Metal Tech Rear Long Travel

[STXFJC]

So, I dropped the T4R off at the shop to have the suspension installed:

Front: Total Chaos UCA, Radflo 2.5 coilovers w/rez and adjustable dampners on 650lb springs

Rear: Metal Tech Long Travel stage 5 kit, (upper and lower links, HD springs, Total Chaos panhard bar)

The shop called and said I might not be happy with the stance.........



I know the rear is going to sit a little higher until I load all my gear in there, but, there is a 4" difference in front to rear! That seems a little excessive to me. They said they could crank the coilovers up to try and bring the front up, but they doubt they can get it within 1-2" front to back; plus the ride would be horrible.

I thought the 650 lb springs on the front would be enough as I haven't added too much weight, and Metal Tech agreed too. The front bumper is a Pelfreybilt aluminum bumper weighing about 62 lbs., and the winch weighs about 80lbs.

So, does anyone here have the Metal Tech LT system on their 5th gen, and how does yours sit unloaded? Also, what is your front spring rate?

On my old FJC I had a similar suspension, no rear LT, and ended up going to 700lb springs on the coilovers and removing the swaybar. Mostly due the heavy Expedition One bumper

 

[bimrunner]

So, I dropped the T4R off at the shop to have the suspension installed:

Front: Total Chaos UCA, Radflo 2.5 coilovers w/rez and adjustable dampners on 650lb springs

Rear: Metal Tech Long Travel stage 5 kit, (upper and lower links, HD springs, Total Chaos panhard bar)

The shop called and said I might not be happy with the stance.........



I know the rear is going to sit a little higher until I load all my gear in there, but, there is a 4" difference in front to rear! That seems a little excessive to me. They said they could crank the coilovers up to try and bring the front up, but they doubt they can get it within 1-2" front to back; plus the ride would be horrible.

I thought the 650 lb springs on the front would be enough as I haven't added too much weight, and Metal Tech agreed too. The front bumper is a Pelfreybilt aluminum bumper weighing about 62 lbs., and the winch weighs about 80lbs.

So, does anyone here have the Metal Tech LT system on their 5th gen, and how does yours sit unloaded? Also, what is your front spring rate?

On my old FJC I had a similar suspension, no rear LT, and ended up going to 700lb springs on the coilovers and removing the swaybar. Mostly due the heavy Expedition One bumper

I do but I'm running lots of armor so I sit nicely... MT doesn't recommend the HD LT springs without a constant weight of rear bumper and tire carrier. Even loaded for full expo and RTT I'm not sagging in the rear. Without weight in the back, you just did a 4" lift back there and even if you cranked the fronts up, you are going to have at least 1-1.5" extra rake... are you going to add a rear bumper soon?

 

[TonyMontana]

I have done a lot of research and this is the kit I plan on installing on mine, so I can't speak from experience.

Did you buy the kit from them and was it the right one? Only other thing I would think of...any chance you can take a picture of the rear springs to show if they installed them upside down? I am pretty sure the pre-loaded portion of coil has to go on top.

 

[rochmpr]

They will settle a little, especially after heavy loading. Even with a home built storage box with a lot of heavy recovery gear, rear bumper and swing out with spare, the rear still sits higher than my front with 700# springs. Not nearly as high as you. You also do not have much rear weight for HD springs.

 

[bimrunner]

I have done a lot of research and this is the kit I plan on installing on mine, so I can't speak from experience.

Did you buy the kit from them and was it the right one? Only other thing I would think of...any chance you can take a picture of the rear springs to show if they installed them upside down? I am pretty sure the pre-loaded portion of coil has to go on top.

It isn't due to being installed upside-down. That is the result of running HD springs with stock rear weight... it is a dual rate spring designed for a base rate of an extra 125lbs at least in addition to a 3" rear lift. No rear bumper or some really heavy storage solution... you are going to stink bug it!

 

[STXFJC]

The kit was originally purchased for my 2013 FJC, but the transmission started slipping before I installed it, at over 200k miles it wasn't worth the cost to me to fix it. I wasn't given an option on springs when I ordered the kit from MT.

