Saturn's Build

[Saturn]

I just got an 04 4Runner Limited. It has 80k miles on it. Bought it off of a military guy that just got transferred here from Ellis AFB. It has been in the Vegas area since 04.
I don't have any great pics of it yet but here is a crappy pic of it in my driveway.

The build has begun. The boxman came by yesterday and dropped off some goodies.

Falken Wild Peak A/T 265/70/17. Rancho 9000XL shocks for the rear and Rancho quickLIFT loaded struts for the front. Should yield almost 2". I wanted the OME lift but the wife said nothing too big. out:
The shocks are leaking a bit so I need to get those changed out. Bye bye XREAS. I have a couple of friends running Rancho's on their trucks so I thought I would try them out. I also ordered a set of coil spring spacers that are supposed to show up today. As soon as they get here I'll put this on.

 

[AfroWookie]

Can't wait to see everything installed! Also, love the garage...4Runner and STI. That's a fun drive no matter what gets taken out!

 

[wadle5]

Like Afrowookie said I'm extremely jealous of your garage. An STi AND a 4runner. You sir are living the dream. Is it an 06 or 07?

 

[Saturn]

07. Love it. Only has a couple of mods on it. Nothing major.

 

[Saturn]

Rear shocks have been removed. Yes, I made a mess. I have all wheels off the ground.

Pulled the coil springs.
A hint to doing this for those who haven't ever done this: Jack up the rear axle as far as you can safely do it. Then put on the coil spring compressors. Then let the axle down. This will make it easier to get them out as you don't have to do as much turning on the compressors. As part of this hint, also disconnect the sway bar so that you can push down on the axle to get out and put in the coil springs.

I went with the Rancho coil spacer. It's 1.5" and fits right over the bump stop.

Everything is back in. I should probably change out my sway bar connects.

It was 12:30am by the time I finished the back end. Decided to clean up and go to bed since I had to get up in 6 hours for work. I'll finish the front and remove the XREAS tonight.

 

[having fun]

Rear shocks have been removed. Yes, I made a mess. I have all wheels off the ground.

Pulled the coil springs.
A hint to doing this for those who haven't ever done this: Jack up the rear axle as far as you can safely do it. Then put on the coil spring compressors. Then let the axle down. This will make it easier to get them out as you don't have to do as much turning on the compressors. As part of this hint, also disconnect the sway bar so that you can push down on the axle to get out and put in the coil springs.

I went with the Rancho coil spacer. It's 1.5" and fits right over the bump stop.

Everything is back in. I should probably change out my sway bar connects.

It was 12:30am by the time I finished the back end. Decided to clean up and go to bed since I had to get up in 6 hours for work. I'll finish the front and remove the XREAS tonight.

Great looking rig there for the age and the miles are definitely low.
Word of thought and you might check to see if I'm wrong or I miss understood you on your rear spacer kit.

I understand that it is put in order of-
body (TOP)
bump stop
spacer
coil
axle. (bottom)
And don't let the wife see the mess on the floor in the garage, she may not let you work in there anymore.

 

[gaterose]

A hint to doing this for those who haven't ever done this: Jack up the rear axle as far as you can safely do it. Then put on the coil spring compressors. Then let the axle down. This will make it easier to get them out as you don't have to do as much turning on the compressors. As part of this hint, also disconnect the sway bar so that you can push down on the axle to get out and put in the coil springs.

I just have someone stand on the hub (after disconnecting the sway bar end links and shocks) and the spring will fall out without a compressor. Since I've done it about 12 times now, I have the process (for the rear) down to about 20 minutes.

 

[having fun]

I don't even stand on them any more, after disconnecting all that, just use a jack and push up one side and work the other side.

 

[Saturn]

I just have someone stand on the hub (after disconnecting the sway bar end links and shocks) and the spring will fall out without a compressor. Since I've done it about 12 times now, I have the process (for the rear) down to about 20 minutes.

It was just me working on this. Kinda hard to push on the hub and try to pull the spring at the same time. I wish I had someone working on this with me. It would go faster. Still took me about 30 minutes for each spring.

Great looking rig there for the age and the miles are definitely low.Word of thought and you might check to see if I'm wrong or I miss understood you on your rear spacer kit.*I understand that it is put in order of-
body (TOP)
bump stop
spacer
coil
axle. (bottom)

Body
Spacer
Bump stop
Coil
Axle

The bump stop didn't fit snugly through the top of the spacer. Seats just fine between the spacer and coil. I believe that this is the correct order.

Now i just got to get off the computer and go finish the rest.

