Rear "extended travel" shock options..

[camdz]

I have searched many times, and cant seem to find what I am looking for. I have owned an 05 4R, 2 FJs, and a 17 Tacoma. I just recently got into my 18 4Runner Off Road, and the bug has already bitten me.

If any of you frequent the FJ forums, you may have heard about the very popular "superflexy" setup. It was basically a makeshift long travel rear setup, using the Toytec Superflex springs. I loved this setup, and would like to duplicate it, but dont know what shock options I have. I find it hard to believe no one has done this legwork in the past 8 years! Hopefully I am just missing it.

The goal is to spend less than the MT LT setup, and not have to run bumpstop spacers. I would rather lose a few inches of down travel, to gain the few inches of up travel. On my FJ, the rear flex was just perfect in that it had a lot of droop without the coils falling out of the perch, but on up travel my 34" MTRs just BARELY rubbed the inner fender at full stuff. It would hit the bumpstops and inner fender at about the same time.

Sorry for the long winded post. Is anything like this available for the 5th gen? I will be running extended brake lines, so I am just looking for a rear shock that will take advantage of all the flex those coils (non HD superflex coils) can offer.

My front lift will be the Toytec Ultimate adjustable coilovers, and I will be running 285/70/17 MTRs. No real additional weight in the rear (50-75lbs).

 

[BobsTrail]

Bilstein 5100 or 5160 will give an additional 2 inches.

 

[camdz]

Bilstein 5100 or 5160 will give an additional 2 inches.

I've run those on previous vehicles and the superflex coils have a LOT more travel left in them. I'm looking for something that extends well beyond the lift height.

I'm pretty sure I could use the same info from the FJ thread, but I didn't know how the 4runners handle that much extra travel. Do other suspension components bind? Is there just not that much room in the wheel well? In the FJ, I just removed the rear sway bar and extended the brake lines. I had offset LCAs too but I'm not sure I needed that extra clearance.

I was assuming/hoping someone here had ventured away from the pre assembled kits and did some measurements. Or maybe a show down of shocks available?

 

[Jetboy]

The same stuff that fits the fj fit the 4runner.

 

[BobsTrail]

The same stuff that fits the fj fit the 4runner.

:iagree:
The FJ is a short, ugly 4Runner - same suspension

 

[camdz]

The same stuff that fits the fj fit the 4runner.

But does it perform the same? Can the 4runner allow just as much travel before suspension components hit, tires hit body panels, etc? I just assumed the inner wheel wells were different sized, maybe the bumpstops are different, etc?

For example I read earlier someone said that with LT, something can hit the gas tank if you upgrade to allow more travel? I think it was an upper arm/bar of some type. But if you left the stock piece in, it would bind and prevent that clash. I have never heard anything like that for the FJ.

 

[camdz]

:iagree:
The FJ is a short, ugly 4Runner - same suspension

I love the FJ haha. But had a kid and needed 4 doors. They can also stuff a bigger tire much easier. That's probably my biggest concern. And whatever that bar is that will hit the gas tank if you have too much travel. I should probably find that post again.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Try running a Tundra rear shock. I am. Only lost an inch of up travel but gained 2 inches of down travel. Running Fox DSCs with Icon Overland Springs. My limiting factor right now is the pesky rear sway bar.

 

[camdz]

Try running a Tundra rear shock. I am. Only lost an inch of up travel but gained 2 inches of down travel. Running Fox DSCs with Icon Overland Springs. My limiting factor right now is the pesky rear sway bar.

Do the 4runners not like their rear sway bars to be removed? I honestly couldn't feel the difference on my FJs.

You got that additional travel over an already aftermarket shock? Or over stock? Which shock are you currently running?

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Do the 4runners not like their rear sway bars to be removed? I honestly couldn't feel the difference on my FJs.

You got that additional travel over an already aftermarket shock? Or over stock? Which shock are you currently running?

I have a lot of weight up top. I should remove it and give it a go and see how bad it is. Plus it is not my daily driver.

I gained over an aftermarket shock but that was a stock length. I was running a Radflo 2.5 rear shock and moved to the Fox DSC from a Tundra, gaining the down travel that I sought in the rear without loosing much up travel.

 

[wfo9]

Did a lot of playing around with it years ago..

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/186688-long-travel-rear-cheap.html

Very similar to the FJ with a few slight difference.

Ended up with the MT ICON rear setup along with many other changes. It's hard to keep the tires out of the fender on 34+"... so the bump stops pretty much need to be extended for that reason alone with a decent amount of articulation.


I plan to eventually do hydro bumps, but it will take some custom work to get there... Hard to give up the droop for the type of trails I do.

I run no rear sway and don't even notice. Have a single side disconnect in the front for trail use. Works fantastic.

 

[JSparky]

I have a lot of weight up top. I should remove it and give it a go and see how bad it is. Plus it is not my daily driver.

I gained over an aftermarket shock but that was a stock length. I was running a Radflo 2.5 rear shock and moved to the Fox DSC from a Tundra, gaining the down travel that I sought in the rear without loosing much up travel.

Old thread but quick question, do the Tundra shocks bolt up or did you have to swap the lower shock bushings out? Was eyeing a set of Tacoma shocks and read something about the bushings not matching, wasn’t sure if the Tundra is the same way?

 

[Bayou_Pro]

Old thread but quick question, do the Tundra shocks bolt up or did you have to swap the lower shock bushings out? Was eyeing a set of Tacoma shocks and read something about the bushings not matching, wasn’t sure if the Tundra is the same way?

Yes I do believe three lower mount bearing has to be changed out. Another option is to run the Fox 2.0s that that can handle 2-3" of lift, I think. 3rd option is to go with Kings. That's what I'm doing and they will build anything you want. I'm doing an extended travel 4runner shock.


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[JSparky]

Yes I do believe three lower mount bearing has to be changed out. Another option is to run the Fox 2.0s that that can handle 2-3" of lift, I think. 3rd option is to go with Kings. That's what I'm doing and they will build anything you want. I'm doing an extended travel 4runner shock.


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Thanks. I was trying to find an off the shelf solution but if it comes down to it I’ll call ADS or King. I have to take my rear end apart for other reasons right now and was trying to do everything at once. Knowing me I’ll have to redo it 3x lol.

 

[mteolus]

These will definitely not be cheap, but Radflow makes some custom ones longer than the Bilsteins. Discussed in this topic.

New Sonoran Steel Product: KDSS High Articulation/Long Travel Trac/PanHard bar