Bimrunner, MT said on the phone that is was only 3" of rear lift........ but looks like closer to 4". As for a bumper, I might as well add one to my list. Is there a way to relocate the rear camera when running a spare tire mount?

TonyMontana, I'll swing by the shop tomorrow and take a look to see if they installed the springs correctly.

 

[LawnDart]

It looks like 3" of lift to me. It'll settle a TINY bit but you're using too powerful of springs for your setup.

If you're not going to be running a rear bumper right away, you'll stink bug, and the quality of ride in the rear will be pretty terrible.

I'm running a long travel rear, and carrying far more weight in the back than any of you guys, and I have to run custom made Prado 150 600lb 3" springs, and even then I have to throw in a 1.5" spring spacer to get me to the ride height I want.

Like Bimrunner I'm also running LT front suspension, although a little bit more complicated.

But you don't want to drive around with too much spring as you're inducing a crappier ride than is needed.

 

[bimrunner]

The kit was originally purchased for my 2013 FJC, but the transmission started slipping before I installed it, at over 200k miles it wasn't worth the cost to me to fix it. I wasn't given an option on springs when I ordered the kit from MT.

Bimrunner, MT said on the phone that is was only 3" of rear lift........ but looks like closer to 4". As for a bumper, I might as well add one to my list. Is there a way to relocate the rear camera when running a spare tire mount?

TonyMontana, I'll swing by the shop tomorrow and take a look to see if they installed the springs correctly.

Ok. I have their first gen dual rate HD rear springs and they came with all sorts of warnings about running without constant load and they were a bear to install due to being 4" of lift. The ones on their site now seem to be a new version that says they have improved the spring to allow for the same travel and loading as the old HD springs in a 3" lift spring. Hope you get it sorted out!

 

[STXFJC]

Ok. I have their first gen dual rate HD rear springs and they came with all sorts of warnings about running without constant load and they were a bear to install due to being 4" of lift. The ones on their site now seem to be a new version that says they have improved the spring to allow for the same travel and loading as the old HD springs in a 3" lift spring. Hope you get it sorted out!

Hope so too! I have their newer improved springs according to John at MT. I'll be searching for a rear bumper tonight though.

 

[Rysandro]

Ok. I have their first gen dual rate HD rear springs and they came with all sorts of warnings about running without constant load and they were a bear to install due to being 4" of lift. The ones on their site now seem to be a new version that says they have improved the spring to allow for the same travel and loading as the old HD springs in a 3" lift spring. Hope you get it sorted out!

Anyone running the updated rear springs? Interested, but not if they are over 3" of lift unloaded

 

[grayharbinger47]

Maybe I can revive an old thread here. Is anyone running a shock other than Icons with their Metal Tech springs? Trying to figure out what valving I should get for the 5125 Bilsteins. I'll have about 80lbs of extra weight in the boot from my two tool boxes and misc. recovery stuff

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[bimrunner]

Maybe I can revive an old thread here. Is anyone running a shock other than Icons with their Metal Tech springs? Trying to figure out what valving I should get for the 5125 Bilsteins. I'll have about 80lbs of extra weight in the boot from my two tool boxes and misc. recovery stuff

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

I'm running custom kings in the back. I basically told them how much weight I have added and took their advice on the valving. I don't know it off hand but it is fantastic. Wonder if you can do the same with the billies.

 

[grayharbinger47]

I'm running custom kings in the back. I basically told them how much weight I have added and took their advice on the valving. I don't know it off hand but it is fantastic. Wonder if you can do the same with the billies.

They basically had two valving options for the 26" 5125, and I took the recommendation of the shop I ordered from. Looking forward to installing all this stuff and getting the runner off the ground

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[Aznwolf118]

metal tech 4x4 also offers a medium vs the HD. nets closer 2"

https://www.metaltech4x4.com/metal-tech-fj-cruiser-4runner-rear-long-travel-coil-springs-medium/

not sure if this would be better for your set up with out the weight of a metal rear bumper and drawers.