Suspension Help!

[csevel]

Okay, so I've been reduced to a 'damsel in distress' and have no choice but to reach out to you guys...

I'm no stranger to these forums and have lurked forever and tried the stickies for info on my dilemma, but I'm confused. Can someone just lend a girl a hand and give me the straight? I don't need or want a lift..just a decent trade-out for the XREAS.

Here's the deal:
I own a '04 Sport V8 w 140K miles with XREAS (I've owned two 4runners and wouldn't drive anything else, but I digress) I don't off-road but use it to tow a small travel trailer.. I have a set of Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo's on FJ cruiser steelies for the winter..but again, I digress..

I recently had a rear shock leak on the XREAS. Got a quote from a local guy to do a full replacement. I knew that the install would be tricky and asked him to consider the FJ springs and Bilstein 5100's...as I dutifully have learned here. Me being a girl..he poo poo'd my input, advised me to go OEM and of course..as I suspected he F'd it up! He only installed the shocks and no lines or absorbers. I'm pissed and he knows it. Probably disconnected lines improperly and subsequently, the ride is awful.

After he was convinced by the Toyota techs that he installed it wrong..(God forbid I be right) He is willing to work this out with me. I need from you guys is part numbers. I want him to rip out the XREAS and replace it with the FJ coils and bilsteins. I'm not sure what springs work from the FJ.. I see a set with 60K on them from a 2008 on ebay but also some tear-outs with zero miles from a 2012. Which can work? which part numbers for the Bilstein shocks? Should I consider any other upgrades now that I tow a trailer? Air-bags?

Any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated. I have done a ton of research..I just can't quite separate the info based on so many of you trying to lift your 4runners. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

 

[Dougtoms01]

You could call AJUSA (800) 877-1911
Tell them what you have and they will make sure you get the right parts.
The Bilstein 5100's with the FJ coils will probably lift you a 1/2" in the rear and the ride will be a little more stiff than stock.
If you need any lift in the front, the 5100's provide you options 0, 1.25 and 1.85 I believe.
I have the Bilstein 5100's with a 1.5"/2.5" spacer lift (no FJ coils) and it pulls my small pop-up weighing about 1800lbs loaded fine w/o much sag. Tongue weight about 300lbs.
I recently purchased a Jayco 165 Sport TT and it sags about 2".
I added a WDH and all is perfect.
You should be happy with the FJ coils and Bilsteins. Depending on how small your TT is, you probably won't need a WDH. If you didn't before, you won't after the change.

I am not sure if all FJ coils will fit, but I wouldn't be surprised.

ASR or someone will chime in here on the FJ coils.

Best regards,
Doug

 

[csevel]

My trailer weighs about 3,000# with a tongue weight of 400#. There is a small amount of sag but nothing horrible. The tongue weight capacity for the Sport is 700# with a tow capacity at 7,300# so I think I'm okay. Haven't had to add a WDH but might in the future. I wouldn't mind a little bit of lift in the back to compensate but it's not crucial. I will be buying new 15" trailer wheels & tires in the spring to replace the 14's that are on there. That with the new shocks should help me out in leveling.

 

[Dougtoms01]

Sounds like you'll be fine for the towing aspect of it.
You may be able to run the front Bilsteins at the 0 setting with the FJ coils.
Otherwise you can just move them up to the 1.25 I believe is the next setting.
I'd like to change my Jayco 165 Sport wheels to 15", but I beleive there is clearance issues. My sewer lines are a little lower than I am comfortable with, but the only option is to weld 2" square stock between axel and frame, then re-weld the bracket. I have the torsion suspension and not a straight axel :-(

Best of luck with getting your 4Runner squared away.

Luckily, I was able to do my own lift with the help here on the forum. I didn't have the complexity of the Xreas though.

Best regards,
Doug

 

[csevel]

Well, I was lucky as my trailer has a high-lift axle so I won't have to modify anything for larger wheels/tires.

I hope that the guys on this forum will step up to help me out. I'd like to get this worked out with the right part numbers because I don't want a repeat of a $1,200 mistake ;(

I'm tempted to just find the parts myself, so that's why I'm asking.

 

[Dougtoms01]

Oh,
I can see buying the FJ coils used, but the Bilsteins are harder to find. They're not too expensive and I figured you would buy them new.

Looking in the Suspension sticky, FJ coils from 2007+ fit all 4th Gens.

Hope that helps.

ASR and others should be on here later tonight.

