coilover shocks

[partsman93274]

Has anyone found a part number for coilover rear shocks that will fit a 2nd gen 4runner? I tow with a trailer and have already replaced the rear coils that were sagging. Just want a little help when loaded down.

[DHC6twinotter]

Are you wanting to run a set of coilovers in addition to the stock coils?

Have you thought about airbags? Several members are using them with good results, and they appear pretty easy to install. They sit inside your stock coils. When you're not towing, you can let some of the air out so your ride quality doesn't suffer.

Just my $.02. :thumbup:

[Obi..]

FJC coils FTW! Basically a factory alternative to the OME leveling coils. Use either and you're problems are solved.
A little harsher ride unladen, but no other drawbacks.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/3351242606_a2ec091863_b.jpg

Fully loaded for an expedition in and around the Sierra Nevada mountains, with over 500lbs of gear stowed inside.
Sat level and stable the whole way. :D
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3531/3751802318_d36a9278a1_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2567/3994202825_ec79476974_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/3994967236_75c9ddf6f6_b.jpg

[DHC6twinotter]

Shane, I haven't heard of that option. Interesting. Do the FJC coils give you any lift? Any idea how they compare to the 80 series coils?

Partsman, you can also use the coils from a 80 series Land Cruiser (can't remember if you use the front coils or the rear coils---it's opposite whatever the 3rd gens use). They will give you some lift, and they are stiffer than stock. Not sure if they are stiff enough for what you have to tow though.

[Seanz0rz]

problem with stiffer or longer springs is your butt will be up in the air when you are not loaded, harsher ride, misaligned headlights, etc. the proper solution to your problem is airbags.

www.airliftcompany.com (http://www.airliftcompany.com) has a great product. part number 60812 is what you want for a 1993 4runner. im fairly certain its the same for all 2nd gen 4runners. its an inexpensive solution. the kit can be had for around 75 dollars from amazon or any number of other companies. alot of us here run the airbags, and they work great!

[4x4mike]

Nother vote for the air bags. They can be installed in less than an hour and can be used only when you need them if you want. I tend to run about 15 psi in them all the time. I know I had more than 20 psi in them during the second pic. I had them inflated for the trip but forgot to air them down when I unloaded the rig and hit the dunes. These things are bomber and I haven't done a thing to them since day one.


http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/DSC06775.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Jump.jpg

[Obi..]

*But bags don't necessarily resolve the saggy butt issue of the underrated factory springs, and although nice for towing, you can get far better performance my way (IMHO).

Mike, check your pm's there's an invite for you! :angel:

Partsman, go with whatever you wish, my thought (and again IMHO, no offense here, but it's the 3rd gen guys voting for bags..they have the upgraded coils already...Toyota figured things out by then.) You posted this subject in the 2nd Gen 4Runner forum, I assume you have a 2nd Gen Runner, so I would say unless they've ridden in a 2nd Gen bagged, I invite Mike to do a ride-along and reconsider his options as mine rides nice. ;)

[Obi..]

Shane, I haven't heard of that option. Interesting. Do the FJC coils give you any lift? Any idea how they compare to the 80 series coils?

Partsman, you can also use the rear coils from a 80 series Land Cruiser. They will give you easily a 3" lift, and they are stiffer than stock. Not sure if they are stiff enough for what you have to tow though. You will also need to use a set of SDORI/4Crawler 1.5"-2" Balljoint spacers and a panhard bar drop bracket, also from 4Crawler.


Fixed it for you. :thumbup: :thumbup: 80-series=Stinkbug and must use 2" ball-joint spacers. FJC-Series=Level, choice if you want to keep the rake, then do 1" or 1.5" ball-joint spacers. Both setups need a LSPV lift, IIRC the 80-series uses a 5-1/2" bracket, bolts centered at 4-1/4" while the FJC-series uses a 4-1/2" bracket bolts spaced at 3-1/2". Lifts using 80-Series coils, wanting a stiffer rate and easily a 3" lift goto the Sequoia coils. Sequoia rate>80-series rate.

It took a lot of work and experimentation to figure this all out. Trust me on it.

