Suspension upgrade recommendations for improved handling?

Looking for advice (from actual experience) on suspension upgrades to give a bit more firmness/ stability on my 2023 ORP. I confess I am not an avid offroader. But I do like having one vehicle in the stable that is ready if called upon. So please don’t throw stones about that. I do plan to change out the needle bearing while I am at it. Potentially 2.5 lift, UCAs. It already has Bilstein 5100 all around, but willling to sacrifice those as well if need be.
On a side note I also struggle with the mild steering shimmy at times around 60mph after a couple of balancing and tire combos. And I plan to keep looking for the magic solution for that. Frustrating! Love the 4R, but just enough dissatisfaction to be ready to tear into it a bit. I am not super talented with a wrench so will be outsourcing the work to somebody in the Atlanta area.
Any suggestions are appreciated! Appreciate this forum.

 

Just to make sure, you only want input from people with a 2.5" lift" (actual experience)?

 

Didn’t mean to be totally exclusionary. Just hoping thread doesn’t go down an unrelated rabbit trial. Im open.

 

I love off roading but on road handling is important to me too, which is why i got my TRD OR with KDSS which was a great decision, handels so well for a truck/SUV. I do need new shocks soon so I will likely go with Eibach since they will be a better balance between the stiffer Bilstein and soft stock for my off roading, KDSS does most of the handling work so i think they will do well.
Eibach also have additional options for lifted 4R's as well they may fit you better.

 

For a stock weight to slightly heavier than stock weight, I have been very happy with the road handling and ride comfort of a Dobinson IMS kit. Just follow the recommendations for your setup on the Exit Off Road website, have the front struts assembled by crikeymike, and it’s a drop in solution.

The handling is so much nicer. No more nose dive, feels tighter, very well controlled, and generally has that premium damping feel you’d expect on a heavy sports sedan. They shine when driving fast down old two lane B roads out in farm country. If anything, it gives you too much confidence in its handling. It feels great, but it’s still a top heavy body on frame suv, and the shocks don’t really change that reality when it comes to edge of the envelope manuevering. For that reason, it’s best to keep lift height at a minumum. I initially ran them at 2.5 front, and 1.5 rear for what it’s worth.

Off road, I’m a little less pleased about them with time, primarily because when one side of the rear axle is suddenly unloaded (when one tire slips off a ledge for example), the sudden extension is very poorly damped, so it tends to spring out with a loud clunk. But it’s not an everyday issue when I’m off road.

 

Have a 23 with KDSS and went with Bilstein 6112's in the front (and coils) set at 2.7", Bilstein 5160's (and coils) in the rear at 1.5". Replaced the UCA's with SPC's as well, it rides awesome to me.

 

Will definitely put this on the options list to research. Sounds like the results I am hoping for.

 

I have a 23 ORP with KDSS that I installed a set of OME BP-51s with OME front upper control arms. I went with medium weight springs but If you aren't planning on running a front bumper/winch, armor, and a rear bumper, or rear swing-arm, you could go probably with light weight springs. I have about 50K miles on mine so far and absolutely love them. I got about a 2.5-3in lift, on mine which allowed me to get some 285/70/17 Falcon A/T 3W in C-load range tires installed.

They have adjustable rebound and dampening so you can set them up, just how you like, and they are easily adjustable, so you can have one setup for on-road, and another for off road. They eliminated the front nose dive upon hard braking, way flatter in the corners, steering feels better, and I think on most roads it rides better on than stock. There are a few instances, bad rail road crossings, large sharp speed bumps, were I think stock was slightly better. My wife thinks it drives and rides better than stock and better than her Subaru Forester. They really shine off-road, much smother, more controlled, and they haven't faded yet.

 

Very interesting! Definitely research worthy!

 

I do pretty hard turns to hearing tires squeak almost everyday. I love hearing that sound.
I prefer 4runners have no KDSS since comfort is a big thing for me.

From 2¼ lift Ironman FCP to 2.5in - 3in lift OME Nitro Sport & Elka 2.5DC allow me to have fun on corners. But OME Nitro was not comfy to my taste.

Even the factory TRD Pro fox you can have fun on corners. I do little hard breaks entering corner and gas on out.

Bilstien5100 did not give much of the confidence to play to my taste.

 

I’m extremely happy with my Bilstein 8112/5160 setup. The 8112s are really good on road, leagues above stock. Off road you’d be hard pressed to get anything better unless you pay over 10k for a fully custom setup and proper suspension tuning.

 

I have this Dobinsons set-up. I kept the factory UCA's. With a 2" lift, UCA's weren't necessary. It does everything I ask of it. I've been to Moab 3 times, including Hells Gate twice. I really like rock crawling, pushing the limit of the 4R and my abilities. You won't be doing any high speed desert stuff with it. I tried the high speed stuff once and the ride was unbearable. I couldn't keep up with the Tacomas I was with. Ride was too harsh. This Dobi set-up doesn't do anything great, but is very, very good overall. The price won't break the bank and I have had them for 80,000 miles with no issues. It is a bottom of the barrel option but the "value" is tough to beat. Rides decent, handles a lot better than stock and the nose dive disappeared. When the shocks finally give up the ghost, I'll replace with the same thing.

https://exitoffroad.com/product/dobinsons-1-to-3-5-build-a-kit-toyota-4runner-5th-gen/

 

I second everything in the first two paragraphs here. Haven't necessarily experienced the off road issue so can't comment on that. I love my IMS setup which is spec'd for my added weight.