Suspension questions

[4RunnerChaos]

Well I got a question guys! It's not a normal one
So I'm taking a different approach to my 4runner, I'm looking to LOWER it, but all you suspension gurus out there may be able to help me.!
Reading through the suspension faqs, seeing that the TRD tundra fronts fit the rear of the 4runner for a... 2-3" lift? How much of a didference between the TRD and standard springs are there? And going by this... A set of lowing springs should fit onto the 4runner also.?
So a set of 3" lowering springs for a standard tundra would be about 5" different from the TRD tundra coils if I'm not mistaken, providing a 2-3" lowering for the 4runner...

I'm assuming that there's a difference between TRD and normal springs.

 

[the great him]

Well I got a question guys! It's not a normal one
So I'm taking a different approach to my 4runner, I'm looking to LOWER it, but all you suspension gurus out there may be able to help me.!
Reading through the suspension faqs, seeing that the TRD tundra fronts fit the rear of the 4runner for a... 2-3" lift? How much of a didference between the TRD and standard springs are there? And going by this... A set of lowing springs should fit onto the 4runner also.?
So a set of 3" lowering springs for a standard tundra would be about 5" different from the TRD tundra coils if I'm not mistaken, providing a 2-3" lowering for the 4runner...

ok glad you came here before you started buying parts or doing the work...

first off no the TRD tundra fronts do not fit the rear of our 4runners, they will work in the front. its the front of FZJ80 land cruisers that fit in the rear of our trucks.

now on to the amount of lift it provides. the amount of lift the TRD tundra springs provide is not necessarily based on the length of the spring, it has to do with the spring rate and its rated capacity. just because a spring is physically taller or longer than another spring in static form does not mean it will provide more lift ect. the TRD coil is a progressive rate coil meaning that the more its compressed the stiffer it becomes. now with land cruiser springs they have several variances 7 wrap 8 wrap and 9 wrap coils, each coil is taller, and longer, and each coil will provide more lift in correspondence with its amount of coils. but now lets move to after market coils, say some OME 861 coils, that is a stock height coil that is meant for hauling heavy loads but not lift the truck with the load. so lets compare that coil to the 9 wrap. the 9 wrap is taller at static than the 861, and when put into a stock 4runner the 9 wrap will lift the 4runner more than a 861, but load that truck up and the 9 wrap will sag much further and faster than the 861, the 861 will stay at a more constant level with our without a load compared to a 9wrap.

now all of that above was just put out there as an example and only relevant to someone who is lifting their truck. im not very knowledgeable on lowering one as i have never done this with a 4runner. i know it can be done and there are a couple of guy who have done this, but i do not believe they are still active on the forum. so getting info from them might prove to be difficult. i will however commend you for going against the grain and doing something new. most of use here are into lifting a truck for better use offroad. lowering one would be a cool change and i look forward to seeing what you do and come up(or down) with.

-do a little more research on spring rates and look for coils that are designed to be lowering coils. i know performance products made a set, but they went out of business about 5-7 years ago.

 

[ARC]

would be about 5" different from the TRD tundra coils if I'm not mistaken, providing a 2-3" lowering for the 4runner...

I think it would work, but I don't follow your math.

 

[4RunnerChaos]

ok glad you came here before you started buying parts or doing the work...

first off no the TRD tundra fronts do not fit the rear of our 4runners, they will work in the front. its the front of FZJ80 land cruisers that fit in the rear of our trucks.

now on to the amount of lift it provides. the amount of lift the TRD tundra springs provide is not necessarily based on the length of the spring, it has to do with the spring rate and its rated capacity. just because a spring is physically taller or longer than another spring in static form does not mean it will provide more lift ect. the TRD coil is a progressive rate coil meaning that the more its compressed the stiffer it becomes. now with land cruiser springs they have several variances 7 wrap 8 wrap and 9 wrap coils, each coil is taller, and longer, and each coil will provide more lift in correspondence with its amount of coils. but now lets move to after market coils, say some OME 861 coils, that is a stock height coil that is meant for hauling heavy loads but not lift the truck with the load. so lets compare that coil to the 9 wrap. the 9 wrap is taller at static than the 861, and when put into a stock 4runner the 9 wrap will lift the 4runner more than a 861, but load that truck up and the 9 wrap will sag much further and faster than the 861, the 861 will stay at a more constant level with our without a load compared to a 9wrap.

now all of that above was just put out there as an example and only relevant to someone who is lifting their truck. im not very knowledgeable on lowering one as i have never done this with a 4runner. i know it can be done and there are a couple of guy who have done this, but i do not believe they are still active on the forum. so getting info from them might prove to be difficult. i will however commend you for going against the grain and doing something new. most of use here are into lifting a truck for better use offroad. lowering one would be a cool change and i look forward to seeing what you do and come up(or down) with.

-do a little more research on spring rates and look for coils that are designed to be lowering coils. i know performance products made a set, but they went out of business about 5-7 years ago.

Thanks the_kid, I keep getting those mixed up! Haha
As for spring size what constitutes that a spring will "fit"?
Is it the springs diameter that plates the largest part in fitting? I'm only looking for the rears so I'm only concerned about the coil spring itself. The shock set and front springs can come from a taco kit.
Is there a way I would be able to find spring rates and dimensions anywhere?

There was a user a while back that had a lowered rig, but I don't recall what he used on the rear..

