suspension and spacer life to replace xreas?

[save_alkaline]

i had my '05 sport at my friend's shop checking out a wheel bearing. i was going to have him install my Daystar 2.5" spacer lift (you all know the one) but he noticed one of my shocks was leaking. so, i guess it's time to replace the suspension (~145k miles).

will the OME kit replace my xreas setup?
OME full suspension -- Click here for details - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits

or do you think the "3" ultimate lift kit" is worth the extra money?
FJ Cruiser/4Runner Ultimate 3" lift package - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits

as for the Daystar spacers, i'm currently running 265 65r 17 tires. i hadn't planned on going too much bigger any time soon. will these tires look right under these lifts? i'm assuming adding the spacer kit will be way too much, in which case, does anyone want to buy a brand new Daystar kit at a slightly discounted price? ha!

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Either of those would work. Do you go off road much? Any plans to add weight such as aftermarket bumpers?

 

[save_alkaline]

i do offroad. not nearly as much as i would like but i do enjoy the trails and mud. i don't have immediate plans on bumpers / winches but i've had my eye on those ARB bumpers for a long time and it might be nice to one day add them.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

In that case, you're definitely looking in the right direction. The ome and similar setups work great for that type of use. However, if you add weight in the future, you'll have to buy new coils to support the weight. I personally like using bilstein 5100 shocks, ome front coils, and Toytec superflex rear coils. This setup performs great off road and better than the full ome setup on road.

The benefit of coilovers is that they can be adjusted for lift height, and are rebuildable (except the Toytec). If you add bumpers down the road, all you have to do is adjust them, don't have to but anything else like you would with the ome setup.

The Toytec coil overs are an entry level product. There are better options out there. If you want coil overs, I would recommend taking a look at the overland warehouse kits. They are designed specifically for our 4runners, not the universal platform like others. They aren't much more than the Toytec kit, but much better quality. The guys at ow are active on the forums, very knowledgeable, and own/wheel 4th gen 4runners.

Biggest thing is to set a budget and decide what you can afford now vs later (ie having to buy new coils if you add a bumper with ome). I highly suggest doing your research and spending the money to get the right setup. Much easier to do that now then to redo it later.

 

[SilverGs]

In that case, you're definitely looking in the right direction. The ome and similar setups work great for that type of use. However, if you add weight in the future, you'll have to buy new coils to support the weight. I personally like using bilstein 5100 shocks, ome front coils, and Toytec superflex rear coils. This setup performs great off road and better than the full ome setup on road.

The benefit of coilovers is that they can be adjusted for lift height, and are rebuildable (except the Toytec). If you add bumpers down the road, all you have to do is adjust them, don't have to but anything else like you would with the ome setup.

The Toytec coil overs are an entry level product. There are better options out there. If you want coil overs, I would recommend taking a look at the overland warehouse kits. They are designed specifically for our 4runners, not the universal platform like others. They aren't much more than the Toytec kit, but much better quality. The guys at ow are active on the forums, very knowledgeable, and own/wheel 4th gen 4runners.

Biggest thing is to set a budget and decide what you can afford now vs later (ie having to buy new coils if you add a bumper with ome). I highly suggest doing your research and spending the money to get the right setup. Much easier to do that now then to redo it later.

Sorry if my question is taking this conversation off-topic, but its specifically related to your recommendation to the OP regarding the Overland Warehouse coilovers.

In your experience is this a good replacement for the OEM suspension on a 05 V6 Sport Edition?

1. Can I lower my truck below the OEM height? I know that sounds stupid, but I'd like to lower my truck when driving on regular roads
   
2. I also would like to reduce the "choppiness" or "bounciness" in the OEM suspension. Or simply improve the ride and handling. Being this is my first truck I'm finding it hard to get used to the suspension compared to say a Honda Accords suspension (yes I know I'm comparing apples to apples, but please bear with me) which is very well damped and absorbs bumps so much better without the "bouncing" that seems to be normal on a truck's suspension. (Putting my flame suit on now)
   
3. And lastly how much are they and how much should I budget for the install?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Sorry if my question is taking this conversation off-topic, but its specifically related to your recommendation to the OP regarding the Overland Warehouse coilovers.

In your experience is this a good replacement for the OEM suspension on a 05 V6 Sport Edition?

1. Can I lower my truck below the OEM height? I know that sounds stupid, but I'd like to lower my truck when driving on regular roads
   
2. I also would like to reduce the "choppiness" or "bounciness" in the OEM suspension. Or simply improve the ride and handling. Being this is my first truck I'm finding it hard to get used to the suspension compared to say a Honda Accords suspension (yes I know I'm comparing apples to apples, but please bear with me) which is very well damped and absorbs bumps so much better without the "bouncing" that seems to be normal on a truck's suspension. (Putting my flame suit on now)
   
3. And lastly how much are they and how much should I budget for the install?

This is definitely not the route you'd want you take. It'll give it more of a truck feel, not less. All of the kits you'll see mentioned on this Web site will be stock height or higher. I have no experience with what you're looking for, so i'm not going to make a recommendation.

The only help I can give you is to try to contact member whitebeauty (I think that's right). He has lowered his 4runner, that's the only one I can think of.

