No More Squashed Front End!!!

[aaronfro17]

My FJ springs and Toytec 1/2" spacer came in last week, so I couldn't think of a better thing to do then put em on the 4Runner this weekend. Overall, love the look, love the ride. Many thanks go out to J.A., Arkswamprider for their write-ups and everyone else who swapped their OEM springs for FJ springs. In all, I spent 7-8 hours with the install with a helper. (that would have been about an hour shorter had I not dropped a strut tower nut that lodged itself between the rotor and hub...what are the odds?) First photo (before), second photo (Rear FJ Springs installed), third photo (finished product FJ Springs and 1/2" front Toytec Spacer), fourth photo (finished product) and fifth photo (finished product next to Chevy Suburban 4X4)

 

[gaterose]

Looks great! I did mine a couple of weeks ago, it rides so much better huh?

Looks like you need to save up for bigger tires now, like me

 

[hawks02]

What was your total gain in height?

 

[aaronfro17]

Looks great! I did mine a couple of weeks ago, it rides so much better huh?

Looks like you need to save up for bigger tires now, like me

Yeah, the ride is much much better...stiffer springs do not always equal better ride, but in this case they do. There is much less body roll too, so it seems handling has improved as well. Do you have the same experience?

 

[aaronfro17]

What was your total gain in height?

I didn't take any measurements before/after, but my best estimate would be 1.5"-2" in the front and 0.5"-1.0" in the rear. These photos probably give everyone a better idea of the extent of the lift.

 

[EDness]

i have the same setup...it'll look more aggressive with bigger tires and spidertrax wheel spacers. It's a great setup.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Looks good! How much rake is left? What I'm looking for measuring fender gap front/rear. Looks pretty level, and much improved!

 

[chmura]

Looks sweet!

Did you use the FJ springs in the rear also? FJ springs in the rear also? Did you reuse your stock shocks?

 

[aaronfro17]

Looks sweet!

Did you use the FJ springs in the rear also? FJ springs in the rear also? Did you reuse your stock shocks?

Yes, FJ springs front and rear. I left the factory XREAS system alone, so yeah, it still has the factory shocks.

 

[aaronfro17]

Looks good! How much rake is left? What I'm looking for measuring fender gap front/rear. Looks pretty level, and much improved!

Front fender to top of tire - 6", Rear fender to top of tire - 6.5". Factory rubber on factory 18" wheels.

 

[Nashvillerunner]

Looks very nice man!

 

[MSU4Runner]

Looks good! I think everyone who has done the FJ setup has reached the consensus that it provides a better ride.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Front fender to top of tire - 6", Rear fender to top of tire - 6.5". Factory rubber on factory 18" wheels.

Hmm, guess my setup is different due to the rear air. I've got about the same difference front/rear, but I have stock rear (OEM rear air suspension). That difference is perfect for these rigs, looks awesome!

 

[euy]

FJ springs and Toytec 1/2"

VERY nice!!! looks awesome, thanks for the great before and after shots. good reference, helps out a lot.

-euy

 

[gaterose]

Yeah, the ride is much much better...stiffer springs do not always equal better ride, but in this case they do. There is much less body roll too, so it seems handling has improved as well. Do you have the same experience?

I agree with everything you said...
When I first read the reviews about the FJ swap, I thought, "stiff springs will just make it jar around a lot and really hard." But I kept seeing that everyone loved it and decided for the price it was worth a try (and I liked the look).
I love the fact that body roll has been decreased but not so much that it throws you into the passenger seat and when going over bumps or speed tables around 15-25 MPH, it bounces once or twice whereas with the stock coils it would bounce 5-6 times so that I would have to slow more and creep over bumps & tables (I've always been told by my civil engineering friend that they're supposed to feel smooth around 15-25 MPH, not 5 MPH)
I am, however, used to driving a Z71 with offroad shocks, a 1/4" thick steel bumper w/ winch, and torqued up torsion bars, so the stiffness may be downplayed to me more than some who are used to the stock suspension.

 

[villahidalgo]

are the 4WD FJ springs different than for a 2WD FJ? I want to do this upgrade, I have a 2WD 4runner sport, I was just wondering which FJ springs to get.

thanks

 

[CJ3Flyr]

are the 4WD FJ springs different than for a 2WD FJ?

Yes, the 4wd front springs are a bit longer and the rears are the same IIRC.

 

[Nashvillerunner]

Yes go with the 4x4 ones. Alot of the 4x2 FJC guys are swapping their springs for the 4x4 FJ's and getting more lift just from them.

 

[villahidalgo]

thanks for your help regarding the 4x4 fj springs vs 4x2 springs. I found the 4x4 springs locally, I am now deciding on the spacer. I've read through many of the posts regarding lifts and fj springs, but it seems there is conflicting info.

I have a V8, how much lift should I expect from the fj springs? If I install the fj 4x4 springs with a 1/2" toytec top plate spacer, would that level it?

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I have a V8, how much lift should I expect from the fj springs? .5"-.6" in the front. .5" or a little less in the back depending on how sacked out your OE springs are... If I install the fj 4x4 springs with a 1/2" toytec top plate spacer, would that level it? That would be my choice. Look at the original post in this thread, he has a V8, FJ front springs and those spacers. His sig says 1" because that's the net lift but the material thickness of the spacer measures 1/2". There's approx a 2 to 1 gain.

:surfer: