Shock’ing Discovery

It’s funny, I’ve been spending more time than I care to admit looking at lifts, springs and shocks. And it seems that all of the aftermarket stuff is geared towards people who add hundreds of pounds to their 4R. I carry zero weight and maybe one passenger most of the time. Last thing I need is stiffer springs.

I truly feel like a purple unicorn in this community.

 

Thank you for your efforts.

 

I planned on the 6112s, btw, but I was impatient and went with what was available (5100s). I have no regrets. My truck is pretty heavy - winch, skids, platform, roof rack, aux battery, 30 liter water tank, tools, kitchen, all stay on the truck. Sometimes I add a ladder and rear spare rack. It rides nice on and off road. They have done fine towing a 2700 lb RV, climbing rocks at Hidden Falls, hauling 19 fifty pound bags of concrete, etc…I work my truck hard. If it turns out they are all that are available, don’t sweat it. There is nothing wrong with 5100s. With stock springs you can set your height anywhere you like. Lots of folks have them on the lowest ring to level the truck. I think that is like .8” or so with stock springs. YMMV I think it is given as a range of .7”-1” or so iirc. All the way up is 2.5”-3”.

 

Lol oh yeah

 

The only picture I have of my 4r on level ground(creeper shot)

But setup is 2.5" front 1.25" rear.

My 4runner doesn't have much extra weight so I hunted around looking at different springs and spring rates. I ended up with dobinson 1.75" front coils, and eibach 4th gen 1" springs. Front is like 580lb and rear is 205lb... which is only slightly stiffer. So then with eibach struts set to 0, an couple of top hat spacers .

Rides very well, took me a while to get the tire pressure right but now it rides great

 

Then get the Ironman with their softer springs and call it done. Personal opinion (might be biased as that is what I have but I would be honest and tell you if I didn’t like it, but I do).

 

I just checked with Shocks Surplus tech support and he told me that the Bilstein 5100 only comes in one length for the 5th gen 4Runner.

The extended length is listed as 23.5” which is exactly what my rear stock shock measured. So that’s a no joy!

He did say they have varying lengths of 5100’s for other vehicle makes.

 

I think you made a good choice.

so far I have been unable to find the extension specs on those.

 

When I told the gentleman at Shocks Surplus my budget, this is what he suggested. Thoughts?

https://www.shocksurplus.com/produc...yota-4runner-4wd-w-2-75-lift-e80-82-071-01-22

 

There's a huge thread about this kit, most people have good things to say about it. If I recall correctly. I think I would pass on this if I were you, unless the height is adjustable. 2.75" up front means you're going to need UCA's most likely. If you can set it to 2" up front, then yeah it's probably a good option.

I'm actually considering the 2.0 version of this kit, because the coilovers come assembled and they're adjustable.

 

Cool thanks, he said and webpage said no UCA required but I would have to agree with you, I would prefer 2” up front. If I can come up with a decent 2/1 lift then I should be good to go. One of my main requests is that the new springs are not a lot stiffer than the originals. Like I said I travel really light, basically empty.

I would like to nominate myself as the poster child for “Just say No to spacer lifts”.

Not exactly how I want to be remembered but what the hell. If the shoe fits, wear it.

 

Eibach stage 1 link attached.

Information is pretty vague.

It appears that the front struts are adjustable like the Bilstein’s.

https://eibach.com/us/2000/E80-82-071-01-22-TOYOTA-4Runner-pro-truck-lift-system

 

dobinsons offers a good variety of springs. Crickeymike at exitoffroad.com is very responsive on this vendor forum if you have questions for him. He’s got standard rate springs, and the ims rear shocks come as “comfort valved” or standard valved. But being pressurized, they would probably be firmer than a ironman shock with a standard rate spring.

 

That comes with a 2.75" lift coil. Why replace a 3" lift (that you found maxed out your down travel) with a 2.75" lift?

Your IFS A-arm set-up only has so much room for down travel (and it's pretty limited). This is why lower lift heights are a better choice.

 

Yes that’s what I determined too. I’m not going to go with that setup. My plan is 2” front and 1” in the back.

I just posted what the guy suggested.

 

Ah yes, the mythical 2/1. The perfect lift height for the 4Runner, yet almost no one offers that unicorn for some reason.

God speed to you sir.

 

Thank you and so true.

This thread will be placed with the other hundreds of other threads on this very subject.

I have to admit, I have jumped head first into the suspension rabbit hole since I discovered the inherent shortcomings of my spacer lift. Oh how I wish I would have left it alone.

I really miss the days before the internet when we had an upgrade idea and went down to the local auto parts store and picked up whatever was available and were satisfied with that.

Anyway, I’m beginning to think that I will be running the spacer lift for quite some time due to the overwhelming amount of information, opinions and available options. I have become paralyzed with indecision.

 

The eibach kit is sweet, I just find their front coils to stiff for my liking

Eibach 1" rear springs could net more then 1"... I know mine did, but the eibach 1" rear springs, have a good spring rate (205lbs) which is perfect for those not so heavy rigs out there

Op are you running 285 70 17? Does your 4r have a body mount chop?

 

If you could adjust that to 2 in front, it might be a contender. A lot of people seem to like the way it rides.

I hear you! I'm at the same spot. I've been looking at suspension on and off for probably at least a year.

It really does seem unless you want to spend big bucks, there isn't really an ideal kit for what we want to do.

Like you, I don't carry a lot of extra weight, so I want stock rate springs in the rear. And I don't want to firm ride, honestly. I think the stock ride is a little on the firm side. I don't care about body roll or nosedive, if I cared about that I would not be driving a body on frame SUV.

