Downey suspension kit - Page 2

fooddude · 01-20-2004, 01:43 PM

does anyone have any pictures of the downey rear 3 in kit because i am contemplating on getting this.

goatboy22382 · 01-20-2004, 02:29 PM

here is a link to the pics. I should also say that the spacer did get a little off center from the spring. nothing like it is going to fall out or anything. just a little out of the groove.

http://community.webshots.com/user/goatboy22382

fooddude · 01-20-2004, 05:39 PM

thanks goatboy i really like the looks of your runner i think i am going to go with this kit. From the looks of it the back looks pretty even with the front. Was this kit very hard to install?

goatboy22382 · 01-20-2004, 08:27 PM

the kit was really easy to install. i did it in 4 or 5 hours with basic hand tools. there are a coup;e write ups around here. you may also think about taping the spacers to the coil so that they dont come apart like mine did.

fooddude · 01-20-2004, 09:00 PM

so from what i understand the kit comes with coils, spacers, brakelines, and some other stuff.

goatboy22382 · 01-21-2004, 06:49 AM

thats right, comes with all the hardware you need.

ldivinag · 01-29-2004, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fooddude
so from what i understand the kit comes with coils, spacers, brakelines, and some other stuff.

dont forget the shocks.

remember the rear is VERY simple.

unlike ifs where it's very simple but crappy ride or very expensive.

before their wacky front end kit, they also had the upper racho arms only combine with their t-bars to achieve the lift.

but that lift was goofy in the sense that when the tires drooped, the tires tend to bow in. that's because both lower and upper arms dont maintain a parallel configuation during wheel travel.

my version of the WCOR kit has that issue too...

VolcomTacoma · 02-12-2004, 04:40 PM

Here are some pics from Total Chaos' website of their 4wd long travel kit.

anthony1 · 02-17-2004, 10:50 PM

Here's my truck with downey 3" rear and cranked t-bar front with 2" body lift and 33x12.50

http://home.earthlink.net/~audiorat1...s/4runner1.jpg

Here's what it looks like now...in themiddle of another transformation.

http://home.earthlink.net/~audiorat1...one2-15-04.jpg

fooddude · 02-19-2004, 09:03 PM

dang the rig looks really good. IN the second pic it looks like your front is way higher than the rear, and i know you have new coils so did you crank the Tbars to much or what.

anthony1 · 02-19-2004, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fooddude

dang the rig looks really good. IN the second pic it looks like your front is way higher than the rear, and i know you have new coils so did you crank the Tbars to much or what.

uh...no, the front, I went to the dark side...SAS.

The rear, I'm going to use fj80 2.5" lift springs with Allpro Links.

fooddude · 02-21-2004, 08:58 PM

oh duh :pat: now i see that solid axle. I talk before i think too often.

fooddude · 03-28-2004, 07:10 PM

does the downey 3 inch kit come with the coils. Because i read somewhere that it only comes with coil spacers and panhard drop bracket. Im a little confused right now, so if someone could clear this all up it would be a big help.

greg mgm · 03-28-2004, 08:03 PM

Good thread- - - Does anyone know if its possible to use a coil adjuster setup in the rear (2nd gen). Not a coilover shock, but a threaded spacer with adjusting rings. Seems like it would be a perfect solution. Greg

goatboy22382 · 03-29-2004, 06:42 AM

downey selss the coils as 1.5 in lift kit and then the spacers and drop are sold separatly as an upgrade to make 3in total.

anthony1 · 03-29-2004, 10:43 AM

Here's pics of Downey 3" kit flexing...with RS9017 shocks.

http://home.earthlink.net/~audiorat1...ex/Oct2701.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~audiorat1...ex/Oct2702.jpg

I'd recommend it to anyone that wants 3" lift in the rear.

Install is easy...
Put your truck frame on the stands
Keep jack under the pumkin.
remove the lower shocks from the mounting point...two bolts
remove upper shocks mount (hard to get too without body lift)....two bolts
remove the upper link at the axle...two bolts.
remove the upper pan hard rod....one bolt.
lower the jack slowly, the spings should loosen up and take out by hand..No spring compressor needed.
Install the bumpstops extension.
lower it some more to put in the new spirngs with spacer on top.
install the pan hard rod extension.
jack up the axle...line up the upper link to the holes and install the links.
install the pan hard rod to the extension.
Install new shocks.

Done.

that's just from memory.....

