Thoughts/questions about completely rebuilding stock suspension...don't be frightened

[jsukey]

Okay, before anyone bites my head off...I have thoroughly checked out the rear sag section as well as the lift info for our 3rd Gen's:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/48552-about-rear-sag.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/66976-3rd-gen-4runner-lift-information-faqs.html

All I'm wanting to do is basically refurbish my stock suspension and I'm looking to do it fairly cheap, but without compromising mine or my T4R's safety! I don't mind spending some extra coin on quality parts...I've found that you usually make up for it in the long run anyways. I don't really need a lift, but I did add 265/70/17 BF Goodrich AT's and now there is slight rubbing in the front whenever I slightly flex my suspension turning into my parking garage, or hitting odd angle slopes. I am suffering from the customary rear sag in the rear. The fact that I carry a cargo rack with a 100 lb. tool box on it almost every where I go doesn't help out with it either. That being said, the '99 coils seem to be the way to go. No added stress on my CV joints or LBJ's...which I will be changing along with everything else anyways. I'm currently at 152,617 miles on my '02 T4R Limited 4x4 but was told the LBJ's were replaced at 55,000 according to the dealer. I've owned it since 60,000/5 years this coming weekend. The steering is tight as can be with no leaks to speak of. As for parts...I stumbled across this place selling a completely new/full, what appear to be OEM Toyota suspension package for my truck for around a grand. Coils, shocks, struts, hardware...the works! Just wondering if anyone had any experience with this particular package, or if anyone had any ideas of where else to look, or even if I had to...save money by piecing it all together.

4 Wheel Drive - System 3 - $690.00 : Sonoran Steel, Sonoran Steel Custom Metal Fabrication L.L.C. Custom Toyota Truck Parts

That last statement doesn't really thrill me. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!!!

Here's a pic of my current suspension. She needs a pick-me-up!!!

 

[AZTOY]

Sonoran Steel is a great company, and you are going to pay more for convenience of what he provides. But a cheaper way to go would be to use the part numbers provided in the sticky for the 99 highlander coils and buy some bilstein or tokico shocks. Save you about $200 from what I have seen.

 

[tacojeff]

You could just buy someones stock parts from when they installed their lift. For instance I have my front springs/shocks still assembled and my rear coils all with only 80,000k on them. Otherwise there are plenty of auto parts stores that sell oem equivalent parts.

 

[jsukey]

AZTOY, I did consider that option but kept reading about people having issues finding the right shock length. That's why I was thrilled when i ran across this complete OEM set. TacoJeff, I suppose I could do that, but then I run into the risk of replacing my work out parts with someone else's well worn parts and then having to do the entire process over again. I just want to do it once and be done with it for another 150,000+ miles! I do oilfield work so my suspension gets a full workout on location roads and pads...especially when I have to dig into a location after a rainy week of in and out 18 wheelers! It does make for a fun time though!!

 

[I_bRAD]

I just put on some monroe quick struts on the front, raybestos springs and rancho rs9000 on the rear. I think it cost me ~ 500 and there's a deal for October buy 3 get one free for monroe products (which includes Rancho)

Nothing fancy, but it seems to work quite well. I got all the parts at rockauto.

 

[AZTOY]

AZTOY, I did consider that option but kept reading about people having issues finding the right shock length. That's why I was thrilled when i ran across this complete OEM set. TacoJeff, I suppose I could do that, but then I run into the risk of replacing my work out parts with someone else's well worn parts and then having to do the entire process over again. I just want to do it once and be done with it for another 150,000+ miles! I do oilfield work so my suspension gets a full workout on location roads and pads...especially when I have to dig into a location after a rainy week of in and out 18 wheelers! It does make for a fun time though!!

If the SS price is good, then get it. It's convenient, he has good products and a good reputation. Excellent customer service. I used his 1.2 kit to lift my rear.

 

[Millerad1651]

Go to ajusa.com, and look up the Bilstein 4600 HDs shocks. You can get front and back for a couple hundred bucks. For the rear springs get a set of OME 906s from Toytec, and for the front get OME 880s. That will get you just a tad over stock height, enough to get rid of the rubbing, and from reviews in here, people seem to be really happy with the setup.

http://www.ajusa.com/Bilstein-Monotube-Shock-Absorbers-and-Struts-c2ddev29c5q6ba1.html

Looks like for about $300 you can get front and rear.

You want the 880s for the front
http://toyteclifts.com/index.php?pa...tegory_id=127&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=72

And the 906s for the rear
http://toyteclifts.com/index.php?pa...tegory_id=128&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=72

This is a good setup, and a little cheaper than the one from SS.

You may be able to find some used 906s on here, they pop up every now and then.

 

[Stick Figure]

When i first went to the same tire size that you have, I picked up a used set of 99 front springs and new OEM rear springs. The truck looked great for a couple months, and then was back to the rear end sag. with the weight of the tools you carry, I would really recommend at least going with the 906 springs from OME to match the 99 front springs.

 

[hrt4me]

I stumbled across this place selling a completely new/full, what appear to be OEM Toyota suspension package for my truck for around a grand. Coils, shocks, struts, hardware...the works! Just wondering if anyone had any experience with this particular package, or if anyone had any ideas of where else to look, or even if I had to...save money by piecing it all together.

4 Wheel Drive - System 3 - $690.00 : Sonoran Steel, Sonoran Steel Custom Metal Fabrication L.L.C. Custom Toyota Truck Parts

if you do end up with that SS kit, then I would be interested in getting together with you when you install it (I'm also in the DFW area)... I bought a 4Runner with the SS 1.2 kit already installed, and so I would like to learn more about my own truck and what is involved in the installation...

 

[jsukey]

And here's where it gets foggy with confusion!! I just want a suspension package/setup for a stock height 4Runner that isn't going to wear out and sag 6 months after I do it. I don't need a lift thats going to cause stress on my CV joints because this is just my work truck. It seems that the '99 springs are the way to go because that is fitted for a factory setup. But does anyone have any experience with SS? Are those coils going to sag 6 months after I put them on?! hrt4me...are you the guy that did the supercharger/methanol injection on your 4Runner? If so, I talked to you on Youtube as well as another 4Runner forum. Ever get that turbo setup running? If not you...please disregard and sorry for the confusion! If I end up going with the SS kit, I'll definitely hit you up. I'll probably do the work at my buddies shop in Stephenville, TX though. I live in downtown Fort Worth...I don't think my neighbors would be too thrilled with a suspension makeover in my parking garage!!

 

[AZTOY]

You should call or email SS to address your concerns. He is very helpful.

 

[Millerad1651]

Here is someone who wanted the same things you do...he seemed pretty happy with it.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/117972-lift-complete.html

 

[hrt4me]

hrt4me...are you the guy that did the supercharger/methanol injection on your 4Runner? If so, I talked to you on Youtube as well as another 4Runner forum. Ever get that turbo setup running? If not you...please disregard and sorry for the confusion! If I end up going with the SS kit, I'll definitely hit you up. I'll probably do the work at my buddies shop in Stephenville, TX though. I live in downtown Fort Worth...I don't think my neighbors would be too thrilled with a suspension makeover in my parking garage!!

I know to whom you're referring, but that wasn't me with the TRD SC kit on his 4Runner

I would be willing to go out to Stephenville if your buddy would be willing to let me tag along to his shop to learn... thanks for keeping me in mind!