MountainRunner

Hey guys,
I am seeking advice about which shocks to use for my soon to be lifted 2000 4runner. I am going to be running the 99 "tall" coils in the front and the OME 906 springs in the rear as multiple members on the forum are currently running. However, I would like to use my current stock shocks with this setup. I just bought the 4runner and I am 90% sure that the shocks have recently been replaced as it rides very tight and does not bounce around at all. In addition, I prefer the OEM ride quality. I know the stock shocks would be fine with the 99 tall coils in the front, but I am wondering how they would do if they were mated to the OME 906 springs. I suppose that the flex would be slightly limited but that is not too much of a concern since I only do light and occasional off roading.
So, in short, would you guys recommend running the stock shocks with the 99 tall coils in the front and the OME 906 springs in the rear for a daily driver rig that rarely goes off road? Again, I am primarily curious about the stock shock/OME 906 rear spring combo.
Thanks...

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Depends on if you want something that will work or something that is optimum.

:wabbit2:

MountainRunner

I was thinking that a fresh set of OEM shocks may be comparable to some aftermarket shocks like the Tokico TrekMasters. The Tokico's would be my first aftermarket preference based on their good reviews, but I was under the impression that the the Tokico's were very similar to the OEM's. If there is any difference between the OEM and the Tokico shocks, I imagine that the Tokico's might be just a little stiffer (which I wouldn't mind to dampen the OME 906 springs a little better). But are the Tokico's any longer that the OEM's, thus allowing full flex with the 906 springs? If not, I would have a hard time justifying new shocks. This is my dilemma...

One_96TR4

The OEM and TrekMasters are pretty much the same. Like you said the Tokico's are just slightly stiffer than the OEM shocks. I don't believe there any longer. I ran them for the longest time with a 2"lift and they were a great shock.

mynameistommy510

just stating the obvious but the OEM shock will no last quite as long as a stiffer aftermarket shock since the OME 906 has a higher spring rate than OEM. More work on the shock than designed for.

4biker

I have OME 906's and I ran stock shocks for a while with them until I could afford OME's. I thought they were passable, and did the job fine, but the 906 springs have a higher rate (definitely) than the stock coils. There will be a difference in ride quality. If you can keep 100-200lbs in the rear of your runner you will feel great. Otherwise it can be a little jarring. The 890 coil might be the best choice ride-wise, but that will give you another probably 1/4-1/2" of lift. Best combo for stock shocks would be Tundra or OME 880 fronts and 890 rears. Stock tires would look fine with that combo too.
I have a set of 881's on OME front shocks that maybe I'll put up for sale - one of the front shocks is blown though.

Potomacduck

I have a '99 Limited with the tall springs.

I installed Tockico Trekmasters on it. I've had them for three years and I will go back to stock when they die. The Trekmasters are too stiff and if you are not carrying a load, they are downright dangerous on washboard roads. The rearend of my 4Runner spends as much time in the air as it does on the road surface.

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MountainRunner

Thanks for the input guys. I think that I am going to go with the Bilstien HD's all around as they seem to have the best testimonies. I believe that the HD 5125's are the correct size to accommodate 99 tall and OME 906 springs. Now I just have to decide which tire size to run when I replace the tires soon. I am between the stock (265/65/16), 265/75/15, or 275/70/16 sizes.

fish0281

I think that 4Runners look best with at least a 265/75/16... is the 15" wheel a type-o there?


To the question about shocks. I have OEM tokicos with the 906's and I'm ready to get some other shocks, either OME 60028's or try out some Tundra Bilsteins (lower bushing needs modification on these though)... the ride is fine for the most part, but I get the impression that they are a little short and under-dampened for the 906's.

4biker

I think you can get away with Tokicos or Bilstiens more easily with the 890 or 891 than with the 906. The 906 has the highest spring rate so it's the stiffest to start with. I'd go OME shocks unless you get something like Icon's, which is where I'd like to go next.

MountainRunner

I think I'm going to go with the 275/70/16 size tires and probably even go all out with BFG AT's. Still not for sure which shocks I'll go with to pair with the 99 tall (front)/906 (rear) coil configuration. 4biker, are you suggesting that the Bilstien HD's will be too soft for the 906 coils? I was under the impression that the Bilstien HD's were rather stiff.

4biker

No, I'm suggesting that they will be too stiff. I'd go with OME's with 906's.

YOTA!LOVER

The problem your going to have with using stock shocks is you're lifting the truck so your shocks extend, you still a bunch of up travel but you lose your down traveler on your suspension.

TheOriginal

Hi! Did you performed this setup (99 front tall and OME906 rear with Bislstein HD 5125 all around)? I have the same srings setup and I need to change the shocks but I don't known which shocks are the best if the Tokico Trekmaster GE3535 with GE3536 or your Bilsteind 5125. If you have the HD5125 allready mounted, please could you let me know the parts numbers? Thanks

MountainRunner

An old thread brought alive again! The Original, on my 4Runner I originally installed OME 906 springs in the rear matched with my original 2000 front springs and shocks all the way around. I ran this setup for about 2 years and was satisfied with the overall height and ride quality for the money ($200) and time (one easy afternoon) I put into this setup. Honestly, I never had a problem with the original oem shocks paired with the OME 906 springs (although I will admit my 4Runner rarely goes off road... Mostly just mountain gravel roads and snow).
This past spring, I upgraded to the Toytec 3" Ultimate Lift with the OME 890 coils/60028 shocks in the rear and the 600 red coil overs in the front with the 5125 Bilsteins in the front. I have been really happy with this setup (although the 890 coils were not quite as an improvement over the 906 coils that I had expected.
Below is a picture I'd my final setup with the 3" Toytec lift.
Hope this helps you and anybody else considering similar options.

TheOriginal

Thanks, MountainRunner! Have a good day.

supraman1

An old thread I know but shocks wear out and there are many 4Runners out there and guys like me who gotta figure this same thing out. I've got a '99 4Runner LTD with the tall coils and Bilstein 4100 series all around that I installed in 2011 (maybe 20K miles on them) but are mush or maybe went bad because they sat on a shelf for 2 years before installed. They were originally ordered for a 2000 4Runner with the shorter factory springs which was totaled. So maybe the question is were they soft to begin with as quoted above because they were meant to be used with the shorter coils? Or did I trash them too soon by hauling too heavy a load in the 4Runner and also trailer? Dunno. I don't remember. (we hear that in Senate hearings all the time.) Maybe. Anybody have a guess? thanks. And I suppose I'll either go with stock or Trekmaster or Bilstein 5100 series this time. Most heavy driving is winter snow. The 4Runner has a total of 225K miles, second engine/drive train, original TRD supercharger. As a last comment maybe the coils all are worn out with that many miles.

75w90mantraN

I just recently put freshly ordered Bilstein 5100 rears on mine and they remind me of the Trekmasters from my original 4runner. Have about 29k miles on my OME 906 and they're still holding up well after hauling furniture and a car on several occasions, with the occasionally mild off-road experience. The Bilsteins replaced factory originals which are softer and probably not designed for taller springs, plus old as hell. You lose dampening capability if you go with stock, especially if you drive over anything significant enough to bounce the rear up. I don't know about the Trekmasters specs if they're made to go with springs that give 1-2" but I do know that the 5100s do make theirs for those with 0-2" (at least in the rear). I have Trekmasters in the front with OME 880 from a prior mindset that thought those were ok, but in hindsight I don't think the Treks are accommodating, as I only gained 1" when the 880s could give more. This post got me thinking again, oh man.