Best regards,
Doug

 

[Dougtoms01]

OEM FJ Springs:
• Springs from a 03-09 FJ Cruiser are a direct swap to the 4th Gen 4runner.
• These provide on average ½”-1” lift on the front, ¼”- ½” lift on the rear, depending on if you have a v6 or v8 engine and 2wd or 4wd.
• Most people buy them used from FJ owners who’ve upgraded
• More information can be found on the following pages
- Compiled: FJ Springs Lift Info for 4th gen
- 4th gen- For all who've done the FJ swap....

Found this over in the Suspension sticky.

 

[csevel]

Thanks Doug..
I saw those threads
I was curious about 2012 FJ springs as it seems there might be a bushing and hole enlarging issue.
I think I'm just gonna use your advice and call AJUSA

 

[Dougtoms01]

Yes,
Looks like you want to find 03-09 FJ Coils

You may want to call these guys. I noticed AJUSA doesn't sell coil springs.

https://www.allprooffroad.com/fjrearsuspension/45
951-658-7077


Anyways, on to the info. (Disclaimer: I am just organizing information here so it is easy to find, not claiming any of this as my own)

The parts:

You'll need a set of stock FJ cruiser springs, which many members get from Craigslist, eBay, or the FJ community classifieds

any set from an 07-09 4x4 FJ will be a direct replacement for any 03-09 4runner, but those from 2010's require some slight modification. 2WD springs will fit as well, but will not yield the same results.

According to X6RUNNER:
The 2010 front FJ strut's lower joint needs to be modified in order to fit a 4Runner. The rear mounting hole (on the chassis) also need to be enlarged to fit the larger bushing washer. It can be done with some power tools.

The FJ has 3 models, all with different shocks. The base model has Tokico shocks. The Trail Teams and TRD both have Bilsteins, although the shocks are different between the two. The Bilstein's are definitely preferred, but any of them are an upgrade based on the responses I've seen.

It is important to note that there is a difference between the driver and passenger side front springs. The drivers side is about 1/4'' taller and a little stiffer to offset the additional weight of the driver and gas tank. The springs are color coded Yellow/Green on driver side and Gray/Green on the passenger side.

Most people who do this lift add a spacer to the front springs to "level" the truck. There are two ways people define level. First is having the running boards and roof rack level, which is what most prefer and what the following setups should achieve. Others go for equal space between the tire and fender (takes more lift to achieve this). So, if you're a v6 owner wanting equal space between the tire and fender, the 1/2" spacer may need to be considered.

The 1/4'' toytec spacer (1/2'' net lift) is suggested for a v6 runner and the 1/2'' spacer (listed as 3/4'' lift, but actually yields 1'' net lift) for the v8. The cornfed 1'' lift front spacer yields similar results to the toytec 1/2'' spacer. Some also add a full spacer lift on top of the springs such as the cornfed 2/1 or the Daystar 2.5/1.5 to give some extra height.

If you have a 2wd (v6 or v8), the 1/4" spacer is recommended. The FJ springs provide more lift on 2wd's than 4wd's.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

That sticky needs updated. Any year coils 2007+ will fit. However, only shocks from a 2007-2009 FJ will work if you were planning to swap those. The 2010+ have slightly different sized mounts, they can be modified to fit but are not a direct swap. Springs are the same on all 4wd FJ Cruisers from 2007+.

 

[csevel]

:thanks: My concern is the amount of modification that needs done to the 2010+ springs. I don't want to throw any more monkey wrenches at my mechanic by getting springs he has to modify in any way. If I buy the parts, and they don't fit.. get it? ... He already thinks I'm nuts! and whats worse, than for me to tell him how to do it too.. HA, right! :ak472:

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

:thanks: My concern is the amount of modification that needs done to the 2010+ springs. I don't want to throw any more monkey wrenches at my mechanic by getting springs he has to modify in any way. If I buy the parts, and they don't fit.. get it? ... He already thinks I'm nuts! and whats worse, than for me to tell him how to do it too.. HA, right! :ak472:

If you are putting Bilstein 5100s on, there will be no modifications required to use 2010+ FJ coils. Check the chart in this link, you'll find a few who have used 2010+ FJ coils with stock shocks.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/suspension/78933-4th-gen-all-whove-done-fj-swap.html

Bilstein, and most every shock manufacturer, use the same part number for the 4th gen 4runner and 2007-2009 FJ. As I mentioned, the mounts for the shock are slightly different on the newer models so they have a different part number (coils still work though).

 

[ebg18t]

If you really don't need/want a lift I would go with the Bilstein's and FJ coils if you can find them cheap. But I would add the Firestone air bags in the rear for use when towing.

 

[08T4R]

Do what ark said. Get your springs from any year fj 4x4, then buy your 5100s. Make sure your goober mechanic knows how to put the lower spring seat on right, as well as which color spring goes on which side in the front. Those two things matter.