Okay now I really don't want to scare some of the members that have e-mailed me about the Cornfed/Downey lift set-up that I recently had installed. But I was just wondering if there is anyone else out there that has Cornfed spacers, or perhaps the exact smae set-up?
I'm asking this because my Runner used to ride really hard due to OEM shocks that had been on since it's first mile right up to the 127K that I took them off on. Now with this lift I threw on Bils under the Cornfed Downy set-up and it seems to bounce up and down the road(just a thing I associate w/ lifted trucks, Jeep buds do the same) but the thing that gets to me is how rough it can be(10x rougher than when I ran the 128K OEM shocks). Can ANYONE help me out here. It's almost making me want to drop it back to stock(not really that was too much $$$$ to get it upc 2.5") but I really would like to know what's going on. My girlfriend still hasn't ride'n with me yet since the lift, and I'm kinda ashamed to have he in it with me now b/c of how rough it is. My boys are all cool w/ it, but even they coment from time to time that it seems to be worse now than before.
Please help me, I'm confused and a bit worried at the same time.

 

hey stump, i just had my lift installed too. same setup - cornfed/downey, with bilsteins all around. but i made the change from stock shocks at 9000 miles. i don't really notice much change in ride quality. maybe a little stiffer, but not anything that bothers me. i do notice how much nice the bilsteins are than stock, especially around turns and bumps. i don't know what the deal is with your runner. maybe i'm just not noticing it as much, maybe maybe wasn't installed right, who knows. but if mine does get like that, or yours doesn't get any better, maybe someone out there knows of a way to help improve the ride of a lifted runner...?

 

Yeah I hope someone does know. I have had it suggested to me that maybe stock length shocks aren't right for the lift, but everyone here said that was fine. I really don't know.

Hey calrockx what size tires are you running under that extra 2.5"?? I got 32x11.50 BFGs squeezed under there(squeezed width wise at least). Maybe the tires are the ones to blame, maybe over inflation of them(the installer inflated them and I never checked it, but you would think that a shop that sells tires would know how to inflate tire, I'll go check them b4 I head out to my first class.

But if anyone else has any other suggestions or feedback for me please let me know. Thanks calrockx for giving me some info there, glad to know that there are others out there w/ the same set-up that are okay, now I can narrow my search down for th reason behind the ride quality.

 

I don't think there is much you can do. I'm not a suspenion guru, but from what I understand, going with stiffer springs (downey), then preloading them with spacers will make for a stiffer ride because it takes more force to compress them.

 

I have a 2 1/2" lift with 285/75 (equal to 33") with stock length Monroe shocks and rides smooth. Every off-road shop I spoke with said stock length was fine. Actually rides better since lifting it and I had the shocks before lifting.

Paul :fireman:

 

Just a note...

Using words like better or worse to describe the ride quality in inherantly problematic. Those words are very relative, and what I think is better or worse may be very different from what you think is better or worse.

When I lifted my rig, the ride because significantly stiffer. The front was much more comfortable, but the back seemed to feel like it bouced around on bumpy roads. Not sure if it has anything to do with the front being heavier than the rear, or if the rear springs are stiff to allow for hauling/towing loads.

So as you talk about your ride quality, try to use words like stiffer, smoother, softer, cushier, boucier, harsher, etc. rather than better or worse. Some people like a very cushy, floaty ride... something that is typicaly of domestic vehicles. Some people like stiffer, sportier rides, typical of foreign cars. Hope in a $50k Cadallac and compare the ride to a $50k BMW... which is better? Depends on what you like, see what I mean?

 

STUMP: check your bumpstops and your bushings. with that many miles on your ride, they could be shot. if they are, get some polyutherene (sp?) ones to replace them and your harsh ride will be gone.

 

Stump, 1 question on your front Bilstein shocks...
Are the front shocks the stock length 4x2 shocks or did you get the 4x4 length Bilsteins? Thanks

RJ

 

Do you know for sure that everything is installed correctly?

1. Each coil is side specific and should be paint marked according to the side it is supposed to be on.

(i.e. green and blue for drivers side and tan and blue for the passenger side, however these colors may not be the same for your springs so make sure they are correct for your application).

Also the blue paintmarks should be on the bottom and the green or tan paint marks on top.

2. Check to make sure the paint markings are facing outward and you can see the markings.

3. Make sure that the lower end of the coil spring is facing towards the outside of the vehicle.

4. Also the seat that the front coil assemblies sit on must be installed right side up as well with rounded part facing up.

Go out and take a look under your vehicle to make sure all of these thing are correctly done.

One last thing you might keep in mind is that if these are new coils they may need a little time to break in.

And like Gladerunner said, did you get the struts for 4x4 or 4x2?

That's all I can think of for now, hope this helps a little.

Cheers

 

Steve Schaefer had that exact same setup for quite a while and really liked it a lot!

 

Okay Beowulf and Gladerunner, I'm pretty sure everything is installed correctly, I had it done profesionally, but I will check everything that you mentioned to me about. As for the shock lenght, I got the 4x2 length(b/c I am 2WD of course) but I did as Beowulf advised and got the 4x4 front coils from a friend, and then the spacers went over all of that. Is there any problem within the match up of 4x2 lenght shocks and 4x4 coils. Let me know, thanks guys.
Also, AllOtherNamesTakenSo, I am looking into replacing my bumpstops soon and now that you mention it I might go and find some new bushings as well. Thanks man.

 

I would check with Bilstein about the length of shocks (are they both the same?), if you are running 4x4 coils, are you sure you should not have the 4x4 shocks as well?

When you changed all of your coils, you essentially gave it a 4x4 suspension. So I am wondering if your shocks shouldn't also match your coils?

I don't know if it there is a whole lot of difference between the two /struts/shocks, but it is something to contemplate.

As for professionally installed ... :pat: They have repeatedly made incorrect shock/coil installation when it comes to 4Runners, I have read quite a few posts where people have said the pros who installed their stuff were not even aware that 4Runners have side specific coils and I have seen the coil seat turned upsidedown many times as well. In fact there is a post on 4x4 Wire right now about a dealer installing someones Bilsteins with the spring seat upside down.

So just to be on the safe side, go check these things out firsthand! Another good way to check if things are installed correctly would be to measure each side to make sure they are both even.

 

I was gonna to do this same lift but put it off for now because I was told that I'd have to swap my 2WD front Bilsteins for 4X4 front Bils. I just put those shocks on last November and don't want to spend more money on shocks yet. (I even considered getting cheaper front shocks just to suit me for now but decided not to).

I'm no shock guru - lawd knows everything I know about my 4Runner I learned in these forums - but it seems to me that if you're running front 4X4 coils that are 1" taller than 2WD coils, then put a 1.5" Cornfed spacer on top of that for a total of 2.5" of lift, but use a 2WD shock, the planets might not align themselves correctly if you know what I mean. That's why I put it off for now.

The rear should be fine according to what I was told. I hope it all eventually works out.

RJ