Hello,

I'm still testing my truck as it hasn't been a lot of time since it's road legal.

One of the things I don't like on my '94 4Runner is the front harshness when bottoming out...

My setup is 4'' Front TG SAS kit and 5'' Rear TG leaves with air bags. Bilstein 5150's all arround.

The rear is OK but the front bottoms out very easily and it does so on slow speeds in speed bumps, for example or when going up the sideway.

I have the TG solid urethane bumpstops, most of the harsh bottoming is due to that. I was thinking in swapping them to some slotted ones, but urethane or regular rubber? Also thought about the Timbren ones but they're not very cheap and I want something cheap 'till I can afford air bumps... Some people uses Energy Suspension 9.9101 bumpstops, have you tried them? (Pictured below)



Another bad thing is the compression damping... If I want to travel to Morocco I need the truck to retain a bit more the compression at higher speeds. This will help to prevent bottoming out the front axle in dirt roads. Problem gets bad because of the small compression travel in the front of SASed trucks I suppose...

My Bilstein 5150's are 255/70 valving. I feel them very soft... I won't mind (Or I need) firmer shocks. I'm wanting Fox 2.0'' remote reservoir shocks like 4RunnerKid did, but I don't know anything about valving values. Can you recommend some valving for my needings? I can rebuild shocks so it won't be any problem to change the shims, I'm just ignorant on shim specs...

I don't pretend my SASed truck with 35's to act like a prerunner, just desire to be able to get some speed and not being bottoming the suspension on each bump...

Thanks a lot,

David

 

Same set up same issue...wait till you have a year of wheeling on those springs. Those 4" springs were designed around a mini truck with a 4 banger and no winch. The runner is heavier to start with. Add a V6 and a winch and they are way overloaded. TG recommends the 5" HD for V6 Runners. 4runninkid played around alot with them and last I knew he made a hybrid pack out of them and is happy after some trial and error. I am looking for another option right now as well. I can hit my bumpstops by jamming the brakes on with mine. They flex like crazy when crawling but I hear ya on sucking at speed.

 

I bottom them too if I brake hard... I prefer not to use higher springs on the front... The height is perfect, is the bottoming thing...

Been reading about the Timbrens, seem a good option...

David

 

I have the same setup with the same springs and I run the 5150s as well. I have a 3.slow v6 and a winch. My fix was to add a leaf in the middle of the pack from an old set I had. Fixed them right up and I don't think I lost any flex. I can max out my 14" 5150s on both up and down travel on both sides.

Simon

 

Thanks Simon,

Will try to do something with them...

David

 

Been fighting the same thing forever. Most important....DITCH POLY BUMPS!!! I have been on the same setup for a few years now and I have settled to a point where I am at 23.5-24" to the frame on 37's. I had to cut off my bumps and am currently not running any. I mean to with some rubber bumps mounted back on the frame so it contacts the leaf itself.

I would bottom all the time. I broke DOZENS of trunion bearings and bent 2 housings.

 

Thanks for your input.

Yesterday I put a pair of Bilstein 5125's I had on the front added to my 5150's. Same valving, so dual 255/70. If I want that valving with only a pair of shocks what would I have to search? I want to put Fox 2.0'' Remote Reservoirs.

Went testing the truck and now it works better, I had to go faster to do bumpstops and the truck is not unconfortable. Anyways I bumpstop it easily when going up the sidewalk at slow speed.

So another leaf would help? I don't want my truck to sit higher but I won't mind it being a little stiffer on the front (With only a pair of shocks). Also changing the bumpstops is a must, I'd like to put Timbrens...

David

 

If it bottoms out easily, that is a spring/springrate problem.

Springs control the amount that the axle moves, shocks control the speed it moves.

 

Thanks tc, I'll take my leafs to a leaf specialist I know. Let's see if they can add a leaf to have a little more stiffer leafs but not more height.

David

 

Normally, I would say to call Alcan and have a custom pack made, but for you the freight would be a killer. I'm sure there is someone in Europe that makes custom springs like Alcan does.

 

Yes, shipping would be bleeding... Will try to modify the TG ones I've, would be cheaper for testing.

David

 

Hi Simon,

Do you know the lenght and thickness of the leaf you added and also the position on the leaf pack? Or do you've pics? I'm very leaf profane so I don't know what I'll have to search on the junkyard or leaf speciallist...

David

 

Might look at something like an air bump stop:
- http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/...tops-p-63.html

Or the added leaf, here's how I stiffened up my front springs:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_suspe...#CustomSprings

 

Thanks Roger,

Air bumps is what I want but I can't afford them right now and first I want to go Fox 2.0'' Remote reservoirs on four corners.

So if I've understood, to increase spring stiffness (What I need) without lifting the front I'd need to add short leaf to my pack?

How doy you like the 2'' OD urethane bumpstops? I don't want something as harsh as the TG ones but something softer...

Thanks,

David

 

Could always swap out a thinner leaf with a thicker/stiffer one.

The round bump stops work fairly well but I do know when I bottom out. Maybe look into some of the hollow poly versions, they are a little more progressive:

 

I will have a look and let you know. I used a leaf with the same arc as I too did not want to add any height. I bought two new center bolts, used an old leaf, hammered the leaf clamp opened to give me the required room.

I really could not be happier with the ride. I thought about the tg HD springs but I think it would be too tall for my ride. I run 36" TSLs and a 4" spring is more than enough.

Simon

 

Thanks Simon, It will be very useful so I can search something for my leafs. My ride height is good too, I don't want more lift but stiffness hehe

David

 

From bottoming out????

Shoot.. I don't have bump stops on at the moment, well never did, but i want to put them on so i don't destroy the springs.

 

Well I suggest rubber, and place them somewhere where they are NOT just an inch or two off the axle. Mine were fine until I settled a few inches and the bumpstops were a couple inches off the u-bolt plate, then I would bottom out hard!

I will be running a rubber stop mounted back on the frame so it contacts the leaf instead of the axle. I may even make air bump cans and fab up a rubber bumpstop that can be accepled by the can. That way I can swap to air bumps later.

IMO dont waste your time with the timbrens. I have done tons of research and they have issues coming off the mount and at 100$/pr, they just arent worth it. I think I might try the dogzilla dog toy. I tried the kong and the mounting didnt work out....but the dogzilla looks promissing, and doesnt need to be modified and can be bought for 7$ at any walmart

 

Sorry about the delay but here it goes.

4th leaf down, you'll notice the marlin or TG pack has a space.

I added a 33" leaf from my stock pack.







Hope this helps.

Simon