4cedRunner · 03-30-2004, 03:13 PM

Downey kits are a good chioce if you want a kit that can mildly wheel and go faster than stock in the desert. If you really want desert performance, Downey is less than ideal, and same goes for in the rocks. Their products are less than the highest quality and their ego is a bit inflated. They have been around forever but that is pretty much what keeps them around. For every product they make, there is abetter alternative available for a similar cost. Their rear coils have been known to sag and even break, OME coils don't do either of those things. I personally agree that Downey is over rated and their rep as an innovator of Toyota aftermarket is undeserved. Look around forums like http://www.desertrides.com and http://www.dezertrangers.com and ask about Downey quality. I really don't want to knock any particular company but I feel your money will be best spent elsewhere. A lot of products work well for crawling but at speed they will not last. Why not have the ability to do both? Especially because we spend more time on road (at speed) than off. Total Chaos' caddy kit for 1st gen. IFS systems is unreal and will soon be offered with coil over mounts so you can finally ditch those traction bars. http://www.chaosfab.com If you don't want to run fiberglass, bushwacker cut-out flares or just plain cutting your fenders will work fine also.

4cedRunner · 03-30-2004, 03:16 PM

as I said, downey will flex ok but can it do this?

http://www.chaosfab.com/bottompics/toyuni5_03.jpg

I am not saying you need to this but why not be able to, it might change the way you think about what is possible in a 4WD vehicle. Total Chaos does both very very well. I guarantee if you tried this with Downey you would break just about every component of their kit.

fooddude · 03-30-2004, 03:24 PM

Im not exactly planning on jumping my runner, and i dont have the cash to fork over for a TC kit. I think i could do a SAS for the same price.

4cedRunner · 03-30-2004, 03:54 PM

Even if you could properly do an SAS for the same price, (unless you are a skilled fabricator and have a second vehicle) which you can't, why would you want to when IFS can do it all? SAS' can be awesome, i'm even researching something for my truck as we speak. Even if you don't want to spring for TC, You are better of with some of the other IFS kits out there.

01-20-2004, 01:43 PM	#26 (permalink)
fooddude Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Edmond OKlahoma Posts: 735	does anyone have any pictures of the downey rear 3 in kit because i am contemplating on getting this. __________________ 95 SR5 4x4 4runner Sony Xploid cd player(not sure which one) Rockford fosgate 900 watt 2 channel amp, 2 600 watt kenwood 10 inch subs. Some cheap cb from walmart Surco safari rack with 2 KC Daylighters 15x8 tech 1 rock crawlers Spintech exaust external fuse box mod. Airbox MOD. K@N Air Filter. ISR MOD Downey HD's

01-20-2004, 02:29 PM	#27 (permalink)
goatboy22382 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 187	pics here is a link to the pics. I should also say that the spacer did get a little off center from the spring. nothing like it is going to fall out or anything. just a little out of the groove. http://community.webshots.com/user/goatboy22382 __________________ 94 4runner, v6, auto, 4WD, optima red top, headers and exaust,K&N fipk, 3 in downey lift, manual hubs, 33x12.50 bfg mud terrains, 10lb power tank Last edited by goatboy22382 : 01-20-2004 at 04:47 PM.

01-20-2004, 05:39 PM	#28 (permalink)
fooddude Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Edmond OKlahoma Posts: 735	thanks goatboy i really like the looks of your runner i think i am going to go with this kit. From the looks of it the back looks pretty even with the front. Was this kit very hard to install? __________________ 95 SR5 4x4 4runner Sony Xploid cd player(not sure which one) Rockford fosgate 900 watt 2 channel amp, 2 600 watt kenwood 10 inch subs. Some cheap cb from walmart Surco safari rack with 2 KC Daylighters 15x8 tech 1 rock crawlers Spintech exaust external fuse box mod. Airbox MOD. K@N Air Filter. ISR MOD Downey HD's

01-20-2004, 08:27 PM	#29 (permalink)
goatboy22382 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 187	the kit was really easy to install. i did it in 4 or 5 hours with basic hand tools. there are a coup;e write ups around here. you may also think about taping the spacers to the coil so that they dont come apart like mine did. __________________ 94 4runner, v6, auto, 4WD, optima red top, headers and exaust,K&N fipk, 3 in downey lift, manual hubs, 33x12.50 bfg mud terrains, 10lb power tank

01-20-2004, 09:00 PM	#30 (permalink)
fooddude Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Edmond OKlahoma Posts: 735	so from what i understand the kit comes with coils, spacers, brakelines, and some other stuff. __________________ 95 SR5 4x4 4runner Sony Xploid cd player(not sure which one) Rockford fosgate 900 watt 2 channel amp, 2 600 watt kenwood 10 inch subs. Some cheap cb from walmart Surco safari rack with 2 KC Daylighters 15x8 tech 1 rock crawlers Spintech exaust external fuse box mod. Airbox MOD. K@N Air Filter. ISR MOD Downey HD's

01-21-2004, 06:49 AM	#31 (permalink)
goatboy22382 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 187	thats right, comes with all the hardware you need. __________________ 94 4runner, v6, auto, 4WD, optima red top, headers and exaust,K&N fipk, 3 in downey lift, manual hubs, 33x12.50 bfg mud terrains, 10lb power tank

02-12-2004, 04:40 PM	#33 (permalink)
VolcomTacoma Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 411	Here are some pics from Total Chaos' website of their 4wd long travel kit.

