New shocks = unintentional lift?

[Hippo393]

Just installed replacement front coil/shock/strut assemblies on my stock '97, and the replacements must've been longer than the ones that came out by a couple inches. I got 'em at Advance Auto Parts, Monroe p/n 171351L & R ($292 for the pair). The Haynes manual says the standard "installation is the reverse of removal", but that was far from the truth. I had to use my other car's jack in between the upper control arm and the upper fender well to press the control arm down 3 inches, which allowed me to install the lower bolt.....is that a usual, necessary tactic? Seems odd.

This was yesterday, and the 4Runner has a precipitous 2.75" front lift (see pic). Will this eventually settle down in a few weeks, or am I officially "lifted"? Further, is an alignment necessary with these new shocks?

Thanks all!
-Alan
'97 4Runner V6
230k

 

[994runner21]

usually rear coils, and shocks go out, and lower the truck. It could be a possibility that your front and rear suspension were worn evenly, and replacing the front could have just brought it back to factory height. To be sure, you can measure from the ground to your bumper/bottom of wheel well on your fender and i can get a measurement from a new one.

 

[Baja Runner]

Fatigue on the metal, aka sagging is normal. The replacements probably have a little higher spring rate as well. They should settle a bit after a few hundred miles. Whenever you do anything to the suspension its good to get an alignment but I'd wait a week or so.

 

[NCrunner2012]

That doesn't look right at all for a stock replacement part. I'd double check everything again. If the new shock is not the same size as the old shock then it is not the right one if you are doing a stock replacement.

 

[Nervo19]

Are those the Monroe "Easy Strut?" How is the ride? The front lift on its' own doesn't look bad. It's the sag in the back. I guess you're chomping at the bit to do the rear now.

 

[thor999]

Yep lol you're halfway there! :boxer:

 

[shadow247]

You need some 99 Highlander rear springs. With those I believe I was sitting at 21" all the way around.

 

[opie74]

Thats about where I am sitting with 881 OME springs in the front.

Yes, alignment is a necessity.

 

[IanB]

You need some 99 Highlander rear springs. With those I believe I was sitting at 21" all the way around.

Skip those, go with OME 906 rear springs, and yes when you remove the front suspension an alignment is necessary.

 

[Hippo393]

Wow, thanks all for the quick responses. I'm amazed at the traffic this website gets.

Some thoughts based on y'all's feedback.......
To be honest, I don't know of a lift on this truck, as I bought it 2+ years ago. I just know that I asked for stock replacement shocks/struts for the front on this hog and these Monroe "Quick Strut" shocks were their answer. So far the ride seems fine, and perhaps even less bumpy. But yes I am SOOO jonesing to do the rears even though the usual shock-test passed with flying colors. I already have 2 Gabriel shocks to swap in the rear from AutoZone.

Nervo, I'm "Nervo"us to expect similar results by replacing the rears because the angle of the shocks are much less vertical compared to the fronts, thus giving it less lift. But I'll let you know when I do 'em.....but I'm expecting the same sag in the back compared to the jacked-up front. Gah!!

Lastly, I do not know the vernacular discussed here..."99 Highlander, OME 906, 881", etc. The rears are shocks only, not the same coil-spring-type shocks as the front. Not sure if this helps clear things or muddy them, lol. I just know the rear shocks are the same green color as the fronts, so they gots to go.

 

[opie74]

If you want to bring the rear up so its even or higher than the front, youll need to replace the springs as well as the shocks. If you do not intend to take it offroad, you can get away with the stock length shock and just replace the springs. The numbers being thrown around are part numbers for various springs.

The springs from the 1999 Highlander edition 4runner sit a bit higher than other years. OME is an Australian company that makes suspension parts and the 906 and 881 are specific springs.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

That's a lot of lift.... are the coil spring perches upside down?

If the black cup-like thing that holds the bottom of the spring looks like this, it's on upside down:

It needs to look like this:

 

[IanB]

^^I believe the springs/struts he installed come pre-assembled so they should be correct, the stockers must have been really sagged out!

You got a lift in the front because the springs are taller than what you had, not anything to do with the struts. To make this right, replacing the rear shocks won't do anything, you're going to need new rear springs. Do yourself a favor and get the OME 906 springs, you can order from Wheeler's Offroad for $160 (cheapest I've found), or try and find a used set.

 

[twitchee2]

I would check the alignment. If you put in new springs it might have messed with the toe. If its toed in, like this / \ , as you drive forward it pulls the tires closer together. To bring the tires closer together, the suspension has to droop causing more lift. If you go backwards the opposite happens. the suspension compresses as the tires are pulled further apart.

I had this issue when i first lifted mine before i had an alignment.

SO if you took the truck out for a drive before you took that pic it could very well explain why it is so tall. Maybe drive the truck is reverse for 30ft, stop and see how it sits?

Either way i agree with who ever said you should get an alignment no matter what.

 

[Hippo393]

should have taken to a shop!

Tonight I replaced the rear shocks, OMG what a HUGE P.I.A.!!! The pistons turned when trying to loosen the upper nut whilst the lower body of the shock kept still. Then I found out that there were 2 upper nuts. Gah!! Had to take an angle grinder to the up-most part of the pistons and everything went fine thereafter.

After the test-drive, no change in ride. Still bumpy as heck, as head still hits ceiling on big bumps.

Still, I couldn't care any less about the front "unintentional lift". Goona let it ride; looks like a hot-rod lol. Yet I will get an alignment after all of this. Thanks all for your input! :hatsoff:
-Alan
Charlotte, NC
'97 4Runner V6 230K

 

[absalom]

You gotta replace rear springs too ...

 

[Ocman]

Same thing happened to me bro on my 2001 4runner. All i did was grab the moog springs and new Monroe shocks from advance auto. About 90 bucks for both with coupon codes. It evened out perfectly. Oh and get an alignment asap! It will ride much better. You will kill your tires quickly. I believe the moog part number was 81043. I used the quick struts up front and sensa trac shocks in the rear.

 

[stanleybb50]

Rear springs would have been so easy while those shocks were out... Sucks.

 

[IanB]

Rear springs would have been so easy while those shocks were out... Sucks.

Rear springs are still easy to install, just unbolt the swaybar and lower strut bolts.

To the OP, that is not a hotrod look, it's the opposite. You gotta replace those rear springs, your headlights will be pointing up into the trees, and you're likely bouncing off the rear bump stops which is why it rides like crap. You've replaced everything else, finish the job.

 

[alvarog]

Same thing happened to me bro on my 2001 4runner. All i did was grab the moog springs and new Monroe shocks from advance auto. About 90 bucks for both with coupon codes. It evened out perfectly. Oh and get an alignment asap! It will ride much better. You will kill your tires quickly. I believe the moog part number was 81043. I used the quick struts up front and sensa trac shocks in the rear.

did it fix when you installed new shocks and coils in the rear?