 

[Brilliant]

Well I got a question guys! It's not a normal one
So I'm taking a different approach to my 4runner, I'm looking to LOWER it, but all you suspension gurus out there may be able to help me.!
Reading through the suspension faqs, seeing that the TRD tundra fronts fit the rear of the 4runner for a... 2-3" lift? How much of a didference between the TRD and standard springs are there? And going by this... A set of lowing springs should fit onto the 4runner also.?
So a set of 3" lowering springs for a standard tundra would be about 5" different from the TRD tundra coils if I'm not mistaken, providing a 2-3" lowering for the 4runner...

I'm assuming that there's a difference between TRD and normal springs.

Use a torch on the springs to lower the car to desired height. Its the cheapest and easiest way to decrese ride quality and height.

What I would do, buy some taco lowering springs for the front. The rear, buy some junk yard 4runner coils, start cutting off winds till it gets to height you want. Then grind the end down to set back in the cup. And by some new shocks and nicer bumpstops. You can also get custom springs made for not too much money.

 

[ARC]

Thanks the_kid, I keep getting those mixed up! Haha
As for spring size what constitutes that a spring will "fit"?
Is it the springs diameter that plates the largest part in fitting? I'm only looking for the rears so I'm only concerned about the coil spring itself. The shock set and front springs can come from a taco kit.
Is there a way I would be able to find spring rates and dimensions anywhere?

There was a user a while back that had a lowered rig, but I don't recall what he used on the rear..

If looking for the rear only researching Tundra equipment is not going to help. And yes spring diameter is what makes it fit or not. That is unless you want to modify the coil "buckets".

 

[4RunnerChaos]

Use a torch on the springs to lower the car to desired height. Its the cheapest and easiest way to decrese ride quality and height.

What I would do, buy some taco lowering springs for the front. The rear, buy some junk yard 4runner coils, start cutting off winds till it gets to height you want. Then grind the end down to set back in the cup. And by some new shocks and nicer bumpstops. You can also get custom springs made for not too much money.

Taco front coils and all 4 taco shocks is the way I was planning to go, all I need is coils to fit the rear.
Don't suppose I'd be able to make a frankenspring from two spring different springs chopped and welded (home made progressive coil)

And you guys wouldn't happen to know how much these things weigh on the rear would you?
Hmmm.
The MOOG replacement springs only cost $60 shipped, the rear ride quality isn't much of a concern to me. I'm more concerned about the rear skip my truck has when cornering at high speeds.. Hitting a bump at 60 mph on an on ramp shouldn't make your heart skip a beat and your girlfriend to let out an "eep"

 

[ARC]

Might want to insure those rear shocks would be compatible, not so sure they will be.

Taco front coils and all 4 taco shocks is the way I was planning to go,

This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen to me.

Don't suppose I'd be able to make a frankenspring from two spring different springs chopped and welded (home made progressive coil)

 

[Brilliant]

Taco front coils and all 4 taco shocks is the way I was planning to go, all I need is coils to fit the rear.

Don't suppose I'd be able to make a frankenspring from two spring different springs chopped and welded (home made progressive coil)

The MOOG replacement springs only cost $60 shipped, the rear ride quality isn't much of a concern to me. I'm more concerned about the rear skip my truck has when cornering at high speeds.. Hitting a bump at 60 mph on an on ramp shouldn't make your heart skip a beat and your girlfriend to let out an "eep"

A few thoughts, taco rear dampers will be set up for a drop leaf or blocked leaf. The rate wont be right, but you might not have a lot of options.

As to the torch, I meant heating the spring and letting it droop.

If you're worried about handling you might want to do it right.
Coil Spring Specialties | Truck

 

[4RunnerChaos]

A few thoughts, taco rear dampers will be set up for a drop leaf or blocked leaf. The rate wont be right, but you might not have a lot of options.

As to the torch, I meant heating the spring and letting it droop.

If you're worried about handling you might want to do it right.
Coil Spring Specialties | Truck

Thanks for the link.

The rear end is such a problem to lower I'm sure that there's things that fit, finding them is the problem. Eh I'm not too worried about the handling. Rather get a cheap set of springs than a more pricy pair.

I found a vehicle that uses the same diameter for coils (106mm) gonna figure out which spring has the same or close enough spring rate (using a formula I found on google)

 

[Brilliant]

Thanks for the link.

The rear end is such a problem to lower I'm sure that there's things that fit, finding them is the problem. Eh I'm not too worried about the handling. Rather get a cheap set of springs than a more pricy pair.

I found a vehicle that uses the same diameter for coils (106mm) gonna figure out which spring has the same or close enough spring rate (using a formula I found on google)

106 at the axle perch or the cup? I measured 130mm

Here is a Fj coil swap I did, it might help you out.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/98463-brilliants-mod-thread-11.html#post1601990

 

[Brique]

What year is your truck? depending on how far you want to lower it, some sag-ass rears from an 01-02 4runner might be up your alley. Those were the lowest years for the 3rd gens and when I replaced mine there was less than half an inch between the cone bumpstop and the bottom.

I imagine someone upgrading their 01-02 would practically give their old rear springs away to you.

 

[4RunnerChaos]

106 at the axle perch or the cup? I measured 130mm

Here is a Fj coil swap I did, it might help you out.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/98463-brilliants-mod-thread-11.html#post1601990

That's a very informative post, thank you so much for the link, so in essence I'm looking for at LEAST 125mm ID and a maximum of probably 160mm OD to keep it simple.