New Front Shocks- Spring Compressor???

[Jesse1983]

I have those coils on my truck and they're awesome.

 

[clemson4rnr]

What do you all think of this. I really don't want a big lift. Looks cool but I really drive on road. But hate stock tires. I'm going to upgrade and i also like the look of the red coils and leveling the truck out. I think you will be able to see the red coils through the fender gap. So i may get toyotec Front adjustable coil over kit with Bilstein 5100's. Looks so good. Run stock rear. And when and if i move to mtns i can raise the front and get rears. I also want to run a more aggressive tire like the MT/R in 275s because they won't rub. So stock rears... Front adjustable coil over kit with Bilstein 5100's and 275 MT/Rs.

Also don't like the way the truck squats so much under braking and acceleration. of course accelerating would prolly need the rears stiffer.

but i'm sure the coilovers would help.

here is pic.

IMO, if you're not going to be doing much off-roading coil-overs are a little over kill. I agree about the coils looking cool, but that's a sizable chunk of $$$ for some red paint in the wheel wells.

But hey I have spent a lot of money on seemingly pointless things before... :beer:

 

[clemson4rnr]

i measured to the bottom of the fender... are we saying the same thing?


do you mean that the stance doesn't look raked to you? or that our measurements are close enough?


stock size 265/70/17 Goodyear Duratracs on mine...


i hear you re: spacers insofar as a true lift goes, but i consider this simply leveling it out front to back. if i were truly lifting it i'd go with new shocks and coils at all four corners.


if you're just leveling out the front the tires shouldn't look any smaller than the rear ones look presently, no?...

Yeah I think we are on the same page...

Do you or anyone else on the forum have any suspension mods with 265's. If so, id be pretty interested in a picture?

In other news the 5100's will be here Thursday and I am hoping for a weekend project pending nothing more pressing comes up. Ill be dialing them in for 1.5" and of course will document with pictures.

Keep your fingers crossed for me...

 

[B'klyn_Mike]

Yeah I think we are on the same page...

Do you or anyone else on the forum have any suspension mods with 265's. If so, id be pretty interested in a picture?

In other news the 5100's will be here Thursday and I am hoping for a weekend project pending nothing more pressing comes up. Ill be dialing them in for 1.5" and of course will document with pictures.

Keep your fingers crossed for me...

Just subscribed to this thread. I'd like to see a T4R with 5100's installed and adjusted for a leveled look myself! :wink2:

BTW...fingers are X'd! :witch:

Mike :artist2:

 

[clemson4rnr]

Well the shocks have arrived, I am planning on installing them on Sunday :bravo:

I have a FJ service manual and a 2006 4Runner service manual that I am going to follow for the install. Any of yall have any suggestions?

Overall, it seems like a pretty straight forward install. The only trouble spot seems to come when re-mounting the coilovers due to the 1/4" increase in shock length.

 

[iDRiVaT4R]

^^ 1/4" length shouldn't be that big a deal. When I installed the extended length Coilovers in my Tacoma, I just had my brother step on the front brake disk/hub portion and lower the lower control arm just enough for me to slide in the coilovers. Other's I have read will just pry the arm lower using a crow bar or something. Good luck with the install, post some pics when all finished.

Nathan

 

[4RunnerTrail]

^^ 1/4" length shouldn't be that big a deal. When I installed the extended length Coilovers in my Tacoma, I just had my brother step on the front brake disk/hub portion and lower the lower control arm just enough for me to slide in the coilovers. Other's I have read will just pry the arm lower using a crow bar or something. Good luck with the install, post some pics when all finished.

Nathan

How do you like the firestone MTs?

 

[clemson4rnr]

Finally put the 5100's on this weekend.... WHAT A GREAT DECISION.

I set them on the 1.75" setting and the front now sits .25" below the rear. I drove 250 miles on them this weekend and was impressed.

Overall: Easy install, much better ride and looks great. I would recommend them to anyone trying to level out their 4 Runner. Next step, purchase and install rear 5100's and stiffer rear coils.

I have pics on my camera at home and will post this evening.

 

[clemson4rnr]

Finally Getting around to posting some pictures... This is a link to the entire album on Flickr Flickr: amikhal's Photostream

If anyone is planning on tackling this themselves, let me know and I can send you the install instructions / a write-up... The front has settled since I took these so it is sitting lower than in the pictures. As I said before, it is about 1/4 inch lower in the front than the rear.

