New member. Please help!!

[Mach1Runner]

New here. I picked up a 98 4runner SR5 in December of last year. She's been great for the most part, except the fact that it never wants to be fixed. I just replaced the struts/shocks with Bilstein HD's that I ordered from TireRack. It raised the front about 2 inches and it rides like I'm on a pogo-stick. I reused the springs and just did the recall today so Toyota put in new coils and bushings in the rear. Here's some pictures. Please tell me whats wrong with this thing!

Passenger side:

Driver side:

New Rear coils:

 

[downpour11]

Welcome to the forum.

What do you mean what's wrong with it? Just the bouncy ride from the new struts you put in? Prob because they are HD struts, meaning heavy duty. Therefore they are going to be much stiffer than stock.

 

[Mach1Runner]

Welcome to the forum.

What do you mean what's wrong with it? Just the bouncy ride from the new struts you put in? Prob because they are HD struts, meaning heavy duty. Therefore they are going to be much stiffer than stock.

Thanks!

I'm not worried about the stiffness, just the front is 2 inches higher than the rear now. The rear sags horribly. When I look in my rear mirror, I see road.

 

[downpour11]

Thanks!

I'm not worried about the stiffness, just the front is 2 inches higher than the rear now. The rear sags horribly. When I look in my rear mirror, I see road.

If it were me, I'd swap out the rear springs with some OME 906 springs.

Rear OME 906 Coils (96-02 4Run) - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits

 

[RockyMtnYota]

Are those adjustable on the lower spring perch/holder? Doesn't look like it from pics. Might check if they make a lower spring perch/holder that does not produce as much lift, seems as though it is giving the lift compared to where it mounts to the strut. Best get lifting the rear as stated above. Pretty damn clean body on that 98 too!

 

[Mach1Runner]

Are those adjustable on the lower spring perch/holder? Doesn't look like it from pics. Might check if they make a lower spring perch/holder that does not produce as much lift, seems as though it is giving the lift compared to where it mounts to the strut. Best get lifting the rear as stated above. Pretty damn clean body on that 98 too!

No they're non adjustable. I'd be ok with lifting the rear, but I'm worried the CV boot is going to tear open with it all angled and bent like that. And thank you, if you saw how it looked before I bought it you wouldn't be saying that lol. I'll have to post some before and after pics after I'm done fixing everything.

 

[the great him]

um take it all back apart and flip the spring perches on the struts, they are on upside down, thats why you are getting the stiff ride and "high nose"... those perches need to "cup" the coil. the black collar that the coil is sitting on needs to be inverted from the position you have it in, instead of if cupping up, it needs to cone down. i hope that makes sense

im surprised the dealer didnt notice that or say anything about it...

 

[downpour11]

lol good call - didn't even see that.

 

[nissanh]

YOU GOT THE RING IN THE STRUT THAT HOLDS THE SPRING UP SIDE DOWN!!!! REMOVE THE FRONT SPRINGS AND PUT BACK THE SPRING RESTING PLATES OTHER WAY AROUND! This should fix your problem

See the picture.

Also, let us know how the rear end feels with the Bilstein shocks

 

[Mach1Runner]

Thank you guys times a million. I tried compressing the spring myself, but the cheap Autozone tool didn't hold it, so Pep Boys assembled the struts for me. Looks like I'll be getting them fixed tomorrow. Thanks again, I was getting frustrated with it. Can't tell you how many service Reps at Toyota asked "why is the front so high?!"

 

[Mach1Runner]

thanks again everyone! I flipped it today and what do ya know...fixed! She rides almost like a brand new car. Just need to replace some bushings now.

and the rear end rides stiffer now that the shocks are replaced and Toyota put in new coils and bushings, but it handles a lot better. Night and day difference.