02-17-2004, 10:50 PM	#34 (permalink)
anthony1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: torrance, CA. Posts: 877	Here's my truck with downey 3" rear and cranked t-bar front with 2" body lift and 33x12.50 http://home.earthlink.net/~audiorat1...s/4runner1.jpg Here's what it looks like now...in themiddle of another transformation. http://home.earthlink.net/~audiorat1...one2-15-04.jpg __________________ http://www.angelfire.com/ca6/954runner GOD's Country Best Seen In A 4 Runner. SAS front: lf,ARB,Ml4",Marlin arms, rear: cable elock,APlinks,OEmu860,35MT/R 5spd, 4:1.

02-19-2004, 09:03 PM	#35 (permalink)
fooddude Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Edmond OKlahoma Posts: 735	dang the rig looks really good. IN the second pic it looks like your front is way higher than the rear, and i know you have new coils so did you crank the Tbars to much or what. __________________ 95 SR5 4x4 4runner Sony Xploid cd player(not sure which one) Rockford fosgate 900 watt 2 channel amp, 2 600 watt kenwood 10 inch subs. Some cheap cb from walmart Surco safari rack with 2 KC Daylighters 15x8 tech 1 rock crawlers Spintech exaust external fuse box mod. Airbox MOD. K@N Air Filter. ISR MOD Downey HD's

02-21-2004, 08:58 PM	#37 (permalink)
fooddude Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Edmond OKlahoma Posts: 735	oh duh :pat: now i see that solid axle. I talk before i think too often. __________________ 95 SR5 4x4 4runner Sony Xploid cd player(not sure which one) Rockford fosgate 900 watt 2 channel amp, 2 600 watt kenwood 10 inch subs. Some cheap cb from walmart Surco safari rack with 2 KC Daylighters 15x8 tech 1 rock crawlers Spintech exaust external fuse box mod. Airbox MOD. K@N Air Filter. ISR MOD Downey HD's

03-28-2004, 07:10 PM	#38 (permalink)
fooddude Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Edmond OKlahoma Posts: 735	does the downey 3 inch kit come with the coils. Because i read somewhere that it only comes with coil spacers and panhard drop bracket. Im a little confused right now, so if someone could clear this all up it would be a big help. __________________ 95 SR5 4x4 4runner Sony Xploid cd player(not sure which one) Rockford fosgate 900 watt 2 channel amp, 2 600 watt kenwood 10 inch subs. Some cheap cb from walmart Surco safari rack with 2 KC Daylighters 15x8 tech 1 rock crawlers Spintech exaust external fuse box mod. Airbox MOD. K@N Air Filter. ISR MOD Downey HD's

03-28-2004, 08:03 PM	#39 (permalink)
greg mgm Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pine Cove/ Idyllwild, CA Posts: 16	Good thread- - - Does anyone know if its possible to use a coil adjuster setup in the rear (2nd gen). Not a coilover shock, but a threaded spacer with adjusting rings. Seems like it would be a perfect solution. Greg

03-29-2004, 06:42 AM	#40 (permalink)
goatboy22382 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 187	downey selss the coils as 1.5 in lift kit and then the spacers and drop are sold separatly as an upgrade to make 3in total. __________________ 94 4runner, v6, auto, 4WD, optima red top, headers and exaust,K&N fipk, 3 in downey lift, manual hubs, 33x12.50 bfg mud terrains, 10lb power tank

03-29-2004, 10:43 AM	#41 (permalink)
anthony1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: torrance, CA. Posts: 877	Here's pics of Downey 3" kit flexing...with RS9017 shocks. http://home.earthlink.net/~audiorat1...ex/Oct2701.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~audiorat1...ex/Oct2702.jpg I'd recommend it to anyone that wants 3" lift in the rear. Install is easy... Put your truck frame on the stands Keep jack under the pumkin. remove the lower shocks from the mounting point...two bolts remove upper shocks mount (hard to get too without body lift)....two bolts remove the upper link at the axle...two bolts. remove the upper pan hard rod....one bolt. lower the jack slowly, the spings should loosen up and take out by hand..No spring compressor needed. Install the bumpstops extension. lower it some more to put in the new spirngs with spacer on top. install the pan hard rod extension. jack up the axle...line up the upper link to the holes and install the links. install the pan hard rod to the extension. Install new shocks. Done. that's just from memory..... __________________ http://www.angelfire.com/ca6/954runner GOD's Country Best Seen In A 4 Runner. SAS front: lf,ARB,Ml4",Marlin arms, rear: cable elock,APlinks,OEmu860,35MT/R 5spd, 4:1. Last edited by anthony1 : 03-29-2004 at 11:15 AM.

