I can attest to keeping it easy until the rear is done. I think my truck feels worse than before now that I know the potential. The front end takes everything and the rear bucks alot.

I'm planning on doing the rear at the beginning of march. Later I will consider going back up front for heim steering, porsche cv's, lower uniballs, and maybe.....maybe coil-overs.

I know coil-overs are a way better system, but honestly torsions are not as bad as people say. I think I get decent flex out of em.

Speaking of which, I like the shock tower that you welded in. Now I see how you can run coilovers without a cage. Mine are just hooked to a hoop.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v373/D...t=b119859d.jpg

Do you think a cage is necessary on your setup? Just curious.

 

The rear being stock is super bumpy but that alone is not reason enough for us to not go out and test the setup. The main problem is that we found a broken leaf in the spring-rack so until we replace that there's no way we're taking this thing anywhere but on the city streets. I found a good condition used pack for $25 though.

That Shock tower is part of the kit from TC and it works really well. The idea is that the shock tower is what mounts the shock and the shock hoop supports the tower. The reason for them being two separate pieces is so you can remove the upper arm still since the shock tower bolts to the three large bolts that hold the upper arm on. Once the whole thing is welded/bolted up it's super rigid and strong enough to handle the load of a coil-over. TC also includes a tube to triangulate the hoop like your ESB hoops. We didn't weld 'em in yet since we are going to brace across the top of the two hoops and that will handle the load just fine. I don't think a cage is necessary but with the room to put at least a nice cross-bar in there it'd be pointless not to considering how much stronger it will be .

 

I don't think my hoops are made by ESB, as far as I know Protrux custom bent them for my rig. The idea was to keep the fender well in place to provid mud protection. I am eventually planning on making a custom skirt to fill the extra space. I still like to hit the mud.

If I make a cage I still want to keep my fender wells mostly intact.

 

Same here, we kept most of the fender wells and will still with even more bracing in there for exactly the same reason as you.

 

ESB doesnt do any kind of installation, they only make the suspension kits. The TC hoops look really beefy and it doesnt look like it should move too much. But anengine cage would be better if you really beat on it.

I know tacoma dude has a full engine cage on his runner and I think most if not all of his fenderwell was intact.

 

Started work on the rear suspension today. We ended up using a stock Tacoma leaf-pack (58"?) instead of the stock 4runner leafs, (48"?) with the Deaver triple-pack because we had a few sets of stock Tacoma springs and they are about 10" longer than the fairly short 4Runner springs so they should be smoother. Of course this meant we had to re-mount the springs and since we weren't going to a wider spring we decided to reuse the factory mounts. Removing the factory mounts w/out destroying them took a loooong time. I started with the angle-grinder and finished with a Dremel and about 20 reinforced cut-off wheels. For the money spent on cot-off wheels we could have probably bought new perches but we didn't have time to order them anyway.

We moved both mounts about 5" away from each other which puts the rear mount right at the back of the frame and the front mount on the curve in the frame-rail. We'll need to box in the very last few inches of the frame but we won't do that until we install the rear shocks and mounts. I'm guessing the re-positioning of the mounts alone will give about 1" of lift because the front mount is lower on the frame. We would have had it done tonight but we ran out of gas for the welder . While were in there I decided to remove the rear bumper completely and drill out the spot-welds for the brackets. So now the rear of the truck has really high clearance. We will bend up a simple single-tube pre-runner bumper soon to give some nerf protection. We won't be working on it tomorrow but I think we'll finish it tuesday and maybe I can sneak a pic to post but we'll have to see. For now we won't be addressing the rear shocks so we'll keep the Ranchos until we get some more time to finish the job.


Should have everything ready in time to go to San Felipe, Baja to check out the 250 in Feb.

Just wanted to give an update....

 

Sweet. Sounds like you're getting closer to doing 62's

So with 58's are they above or below the axle?

We're going to box the end of my frame as well and I believe we're going to run the shackle through the frame. I have seen some people actually go above the frame with it. I'm really curious to see your shock idea. Will it work with the stock gas tank???

Ok enough quetions from me. Oh yeah and video clips of you guys with the cut-off wheels.... Just kidding. Sneak a photo to us if ya can. That thing is gonna be killer.

 

They're still spring-over. We were going to relocate the shackle hangers to the top of the frame (like our Tacoma) but there really isn't room on the 4Runner. It'd be nice to pierce the frame like you said since that would keep the ride-height lower but I think for now at least we are staying under the frame and just moving them back a few inches.

The new shock mounts will work with the stock gas tank just fine. I'll see about a pic soon.

 

vewy intewesting!

 

Here is my Slo-mo gif of the JD kit takin a bump. Keep in mind the rear is just a set of downey 3" leaf packs resting permanently on a downey prerunner aal. (I didn't add an original toyota leaf into the spring packs as recommended by downey) The rear shocks are just some POS procomp shocks that my buddy at 4wheel parts sold me for 10.00 so I could sell my bilsteins.

I am actually pretty impressed with the rears performance considering how crappy it really is. Can't wait for those 62's

For the full motion video check here or in the trail report section on yotatech:

http://www.sethmetal.com/superstition.htm

 

Nice

 

Update:

It's back at Protrux getting:

62" Deavers (shackles, hangers, u bolt plate)
Rear Shocks and mounts
Bedside trimming and fibrglass flares
Allpro Rock Sliders
Front bumper, Rear Bumper, Swingout carrier
New Paint

Can't wait

 

Awsome! guess you decided on a carrier?? Its going to be to "pretty" to drive on the streets... dirt only!

 

Yeah, no more streets for me hahahaha.

Yeah I decided to go with a swingout carrier. I need something that will handle the high speed pummelling. I talked with my fabricator and they had worked with similar designs (Anti-vibration adjustment too) and they said for California type wheeling they aren't sturdy enough. We even explored the possibility of using two mounting location with the reciever hitch style mount.

I just want it to look complete and risde smoothly. I think both will be obtained.

 

Thats awesome. Mine is going into the shop in about 3 weeks, still gathering parts.

I have a questions for you. What are you doing with your old rear springs? I could use a temporay set before I get my 62" deavers

 

Sorry bud, I have like 3 people already after my springs.

My buddy wants em, Protrux wants em, and some random dude wanted em too.

Seriously though, the Downey springs aren't amazing but are definitely a good intermediate step before the 62's

I bought my pair for liek 168.00 plus 32.00 for the add a leaf overload and shipping and tax...all in all it was like 250.00 and the setup was kinda soft offroad and it flexed well. Not to mention they are super easy to sell used.

 

Oh well, thanks anyway. I think I'll just get the deaver triple pack when I go to kartek and king next weekend .

 

how much does the tripple pack run? I don't know anyone who has used it but I bet it is nicer than downey anyway.

 

They are about $175. I was thinking of getting a whole new pack from, but it will just be a waste to replace them in a few months.

 

You gotta tell me how that tripple pack works....i.e. lift and ride

My buddy needs something and if he doesn't take my downey's that would be our other option.