Suspension Help

If price wasn't an issue I would suggest the Icon setup. I have been running mine for several years and love it.
The reports from people using Icon or OW lifts have been glowing with praise. However some people only have 4WD destination goals, as opposed to seeking out the tough runs a la Moab, etc. For mild offroading it's hard to justify the expense of the high end systems. Especially since you may well also need to add better upper control arms for alignment issues, which you might never need for the extended travel.

Has anyone had experience running a combo of Bilstein 5100's with FJ springs? That seems a good posibility for an inexpensive compromise suspension to use for destination purposes.
 
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Thanks for the feedback so far. I won't doing a lot of hardcore offroading, so I am more focused on better on road handling with the capability to perform well off road if needed. I like the look of the cornfed 2/1 lift, so that is the height I am shooting for. If I get the FJ/bilstein setup, I think I will still need small front and rear spacers right?
 
the FJ setup will only give u about a 1 in. front lift, 0-1/2 rear, so youll need to purchase & add spacers accordingly for however more lift u want, thats why i suggested just getting the adj. 5100 frt & rear shock & rear spacer ,im not sure but , of course depending on how much u get the spacers & FJ setup for the total cost for either setup will be close if not the same. heres a short rundown: not exact but u get the idea, - full FJ setup w/billies, 150, front cornfed spacer around 100, rear spacer most likley the same. daystars will be cost much less & might be a better way to go. now the 5100s - adj. frt & rear shocks 350-400, rear daystar spacer- 50. its a little more, the fj setup is great but there is one other way to look at it, the 5100s arent just for offroad,there are some reasons why the fj guys sell the stuff, one being is to upgrade from what they sell us & sometimes that means going with 5100s or better & different springs, so imo, if i wanted to upgrade my stock stuff, id want the better setup they're getting for myself. its just a matter of cost & what u feel will work for u or need. hey, some like just spacers, others say whole setup, dont get me wrong, im not trying to push anything on someone, just putting another option idea out here. anyway, if u get the whole fj setup u'll need a 1/2 spacer on top of the front to get 2 in lift, & 1 in. spacer for the rear, that will give ya the 2/1 over stoch u want/like. goodluck
 
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Great info chaz. I have been looking for the 5100's, and keep finding them for the tundra, but not the 4runner...are they the same?
 
forgot to mention that if u did go with the 5100, they come with a limited lifetime warranty, thats something that a used FJ setup wont have.
 
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the FJ setup will only give u about a 1 in. front lift, 0-1/2 rear, so youll need to purchase & add spacers accordingly for however more lift u want, thats why i suggested just getting the adj. 5100 frt & rear shock & rear spacer ,im not sure but , of course depending on how much u get the spacers & FJ setup for the total cost for either setup will be close if not the same.

The one big difference, some would say huge difference, between using FJ springs / 5100's vs. spacers is this. Spacers do raise the height of the body upward from the axle, but this method typically limits the travel of the suspension. However changing out the springs and shocks is an entirely new suspension system which should not change the amount of travel.

Here's a link that will explain this more fully:

http://www.bilsteinus.com/leveling/downloads/5100LevShks_flyer.pdf

As far as finding 5100's, suppliers don't always list the T4R but do list the FJ which uses the same parts. So just go to the FJ settings if necessary. The other confusion is that most companies sell the 5100's using the Bilstein part #'s, but some use a get the Bilsteins through RCD that rebrands them. Talking with suppliers confirms the normal Bilstein part numbers for a T4R is F4-BE5-C475-HO for the fronts, and F4-BE5-E703-HO for the back. Some suppliers get the 5100's through RCD which uses their own part # so it may be C477 instead of C475 for the fronts.

I didn't check with chaz's suggestion of Wheeler's, but do know Downsouth Motorsports had some fronts and 4 Wheel parts had fronts and backs in stock as of a couple days ago.
 
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Just for the heck of it, I called the dealership to get a quote for a new XREAS suspension. He first told me that my sport model had the same suspension as all the other models. I told him he was wrong. Then he thought I had the air suspension, again I told him I had the sport suspension called XREAS. He told me he would have to call me back. Don't you love when you know more about your car than the "professionals"? He called me back and told me that the XREAS would cost $2,090 installed. He also told me that the shocks should never need replaced unless they were leaking. I am sure they don't NEED replaced, but I am sure replacing/upgrading would definitely improve the ride/handling.

I just thought I would share this with you guys.
 

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