Sonoran 1.2 DIY kit with Eibach/superflex coils?

[sjwelna]

I've read tons of threads on here so far looking into the SS 1.2 kit. I know I can source the 5100's for front/rear a little cheaper if I just get the DIY parts-only kit ($500) from Steve at Sonoran and buy the 5100's from wheelers, but I keep going round and round about which coils to put on top. People seem to be happy with the toytec eibach's (+3" lift) in the front, but what about adding the superflex coils to the back?

Mainly, I'm trying to get ~3" lift on my stock 2000 as I added 16x8 wheels last fall and my 265/75-16 BFG T/A KO's are rubbing the rear of the front fender liner pretty bad (backspacing is ~4.25" from what I've found online). The wheels pushed the outer edges of the tires further out so now they rub at close to full lock, they didn't rub previously on my stock split 6-spokes (16x7" wheel).

The other reason I'm contemplating aftermarket springs versus OEM stuff is that I can save a couple hundred bucks. With a baby on the way I'm trying to keep this as light on the wallet as possible... I don't wheel except for hunting in the fall in northern MN, gotta find those grouse... :bigok:

Does this setup sound like a bad idea? Currently hub-to-fender on my 2000 is ~20" in the front and 19-19.5" in the back with about 50lbs of gear in the back and a coleman roof basket on top FWIW. Thanks in advance.

-Steve

 

[Charlene]

Considering you don't wheel a lot and you have a baby on the way, I wouldn't lift it that much. You will run into more cosmetic issues and the wife probably won't be happy trying to get in and out plus the baby. If I were you I would try to find some 99 tall front coils with low miles and use some of those Bilstein 5100 adjustables that you mentioned and set it at the 2nd or 3rd perch and then as far as the rear I would get the OME 890 coils and the Bilstein 5100. This will provide about 2.5" in the front and 3" in the back and will be a lot more comfortable ride than your setup especially considering the Eibach's

 

[fourfive]

Doesn't sound bad...I don't have any personal experience with the superflex but was considering changing out my 890s for the superflex or OME 861s to get a little extra lift. But since I was planning on getting an adjustable panhard, extended bump stops, etc., I decided to just purchase the SS 1.2 rear only kit since the LC80s would give the the extra lift I wanted. But since they are a softer coil, I wasn't sure how much "settling" would occur....probably not much but that was my excuse to justify getting the superflex or 861s. I ended up getting the 861s b/c I was able to get them a little cheaper. The weight I carry fluctuates...~150-200lbs+ (give or take) depending on tools/hydraulic jack (hydraulic jack until I find a better replacement) & other random stuff I may have in the cargo area. If I end up not liking the ride or the 5-6 inches the 861s give I can always put the LC 80s back on.

 

[fourfive]

Considering you don't wheel a lot and you have a baby on the way, I wouldn't lift it that much. You will run into more cosmetic issues and the wife probably won't be happy trying to get in and out plus the baby. If I were you I would try to find some 99 tall front coils with low miles and use some of those Bilstein 5100 adjustables that you mentioned and set it at the 2nd or 3rd perch and then as far as the rear I would get the OME 890 coils and the Bilstein 5100. This will provide about 2.5" in the front and 3" in the back and will be a lot more comfortable ride than your setup especially considering the Eibach's

Agree, the 890s do give a nice ride & a good lift without being too excessive which may work out better for family stuff.

 

[sjwelna]

Just to throw a wrench in, my truck is pretty much a garage queen/weekend vehicle. I take the bus to work and I maybe put ~5-6k miles a year on it (currently has 62k) and my wife's car will be the primary family vehicle (better mileage/etc). In light of that I'm not too worried about having to get a carseat in/out of it or that kind of stuff. Progressive coils always ride nicer versus a similar linear coil of similar rates, but once you start preloading the coil you take away a lot of that lower spring rate portion of the coil. That's why I was considering the eibachs (plus they are rated for +3" essentially on the lowest spring perch, which also helps maximize the stroke of the shock). Not sure if this changes anyones mind yet, thanks for all the feedback! I've sent a couple emails to Steve and he has been very helpful as well, just trying to see if I can come up with a similar but slightly cheaper option than the 1.2 kit but keep all the rear end bits.

-Steve

EDIT: Just for clarity I was thinking doing the Eibach front springs and the superflex rear coils would effectively give me a hybrid lift between the 1.2 and toytec ultimate. I'm not interested in coilovers on a street car, too much salt/sand/crud gets into the threads on the collars eventually no matter how much you wash the car. Eventually it makes the rings hard/impossible to adjust, that's been my observations/experience with lowered cars. I can only imagine how fast they would lock up on an offroad rig with all the stuff flying from the wheels.

 

[sschaefer3]

Bad idea. Follow the formula or piece something unique together on your own. The formula ONLY works if you follow the formula. Threads like this encourage me to discontinue the do it yourself kit, because the results will be bad (bad results posed on board looking for help) and then people will think the full kit has issues when it does not.

 

[sschaefer3]

Then just buy a rear only kit or buy the individual parts seperatly. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[sschaefer3]

Also not everything in the rear works with the Toytec Superflex coils. Only some of it. It was designed for Land Cruiser springs and will only work with the extra lift height the land cruiser springs provide. IE the Toytec springs do not lift enough for the parts to work right.

 

[Aznwolf118]

Buy once cry once,

Go with the ss 1.2 and radflo set up, you will never have to look back.

 

[sjwelna]

Steve~ I didn't mean to imply the 1.2 kit has problems, everything I've read about it sounds awesome. I understand the bumpstop extenders might be too long for the superflex coils, also the swaybar brackets might not even be needed to keep it level since the superflex coils don't give as much lift.

From what I've read on the forums, people like the eibach/tundra 5100 combo for the front. People also seem pleased with the superflex/5100 combo in the rear (when compared to various OME coils). I like the idea of the adjustable panhard bar to recenter the axle.

I may end up just ordering the panhard bar, brake line and your diff drop kit. I totally understand what you are saying that the 1.2 kit won't work with the superflex springs. I have a Miller 210 and plenty of fab tools so I may end up ordering a set of daystar bumpstops and make my own extenders if I need them. The brakeline bracket and swaybar brackets I can also handle no-prob. Like I emailed you about, if I don't need the tundra front coil isolators either, I'm really down to just the panhard bar, brake line and the diff drop. If money were no object I'd just order the 1.2 kit and be done with it. I've sank way too much in other cars over the years so I'm just trying to keep this as budget friendly as possible, I do appreciate your input. Originally I debated just doing a 1.5-2" body lift to clear the tires, but honestly I'm not convinced it wouldn't still rub, so that's why I'm looking into a real lift.

-Steve