My friends,

In looking for improved handling/capabilities, I have narrowed down my search to these two options. I would either get the medium duty OME suspension lift and shocks, or replace my stock shocks with Bilstien.

I tow a boat all summer, enjoy a little offroading, and drive distances quite a bit. What do you think I should get given these choices and what I use my runner for.

-Thanks

 

check out the bilstein vs ome thread on page two...down about the 5 or 6th thread...now its on page one

 

I don't know what year 4Runner you have so it's hard for me to say. But I can give you my personal experience with the Bilsteins.

On my 2000 4Runner SR5 with the 16" wheels and stock springs, the Bilsteins did NOT help with my on-road handling. They definitely helped off-road. The stock springs on my 4Runner were too soft to benefit from the Bils. I think the Bils are valved and pressurized to work best with much firmer springs than the springs that came with my truck. I don't think the Bilsteins are stiff at all.

I am positive that Toyota caved in to pressure from all the soccer moms who buy these trucks, and starting with the 2000 model year, went to a much softer spring than in previous years. The older trucks have firmer springs and shocks.

Personally, I like a firm ride with a good sense of the surface on which I'm travelling. The setup I have now gives me exactly what I was looking for. Since you mentioned that you want improved handling/capabilities, and the fact that you tow things, you might want to consider getting new springs and shocks.

Does your truck have a lot of body-roll? If so, shocks won't help with that much, as the springs are what holds the truck up and not the shocks. The Shock's job is to control the motion of the spring's return to it's natural rest position after it is moved in one direction or another. The new springs on my truck greatly improved the handling/cornering of my truck and also provided a much better ride. My truck used to wallow and flop around like a fish. Now it is much more stable, even though it is a few inches higher.

Micker's truck is a 96 and he definitely has firmer springs than what were on my truck. If I had to, I could live with the suspension his truck has. He is considering getting Bilsteins at some point. I think they will work well with his springs. His truck has had the Rear Spring Recall Service.

Since I don't know what year your truck is, I can't comment more than that.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Z

 

2002 4Runner Limited- considering doing this in phases:

NOW: 1. starting out with OME comfort shocks

NEXT YEAR: 2. Replace the rear springs with OME springs, and replace the front OME shocks with SAW coilovers.

My losses will be: $120 for the two OME's I throw away on the front.

The benefit will be I can experience the OME Shocks, then when my first set of tires goes, and I am ready to lift, I will be able to go to the SAWs and OME rear springs, acquiring the necesary lift to go to 285 tires instead of the 265s.

Thoughts?

 

:rolleyes: