Suspension dilemma, what do you suggest

[Cygan1008]

Hi all,

I put on a new set of 265/70/17s and with the front fenders filled up the rake looks horrid now, maybe it's just me. That plus I get a tiny rub when backing out if my drive, so I feel a small lift is in order. Problem is with a wedding and honeymoon a little more than a month away funds are a little tight but the honeymoon is to the blue ridge mountains and we hope to do some adventuring on trails and such(her dad's a jeeper and she loves that Kindda stuff, SCORE!), so I defy don't want to be rubbing the tires if possible.

Now with that said. I want to do a Daystar 2.5/1.5 but with 165k on what I think is the original xreas I'm worried that the spacers are a waste of money that could go to a better suspension since my luck usually goes like this: YAY spacers are on, truck looks awesome! Wait what's that leaking?? Oh crap the stock suspension decided to crap out finally....

Ssooo I'm thinking skip the spacers and go Bilsteins with fj springs but I can not afford the shocks right now. I can afford however the springs, the daystar 2.5/1.5 or the Daystar budget booster.

If it were you which would you do? The truck is 90% on road as it is our "family" vehicle and main mode of transportation so I don't need a better off road suspension just want a better look and no rub. From what I see the xreas could go anytime or it could last another 50k miles. From looking on here it seems like 165k is a long life with out it leaking already so I'm afraid of invention the money in a spacer kit just to have to replace the shocks very soon after. Once xreas starts to leak how long before it usually fails completely?

Sorry for the long winded post, usually I would just flip a coin but just wanted to see what others would do.

I'm realistically looking at these options.
2.5/1.5
Budget booster
Fj springs.
Screw it and just wait until Xreas fails and then do bilsteins.

On a side note I have to replace tie rod ends before we go on the trip, does anyone know if the moogs have a grease fitting? The only thing I can find is it says most moog parts do but they don't show any in the pics.

As always thanks for the input.

 

[NuclearN8]

If I was in your spot, I'd ride the Xreas until it leaks and simmply pull your fender liners out of the way to prevent the running interference. Deal with the "horrid" looks of it until after you have the wedding and honeymoon expenses behind you. You'll likely get money for the wedding you can use to do the lift right and do it once. IF the future Mrs. is really that supportive of offroading, it's shouldn't take much to convince her that $1000 of your wedding present money is well invested in a new lift for the 4runner....

no idea on your tie rod question.

 

[Cygan1008]

If I was in your spot, I'd ride the Xreas until it leaks and simmply pull your fender liners out of the way to prevent the running interference. Deal with the "horrid" looks of it until after you have the wedding and honeymoon expenses behind you. You'll likely get money for the wedding you can use to do the lift right and do it once. IF the future Mrs. is really that supportive of offroading, it's shouldn't take much to convince her that $1000 of your wedding present money is well invested in a new lift for the 4runner....

no idea on your tie rod question.

Thanks, I completely forgot about moving the fenders I'll search on that the rubbing was the main concern of mine at the time. I'm not going to spend 1000 on a lift period. I have no need for it, there are no trails or anything here in northeast Florida that would need such a suspension so anything I do is going to be a looks/Oem replacement purpose only. The only reason I would go bilsteins is because it will give the look and replace the stock parts with an equal or better part at a much cheaper than stock cost.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Are you going to install yourself, or pay to have it done? That would sway which route I'd go.

 

[chaz]

op, how about this option, you might be able to find a slightly used complete FJ coil/shock (with stock bilsteins) setup off the FJ forum? that may be an affordable way to get a small lift with better ride & handling right now.

 

[Cygan1008]

Are you going to install yourself, or pay to have it done? That would sway which route I'd go.

I do all my own work so no install costs

 

[Cygan1008]

op, how about this option, you might be able to find a slightly used complete FJ coil/shock (with stock bilsteins) setup off the FJ forum? that may be an affordable way to get a small lift with better ride & handling right now.

