Replace Suspension

[Zscarlson1]

I’m riding on all stock suspension after 265k miles but my budget is low. I don’t want the whole “save for this” and whatever. I am trying to get front and rear done, mainly the rear, in my 99 Limited at stock height but don’t want to buy crap parts or buy a bunch of money. Any recommendations? I don’t crawl, this is only a daily driver for a few more years. I don’t have a specific budget but trying to keep it low.

 

[Bad Luck]

I’m riding on all stock suspension after 265k miles but my budget is low. I don’t want the whole “save for this” and whatever. I am trying to get front and rear done, mainly the rear, in my 99 Limited at stock height but don’t want to buy crap parts or buy a bunch of money. Any recommendations? I don’t crawl, this is only a daily driver for a few more years. I don’t have a specific budget but trying to keep it low.

Cheapest route I've looked into is Bilstein 4600's on all 4 corners and moog springs front and rear.

 

[iruninca]

I'm in the same boat, and I think I'm looking at Bilstein 4600 or 5100 shocks and the OEM 99 Highlander springs. I think those springs are the best bang for your buck, you'll get OEM ride quality and an inch of lift as an added bonus. This thread has a ton of good info that has been helping me a lot: 3rd Gen 4Runner Lift Information and FAQ's

 

[phattyduck]

If your budget is low and doing it yourself and can afford some extra down time... KYBs. Only buy the shocks, then replace whatever else you find in poor shape once you do disassembly. If your budget is a bit higher, you may want to replace other things preventatively (say, if you live in a rusty area).

Also consider new OEM lower ball joints - they are a safety issue at this age/mileage.

edit: No need for new springs unless your rear has sagged a bunch.

-Charlie

 

[Zscarlson1]

I’ve done LBJs within the past 2 years. I have been eyeing the moog springs for the rear (I know not the best) and then some sensen shocks as well. Any thoughts or other recommendations? OEM shocks are a tad more than I care to spend.

 

[phattyduck]

I’ve done LBJs within the past 2 years. I have been eyeing the moog springs for the rear (I know not the best) and then some sensen shocks as well. Any thoughts or other recommendations? OEM shocks are a tad more than I care to spend.

Avoid anything 'below' KYB for shocks. (Monroe, Gabriel, etc.) The extra $10 per corner will be very much worth it. Save $$$ by keeping the original springs. If the ride height is ok, the springs are still fine.

-Charlie

 

[jkoni426]

KYB Gas-a-Justs give a stock ride and are cheap. I've been happy with mine and it looks like they're running a rebate/promotion on rockauto right now.

 

[Zscarlson1]

It’s sagging, the main reason I am replacing it all.

 

[Zscarlson1]

KYB Gas-a-Justs give a stock ride and are cheap. I've been happy with mine and it looks like they're running a rebate/promotion on rockauto right now.

They aren’t air shocks right? Just regular ones? And with what springs.

 

[Huskie]

I’m riding on all stock suspension after 265k miles but my budget is low. I don’t want the whole “save for this” and whatever. I am trying to get front and rear done, mainly the rear, in my 99 Limited at stock height but don’t want to buy crap parts or buy a bunch of money. Any recommendations? I don’t crawl, this is only a daily driver for a few more years. I don’t have a specific budget but trying to keep it low.

Upgraded my 2002 sr5 (Brutus) suspension last year on an ultra low budget with the goal of increasing clearance in order to be able to navigate some gnarlier forest roads /tracks

I found a guy parting out an old Landcruiser (I forget what year but there's threads on here with compatible model years and paint codes) and bought the front springs off of him to use as my rear springs, provided me with 5-7 inches of lift in the rear which was ideal for me as I wanted my rig to sit level when fully loaded (bedbox/ camping gear in the back) Cost me $30 for the pair.

