Topic: Bilstien 5100

[firealj]

Will any shocks like the 5100 take the sag out of my 1988 4runner? its stock. i asked the question before about springs but i want to start with shocks. thanks.

any HD springs that DONT need mods for a stock look. TG says need mods and other just too much.

[David]

Shocks are designed for dampening the action of the suspension not to carry the weight, replacing shocks will not do much for the sag problem. Like old sagging boobs, just propping them up won't cure the problem.

I went with Old Man Emu for the front, cost just under $500 for front springs, shocks, bushings and such. I found most good quality spring sets were pretty close in cost to each other.
I would stay away from cheap suspension parts, you and your ride will not be happy.

[zembalayan]

Will any shocks like the 5100 take the sag out of my 1988 4runner? its stock. i asked the question before about springs but i want to start with shocks. thanks.

any HD springs that DONT need mods for a stock look. TG says need mods and other just too much.

Do yourself a big favor, and look seriously at buying the old man emu HD springs and shocks.  I have used two sets on diff minitrucks.  Love them.  They bolt in easy--no mods required.  They perform very well.  With your stated needs, this a no brainer. I'd stay away from the TG springs based upon what I have read and heard.

[Dirt Mover]

Since it is probably the back springs add an add a leaf. If you cut off the back side of the add a leaf off it won't ride as hard and it will help with axle wrap. 4Runners usually look lower in the back due to the wheel wells also, you can throw a level on the floor to see how much it is off.

[Snowtoy]

Those types of shocks with the coil spring are really designed for carry temporary extra weight, such as camping gear, not extra weight on a continual bases. 

The best thing to do is just add another main leaf(leaf almost as long as the main), it will level out the rear, and compensate for the weight of the removable top.  It should cost around $35 for a set of junkyard springs, new center pins, maybe a little more if you have to replace the u-bolts.  Any set of springs will work, as long as the main is a long enough(after cutting off the eyes), domestic truck springs are a little thicker and wider(measure width before buying), but they will work just the same. 

You could also have a spring shop add another main, but that will cost you more money.  Might also google "Zuk coil springs", it is a coil spring mod that goes between the bump stops and top of the spring pack, similar to the helper airbag spring.