All of these lift kits are made for improved off road performance, which will yield opposite results than what you're after

 

[SilverGs]

This is definitely not the route you'd want you take. It'll give it more of a truck feel, not less. All of the kits you'll see mentioned on this Web site will be stock height or higher. I have no experience with what you're looking for, so i'm not going to make a recommendation.

The only help I can give you is to try to contact member whitebeauty (I think that's right). He has lowered his 4runner, that's the only one I can think of.

All of these lift kits are made for improved off road performance, which will yield opposite results than what you're after

Thanks man. I've seen what Whitebeauty has done and he cut the springs. I don't want to go that route.

Thanks for the clarification regarding the coilovers though! I want to improve the handling on paved roads first and foremost. Lowering is a secondary priority.

 

[save_alkaline]

Thanks a lot for the advice! You've been a huge help. I think for the purposes of taking it easy on my wallet and not wanting to go overboard (though that OW stuff looks really nice) i'm going to do the Bilstein, Toytec, OME setup you mentioned. it looks like that will get me 2". do you think i would be alright adding my Daystar 2.5" spacer kit as well or will it be too much? i would prefer not to replace my tires yet as they still have a lot of meat on them.

ride height as of now.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Do you have a v6 or v8?

I wouldn't advise using the daystar kit with this setup, it'll be too much lift. 3-3.5" is the max you can safely go. With this setup, you'll be a little under 3" front and 2"rear. Most add a small spacer for a full 3"lift, but with those tires I probably wouldn't. Check out rockwalls pics, he's running a 3/2 lift with stock size tires I think.

I'll mention that the ome coils will make the ride stiffer, but also smoother. Bumps aren't felt near as much as with the stock setup.

You can order the 5100s from ajusa.com for under $300 (they typically have a promo code listed on the main page). not sure on the coils, but Toytec sells them and offers a 5% discount for forum members.

 

[save_alkaline]

thanks again for all your help! i do have the V8. i love the V8 haha.

i went with the 5100s from ajusa,
the OME 2" coils with top spacer and Toytech superflex rears from Toytech.

now to get them here and get them installed!

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I'm assuming the ome 884s? You're about right, 2" with those. I went 885s, they're taller and give more lift. You may want to consider a small spacer with the front coils if you want to get rid of some of the rake. Either way it'll look good and perform better than stock, but yet not be overkill with stock tires.

 

[save_alkaline]

yeah, i went with the 884s and the top plate spacer which shows a 3" lift.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Yep, good choice. A full 3/2 will make your tires look small, but definitely not "bad" IMO. I think that setup will ride slightly better than the 885's. It'll take some getting use to, but pretty much everyone I know running that setup is very pleased with both on and off road performance.

 

[save_alkaline]

i might have wrote the tire size down wrong. they're definitely a little bigger than stock though not by much. they're as big as you can go while still being able to fit in the spare thing under the back. the fronts actually rub a little when cornering too hard and that's after removing the mud flaps because those rubbed like crazy. if they look dumb, i guess i'll have to get bigger ones sooner than planned. haha

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

My guess would be 265/70/17. That won't look bad at all IMO, those are just a tad bit smaller than what I'm running.

 

[SilverGs]

I'll mention that the ome coils will make the ride stiffer, but also smoother. Bumps aren't felt near as much as with the stock setup.

I just noticed this post of yours ARK_SWAMP_RIDER. These coils improve the ride on paved roads?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

In my definition, yes. Exactly what type of bouncing are you dealing with? Does the vehicle keep moving up and down after a bump, or is it a jarring feel?

 

[SilverGs]

In my definition, yes. Exactly what type of bouncing are you dealing with? Does the vehicle keep moving up and down after a bump, or is it a jarring feel?

Neither of those two - it just feels too soft as in not damped enough - so if the suspension were a tad stiffer, I think that would get rid of the "bouncing" feeling.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

That's very likely. Again, mine feels much more like a truck than a car, but bumps aren't felt near as much. How many miles on your 4runner? Do some searching on the FJ swap. It's a nice improvement over stock without being as stiff as the OME setup (I prefer the stiffer ride, but some don't). You could put FJ coils on your stock shocks, that should help, and it's the least expensive option. If you're high mileage, consider upgrading to new shocks as well. You might be able to find a deal on a full FJ suspension (shocks and coils). As long as the shocks are from a 07-09, they'll work, and the coils will need to be from a 4x4. Tons of info on this, sticky at the top of this section. Read up on it, that may be a good solution, or at least something to try.

 

[SilverGs]

That's very likely. Again, mine feels much more like a truck than a car, but bumps aren't felt near as much. How many miles on your 4runner? Do some searching on the FJ swap. It's a nice improvement over stock without being as stiff as the OME setup (I prefer the stiffer ride, but some don't). You could put FJ coils on your stock shocks, that should help, and it's the least expensive option. If you're high mileage, consider upgrading to new shocks as well. You might be able to find a deal on a full FJ suspension (shocks and coils). As long as the shocks are from a 07-09, they'll work, and the coils will need to be from a 4x4. Tons of info on this, sticky at the top of this section. Read up on it, that may be a good solution, or at least something to try.

Mileage on my truck is 115K miles.

Thanks for the suggestions regarding the FJ setup. I'll have my mechanic check the suspension and if it needs to be replaced I'll go with the FJ setup as that sounds better than the OEM suspension.