Went with new Tockiko Landcruiser shocks to pair those with in order to maintain the full travel of the landcruiser springs (love that part about this setup) Bought I believe from AMAYAMA.com or camelback toyota (good parts resources right here) set me back < $100 and change for the pair If I remember correctly

Found a local guy selling OME 881 springs for the front on craigslist, Picked those up for $40

Paired with 2 New Bilstein adjustable 4600's in the front for roughtly 2.5" - 3" of lift. These were the most expensive component in my setup.

Misc components included a cheap ~$20 1" diff drop kit off of Ebay to keep my front CV's happy and additional brake lines for the rear to accomodate the additional couple of inches of travel with the new suspension.

You dont HAVE to do the below but I did.
I took this opportunity to redo all my front bushings(LCA, steering rack, sway bar) and replaced with poly bushings (energy suspension) , replaced Lower ball joints and tie rod ends/steering rod ends + a general derusting/repaint. I had Brutus up on jack stands for a good 20 days to do all this I must admit as I was learning as I went along. I have a massive rake when I'm unloaded but I was never one to care about looks. Handling didn't deteriorate too much, fuel consumption went up by about 1-2 MPG but small price to pay for the additional versatility. Can now navigate the rockier tracks I needed to to go flyfishing/camping at the tougher spots.

 

[Zscarlson1]

Upgraded my 2002 sr5 (Brutus) suspension last year on an ultra low budget with the goal of increasing clearance in order to be able to navigate some gnarlier forest roads /tracks

I found a guy parting out an old Landcruiser (I forget what year but there's threads on here with compatible model years and paint codes) and bought the front springs off of him to use as my rear springs, provided me with 5-7 inches of lift in the rear which was ideal for me as I wanted my rig to sit level when fully loaded (bedbox/ camping gear in the back) Cost me $30 for the pair.

Went with new Tockiko Landcruiser shocks to pair those with in order to maintain the full travel of the landcruiser springs (love that part about this setup) Bought I believe from AMAYAMA.com or camelback toyota (good parts resources right here) set me back < $100 and change for the pair If I remember correctly

Found a local guy selling OME 881 springs for the front on craigslist, Picked those up for $40

Paired with 2 New Bilstein adjustable 4600's in the front for roughtly 2.5" - 3" of lift. These were the most expensive component in my setup.

Misc components included a cheap ~$20 1" diff drop kit off of Ebay to keep my front CV's happy and additional brake lines for the rear to accomodate the additional couple of inches of travel with the new suspension.

You dont HAVE to do the below but I did.
I took this opportunity to redo all my front bushings(LCA, steering rack, sway bar) and replaced with poly bushings (energy suspension) , replaced Lower ball joints and tie rod ends/steering rod ends + a general derusting/repaint. I had Brutus up on jack stands for a good 20 days to do all this I must admit as I was learning as I went along. I have a massive rake when I'm unloaded but I was never one to care about looks. Handling didn't deteriorate too much, fuel consumption went up by about 1-2 MPG but small price to pay for the additional versatility. Can now navigate the rockier tracks I needed to to go flyfishing/camping at the tougher spots.

Yeah you had some good luck. I wish I was that lucky but I am not. I also just don’t need to lift it, which is why I’m not this route. I love the way they look but I’d want to get new wheels and tires which I shouldn’t afford. That’s awesome though!

 

[Sarki]

Avoid anything 'below' KYB for shocks. (Monroe, Gabriel, etc.) The extra $10 per corner will be very much worth it. Save $$$ by keeping the original springs. If the ride height is ok, the springs are still fine.

-Charlie

Exactly what Charlie says, nothing below KYB’s in terms of quality.
I just finished installing KYB struts up front ($56 each) and KYB shocks in the rear ($34 each). I also had some rear sag as well as a broken front coil spring so I replaced all 4 corners with Toyota factory springs (Rears $86 a piece & fronts $145 a pop).
I chose to replace the upper strut mounts in front (KYB $27 each) just to make the install a bit easier.
Total parts cost not including the strut mounts just under $650.
Did the install myself so no labor.
Truck rides great now, major improvement as original setup had 180K miles.

