Mix-n-match suspension setup

quicksilvr

quicksilvr

New member
I've had thoughts on a setup for my '99, but I wanted some opinions first. Right now I've got old bilsteins all around and stock '99 springs. The shocks were installed way back in like 2001, so they're due for replacement.

I don't really want to lift the truck a ton...about 2" would be perfect. I also would like a little rake....I like the look and hate a saggy rear when I'm loaded.

Here's what I came up with:

Bilstein 5100 height adjustable front shocks (set on 1.25" lift setting)
Stock '99 front coils
Bilstein 5125 rear shocks
OME 890 rear coils


The shocks are what Toytec offers on their site. I don't think they'd sell the wrong product for a specific vehicle, but Steve at SS says in his FAQ that the 3-way adjustable Bilsteins aren't designed for 4Runners and they don't work well....only the 5-way adjustable ones that he sells work.
 
Register to hide this ad
quicksilvr said:
I've had thoughts on a setup for my '99, but I wanted some opinions first. Right now I've got old bilsteins all around and stock '99 springs. The shocks were installed way back in like 2001, so they're due for replacement.

I don't really want to lift the truck a ton...about 2" would be perfect. I also would like a little rake....I like the look and hate a saggy rear when I'm loaded.

Here's what I came up with:

Bilstein 5100 height adjustable front shocks (set on 1.25" lift setting)
Stock '99 front coils
Bilstein 5125 rear shocks
OME 890 rear coils


The shocks are what Toytec offers on their site. I don't think they'd sell the wrong product for a specific vehicle, but Steve at SS says in his FAQ that the 3-way adjustable Bilsteins aren't designed for 4Runners and they don't work well....only the 5-way adjustable ones that he sells work.
Click to expand...

yeah i steered away from the bilsteins becuase of the valving mentioned on the SS site, and why would you drop the money on those adjustable shocks when only trying accomplish a small lift? i think the ome set up (front and rear) would be better for a marginal gain when considering a adjustable shock for the money, the "adjustable shock" isn't really either it's not a true coil over and it's not really an adjustable shock, it just has a pate on it with a c-clip that you adjust the height of the coil with combine that with possibly the wrong valving for the 4runner it's just a miss all the way around, imo, not saying thier bad or teriiable or anything, it's just not the best in any category
but more like 2nd or 3rd in every category if that makes any sense. i really do think you might be better of with new coils all the way around with new shocks as opposed to going about it that way.

with all of that said though, if you want to try something new and report back, by all means go for it!!! i mean this is all speculation on my part
i havn't tried that set up and have only read about the adjustable shocks sucking on forums and such, i have heard a few good comments on them, just not as many as the bad ones. take that for what you will, lol grain of salt maybe?
 
I agree with theizzadrking about the Bilsteins, I've also read several threads that say the valving on them sucks for 4runners. I recommend OME lift coils also, but they do work the best when you combine them with OME shocks.

If you want just a small lift, the 881s in the front with out the spacers should give you 1.75-2" of lift. For the rear, the 906s will sit about level with the 881s. But if you want a rake, go for the 890s in the rear which will give you about 2.5-3" of lift.
 
talls or smalls?

2 inch body lift might get you most of the look you need without getting too involved in a suspension lift.

If you are riding on stock 99 springs now, you may have the shorter ones-my 99 had the shorter ones. So check your color codes to verify which ones you have. Likewise if they have been on rig since new then they are likely sagging.


We just did a front lift install over here with the height adjustable Bilsteins-seemed like a great idea but the spanner wrench requires some real heft to keep turning. Have a length of pipe available to help with the force required.
 
I know now that I definately don't want the 5100 height 3-way height adjustable ones that ToyTec sells cause they suck for 4Runners. It really suprises me that toytec would sell that shock on purpose to 4runner owners.

And now for a little rant/

After more research, I asked a pretty simple question over on YotaTech. I searched first, several times, I read the a bunch of info....I just never saw anything along the lines of what I was asking...so I asked. I wanted to know shock specs (length [overall and compression] and valving) for the 5-WAY adjustable Bilstein 5125's. Like the ones that Sonoran Steel uses. But I want that shock setup for the stock '99 coils. There are over a dozen configurations of the shock and I want to know how it would be configured for stock '99 coils to be correct.

Anyway, I get two dumb responses from vets over there...one was just "why?". Then the question got moved to the newbie section. Dammit. Nobody is going to see it, or help in there whatsoever. What's so freakin hard about answering a question straight up?!?!? If these guys that have 10 million posts don't know the answer to my question, then just tell me you don't know! Don't ask me why I want to know. Jeez.

