Suspension Install!

[BigErn987]

So I was feeling pretty ambitious this weekend and decided to tear into my '97 T4R. I purchased it about 7 months ago with 190,000 miles. It is a 2WD 3RZ-FE with a 5 speed. The body and interior is in immaculate condition for a 17 year old car, but the ENTIRE suspension was COMPLETELY original. Below is a list of everything I did using all new hardware:

-All new polyurethane bushings

- Steering Rack​

- Sway Bar​

- Sway Bar End Links​

- OEM Outer Tie Rods

- Pro Forged Inner Tie Rods

- OEM Lower Ball Joints

- Moog Greasable Sway bar end links (front and rear)

- Tundra TRD Coils on Yellow Tundra Bilstein Struts (y/y y/b)

- OME 890 Rear Coils

- Rear Rough Country Nitro Shocks 2.0

Just got it aligned this morning. It rides AWESOME and looks great too! I am really happy with it. Rides like a brand new truck even though it has 200k on it! The whole entire job took me about two days using air tools and taking my time. I also had numerous trips to the parts store and countless bolts that were nearly impossible to break free. I had a helping hand one of the days, but could have probably cut back on the time drastically if I had another car guy there helping me. My buddy who is pretty mechanically inclined came over for about an hour last night and helped me finish up the rear.

Unfortunately I forgot to take before pics, but here are some of it all finished. Excuse the dirt and grime. It is time for a car wash.

 

[bpowa]

the lift looks great.. very good stance.. now all you need are larger tires.. You lucked out finding the front Tundra coils..

 

[Supermoney]

Wow looks dead even! I plan on going with the same setup except I am doing the Bilstein 5100s all the way around, Tundras up front and 890s in the rear.

Nice job.

 

[BigErn987]

the lift looks great.. very good stance.. now all you need are larger tires.. You lucked out finding the front Tundra coils..

Thanks! Yeah, I am planning on getting some bigger tires eventually. I just replaced the tires right after I picked up the Runner not anticipating on lifting it so I am having a hard time wanting to shell out the dough haha.

I actually just called around to a bunch of junkyards I found on that car-part website. I had one of the yards verify they were the correct struts and coils and I just paid over the phone with a CC. If you search for the actual strut assembly you can find a lot of yards all over the USA that I have them. I have found that most yards do not like separating strut and coil assemblies.

 

[BigErn987]

Wow looks dead even! I plan on going with the same setup except I am doing the Bilstein 5100s all the way around, Tundras up front and 890s in the rear.

Nice job.

You wont regret it. Replacing all of my suspension components has been one of the best choices I have made lately. The 890 rear coils are the way to go, IMO. They are not too firm; just right. I was originally planning on doing 5100s up front, but the struts looked to be in such good condition and have good compression, I decided to hold off. The 4banger weighs practically nothing up front, so I think the ride is perfect.

 

[Runner4liife]

Hey man that lift looks perfect! Just the right amout of rake too. How do you like the rough country shocks? I'm thinkin about gettin some.

 

[BigErn987]

Hey man that lift looks perfect! Just the right amout of rake too. How do you like the rough country shocks? I'm thinkin about gettin some.

Thanks man! I am initially impressed with the quality and ride of the shocks. Hopefully I am not singing a different tune in 20k. I did read a lot of positive reviews on these new 2.0 shocks on some different car forums before I purchased them though. I figured for $80 for the pair, I would give them a shot.

 

[Runner4liife]

Sweeeet thanks for the reply man. I think you just convinced me, can't go wrong for $80 riiight.