This is what I would prefer but it seems to be impossible to find the bilsteins from an 07-09 fj and I'm a little afraid of the modification to the 2010+ shocks

 

[wnelax04sr5]

This is what I would prefer but it seems to be impossible to find the bilsteins from an 07-09 fj and I'm a little afraid of the modification to the 2010+ shocks

have you looked on fjcruiserforums? IIRC theres 3 sets of complete suspensions for sale right now, 07-09 too

edit: not the TT bilsteins but here you go http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...n-stock-springs-front-struts-rear-shocks.html

 

[Cygan1008]

have you looked on fjcruiserforums? IIRC theres 3 sets of complete suspensions for sale right now, 07-09 too

edit: not the TT bilsteins but here you go COMPLETE STOCK SUSPENSION::Stock springs/front struts/rear shocks - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

Yeah I have been searching there for a few weeks, the only thing I have found are newer shocks, regular tokico shocks or 2wd suspension. I was under the impression it needed to be a 4x4 suspension and from what I read the tokico(black) shocks weren't very desirable so I hadn't given any of those much attention. I don't want the ride to be mushy. I do like the way it rides/ handles with the xreas so if it won't be much of a down grade then I'll go that route.

Would really like a stock trail team suspension though. I like the idea of improvent while keeping it all toyota.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

Yeah I have been searching there for a few weeks, the only thing I have found are newer shocks, regular tokico shocks or 2wd suspension. I was under the impression it needed to be a 4x4 suspension and from what I read the tokico(black) shocks weren't very desirable so I hadn't given any of those much attention. I don't want the ride to be mushy. I do like the way it rides/ handles with the xreas so if it won't be much of a down grade then I'll go that route.

Would really like a stock trail team suspension though. I like the idea of improvent while keeping it all toyota.

i completely agree with you on the mushy-ness. the ideal would be the trail teams setup, if you can find a set of springs for cheap it couldn't hurt to think about the investment in 5100's. stock tokicos do tend to be mushy across all models, the fj, 4runner, and tacoma, only difference for 2wd I'm aware of is the springs aren't the same

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I do all my own work so no install costs

My opinion, throw a cheap spacer lift on and call it good. It's not that big if a deal to swap out in the future if xreas fails since you can do the install yourself. That will give you the lift you want and more clearance off road. You can very easily sell the Daystar 2.5/1.5 kit on here and probably get most of your money back. It sounds like this will fit your needs, and after you spend some time off road you may decide you want something different than you originally planned.

 

[kevinpt]

you could also use 2nd gen tacoma 4wd front suspension. i dont know if all 2nd gen shocks fit but would be an option

 

[Cygan1008]

My opinion, throw a cheap spacer lift on and call it good. It's not that big if a deal to swap out in the future if xreas fails since you can do the install yourself. That will give you the lift you want and more clearance off road. You can very easily sell the Daystar 2.5/1.5 kit on here and probably get most of your money back. It sounds like this will fit your needs, and after you spend some time off road you may decide you want something different than you originally planned.

I stumbled across an old thread and I think I'm going to go with a Daystar budget boost 1"spacer in the front and a 1.5" spacer in the rear. Pics of this set up look really good to me, it will accomplish the look I want and it will only be $76.90 shipped to my door. Was going to go with just the front but I'm afraid it will make the rear look to low like some have stated.

Anyone see any issues? These are the part numbers I am ordering.
Front KT09117BK
Rear KT09127BK

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I stumbled across an old thread and I think I'm going to go with a Daystar budget boost 1"spacer in the front and a 1.5" spacer in the rear. Pics of this set up look really good to me, it will accomplish the look I want and it will only be $76.90 shipped to my door. Was going to go with just the front but I'm afraid it will make the rear look to low like some have stated.

Anyone see any issues? These are the part numbers I am ordering.
Front KT09117BK
Rear KT09127BK

That's not a bad setup, especially for the price. The front will be 1/2" lower than the 2.5" kit, which is hardly noticeable. Be aware that you will need an alignment after the lift, so include that in your budget.

 

[littlehandegan]

Budget Boost is a great setup. Mine will be installed on Monday!

 

[Cygan1008]

Budget Boost is a great setup. Mine will be installed on Monday!

Let me know how you like it and if the rear looks to low to you.