/rant off




So now I'm trying to figure out what specs I need for the good adjustable Bilsteins for the front. I'm probably going to have to call Bilstein and get the run around for two weeks and then be a guinea pig if I even do it. Unless of course someone here wants to be helpful and help me out. :) And if NOBODY has ever done this, then great...we should look into it. If someone has done it, then the info is available. I just don't understand why everyone on yotatech has to be a prick about it. Sorry I'm still mad. :cheers:
 
I have Daystar 2.5 inch spacers in the front on stock coils and OME 890's in the rear, when I am loaded it sits level, unloaded there is a slight rake.
 
jsmarine said:
I have Daystar 2.5 inch spacers in the front on stock coils and OME 890's in the rear, when I am loaded it sits level, unloaded there is a slight rake.
Click to expand...

The problem is i don't really want a "lift", I just want new shocks. If I get another inch more than my factory '99 height, then fine, but I don't really want 2". Instead of using 890's in the rear, I'd rather just use 1.5" daystar spacers on top of my '99 coils.

Bottom line, I want to use good, height adjustable shocks in the front. The only ones readily available don't work well. I know there has to be a height adjustable front shock that will work correctly on a 4runner. I just need to find it!
 
Ok the Threaded body adjustable CO's from Toytec and All-pro work just fine. I run the AP's with no issues for a year now and love the ride. A lot of people run the Toytec Ultimate lift with their threaded body adjustable Bilsteins and have no complaints either. Now if you get the cheap adjustable Bils from Toytec I believe in the mid $200 range then yes the valving is off for our 4Runners. The ones that are $699 work great.

I am lost however in the fact that if you dont want a lift why get "adjustable" shocks? The only reason for them is if you plan on a) lifting in the future b) adding custom front bumper and winch to adjust and bring back to stock height. Otherwise a lot of people have had good luck with the OME as mentioned above. To get a good quality adjustable CO you are at a minimum in the $600 range and up.
 
Pikeman said:
Ok the Threaded body adjustable CO's from Toytec and All-pro work just fine. I run the AP's with no issues for a year now and love the ride. A lot of people run the Toytec Ultimate lift with their threaded body adjustable Bilsteins and have no complaints either. Now if you get the cheap adjustable Bils from Toytec I believe in the mid $200 range then yes the valving is off for our 4Runners. The ones that are $699 work great.

I am lost however in the fact that if you dont want a lift why get "adjustable" shocks? The only reason for them is if you plan on a) lifting in the future b) adding custom front bumper and winch to adjust and bring back to stock height. Otherwise a lot of people have had good luck with the OME as mentioned above. To get a good quality adjustable CO you are at a minimum in the $600 range and up.
Click to expand...

I don't want coil overs....because they come with springs. I have springs. I just want shocks. I think that's bothering me the most is this: Bilstein MAKES reasonably priced height adjustable shock that will work for stock springs! Nobody seems to have any answers as to what the part number for those shocks is though, and nobody uses them.

Steve at SS acts like his "custom valved" units are made just for him. There's no way in heck he calls up Bilstein and says, "hey I need some more of those Sonoran custom jobs". He just knows what specs work for the TRD springs he uses, so he buys them.

I bet they'd only need to be a little shorter, and maybe a little softer valved than the one's Steve uses. I'm calling Bilstein this afternoon.


EDIT: You're right if I wanted zero lift, I just need to get replacement shocks and call it a day. However, I would like an 1-1.5" of lift over the already tall '99s. And again, the thing that bothers is me is that there IS a product available....it's just not marketed by anyone.
 
Last edited:
Quicksilver- you would not believe how many companies do have Specific valving done for their shocks. In fact if you look at Bilsteins website you can tell them the valving you want and they will make the shock for you. Since the body doesnt change it is just a matter of what size opening is in the disks and what weight oil they use. I do feel your frustration though and understand where you are coming from. The only thing I did not like about the 1.2 kit SS offers is teh C-clip adjustment instead of a more fine tunable threaded body like AP or Toytec offer in the "upper-end" Bilsteins.
 
Pikeman said:
Quicksilver- you would not believe how many companies do have Specific valving done for their shocks. In fact if you look at Bilsteins website you can tell them the valving you want and they will make the shock for you. Since the body doesnt change it is just a matter of what size opening is in the disks and what weight oil they use. I do feel your frustration though and understand where you are coming from. The only thing I did not like about the 1.2 kit SS offers is teh C-clip adjustment instead of a more fine tunable threaded body like AP or Toytec offer in the "upper-end" Bilsteins.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you might be right about Steve having them made specific for his springs....but at the same time I have a feeling whatever specs they are, they're an already offered setup from Bilstein.

Honestly if I get done communicating with Bilstein and there is no such thing offered without me having to custom order, then I'll be fine. I just want to know for a hard fact what the situation is on these before I do something else, or give up.

Ron Helmuth said:
just noticed those flares quicksilver-are those Bushwackers?
Click to expand...


Nope, just stock Limited flares. Truck is black, cladding and flares are the dark gray. I've got 1" wheels spacers all around to bring the tires out flush with the flares.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 202 (members: 1, guests: 201)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,309
Messages
3,554,071
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top