4RUNR_FAN

Just picked up my 2001 4 Runner with 4 new Bilstein HDs *but* it seems the front is higher than the rear or the rear is sagging.... Any insights into what could be going on....It had 118K on the stock shocks & struts....The ride and handling is very very much improved but I would like to see it level.

Any ideas from the experts on what could be the cause? And how to go about fixing it?

Thanks

cox380

Bilstein HD's tend to lift the front up about 1 to 1.5 inches in the front. To level it out you'd have to put some new rear springs(maybe some OME's) or put in a spring spacer.

4RUNR_FAN

Thanks for the OME rear coil spring recommendation.... Is there a particular part number? Any other hardware needed for the coil swap out?

And forgive my ignorance but how do spacers effect the ride? Are they easier to install than coil springs?

cox380

Check out toyteclifts.com. there you'll see the differen't rear lift options. I thing the springs you want is the OME906. about 2 inchs of lift. No hardware needed. I don't know where to find the rear spacers but I know they're out there. Maybe E-bay?
Both the spacers and the springs are very easy to install. You pretty much just lift the rear disconect the lower mount of the rear shocks and the stock spring fall out. Then you just put the new springs in or the the stocks back with the spacer.
Rear spacers won't effect the ride at all. New spring will be a little stiffer.

4RUNR_FAN

I will check out the website for the OME 906s....Thank you for the pointers!

QSVeilside

BEFORE you buy new springs, I would suggest taking a look at the aluminum seat of the spring of the front shocks. The seat can be installed in reverse resulting in exactly a 1.5" lift in the front. Flat end of the spring seat should be on the bottom. Curved side up.

This is the correct installation. It should look like this:
http://www.customtacos.com/forum/att...1&d=1173898361

If the curved side is on the bottom, your spring seats are in reverse.

Additional factors that increase the weight of the rear end:

Do you have a tow hitch?

Do you have a roof rack?

What do you keep in the rear of your truck? Do you have a subwoofer sound system?

A quick fix: Drive without the spare - removing it will lift the rear at least one inch

4RUNR_FAN

QSVeilside,

I looked at how the aluminimum seat is attached and took photos....I think they look like they are attached correctly.

I have attached the photos below....Do these look right?


I do have a tow hitch and a full spare but it did not sag with the original shocks/struts.

I do not carry anything in the back unless I have to....ditto for the roof rack.

instigator

those seats look upside down. if you can see the stop ring thats around the shoch you have them installed wrong, the ring slips into a recess that is the spring perch.

cox380

those do look upsidedown. Do you have a larger pic?

QSVeilside

We just found the source of the problem. Those are definitely upside down. Ok, when you say you "just picked up" your 2001 4runner with Bilstein shocks, it either means you just bought the truck brand new, OR you just installed the Bilsteins.

Option 1:

Ask the previous owner for the location of the mechanic that installed the shocks. Have them correct the shock seats for you. You should NOT have to pay to fix their mistake.

Option 2:

Take it back to where you had them installed, and point out the ride height. Tell them that both seats are upside down in the front and that you would like them to reinstall them correctly.

Once again, do NOT pay for their mistake.

QSVeilside

By the way, how long have you had these on the truck? This is important. The seats can warp over time when installed incorrectly, (pressure is placed on the wrong area of the seat). Eventually the ride height will begin to sag. This will begin to affect your alignment - which I highly recommend you go get every time you mess with your suspension components.

4RUNR_FAN

Guys,

To answer the questions raised....

I have owned the truck for a couple of years....I used this mechanic for the first time....I should not have a problem getting the seats reversed if needed. I do recall the mechanic was suggesting using KYBs...and I do not think they did a lot of bilstein installs.....He is a friend of a friend so I should be able to get this corrected.... By any chance would anyone have a soft copy of the installation sheet that comes with the shocks....It would make explaining why these are upside down easier....

I put about 100 miles on the truck today.....I will hope to have the truck back in there Monday or Tuesday so hopefully not
more than another 100 or miles on these seats.

I tried to attach the photos but couldn't so I posted them....the links are as follows:

Driver Side Front View (from front of car)
http://picasaweb.google.com/dilaar/S...21094912013106

Driver Side Back View (from near driver side door)
http://picasaweb.google.com/dilaar/S...21099206980418

Pass Side Front View (from front of car)
http://picasaweb.google.com/dilaar/S...21099206980434

Pass Side Back View (from near pass side door)
http://picasaweb.google.com/dilaar/S...21103501947746


Thanks again for the input

QSVeilside

Once again, your shock seats are installed in reverse. Should be easy to explain to the mechanic considering your ride height discrepancy.

Nevertheless, here's the writeup with pictures of the install manual you requested.

http://www.top4runners.com/ja/bils.html

4RUNR_FAN

QSVeilside,

Much appreciate the input...Hopefully, I am dropping off the truck tomorrow
to get the mechanic to invert the seats and ensure that some of the other items in your
excellent write-up are accounted for.

I will post an update once the truck is fixed.

Thank you again.

QSVeilside

No problem.

Just wanted to clarify that the writeup was written by another member on this forum - Jalaber. He has great info on Addco swaybars as well as other suggestions/mods on his site.

4RUNR_FAN

I got the 4Runner back last night with the front spring seats mounted correctly,
and the spring ends facing out as stated in the write up.... Is riding nice and
level!....I like how the Bilstein HDs are riding. Now to get some other work done!

I have to rate the shop highly....good experience with them...fair prices and they gave me no grief and just fixed it without any additional charge... Westford Getty in Westford MA ... They also now have a good idea on how to install Bilsteins on 3rd gen
4runners.

Thank you QSVeilside and everyone else who provided advice on this issue. Much appreciated!

wizzells

I wanted to thank you guys for this particular thread. I just has Bilsteins installed front and rear on my '02 4runner and lo and behold they installed the spring seats upside down. I didn't realize how much the front end looked jacked up until I got it home, so the first thing I looked at were the spring seats.
So I'll have to call the place I had them installed at tomorrow and have them switch them back.
Why is it so easy to get these backwards? I guess I never looked at a stock cartridge to see the design.

Anyways, thanks again for the writeup and the pictures!