Why Should I Not Buy This Lift?

[BlueHenT4R]

I'm trying to avoid any "use the search function" comments, so I'm just going to say that I'm about to pull the trigger on the Toytec Bilstein coilover lift w/ Superflex rear springs here:

3" Lift W/ Bilstein 5100 Height Adj Coilovers FJ/4Runner

My goals for the lift:

I use my T4R for mostly highway driving with recreational use limited to frequent trips driving on our very powdery white sand beaches here in Delaware. I do not generally mud/rock crawl and I do not and will never tow. I want a nice, sure highway ride and some additional clearance for the deepest portions of sand on the beach. Two inches would be just fine. I don't really want to prematurely destroy my CV axles and I'd prefer not to do a diff drop. I also don't really want to spend more for UCAs. I'd also like to go with wider tires (285?) to give a little more float across the sand and I'm hoping to avoid trimming fender liners or removing flaps.

So would the Bilstein coilover kit serve these purposes or would the OME combo (or something else) be better: OME full suspension -- Click here for details

Lastly, my budget for this is not unlimited. About the most I'd splurge is up to the $1300 range kits if there was any benefit over the $900 range kits. I'd have to have a convincing reason to spend the additional $400 though, and I'm not seeing it without some convincing.

Thanks in advance for all input. :thumb:

Here's what she looks like on the beach stock. Just a bit too low and tires too narrow for my liking:

 

[hearno]

Why buy the kit? Sounds like 5100s and factory FJ springs would do you well and only cost around $500 or so if you install them yourself. No diff drop or UCAs needed. As far as the 285s that you want.... no chance without trimming etc. Read the sticky, tons of good info. If you just want a wider stance, spacers will get you there for $200. At this point, you've achieved all your goals for WELL under your budget. Paypal my cut of the savings at [email protected] for my assistance. :drum:

 

[BlueHenT4R]

Does anyone sell the FJ springs? Quite frankly, I hate dealing with Craigslist and EBay.

 

[BlueHenT4R]

Also, spacers are more trickery than function. I really want wider tires for functionality in the sand. Stance is for Honda Civics.

 

[hearno]

Does anyone sell the FJ springs? Quite frankly, I hate dealing with Craigslist and EBay.

google, search... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/162049-moog-fj-springs.html

again, you want wider, you will have to cut. read the faq/sticky in the 4th gen section. ASR gives you all the info you need.

 

[scottblink23]

google, search... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/162049-moog-fj-springs.html

again, you want wider, you will have to cut. read the faq/sticky in the 4th gen section. ASR gives you all the info you need.

Brian is right - don't be intimidated to do some trimming. If you want the look of the 285's, pushing the fender liner forward, removing mud flaps and trimming is a must.

Having said that, it is an extremely easy process and takes all of about 20 minutes.

I have 285's on mine and have NOT had to do the body mount chop but even that isn't that big of a deal.

 

[themuffinman619]

I also went with moog fj springs, both front and rear. I found the tears cheapest on jegs and the fronts from rockauto.

 

[salong53]

This is redundant, but I'd definitely go for the Moog FJ springs with Bilstein 5100s and add a Daystar spacer in the rear. For your purposes, there's no reason to spend more IMHO.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

Why buy the kit? Sounds like 5100s and factory FJ springs would do you well and only cost around $500 or so if you install them yourself. No diff drop or UCAs needed. As far as the 285s that you want.... no chance without trimming etc. Read the sticky, tons of good info. If you just want a wider stance, spacers will get you there for $200. At this point, you've achieved all your goals for WELL under your budget. Paypal my cut of the savings at [email protected] for my assistance. :drum:

Does anyone sell the FJ springs? Quite frankly, I hate dealing with Craigslist and EBay.

you'll be very happy both with the ride of 5100s and fj springs as well as the not so skinny wallet. you can buy new from rockauto for the springs as has been suggested, but i bought my fj springs through forum classifieds. usually you can get a good deal and the people selling are very reliable for the most part, I've purchased and sold many parts through forums and never had an issue

 

[68GTconvert]

Why buy the kit? Sounds like 5100s and factory FJ springs would do you well and only cost around $500 or so if you install them yourself. No diff drop or UCAs needed. As far as the 285s that you want.... no chance without trimming etc. Read the sticky, tons of good info. If you just want a wider stance, spacers will get you there for $200. At this point, you've achieved all your goals for WELL under your budget. Paypal my cut of the savings at [email protected] for my assistance. :drum:

BS. I have the same lift with 285's I got a 8mm spacer and some longer wheel studs with stock sport rims. Fits fine, do it. Great lift.

