ravencr

I've heard that they are going out of business. Is this true? The address for their web site hasn't been working either. If this is true, is there another company that makes the upper A-arms for our vehicles?

Chris

sschaefer3

They are long gone. Try Total Chaos.

ravencr

Thanks Steve,

I've thoroughly looked over your site, and you seem to know your stuff on suspension and off-roading for sure. I've got the PP springs front and rear, stock shocks, and Air lift Outback in the rear for carying heavy loads, which I soon discovered I didn't need at all. I don't want to take a lot of your time, but I'd like to know what rear springs to put into my truck that will be softer than the stock springs, and when I need them stiffer, I can pump up the Air lift and stiffen it up past the stock spring rate too. I'd like it to have 2-3" of lift from stock height. Also, on the front, I notice SAW's seem to be the way to go, but I've noticed the new big bores coming out. Do you think they'll be necessary? Also, I don't have a bumper, and I want a smooooth ride on the road, so what valving should I choose. I see a lot of them with Tundra, and others with the lighter valving.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Chris

sschaefer3

Mike told me that all 4Runner SAWs are now Tundra valved. Mine are Tacoma, but I have a lighter engine.

The SAW "kit" is flawed in that they use spacers with the stock rear springs. Mike even mentioned to the Higher up's that this was lame. Typically a rear spacer is the same cost as a lift spring. I've run Cornbred aluminum rear spacers, Daystar rear poly spacers, Downey and OME coils.

The lift springs are stiffer, which a lift needs, I feel. The OME 891's are best for custom very heavy rear bumpers, the Downey springs are best for stock rear bumpers.

I need to see numbers on compressed and extended length on the SAW big bore rear shocks.

The OME N86 Prado shocks are without a doubt the Holy Grail for 3rd Gen 4Runners. They are the max length before parts collide and still compress to the correct length.

So............... wait until the numbers come out.


Boy I'm really diggin this Mozilla browser.

sschaefer3

The PP springs are nice too. Just not the Highway Queens the SAW's are.

Sucellus

Steve,
I was just looking over your most excellent site too and thinking about the ATS arms. I don't have any lift, and don't have any real plans to add any--as you said, I have yet to gouge my skid plates, and am quite happy with my tires. I like the idea of a wider stance, though....

So, would an ATS style/Total Chaos upper arm still work with no lift or would it be too long?

Brock

sschaefer3

The upper ball joint angle is adjusted for a lift, it would not be wise to run the arms on a truck without a lift.

They will not work in a posative way for you. You would have the wrong upper ball joint angle.

ravencr

Steve,

So, if I'm understanding correctly, would the following be the ideal setup for my truck:

1) SAW's upfront-Tundra Valved (What's the part number?)
2) N86 rear shocks
3) Considering that I have the Air Lift Outback kit already, what springs would be best for 2-3" of lift a very soft, so I can pump up the air bags to compensate when towing or riding on the road?

I also have the addco sway bars, so do I need anything special to make all this work? Do I need to the panhard drop? Anything else?

Thanks man,

Chris

sschaefer3

Then I would stick with what you have. The rear Addco kills your rear flex.

Are you unhappy with what you have? I don't understand why you want to re-do it?

ravencr

I'm probably going to take the rear addco off, because the off-roadability of my truck sucks with it, and the front one, which I plan to do disconnects on. Now that you know that, what do you think?

Chris

ravencr

Hey Steve,

Downey's site kind of sucks. What spring part number do I want from Downey if I've got the Air Lift Outback kit. I want something soft for off-roading, but that I can still pump up the air bag and stiffen it up for towing and/or highway ride?

Chris

sschaefer3

What kind of shocks do you have? That will dictate what spring would be best to get.

Personally I would not bother with the air bags off road. You can get a good set of springs that will take care of your towing needs.

ravencr

Stock, but I want to change my shocks and my springs front and rear. I'm sick of the harch ride of the PP Springs.

Chris

keisur

OME 891's.

sschaefer3

Very Soft? Come on.

sschaefer3

Downey springs are the softest. OME 891 are by the far the firmest. They hold my 200+ pound bumper up well, with the 1" Cornbred spacers.

It's your call on what springs to get. Ever application will need a unique combination and every driver will give you a different opinion.

??? Your Call ???

keisur

hehe, I was thinking with these, he wouldn't need the pumper while towing.

ravencr

So, does Downey only make one spring for my 1998 4runner, or do I ask for their softest spring?

Chris