HELP: How come my front coils look so over compressed

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Toyota.ARK said:
Anyone have any info on why my front shock looks so wound up? I can’t fit my fingers through them at all. And the ride was degraded after the install.

This is a 2021 kdss off road premium.

The Bilstein is set at .85

How come my front coils look so over compressed | Toyota 4Runner Forum [4Runners.com]
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Curious. I just checked mine too and the right spring has less space between the coils than the left spring. But then, I am parked on a slope which could explain it.

I have stock OEM struts. I tried to count the number of coils, and as best as I can determine in the dark and cold, there is one more turn on the right side over the left side which could also explain the difference. I'll have to check again in a couple of days.

When I put in my spacer kit (Rough Country leveling kit), I measured the lift on the front and it was the same on both sides. The front struts are not disassembled to install the RC leveling kit, so that would not explain the difference since my struts are factory assembled.
 
Are those Toyota coils? Are those aftermarket lift coils?
If those are lift coils, they are meant to be used on the bottom most spring hanger. Lifted coils on Bilstein shocks aren't meant to be used with the other notches. You probably have more than 3" of lift now...although your CV boot angles look perfectly straight...wrong coils?

I zoomed in on the pic of the struts, they are the correct number for that 4Runner...
 
Looks normal to me. My stock struts are in my barn, and the coils are super close together. The ride feels different because the suspension is settling in, plus you have compressed the spring more with the small lift.
 
fkheath said:
I have stock OEM struts. I tried to count the number of coils, and as best as I can determine in the dark and cold, there is one more turn on the right side over the left side which could also explain the difference. I'll have to check again in a couple of days.
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It was my understanding that the driver side should have one more coil turn compared to the passenger side to compensate for the lean. I haven't checked my '19 T4R but that's how it was on my FJ.
 
Dynamo said:
It was my understanding that the driver side should have one more coil turn compared to the passenger side to compensate for the lean. I haven't checked my '19 T4R but that's how it was on my FJ.
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Just checked my '18 SR5 Premium, and the OEM springs have one and 1/2 more coils on the right (passenger) over the left (driver) side. Thus, the gap between the right coils is less than the left coils. When I installed my RC spacers, I was careful to do only one side at a time, so I didn't get them mixed up. And my 4Runner is level (I measured it after the spacers).

My conclusion: the space between the coils is not important.

The factory puts different coils at each corner depending on trim level (SR5, TRD, Limited) and the options installed. If you look at the Toyota parts web site, there are a number of different part numbers for each corner.
 
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The ends of the springs should be at the back of the strut on the bottom. Yours face forward.
This is a pic of my left side factory (blown) shock and spring.

And my Bilstein replacement set on the lowest setting.
Sorry they’re not from the same angle.
 

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My stock springs had sagged 1.00" after 115K miles. I installed Dobinson C59-238 springs (1-1.25" lift) with Bilstein 5100s set on lowest perch 6 weeks ago. I currently have 0.75" lift and these springs have the same overall appearance as your stock springs (I can not insert my forefinger). Ride is very good, however, I don't want lift to continue decreasing. These Dobinson springs are identical (no left and right versions) and I have zero lean with KDSS.
 
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fkheath said:
Just checked my '18 SR5 Premium, and the OEM springs have one and 1/2 more coils on the right (passenger) over the left (driver) side. Thus, the gap between the right coils is less than the left coils. When I installed my RC spacers, I was careful to do only one side at a time, so I didn't get them mixed up. And my 4Runner is level (I measured it after the spacers).

My conclusion: the space between the coils is not important.

The factory puts different coils at each corner depending on trim level (SR5, TRD, Limited) and the options installed. If you look at the Toyota parts web site, there are a number of different part numbers for each corner.
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Well I'll be damned! I went out and looked at my '19 TRD ORP and it was the same as yours. I could swear my FJ had more coil turns on the driver side but maybe I'm just gettin' old.
 
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