 

[Zscarlson1]

Exactly what Charlie says, nothing below KYB’s in terms of quality.
I just finished installing KYB struts up front ($56 each) and KYB shocks in the rear ($34 each). I also had some rear sag as well as a broken front coil spring so I replaced all 4 corners with Toyota factory springs (Rears $86 a piece & fronts $145 a pop).
I chose to replace the upper strut mounts in front (KYB $27 each) just to make the install a bit easier.
Total parts cost not including the strut mounts just under $650.
Did the install myself so no labor.
Truck rides great now, major improvement as original setup had 180K miles.

I just ordered the rear KYBs. I can’t afford to do the fronts yet and then some MOOG springs that I may return but free shipping so may be able to not use them even though my springs are factory ones still.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

For stock height, your choice of shocks people have recommended above, and rear springs could be either cheap Moogs or a 1.5” Daystar spacer (under $50 shipped) to keep factory rake and give the frame bump stops some room to prevent bottoming out. Front coils could do Moogs if in the budget or if not leave them be, as long as they don’t have major rust or sag issues they should get you by until you’re ready to upgrade down the road.

 

[Sarki]

I just ordered the rear KYBs. I can’t afford to do the fronts yet and then some MOOG springs that I may return but free shipping so may be able to not use them even though my springs are factory ones still.

For use as a dedicated DD I’m real happy with the KYB’s.
Was going to go with a Bilsteins but figured I would put the extra $$$ saved towards the springs.

 

[Brian.]

Yeah you had some good luck. I wish I was that lucky but I am not. I also just don’t need to lift it, which is why I’m not this route. I love the way they look but I’d want to get new wheels and tires which I shouldn’t afford. That’s awesome though!

Well, maybe I can add some luck? I just swapped out my original '99 springs (rear only, haven't done the front yet) with 190k miles and you can have them if you want them. I'm in GA, south of Newnan just outside of Manchester and go to LaGrange about once a week (Thursdays normally), could do Newnan with notice though. Too much effort to ship, but I'll gladly hand them to you in person. If, for some reason, you want all 4, I ought to have the fronts in a couple weeks (going camping this weekend).

I measured the springs at 20.5" from hub center to the bottom of the fender flare (limited flares measure different than the smaller SR5 and chrome trim if you have those). Based on what others have posted of their springs, they haven't sagged much at all but compare to what you have now.

 

[AntleredRuin]

I've been running '99 Talls Moog rear springs for about 2 years and I'd say they're worth it. Still have a decent rake when unloaded and sit level with the back loaded up with tools and computers for work.
$36 well spent.

 

[Huskie]

Yeah you had some good luck. I wish I was that lucky but I am not. I also just don’t need to lift it, which is why I’m not this route. I love the way they look but I’d want to get new wheels and tires which I shouldn’t afford. That’s awesome though!

I Just religiously searched crigslist / KSL / facebook every day until I found what I was looking for. Got very lucky with the 881 OME springs although I don't really like them that much.

 

[Koba Sho]

I bought amazon suspension on my brother 4Runner
Been 3 years now with no issue.
I believe they were pretty cheap and it was just a knock off oem part I believe.

 

[Zscarlson1]

Well, maybe I can add some luck? I just swapped out my original '99 springs (rear only, haven't done the front yet) with 190k miles and you can have them if you want them. I'm in GA, south of Newnan just outside of Manchester and go to LaGrange about once a week (Thursdays normally), could do Newnan with notice though. Too much effort to ship, but I'll gladly hand them to you in person. If, for some reason, you want all 4, I ought to have the fronts in a couple weeks (going camping this weekend).

I measured the springs at 20.5" from hub center to the bottom of the fender flare (limited flares measure different than the smaller SR5 and chrome trim if you have those). Based on what others have posted of their springs, they haven't sagged much at all but compare to what you have now.

That's an awesome offer! I did order the Moog/KYB combo all around along with some 2.5" Daystars for the front and rear just because I know I'd want to do it later on. Thank you though! Now to just figure out how to assemble the strut assembly for the front together.