 

[Saturn]

Got the drivers side in. Didn't have time to finish the passengers side. hwell:
The Rancho quickLIFTs are 1" taller than the originals.

At full droop the UCA are touching the springs.

I still have to pull the XREAS off but I think I'm just going to pull the center part and back. I'll take off the rubber hoses for the fronts and leave the hard lines that cross over.

And then there's this... :yell:

It's always something, isn't it...

 

[Saturn]

Well, I got everything in and got the tires on. A total of 2.5 inches. I also got a rack on. What do you think?

This is how much clearance I have when I pull into the garage.

A wind fairing for the rack is on the way.

Here's my setup.
Rancho quickLIFT loaded front struts. (RS999913, RS999914)
Rancho RS9000XL shocks for the rear. (RS999305)
Rancho rear coil spring spacer 1.5". (RS70080)
Rage Black Widow roof rack with extension.
Falken Wild Peak A/T 265/70/17

I bought the Rancho parts from MY4BY.COM.
The roof rack is from discountramps.com.
Tires from discounttiredirect.com, it was cheaper to order them online than to buy them in the store. Saved about $100.

 

[bRad007]

Any follow-up feedback?

Hi,

Now that you've had this setup for some time, what are your thoughts on the Rancho QuickLIFT kit? I am preparing to do the same in the very near future, luckily I only have the SR5 with no Delphi XREAS system to mess with.

Same questions applies to the tires (Falken Wildpeaks), as I was considering those against Nitto Terra Grapplers (which are hard to find in my area), and some others. How did the Falken's hold up over time? Any other issues?

Thanks!

 

[preacher35]

Hi,

Now that you've had this setup for some time, what are your thoughts on the Rancho QuickLIFT kit? I am preparing to do the same in the very near future, luckily I only have the SR5 with no Delphi XREAS system to mess with.

Same questions applies to the tires (Falken Wildpeaks), as I was considering those against Nitto Terra Grapplers (which are hard to find in my area), and some others. How did the Falken's hold up over time? Any other issues?

Thanks!

The OP only has 10 posts in over a year and a half. Something tells me you will not be getting an answer anytime soon. You'd be better served sending him/her a PM as he/she will receive an Email notifying them of your inquiry.

 

[ebg18t]

Hi,

Now that you've had this setup for some time, what are your thoughts on the Rancho QuickLIFT kit? I am preparing to do the same in the very near future, luckily I only have the SR5 with no Delphi XREAS system to mess with.

Same questions applies to the tires (Falken Wildpeaks), as I was considering those against Nitto Terra Grapplers (which are hard to find in my area), and some others. How did the Falken's hold up over time? Any other issues?

Thanks!

Here are my 2 Cents.

I have read of a few folks with sagging springs on the rancho quick lift setups. I recall them being on the Ford F150's. The 4Runner setup was never popular here, so I am not sure you will find a lot of feedback.

I also looked at the Wildpeaks as my neighbor loves his. But Discount Tire advised me against them due to the amount of rain we see here as the siping was not full depth on the tread, only the top 2-3mm. This siping depth would concern me in winter conditions. I am not sure where in Washington you are, but if you are in the mtns I would look at all the options in your size. Many people have reported good results with the general grabber at which is a similar price point to the falken & Nitto.

 

[Saturn]

So, I'm really bad at checking in here and replying. Sorry about that.

The Rancho's have been great. They are a bit softer than I was expecting but they are a great solution. The springs are still solid. No sagging but the rear OE springs are going to need to go soon. The total lift is only 2". Any higher and I would have had to replace the upper control arm. I'm thinking that at some point I will anyway. The camber is just inside of original specs but I have noticed that the tires are wearing slightly faster on the outsides.

Other than the camber issue with the tires, the tires have been good. No complaints off road or in the snow. However, my next set will be General Grabber AT2s. I like the look a lot more. The Falken's have about 20k miles on them now and look like they will last at least another 30-40k.

Overall, I'm satisfied with the Rancho's and Falken's and would suggest them to anyone that only wants a little lift.

 

[Saturn]

I recently took The Runner to get the tires rotated and they told me that Falken is doing a buy back for the Wild Peaks because they wear too fast on the shoulders. So they bought the Falkens back at 50% and I bought the General Grabber AT 2s. Still the same size, 265/70/17 but they are a bit taller than the Falkens and they rub slightly on the mud flaps when turning sharp. However, I really like the way they look and ride.

I took The Runner to a different shop this time to get the alignment done and they were able to get it within specs.

Now it's time to go for a mountain run. :banana: