Front springs question with Bilstein 5100s

[metramm]

Good afternoon everyone,

I have a 2006 4Runner Limited 4x4 v6 daily driver.
141,000 miles.
Tires are Michelin LTX/M2 on factory 18'' toyota rims.

I do not off-road and it just drives long distances on the highway (Michigan + Mississippi) and a few miles to the train for work.

Tows a 16.5 ft speed boat in the summer to the lake.

I am looking to replace the front shocks this upcoming spring but would like to retain the same ride quality or increase it (but not decrease it). I am interested in getting rid of most of the factory rake by using the .85 setting on the front 5100's.

I have already replaced the rear shocks with Bilstein 5100's (stock coils) and was looking to do the same for the fronts (have the shop install the 5100's and re-use the factory springs).

I have been reading about the different spring options on here (OME 883/884, Toytec etc).

Just looking for some input on which springs you would recommend to go with to keep basically the same ride or stiffen it up a bit for better highway/off ramp driving/boat towing.

I am open to suggestions. Also, if anyone has some factory coils they would like to get rid of for the front, please let me know.

Thank you in advance for reading my post and have a great New Years!

metramm

 

[NinjaOne]

I would go with the FJ springs if trying to maintain a more factory ride quality.

The 883 springs would also be a good option (not set at .85), ride would be firmer than stock (but still comfortable imo)

884 springs would be 2.5" - 3" lift on your V6, would have a bit of reverse rake unless you did something with the rear

 

[VT245]

I kept the OEM springs when I did mine and I think its just as comfortable as before, it just brake-dives less and doesn't lean like a lumber wagon in the corners anymore. Here is a pic of mine when I had my KO2s installed. While towing (my boat ~4000lbs total weight on a dual axle steel trailer), my truck is perfectly level. Hope it helps!

 

[metramm]

Thank you both for the kind input tonight. When you mentioned the FJ springs (as I have seen others on the forum mention them), are these the Moog FJ springs on Rockauto.com that you are referring to?

I did lots of research this morning about the different springs, and from what I can tell, those were the ones that the forum was speaking about.

[MENTION=91438]VT245[/MENTION],

Did you have a shop install the Bilstein's on your 4runner or did you do those yourself using the "no spring compressor method"?

I was quoted 300 for installation only of the front Bilstein 5100's on my existing coils. I would be providing the 5100's for them to install.

My other option was for me to obtain a set of front factory coils (either used or new from Toyota) and have them installed on the 5100's and then do the installation myself. My uncle has a lift in his garage that I can use.

What would you recommend for this type of installation?

Thank you for any advise and input!

 

[YetiX]

On my old 2WD, I had 5100's at all corners with FJ springs in the front and the Bilsteins set at .75" (or whatever the lowest lifted setting is). My truck was perfectly level and rode and handled great. I carry my dirt bike on a trailer hitch (think 450 pounds total weight) and it was too much for the rear. I got a set of Airlift 1000 air bags and had them installed. It was the perfect solution and I suspect it would work great for you too. You'd save money by having the air bags installed at the same time the suspension was done too.

 

[VT245]

[MENTION=91438]VT245[/MENTION],

Did you have a shop install the Bilstein's on your 4runner or did you do those yourself using the "no spring compressor method"?

I was quoted 300 for installation only of the front Bilstein 5100's on my existing coils. I would be providing the 5100's for them to install.

My other option was for me to obtain a set of front factory coils (either used or new from Toyota) and have them installed on the 5100's and then do the installation myself. My uncle has a lift in his garage that I can use.

What would you recommend for this type of installation?

Thank you for any advise and input!

I had a local shop I use install them for me. I just looked back in my records and I was charged 2.6 hours of labor to install all four. So I would say 300 for install for just the fronts is pretty steep. One option might be to call your local dealership and ask what their estimate is for time on the job. Believe it or not, some things they have actually been very reasonable on for me. I usually don't wrench much myself, it makes more sense for me to pick up extra work hours most of the time. Hope this helps.

 

[chili]

Having just done the stock to 5100/FJ swap, I'll pitch in that (obviously) ride quality is very subjective. For me, going from the stock springs to Moog FJs all around ultimately "improved" ride quality, but it definitely made it stiffer. If you go from stock springs to FJs you won't get as much lean and brake dive but smaller bumps and uneven road surfaces get transferred into your spine more. That being said, people like this swap for a reason. Faster bumps get smoothed out more and it's arguably the best budget suspension lift we can do on these trucks.

If you run through the stickied FJ spring/5100 Thread on the 4th gen page, you should get a pretty good idea. As I recall, some of the lower estimates people mentioned for all four corners was around $300, so that much for the fronts seems like too much. I had my front springs and struts assembled by a shop for 1 hr/ $80 and installed them myself.

In particular, you should pay attention in the above mentioned thread to heights achieved by stock springs and 5100s. It sounds like you only want to change the front springs, in which case going to FJ springs only in the front, which are taller than stock springs, will net too much lift and give you "bro rake" especially when towing, even with the struts at the lowest setting. If you stick with stock springs (I assume you're looking for a 2nd set so you can just swap them in?) it should be easy for you to source used stock springs locally.

 

[OBX-4thGen]

I've got an 06 4x4 V6 as well. I tow a 22ft boat weighing around 4000lbs. I went with the FJ 4x4 springs and 5100s all around. I'm more level than the stock setup with the rear still being a bit higher than the front (set at .85). This is with no weight in the back of the truck, so if you're hauling people or gear it will be level. The sag on the rear is minimal with the boat hooked up and it tows well. The overall ride is better than stock, with the most noticeable improvement being less roll when cornering over a bumpy road. I had a shop do the work and I think they did it all for around $500. Hope this helps.

 

[YetiX]

I've got an 06 4x4 V6 as well. I tow a 22ft boat weighing around 4000lbs. I went with the FJ 4x4 springs and 5100s all around. I'm more level than the stock setup with the rear still being a bit higher than the front (set at .85). This is with no weight in the back of the truck, so if you're hauling people or gear it will be level. The sag on the rear is minimal with the boat hooked up and it tows well. The overall ride is better than stock, with the most noticeable improvement being less roll when cornering over a bumpy road. I had a shop do the work and I think they did it all for around $500. Hope this helps.

Interesting, I also have an 06 4x4 with the V6. Just did the same suspension as you. Mine is perfectly level, I mean exactly level. I totally agree with everything else.

 

[Robs08Runner]

Interesting, I also have an 06 4x4 with the V6. Just did the same suspension as you. Mine is perfectly level, I mean exactly level. I totally agree with everything else.

I'm with Yetix and everyone else. Have
had mine for a while now and love them.
I was at Advance picking up a few things and another 4runner parked beside me. We got to talking inside and he complemented me on how nice mine looked compaired to his and asked if it had this swap.

 

[metramm]

Thank you all for the great information! I've been reading through the FJ swap thread that was mentioned and have gathered the following part numbers for the Moog FJ coils:

Front - 81108
Rear - 81081

I'm still deciding between buying the FJ 4x4 coils from a member on the FJ forum or going with the Moog's I listed above.

I really appreciate everyone's time and effort on this thread. I'm leaning towards the FJ coils honestly.

Hope to nab a set since they sound like they are awesome with the 5100's.

Thank you again!!!