JBA High Caster UCAs and Eibach 2.0 Coilovers

Hey Guys, I've been picking up lots of information on this forum regarding my new '24 ORP, so I thought its about time I make a contribution. My long term intention for this truck is to make some off roading/camping upgrades, and basically just have fun messing around with mods. I was in the Jeep world for a while doing all sorts of rock crawling, etc, and I Kinda got my fill of that stuff.

Anyway, I thought I'd post my initial observations regarding the Eibach 2.0 Coilovers matched up with the JBA high caster UCAs. I installed the parts this past Sunday, drove roughly 200 miles on them, and today had an alignment done. At the alignment shop, I asked the tech to get the caster on the plus side of 4.0, and obviously the Camber and toe into spec. He got the caster at 4.5 on both sides.

Since I'm still on 265s (Nitto Ridge Grapplers), and stock rear coils with a 3/4" spacer up top, I had to dial the Eibachs down quite a bit to achieve level. Driver's side coilover is dialed down to 3/4" above the bottom of the threads, and the passenger side is at 3/8" above the end of the threads. With this, i'm still a hair less than a 1/4" lower on the driver's side front.

Obviously, ride quality is subjective, but I believe this set up produces a ride that is superior to stock. I wouldn't call it a 'night and day' difference, but definitely more firm, not 'floaty,' reduced nose dive, and the high caster UCAs produce significantly better tracking - especially at highway speeds. The steering is also slightly 'heavier,' or 'tighter,' so to speak. Initially, I thought about doing the Eibach coilovers 'only,' but now I know that I wouldn't do them without the upgraded UCAs. The 4runner drives now like it should from the factory....IMO.

I'm sitting at [roughly] a 2.25" front lift, and with the 3/4" rear spacer (Cornfed), the truck is basically exactly level. I suspect the front will settle a bit over time, but if it doesn't, I'll more than likely do something with the rear to get back a slight forward rake. Eventually, I'll probably go up in tire size, but not until I burn some tread off these Nittos.

 

welcome

 

Welcome to the family. My understanding is that the Eibach springs will not settle...thus their 1,000,000 mile warranty on them (the springs on the coilovers, not the shocks).

 

Right, I've read that as well. But I've also read reviews wherein the owner claims that they 'did' experience some settling. Obviously, time will tell. I'm retired, and have lots of time to mess around with it. Another small, but interesting thing is that the alignment caused a small increase in height. ...and this is after driving is for a bit. Believe it or not, about a quarter inch..

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! Suspension is one of the most interesting things on a 4Runner.. to me. I like to hear about all the different combos that we drivers/enthusiasts come up with. Yours sounds good! You said alignment had a effect on the height? Do you think 4+ caster is the reason? We're right at 4, and I never thought to measure before/after.

 

Jeff...my hometown is Waukesha! ...and we also lived in Tomahawk for 13 years.

Yeah, I found it interesting that the alignment effected ride height. I was about a half in higher in the rear 'pre-alignment,' but that number decreased to less than a 1/4" post alignment. I'm gonna run it like this for a while, but I might eventually install the Eibach 1" springs out back, and maybe their shocks too.

 

Randy, Waukesha? What are you doing there? There are a few guys on the forum down around that area, like Milwaukee and such. I think there are a few things affected by alignment, ride height may be one. We found that right around 4.0 caster is what ours likes with the tire we run, handles well, goes down the road well, etc. Let me know if you're ever around Neillsville, we'll talk.

 

Jeff...I should have been more clear. Wisconsin is where I'm from, but we live in south Florida these days (for the past 11 years, actually). My wife and i both have family up there, so we get to Wisconsin at least once a year.

 

That's not entirely true especially if you haul a lot of stuff with them or toe they will settle

 

I agree. I've read a few posts where guys 'have' experienced some settling on the Eibach springs after several thousand miles. I keep a fair amount of weight in the back of my truck.

 

We too did the south Fla. thing, Sarasota to be exact, but moved back "home". Any luck with your 'issue'?

 

Well, no real 'issue,' so to speak. I'm just trying now to figure out what to do in the rear. I could just leave it, but I'll definitely have a squat when I load up for camping and travel. I've been seriously considering the Eibach Load Leveling system as I believe it would give me the best of both worlds. I could crank it up for hauling a load, and down for daily driving. I have a drawer system, and some tools I carry everyday, so I think I'd get the 200# (midrange) springs.

 

Double duty is a hard thing to tune for. Too much for 1, not enough for the other. I guess your plan is a happy medium.

 

Yea, that's what I'm hoping for. Time will tell. I might just go with the 1" Eibach springs, and call it a day. We'll see. I've noticed that the front coilovers have settled ever so slightly; about 1/8" to 3/16". ...and that has happened in less than 500 miles..

 

Just do the eibach rear springs and airbags you'll be fine

 

Also the eibach stage 2 with the adjustable coilover that we've done on a couple vehicles is also super nice cuz as it settles you can adjust

 

Do you have a recommendation on the airbags? I'd like to read some reviews.

 

Airbags are nothing special so any high quality airbag will do the trick and even when we are towing or have the vehicle loaded down it hardly takes any pressure to bring us level. And you can just run the nozzle to somewhere on the back bumper underneath the latch and just use a small bike pump

 

https://www.4runners.com/threads/air-bags-for-sag.16231/

 

I no longer do any crazy rock crawling, but I 'do' plan on doing some overlanding/camping out west next May where we're likely to encounter a very minor obstacles. I'm wondering how the airbags might negatively effect off-roading? I'm always carrying a compressor, btw..

 

It won't negatively affect anything

 

And if you're only sagging when you're load it down just put 8 to 10 lb of pressure in each side and call it good if that

 

I would start with there one inch lift coils in the rear you'll probably get one and a quarter out of them to start they will eventually settle down close to one inch maybe a little more if you're hauling a lot or constantly towing hence the airbags

 

Thanks. I like that plan a little better than the load leveling kit..