FJC Rear Coils are the exact same as my coils. Same rate, rating, etc. They only level the ride as does the OME level kit. You only turn the torsion bars up another 2 to 2-1/2 full turns to bring things back in line, and actually want to do this to balance out the front to rear spring rates so you do not experience front end drop/plow (Lance will remember back to this subject when I pointed out it was his yaw control sensor causing him to have running issues on his 4Runner, so I do know what I am teaching here ;).) Technically you change the vehicle's stature from a sagging rear to level, in effect, technically a leveling, 2 to 2-1/2 change in height out back. The LSPV bracket, as with the 80-series setup fixes the line pressure.

[slosurfer]

If you already have new coils and are towing anything bigger than my overloaded M416, then I would vote for airbags. :thumbup:

[Obi..]

D-OH! (Thanks Chris!) Crap what have I gotten myself into this time? :laugh:

Here's what we used on the '93 we just finished..

Shock: ome n98 front, ome n72 rear

FJC Coils

SDORI Spacers.

OME Torsions= http://www.oldmanemu.com/item.html?pid=2504
:thumbup:

[Seanz0rz]

with the air bags at 5psi, you dont even know they are there. when i offroad, i pull out the valve and put the cap back on so they can breath, but not suck dirt. typically i keep mine about 10 psi, and when im fully loaded and towing the trailer i have them about 25.

i think they are the best option to keep stock ride height for both empty vehicle and fully loaded duty. out of all the options, they are possibly the cheapest and easiest to install, adjust, and maintain.

[slosurfer]

:laugh: No worries. :) I agree though, that with a 2nd gen, you generally need to get new coils and then airbags. :thumbup:

Sean, I thinks that was the point that he was making, the 2nd gen coils suck with no load. They need to be swapped out first to get back to normal ride height, and then airbags. I think the 3rd gens have better stock coils, so airbags work great in the stock coils.

[Obi..]

*Still waiting for the.. :lol: He said but bags! :spit:










You guys are lettng me down here. :tongueout: C'Mon Steve, I see you lurking..free shot. :hillbill:

.

[Crinale]

oh, and cruiser coils net more than 3" over stock... lol... mine went up 4.5 inches with the 80-series coils... course i was saggin a lot too... if i towed or hauled much, i would get airbags in my cruiser coils... as the 80 coils are actually pretty soft (great for off-road), they lean a LOT in corners even unloaded... it was kinda scary carrying the ~400lbs of wood in the 4runner for the pismo jambo...

[partsman93274]

After already replacing the coils (which wasn't the most fun I ever had) I believe that airbags will be my option. Thanks for the input everyone.

[4x4mike]

*But bags don't necessarily resolve the saggy butt issue of the underrated factory springs, and although nice for towing, you can get far better performance my way (IMHO).

The saggy butt is the only reason I bought them and they work perfectly. I don't know they're back there and unladen with 20 psi in them the rear is about 3" taller than the front. I do have a trailer and even with the rear cargo area full (like super heavy) and pulling 1500 pounds the 4runner is perfectly level and drives great.

[Crinale]

mike, you also drive a 3rd gen, which has been mentioned that they have better springs already... the 2nd gens have horrid springs stock

[4x4mike]

I do have '99 springs but unloaded without the bags my rear is quite sagged.

[CJM]

Yes airbags imho.

This way you can add or take away lift and capacity-unlike coils which your stuck with.

[partsman93274]

So I put the bags in and they work great. Now feeling like a dummy, while under there I find the original shocks. I bought this 4 runner used with 300,000 on the ticker and a freshly rebuilt 22re. Guess the previous owner preferred bouncing around. :asshat: I'm sure this will help with sag and ride as well.

[4x4mike]

What do you mean you found the shocks?

Glad to hear the bags work.

[partsman93274]

They were the oringal manufacture shocks with 300,000 miles on them. I have a buddy that works in the parts department of a toyota dealer and he ran the production numbers on them to find they were built the same year as my 4runner. Crazy to find a 18 year old shock on a vehicle with this many miles. The thing had no resistance at all. I drilled holes in them out of curiosty and they still had oil in them. They sure knew how to build them back then.