Suspension upgrade?

I am wondering about making some suspension upgrades to improve ride, especially out on the trails. Let's just say certain attributes of mine are getting overly jostled around and I refuse to restrain them. They are free to be, just like me.

So what suspension upgrades have you guys made to your Gen 2's?

 

Sorry I have no recommendations for the second gen. I will say that digressive shocks, like Bilstein, are pretty harsh on smaller bumps. A progressive shock might be a better choice to help keep "things" from bouncing around so much.

 

I dont mind a bounce, its the brutal jarring bump that's killing me. Milkshaking is ok but butter making not good. Lol

 

Lol! I really think a progressive type of shock will be ideal for you.

 

What springs do you have in the rear? What shocks you currently running?

 

Stock I would imagine

 

Interesting, those appear to be gas adjustable shocks. You might be able to just simply reduce the PSI in them. Doing some research now.

 

Bleh, nevermind, it's just a monotube shock, watch the video below for explanation. My advice, start researching for new shocks now, if you want something softer, looking into the Fox 2.0.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_V4JAIOF2c

 

Personally, I love KYB gas-adjust-shocks and have them on two of my rides....

 

Am wondering if our KYB's are just old and maybe due for replacement? I mean it is a 91 and considering the state everything else was in when we got her, I don't doubt they may need replacing. Only one of the 4 had the label still on it. Also maybe my driver aka hubby needs to take it a little easier on the trails. He always hits them like he is in a baja race or something. Hard on me and hard on the machine. He needs to learn slow and steady is smooth and makes the DDs happy.

 

I had the Bilstien 5100’s on my 02, and i thought they performed really well.

 

If he’s bajaing then you need some more raceworthy suspension, the stock stuff and stock replacement stuff is only going to work well on pavement and gravel.

If you’re straight up doing some trails and wanting to push the vehicle, then research:
Fox
Icon
Toytec
Radflo

 

I went through this process a year ago.

If you are basically happy with the ride except for the worn out shocks, you can go down to the local parts store and buy “OEM” shocks.

If you want to upgrade your suspension, there are a few options. When I bought my truck all 4 shocks were worn out and the rear springs sagged badly. I knew a winch and front bumper were in the plans so I needed 4 shocks, rear springs and front balljoint spacers or heavier torsion bars. I went with an OME 2 inch lift kit with new torsion bars. I am very happy with the ride, firm but not harsh.

Your choices for upgraded shocks for the 2nd Gen are limited as compared to the later generations. I know Bilstein has shocks and Dobson sells springs and torsion bars and you can piece part your suspension together. Personally I have not had much luck with this process on past projects. The shocks were either under or over valved and the springs were usually too stiff. I am sure others have had good results with this process, but not me. That’s why I went with the OME complete kit, shock damping and springs rates are matched for the 4Runner.

And I drop my tire pressure to 15psi as soon as I leave the pavement, that also helps the ride quality.

Good Luck!

 

The key to better suspension is more wheel travel. The immediate solution is a BJ spacer kit. It will spread apart the A-arms by 1.5" and this will slightly increase the wheel travel with a properly sized shock. With the OEM torsions dialed back by 20-25 turns at the anchor the ride height can be brought back to near stock and the upper A-arm will be near horizontal. The track width increases by almost 3/4" per side so the lower A-arm adjustment cams need to be adjusted to get the camber back. The tie rod adjusters are lengthened as well to reset the toe set. This greatly increases the compliance of the front suspension. As this is not the case when the A-arm is in stock trim it is inclined downward slightly and this decreases the compliance at the front wheel. But it also helps with controlling the roll center and that is the compromise. I have installed these BJ spacers and am running the OME torsion bars since the X-Bull winch and AllPro bumper went on. The slightly longer M95 Monotubes I am running are decarbon shocks but SkyJacker has no idea what the force/velocity values are for the compression and rebound damping. The rear has 1-1/2" Daystar spacers on top of the rear 1991 OEM springs and longer than stock M95's at the axle as well. The 4Runner fairly sucks up speed bumps and at 40MPH you hardly feel them at all. The DD's would like this! When I push it in rougher stuff the M95's get a bit overwhelmed and it is best to keep all four wheels in contact with the ground!...

The Blazeland Long travel arms are on order and I have found some MetalTech™ rear coils with 104 lb/in and 220 lb'in dual rate springs that are for a Lexus GX470/GX460. I have some left over Bilsteins from the RR and plan on running those with the Blazeland long travel arms and Lexus coils. But once you start pushing the OEM rear suspension much past 8" of travel the parking brake cables need to go away and that means a Trail gear economy disk brake conversion and a t-case parking disk brake kit mounted to a gear drive t-case.

 

Huh? I just want to know: Brand/Part#s for coil, shock and spacer replacement for my lifted (how much? I don't know) '95. Seems like I need 4 extended shocks (brand? Part #?) and some coils for the rear with spacers. decarbon is that a brand or type? Guessing it is Decarbon? Is there a length or part number? BJ Spacer Kit. Is that for the rear only? BJ ....brand name?

Thanks, EN

 

BJ is an abbreviation for a ball joint spacer kit. They can be found $40 on eBay but you have to cut your upper a-arm to get then to fit. See my 2nd generation build page in the other section of this forum for more details and P/N's on my build-up. Decarbon is a shock design criteria which Bilstein follows as do many other designs were the oil is separated from the gas charge by a floating piston that resides in the same tube housing as the damping piston shock shaft and oil or is separate in a remote reservoir. www.4crawler.com is an excellent resource for information on the infamous idler arm issue.