 

[340W]

I live not terribly far from you. Don't explore super-lifting, huge tires, etc. They're only going to make your life and wallet beaten and emasculated. Bilstien 5100's will provide more than enough lift to cruise on the sand and stock size or 265/70 series tires will work great. I've taken the rig on way more than sand with that combo and never even come close to getting stuck.

 

[BlueHenT4R]

I live not terribly far from you. Don't explore super-lifting, huge tires, etc. They're only going to make your life and wallet beaten and emasculated. Bilstien 5100's will provide more than enough lift to cruise on the sand and stock size or 265/70 series tires will work great. I've taken the rig on way more than sand with that combo and never even come close to getting stuck.

Still on stock springs?

 

[340W]

Still on stock springs?

Yessir, stock springs. I feel pretty strongly that soft springs and stiffer shocks are the ideal combination for ride quality. I don't tow anything, I don't haul much, and I don't wheel hardcore. Never had a problem or a desire for more.

 

[BlueHenT4R]

Yessir, stock springs. I feel pretty strongly that soft springs and stiffer shocks are the ideal combination for ride quality. I don't tow anything, I don't haul much, and I don't wheel hardcore. Never had a problem or a desire for more.

Mines currently at 115K miles. Bought 10K miles ago. As far as I can tell, nothing was ever replaced suspension-wise, and Toyota owner site indicates no shock/strut replacement by the one previous owner. So needless to say, my suspension is pretty well spent at this point. I particularly dislike going over dropoff sections of highway. It feels very floaty. Very sick feeling when doing 65 - 70 mph. I want to get that tightened up ASAP! I'm a bit leery about keeping the stock springs.

Another option I was looking at was the low lift OME setup from Slee which is supposed to be a 2" lift.

 

[Xrider237]

OP- if i may throw my 2c in, you need to decide how much lift you want, what type of lift you want and what you are willing to spend in addition to other items like spacers, tires etc....this can be a $500 or 2k+ project- there is no right or wrong answer here- its your ride after all

as mentioned- its hard to go wrong w 5100's and some low mileage FJ 4x4 springs (altho i think they are getting harder to find)...moog springs are an easy to find affordable option, but some people have mentioned the springs may not seat properly...the 5100's will give you several lift height options and you can add a small spacer in the back if you want...of course there is nothing wrong with going with higher priced options either

*also you def do not need 285's for travelling on the sand- i drive mine all the time on the beach on 265/70/17's and never come close to getting stuck- just need to air down the tires and drive accordingly

 

[68GTconvert]

Here is mine with that lift and 285 Nitto All Terrains. It definitely would have been easier to do with 275's but I wanted the bigger tires. The lift is great I think but I would've got the regular springs out back instead of the heavy duty ones I ordered the lift with. They are really stiff but I haul my dirt bike on a hitch carrier so that is why I got the heavier springs. They are actually breaking in now and are a lot better then when I first installed them.

 

[hearno]

Here is mine with that lift and 285 Nitto All Terrains. It definitely would have been easier to do with 275's but I wanted the bigger tires. The lift is great I think but I would've got the regular springs out back instead of the heavy duty ones I ordered the lift with. They are really stiff but I haul my dirt bike on a hitch carrier so that is why I got the heavier springs. They are actually breaking in now and are a lot better then when I first installed them.

Those have to be the smallest 285/70s ever. I had 255/80s on my 4th gen and couldn't turn the wheel much more than half a turn before they started to rub the mud guard on the rear of the wheel well. The front well required a lot of trimming to include the bumper. I had to remove the rear mud guards to stop the tire from pulling on the rear mud guard screw heads while flexed too.

 

[68GTconvert]

Well they are all terrains. They did rub on the UCA and the front fender liner. I easily fixed that with a 8mm spacer with longer wheel studs. Now it is fine. 275's like I said would be much easier.