Cool thanks. I'll keep that in mind while shopping. The ones I linked had a max load of 2601lbs where the load E has 3415.

 

I looked up my Load Range C Coopers and they are rated at 2600 lbs/ea also, so you're looking at the right tire.

 

Thanks for confirming. Cheaper too!

 

Since you posted this I've been searching to compare to the SS 7.2 kit. I've got the Adco sway bars on my 4Runner if that makes any difference. They use the stock end links from my memory.

I want a nice ride, the sway bars firmed it up more than I'd have liked to be honest but definitely helped the handling in curves. I don't want it any more stiff. Been there done that with an old Tacoma on 33s and it'd jar your fillings out on bumps. I need the 4Runner to remain comfortable.

Since most of the posts I'm finding on this are 4-5 years old a lot of the info seems to be lost in translation with pics missing etc. Can you point me to a couple to check out? I guess finding 99 springs is easy enough with the right P/N, but what shock? The Bilstein HDs got a lot of complaints of rough ride in the threads I saw.

 

I wouldn't want to steer you the wrong direction--the only lift I can provide an honest hands-on experience with is the SS 7.1/7.2. I mentioned the others as alternatives and hopefully people with those setups can provide feedback.

I installed the original 7.1 kit back in 2006 and at the time it was bundled with Tokico Trekmaster shocks. At first, the ride felt firm but it settled in and had a nice ride. With no additional weight other than sliders, I felt the front was just a tad stiffer than I would like while I always thought the rear was a massive improvement over stock.

Fast forward to a few months ago. My Trekmaster shocks were blown and I needed replacements. I knew that Sonoran Steel (SS) stopped packaging the Trekmaster shocks long ago because apparently the lift was forcing the shock to ride in a portion of its travel that resulted in a slightly stiff ride and the dampening (or rebound, can't remember) wasn't quite right. So the 7.2 uses custom valved Bilstein shocks instead of Trekmasters and I read lots of good reviews about the improvement these shocks made. I drove a friend's truck with the Bilsteins and was impressed enough to buy the custom valved Bilsteins directly from SS. So I basically turned my 7.1 into a 7.2.

The shocks did fix the stiff front end and I couldn't be happier with the ride. Things got even better when I wore out the load range D BFGs and went to the load range C Coopers. I have ridden in plenty of stock 3rd gens and can honestly say I could never go back to that ride--to me it feels like stock suspension might have filtered out the very smallest things like expansion joints better than my SS, but anything beyond the very smallest road imperfection feels much better to me than stock. My wife commented that the 4Runner rides almost exactly like her 2012 Acura TSX wagon, which is quite a complement and actually a pretty accurate statement.

 

That's a good description. I was mainly wanting to look at the difference between the 1999 "tall" springs and the SS 7.2. I'm only going to run a 265/75R16 tire. I want it to have a nice 4x4 look to it, but not make the tire look too small. I looked at your profile and yours looked pretty good in this picture. If it was an inch lower that would be OK too.

 

More searching and mccamp over on T4R has the 99' springs in his 2002 2WD model with the 265/75R16 tires and it looks pretty good. I'll just have to decide on some shocks.

 

That is a sharp looking 4Runner. Too bad Toyota never made a 2000-model year thundercloud metallic Sport Edition 5-speed with elocker and tall 99 coils!

As good as the Tokico Trekmaster shocks were in the short term, they aren't working out long term on lifted trucks. Three of us on another forum all had one trekmaster lock up and require replacement. All of us have made the move to Bilstein 5100s.

I know this adds yet another thing you have to research since the Tundra 5100 has an adjustable bottom perch, but it seems to be the shock to have. I've heard the Tacoma Bilstein is too soft and they do not make one specific for the 4Runner. We are currently discussing the issue here.

Edit--speedy, if you fly to California, you're welcome to drive mine.

 

More good info, thanks. By adjustable bottom perch, you're referring to the adjustability in the ride height via the lock collar correct?