Before...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50217834@N05/4611680625/" title="IMG_0263-1 by amikhal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1010/4611680625_fd2e5defd7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0263-1" /></a>

Bilsteins Installed...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50217834@N05/4612293922/" title="IMG_0271 by amikhal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1007/4612293922_f857839340.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0271" /></a>

Biggest PITA... (Required lots of elbow grease)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50217834@N05/4611682231/" title="IMG_0272 by amikhal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/4611682231_c055a7b5f5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0272" /></a>

After...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50217834@N05/4611708567/" title="IMG_0275 by amikhal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/4611708567_fe8428a34d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0275" /></a>

What do yall think? :bravo:

 

[B'klyn_Mike]

Looking good there clemson4rnr, looking very good there! :bravo:

Mike :artist:

 

[borgzman]

Those shocks IMO is very practical as a leveling lift. Aside from the leveled/lifted look, the ride is improved...very comfortable in freeways and firmer when making a turn..

:bravo:

 

[John4RunnerTE]

Looks good - Now did you set the 5100's at .85 (second notch) since your sig says 1.25" for the 5100's? I am torn between setting them at the .85 2nd notch or 1.75 3rd setting? My front is 2" lower than rear on my Trail Edition. Ideal front lift for me would be 1.5 inches, leaving .5" lower in front.

 

[clemson4rnr]

IMO I would go to 1.75"... At first it will look a little higher in front than the back but after about a week mine has settled down nicely

 

[RedKnuckles]

Variable Factory Spring Coils?

Anyone else notice a difference between the front left and front right factory coil springs? I installed the Toytec front spacers on my '10 Limited a couple days ago, and found the left front coil more tightly wound than the right front coil. The reason I immediately noticed the higher coil count on the left was because the spring compressor tool did not easily fit between the coils. Absolutely no problem on the right side. Left Front has 10 coils. Right Front has 8 coils. I did not notice this variance when I leveled my '08 Urban Runner. If memory serves, both of those were 8 coil springs. My first impression of the different springs is that one corner must be heavier than the other, thus requiring a different spring rate on each corner. Any other logical reason for this variance?

 

[harper7]

Anyone else notice a difference between the front left and front right factory coil springs? I installed the Toytec front spacers on my '10 Limited a couple days ago, and found the left front coil more tightly wound than the right front coil. The reason I immediately noticed the higher coil count on the left was because the spring compressor tool did not easily fit between the coils. Absolutely no problem on the right side. Left Front has 10 coils. Right Front has 8 coils. I did not notice this variance when I leveled my '08 Urban Runner. If memory serves, both of those were 8 coil springs. My first impression of the different springs is that one corner must be heavier than the other, thus requiring a different spring rate on each corner. Any other logical reason for this variance?

Yep, my Limited's front coils were the same way. I had to modify the spring compressor a wee bit to make it fit between the coils.Probably as you stated to account for the extra weight like gas tank , battery and such on the drivers side.

I changed my rear coils and they were the same with the same color markings indicating the same spring rate.

 

[sporty87]

Bilstein 5100 leveling shocks

IMO I would go to 1.75"... At first it will look a little higher in front than the back but after about a week mine has settled down nicely

I have the same Truck as you, (2010 SR5) can you tell me the Bilstein shock part # you bought for your truck and where you bought them. Did you have to get the front end aligned after and does it help with the nose dive condition when hard braking? Is the ride much better? If I bring the shocks to a shop to remove the springs and place onto the Bilsteins is it hard to compress the shock to reinstall them?:thanks:
Thanks

 

[clemson4rnr]

I bought them from Wheelers Off Road and had them shipped to GA altogether $192. It was the best price I could find. The part number is "BE5-C475-H0"

You will need to get the front end aligned (I havent yet... dont kill me!). The ride is much better but brake dive is still present. As I said earlier they improve the look a whole lot and provide a slight increase in performance, but dont expect the world out of them.

The reinstall isnt all that difficult but a second person makes the job cake. It would be pretty damn hard to put them on with only two hands.

 

[4RunnerTrail]

do you all think they come from factor with rack to handle better? more weight up front more stable at highway speed? just wondering the purpose of the factory rack.

 

[4RunnerTrail]

Did everyone set the 5100s to the third notch for the fronts?

Can you post more pics for us all please? I want to level my truck. Also did you install the 5100s on rear too?

 

[John4RunnerTE]

I did the 5100's in front at 3rd notch (1.75")lift, which left maybe .25 higher in rear. If you are going to have more than 100lbs in back alot then you may want it at 2nd notch .85? I have 2 dogs and now would like the back maybe 1/2" higher, not sure how? I am thinking of putting the 5100's on the back, but I don't think that will lift it any higher? Maybe those airlifts that support the springs or firmer springs? The ride is better and less bounce in front when braking.