Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
Seems like there has been a huge wave of suspension threads recently, and I happen to have a very strong opinion on a couple things- particularly referring to my suspension.
*DISCLAIMER*
Aside from the components used, and the measurements given- the following is all MY OPINION.
My setup-
'97 4Runner
Front- '99 "Tall" springs, and Tundra 5100 on setting 3 of 5.
Rear- ToyTec Superflex coils(3.75" advertised lift) with the center bump stops/coil isolators removed(mine measured 1/4").
Ground-to-flare measurements are with 42psi in 315/70R17 BFG KO2 tires- with 12k miles on them- and over 3/4 tank of fuel. I'm on very close-to-flat ground.
Front-
38 1/8"(1/16" higher on DS, and 1/16" lower on PS)
Rear-
Driver- 40"
Passenger- 39 1/2"
From center-of-hub measurements-
Front-
21 5/8"
Rear-
Driver- 23 1/2"
Passenger- 23"
It's "common knowledge" 3rd gens have DS lean, and the Superflex coils are said to compensate that. However, as you can see in my above measurements, my DS actually sits 1/2" higher than the PS- even with an almost-full tank of fuel.
I can't say enough good things about the '99 tall springs with the Bilstein 5100. I had stock 250k mile shocks with 2.5" pre-load spacer, and .5" top hat spacer before I switched to the '99/5100 combo. Rides 100% better than that setup. And by "better", I mean more comfortable, and MUCH more controlled.
I installed the Superflex coils and 33-187174 Bilstein 5100 shocks a couple months before I got to get the new front suspension. I was very happy with the height, ride, and load carrying capacity. I don't carry much weight, but with an additional ~300lbs in the rig, they sagged about an inch, and still rode/handled great.
However, I thought they were limiting my up-travel, so I swapped them out for OEM '04 Tundra TRD 4600 shocks. They are an inch shorter, so I thought they might work well- if nothing else, it would help me figure out what length shocks I need.
After installing the 4600 rear shocks, the rear became SUPER bouncy and uncontrolled. It unloads super bad when braking, and around corners on windy roads. If you hit a dip, around a corner, on a windy road- better be prayin, 'cause you're 'bout to need Jesus.
They weren't brand new when I installed them, but they only had 20k miles on them, and the reason I got them was because my FIL took them off his pickup- due to the fact they were so horribly under-dampened. He replaced them with 5100's, and would still like a little tighter valving than the 5100, but he's satisfied.
I made a video to show how badly they control the bounce, but it's not letting me upload the video.
Here's a couple pics of how I currently sit at the aforementioned measurements. The rear shot was to show the DS being higher.
I'm pretty particular about a lot of things, but the lean doesn't bother me one bit. I couldn't care less, to be honest. It probably sits level with me in the driver seat anyway.
*DISCLAIMER*
Aside from the components used, and the measurements given- the following is all MY OPINION.
My setup-
'97 4Runner
Front- '99 "Tall" springs, and Tundra 5100 on setting 3 of 5.
Rear- ToyTec Superflex coils(3.75" advertised lift) with the center bump stops/coil isolators removed(mine measured 1/4").
Ground-to-flare measurements are with 42psi in 315/70R17 BFG KO2 tires- with 12k miles on them- and over 3/4 tank of fuel. I'm on very close-to-flat ground.
Front-
38 1/8"(1/16" higher on DS, and 1/16" lower on PS)
Rear-
Driver- 40"
Passenger- 39 1/2"
From center-of-hub measurements-
Front-
21 5/8"
Rear-
Driver- 23 1/2"
Passenger- 23"
It's "common knowledge" 3rd gens have DS lean, and the Superflex coils are said to compensate that. However, as you can see in my above measurements, my DS actually sits 1/2" higher than the PS- even with an almost-full tank of fuel.
I can't say enough good things about the '99 tall springs with the Bilstein 5100. I had stock 250k mile shocks with 2.5" pre-load spacer, and .5" top hat spacer before I switched to the '99/5100 combo. Rides 100% better than that setup. And by "better", I mean more comfortable, and MUCH more controlled.
I installed the Superflex coils and 33-187174 Bilstein 5100 shocks a couple months before I got to get the new front suspension. I was very happy with the height, ride, and load carrying capacity. I don't carry much weight, but with an additional ~300lbs in the rig, they sagged about an inch, and still rode/handled great.
However, I thought they were limiting my up-travel, so I swapped them out for OEM '04 Tundra TRD 4600 shocks. They are an inch shorter, so I thought they might work well- if nothing else, it would help me figure out what length shocks I need.
After installing the 4600 rear shocks, the rear became SUPER bouncy and uncontrolled. It unloads super bad when braking, and around corners on windy roads. If you hit a dip, around a corner, on a windy road- better be prayin, 'cause you're 'bout to need Jesus.
They weren't brand new when I installed them, but they only had 20k miles on them, and the reason I got them was because my FIL took them off his pickup- due to the fact they were so horribly under-dampened. He replaced them with 5100's, and would still like a little tighter valving than the 5100, but he's satisfied.
I made a video to show how badly they control the bounce, but it's not letting me upload the video.
Here's a couple pics of how I currently sit at the aforementioned measurements. The rear shot was to show the DS being higher.
I'm pretty particular about a lot of things, but the lean doesn't bother me one bit. I couldn't care less, to be honest. It probably sits level with me in the driver seat anyway.
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