Looks like those shocks come in both the adjustable height model and a standard model but perhaps the standard won't fit our trucks?

I wonder why SS doesn't offer a package using the 99 springs? I may need to give him a ring for some info.

 

Another shock option to look for with under 2" of lift are Bilstein HD 4600s (EDIT: Just saw you saw complaints about stiffness)They are non adjustable in front, but they don't need to be with taller springs. They are a tad firmer than stock, but have a nice planted feel. Many people have gone that route...think I saw somewhere you can get them around $200 for all four.

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/p...oyota-4-Runner

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/p...oyota-4-Runner

Here is a guy who added them to his truck...
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...-complete.html

 

correct. There are five positions for the bottom perch (set by the lock ring) and the higher you go on the strut body, the higher the front end will sit. Mine is set on the 2nd perch from the bottom, which results in around 2 to 2.25" of lift in the front with Tundra TRD coils.

I'm not familiar with the non-adjusting model. I don't think you want to be the guinea pig on those, not sure where your lift height would end up.

Steve claims to not put mark up on the shocks and coils, so there's probably no/not much money in it. Toyota parts aren't cheap, so I doubt there is much room for mark-up.

 

I made some calls today and the 1999 Tall Springs have gotten $$$$

Rears are now $101 each

Left Front is 147.61

Right Front is $135.20

WOW!

 

That's what I was saying, OEM stuff is a little spendy. Although, Old Man Emu (OME) coils are $160 per set front and rear, so a Toyota rear setup will be ~$200 vs $160 for OME and $283 in the front vs $160 for OME. In the end you're talking about a $163 difference in price, which isn't really that much if they're what you really want.

 

I took some measures last night on my 2002 SR5 4WD model.

19.5" from the center of the wheel hub to the edge of the fender directly above it all the way around.

From what I've found, the 1999 springs give 21" at all four corners. That would give me 1.5" of lift with just the springs. The shocks are fine so I think I could likely re-use them unless the 1999 used different length ones?

The 265/75R16 tires are about 1" bigger than what I run today. I could live with a max of 2" of lift as that give 1" for the new tire size, plus 1" of add'l fender gap to the new tire. I'd not want more gap than that as it would start to look off I'm thinking.

I'll check the OME springs too.

 

I think you are on the right track. Although, I would definitely replace at least the front shocks since you have the assembly apart anyway.

 

Ok, did some reading on the OME 880 and 906 setup and it seems the ride is described as signficantly firmer than stock. Not what I'm looking for so it's back the 99 springs or Sonoran 7.2.

 

Shifting gears for a moment, I came across this Toyota webpage with a bunch of replacement supercharger parts. Take a look:
LINK

One thing I noticed was this $228 kit:


3.4 4TH Gen Nose Cone Kit (PTR29-35042)

Replacement Nose Cone for Black (GEN 4) Superchargers

kit contains....
1- 120ml bottle of gear lube
1- fill nozzle
1- Drive assembly
1- Phenolic drive adapter
1- Fill plug
1- tube of Loctite Gasket Eliminator

List Price: $350.00
Our Price: $228.00
You Save: $122.00 (35%)


Since I plan to have my 4runner forever, I wonder if I should just suck it up and buy this before availability becomes a problem down the road? It is currently on sale.

 

I've wondered about parts availability on this as it ages, but honestly it's a Magnuson supercharger so I'm not overly concerned. I'd imagine as long as they're around you could send your current nose off to be rebuilt if needed. You'd be surprised how FEW parts in these things are actually custom made for the unit. Most are actually readily available from what I've seen on other Magnuson products.

 

Just saw this one while looking over some info on wheels. I really dig these.

Anyone know mphudak? I'm curious what suspension he has on this:

 

Sticking this pic here to compare. I think I like the Level 8 Wheels better so I'll likely get those an sell my TRD IS wheels.