotta love the smell of new tires and how they're gonna look on your rig too!

 

[Evan B]

Yeah, I was trying to avoid the need for new upper control arms but I agree, it could use another inch up front. I think if I dissasseble it again it will probably be to install a taller spring.

 

[Evan B]

Okay, I think I've decided I need to go higher in the front so I could use some input. I'll get some UCA's but what should I use to get another 3/4 to 1"? I only got about 2.25" from the FJ springs and the 5100's set to 1.75". I'm worried that if I just adjust the struts to the 2.5" setting that those springs will be too compressed to handle in a balanced way compared to the back.

So, right now I have:
5100 @ 1.75 with FJ Coils = 2.25" (not enough)

What do you think?
5100 @ 2.5 with FJ Coils = 3" Is this too much compression on those coils?
5100 @ 1.75 with OME 883 Coils = 3.25"
5100 @ .85 with OME 884 coils = 2.85" Not sure this would be enough to level it out.

I know it's the same question as everybody else but this is different because it's me. :eyebrows:

 

[Mytoy4]

Lookin' good!

 

[ebg18t]

I am at 3" with stock UCA's. alignments is ok, but at the edge on the caster. I would just raise it to the 2.5" point on the Bilsteins, let it settle then get aligned.

 

[Chreaus]

Input from a beginer

I'm sure you've been reading these pages as much as me.....?

I'm putting Billstien 5100's all around this weekend with OME 885 in front and 895E in the rear. "Wheelers offroad" and others I've read about on here mentioned this should be a moderate set-up considering I'm looking to put a new Arb bumper on next.....

I'll have more info and pics up next Monday if everything goes well.

Just thought I'd throw it out there....
Same ride, different color.....

 

[Evan B]

Thanks for the input guys. I decided to order new upper control arms and install them at the same time that I adjust the struts to the 2.5" setting. The shop I ordered them from, Low Range Offroad, also sells a diff drop kit so I had them add it to the package. They said it would be in the mail by the end of the day.

None of the places recommended for marine style hose clamps for the cv boot fix would sell to me (I'm in Canada, eh). I couldn't find any local shops that sold them either. After a bunch of random searches I found a Canadian company that sells them. They took my money so hopefully they're sending me the hose clamps! :frisky:
Marine Outfitters - boating electronics accessories supplies hardware sailboat power - Ontario Canada

 

[Evan B]

... I'm putting Billstien 5100's all around this weekend with OME 885 in front and 895E in the rear. ...

Cool. Let me know how it rides before getting the new bumper on. If the ride suffers much when I crank the FJ coil to the 2.5" setting on the Bilsteins I will probably be looking to replace them with OME coils. Let me know how much lift you get too. Thanks!

 

[Chreaus]

Lift/suspension upgrade done..

Cool. Let me know how it rides before getting the new bumper on. If the ride suffers much when I crank the FJ coil to the 2.5" setting on the Bilsteins I will probably be looking to replace them with OME coils. Let me know how much lift you get too. Thanks!

So here's a pic of my 06 with Billstiens all around and OME springs.

Rides great. The front is up a touch but my ARB should be here by the end of the month

I didn't get an exact measure, was waiting to see if things settled in.Before. After.

 

[me_rikey]

Evan B and Chreaus, your rigs look great! I'm interested to hear and see what happens if you go the next setting up on your Bilsteins Evan, and Chreaus, what OME's did you use? How is the ride without the added weight of bumpers, winch, etc? What setting did you use on your Bilsteins? This is exactly the setup I'm looking to do on my runner!

 

[Evan B]

So here's a pic of my 06 with Billstiens all around and OME springs.

Rides great. The front is up a touch but my ARB should be here by the end of the month

I didn't get an exact measure, was waiting to see if things settled in. Before. After.

Wow! What setting on the front did you use? That looks much higher than I expected front and back. Are you sure those are 895e and not 895's in the back? Was size tire are you running in those pictures? I would love to get that amount of height.

 

[Chreaus]

From looking at pics online I am saying they are set at the lowest groove.

I had Wheelers here in Southern Oregon install the 885 OME coils. I told them I wanted to put a ARB bumper on and this was their suggestion.

My receipt and the OME box both state that I have 895E for the rear coils..

Tires are stock, 265/60/18....
I'm getting alinement done tomorrow then ARB by the end of the month if all goes well.
Will decide on tires after the bumper goes on.

 

[Evan B]

From looking at pics online I am saying they are set at the lowest groove.

I had Wheelers here in Southern Oregon install the 885 OME coils. I told them I wanted to put a ARB bumper on and this was their suggestion.

My receipt and the OME box both state that I have 895E for the rear coils..

Tires are stock, 265/60/18....
I'm getting alinement done tomorrow then ARB by the end of the month if all goes well.
Will decide on tires after the bumper goes on.

Cool. You are well on your way. If you're ever curious you can turn your wheel to full lock and look at whichever strut is easier to see. The bottom of the coils will be sitting on the collar in this picture. It is shown right side up there. You won't be able to see the groove it's sitting on but the three above it should be visible through the coil.

 

[Chreaus]

Cool. You are well on your way. If you're ever curious you can turn your wheel to full lock and look at whichever strut is easier to see. The bottom of the coils will be sitting on the collar in this picture. It is shown right side up there. You won't be able to see the groove it's sitting on but the three above it should be visible through the coil.

Soooooo, I see/feel three grooves with the collar below them. Would've added a pic, but I think we are on the same page here...

This would be the lowest setting? I am new to all of this and am learning every day.
I'll try and get some measurements.

 

[Evan B]

Soooooo, I see/feel three grooves with the collar below them. Would've added a pic, but I think we are on the same page here...

This would be the lowest setting? I am new to all of this and am learning every day.
I'll try and get some measurements.

Yup, you got it. There is a c-clip that fits perfectly in the groove and the collar sits on it while holding it in place in the same time. So, if you can see/feel three grooves above the collar it's on the lowest groove.

FYI - Here's a picture of a collar installed upside down.

 

[Chreaus]

I saw that pic earlier when I was researching where mine were set at...

I love the new ride and look.
I want to get tires, but getting the bumper to see how things settle down seems like a smarter next step... and cheaper than tires.... kind of...

What did you decide on?