I want a "1970s Cadillac, hit a speed bump at 25 and not feel a thing" type ride. Doesn't seem like anybody offers that, unless you want to spend big bucks on custom valved shocks.

Also, I know what you mean about just going into your local auto parts store. With too many options, paralysis by analysis is definitely real. With the ability to research so many things, it definitely takes me a long time to make a decision. When I was a kid, I would just order stuff out of Peterson's 4-Wheel and Off-road magazine, or the Summit Racing catalog.

I remember in the mid '90s borrowing my parents credit card to purchase my 4" Tuff Country leaf spring lift and Rancho RS5000 shocks for my Chevy square body pickup, lol. I didn't research that any further than seeing that they used the same kit on their project truck in the magazine, and if David Freiburger used it, it was good enough for me!

 

Great minds think alike.

Thank you!

I’ve actually stumbled on some videos where people admitted that they weren’t anymore satisfied with their high dollar suspensions then just a basic Bilstein setup.

Plus the top shelf stuff need overhauled on a regular basis. I follow Wonderhussy’s YouTube blog, she (Sarah) has a 2017’ off road with the Icon suspension and about every 6 months she’s bummed out cause her shocks need maintenance. She actually off roads extensively in the Death Valley area.

 

Yes, I am running 285-70-17 Nitto Ridge Grappler’s E load. I love those tires! That’s why I’m going through this fire drill trying to decide on a good solution that won’t put me in the dog house with the wife.

No tire rubbing at all. The only thing the dealership did was the front fender and liner nip and tuck. Plus I still have my mud flaps. I won’t do the BMC. That sounds ridiculous to me.

I will say the my dealership did a good job setting up and aligning the car. Drives great. They just offered me an inferior product.

 

I have to check that channel out, I've never heard of her. Yeah, I have zero interest in rebuilding any suspension components. I can't have my daily driver down for weeks or however long. The turnaround time is. If it was a weekend toy or some sort of a race vehicle, then that's a different story. IMO shocks are a wear item that are just replaced.

I guess it just depends on one's application and priorities.

I'm actually starting to think that one of the basic twin tube setups are probably the way to go on a daily driver. As cool as a monotube, sounds, like Kai said, they're under more pressure so they tend to be a little stiffer.

Rancho actually makes twin tube shocks for the 4Runners, the front strut comes fully assembled and is a 2-in lift. I'm kind of intrigued by it, though I can't find any reviews from anyone who's actually run it on a 4R. I think Rancho is one of those brands that was big 20 years ago, but has lost a lot of its reputation. I'm thinking it's probably lower end, but I'm still intrigued.

 

Why not just get the eibach rear shocks only?

That way your aren't changing your front end, which might change something and you'll end up rubbing

 

Adjustable, yes. At the time you put the shock assembly together. It uses clips like the Bilstein's...
The 2 kits I am eyeballing are the Eibach 2.0's with the Load Leveling rear spings and the Ironman's FCP full kit. Both of these just shocks/ springs for the time being as I plan on setting them to about 2" in the front until I get UCA's, diff drop and swaybar reloacte kit.

Like the other Unicorn, I also do not carry any additional weight unless the wife hits up Sam's Club with the IN-laws!

 

For a $130 spacer kit, my RC 2F/1R kit has served me well and accomplished the main purpose I bought it for, which was getting the wife used to/ ready to go even higher.
Now she wants it a "lil taller so she can look down on those dorky Jeep drivers!" Her words not mine. I think I fell in love with her all over again when she said that

For a billet aluminum front spacer with pressed in studs and welded steel rear spacers, you cant really go wrong if you are just looking for stance and appearance. Now if you are planning on some mid to serious off road, I would skip the spaces and go with a shock/ spring set up like the Bilstein 5100's set at the bottom clip setting and some OME or Dobinson springs. This would be a cheaper alternative than a full blown coilover kit.

 

The lowest front lift coil I've found for our trucks is a Toytec branded coil but they have Eibach make it for them. It's a 1.6" lift coil at 620lb which is a slightly higher spring rate than stock but not by much. I think it would still ride really nice. Pair these with some Eibach adjustable front shocks set to the 0" mark and your front end is done.

Rear end could remain stock height if you don't mind the level look. Just get a pair of rear Eibach shocks. 285's fit in this scenario fine (I have the exact same lift height).

Or you could put on some 1" Eibach rear coils and shocks if you want more height in the rear.

Or another option is adding a 1/2" spacer to your stock rear coils and Eibach rear shocks. I know you're trying to get rid of spacers but I don't think a 1/2" spacer in the back is going to wreck your truck. Better to have your shocks max out and be the limiting factor in your suspension as opposed to your coils popping out of place.

 

I had a nice chat with a local 4x4 shop that specializes in Toyota.

He agreed that for the desert driving I want to do, the 6112/5160 is the way to go for the price point. Said it’s more suited than the 5100 and some Eibach that lean more towards street.

I want a setup that will get me over rocky trails and washboards without having to drive really slow.

He also felt that I would need at least 2.5” lift in the front for the 285’s and new UCA’s.

 

Nice short video highlighting the 6112. The driving conditions are very similar to mine.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XwXKHnLyNZs

 

I’d like to hear from the Pro owners, not the Pro hater’s how the stock Fox Pro suspension is working out. Especially on washboard roads and off road.

I was thinking about the Bilstein 6112/5160 setup, but it looks like I can get a Fox Pro setup for the same money. I’ve read some reports that the Bilstein set up is a little stiff for washboard roads.

Thanks

 

Washboards using a Bilstein 5100 vs a Bilstein 8112. Start vid at the 4:00 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqLVRJbJ2vQ&t=2s