03-30-2004, 03:13 PM	#42 (permalink)
4cedRunner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Santa Cruz, CA, USA Posts: 39	Downey kits are a good chioce if you want a kit that can mildly wheel and go faster than stock in the desert. If you really want desert performance, Downey is less than ideal, and same goes for in the rocks. Their products are less than the highest quality and their ego is a bit inflated. They have been around forever but that is pretty much what keeps them around. For every product they make, there is abetter alternative available for a similar cost. Their rear coils have been known to sag and even break, OME coils don't do either of those things. I personally agree that Downey is over rated and their rep as an innovator of Toyota aftermarket is undeserved. Look around forums like http://www.desertrides.com and http://www.dezertrangers.com and ask about Downey quality. I really don't want to knock any particular company but I feel your money will be best spent elsewhere. A lot of products work well for crawling but at speed they will not last. Why not have the ability to do both? Especially because we spend more time on road (at speed) than off. Total Chaos' caddy kit for 1st gen. IFS systems is unreal and will soon be offered with coil over mounts so you can finally ditch those traction bars. http://www.chaosfab.com If you don't want to run fiberglass, bushwacker cut-out flares or just plain cutting your fenders will work fine also. __________________ Sean 1996 SR5 4x4 V6 Auto. TRD Charger, SAW 2.5"x8.0" Coil overs, OME rears, Total Chaos Uni-Ball upper A arms, 285/75/16 BFG Mud's, 16x8" Mickey Thompson Classic rims, Yukon 4.88's, ARB rear locker, quick airII compressor, Custom rear bumper with swing away, 4Crawler Rock Sliderz and 1" body lift, AOR stainless brake line, Yakima rail riders w/2 King Cobra's & 2 Vipers

03-30-2004, 03:16 PM	#43 (permalink)
4cedRunner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Santa Cruz, CA, USA Posts: 39	as I said, downey will flex ok but can it do this? http://www.chaosfab.com/bottompics/toyuni5_03.jpg I am not saying you need to this but why not be able to, it might change the way you think about what is possible in a 4WD vehicle. Total Chaos does both very very well. I guarantee if you tried this with Downey you would break just about every component of their kit. __________________ Sean 1996 SR5 4x4 V6 Auto. TRD Charger, SAW 2.5"x8.0" Coil overs, OME rears, Total Chaos Uni-Ball upper A arms, 285/75/16 BFG Mud's, 16x8" Mickey Thompson Classic rims, Yukon 4.88's, ARB rear locker, quick airII compressor, Custom rear bumper with swing away, 4Crawler Rock Sliderz and 1" body lift, AOR stainless brake line, Yakima rail riders w/2 King Cobra's & 2 Vipers

03-30-2004, 03:24 PM	#44 (permalink)
fooddude Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Edmond OKlahoma Posts: 735	Im not exactly planning on jumping my runner, and i dont have the cash to fork over for a TC kit. I think i could do a SAS for the same price. __________________ 95 SR5 4x4 4runner Sony Xploid cd player(not sure which one) Rockford fosgate 900 watt 2 channel amp, 2 600 watt kenwood 10 inch subs. Some cheap cb from walmart Surco safari rack with 2 KC Daylighters 15x8 tech 1 rock crawlers Spintech exaust external fuse box mod. Airbox MOD. K@N Air Filter. ISR MOD Downey HD's

03-30-2004, 03:54 PM	#45 (permalink)
4cedRunner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Santa Cruz, CA, USA Posts: 39	Even if you could properly do an SAS for the same price, (unless you are a skilled fabricator and have a second vehicle) which you can't, why would you want to when IFS can do it all? SAS' can be awesome, i'm even researching something for my truck as we speak. Even if you don't want to spring for TC, You are better of with some of the other IFS kits out there. __________________ Sean 1996 SR5 4x4 V6 Auto. TRD Charger, SAW 2.5"x8.0" Coil overs, OME rears, Total Chaos Uni-Ball upper A arms, 285/75/16 BFG Mud's, 16x8" Mickey Thompson Classic rims, Yukon 4.88's, ARB rear locker, quick airII compressor, Custom rear bumper with swing away, 4Crawler Rock Sliderz and 1" body lift, AOR stainless brake line, Yakima rail riders w/2 King Cobra's & 2 Vipers