5th Gen Springs in a 3rd Gen (Actually Measured Results)

TL;DN- used rear 5th Gen springs gave a corrective 2in and handles weight so so so much better. Fit without cutting, kinda. Worked great but don't pay to do it.

Successfully installed used 5th gen rear springs on a 96 Limited. Went from a saggy 34 in from wheel well to ground, to a level and firm 36 in. Lift wise I was nervous going into it that the 5th gen springs would lift past the shocks. But it was no problem. One piece of info is the rubber stopper cone inside the springs are different sizes and I’d suggest using a 5th gen stopper as I felt the 3rd gen stopper was too skinny to be secure. Since the 5th gen spring is wider, the coil pattern taped off a little differently at the bottom, but is still secure. At the top, it is a tad too wide to fit in the indent of the 3rd gen as well, however, it settled in and secured without any trimming. Neither the standard shocks nor sway bar were strained in the slightest. However, the 5th gen inner rubber bumper cone is now shorter than the outer rubber bumper stop that is on the frame. If I bottom out, the outer rubber bump stop will hit first. This can be resolved by adding an internal spacer within the spring, to shorten the distance from the rubber cone to the base of the housing.
Lessons learned-
-To those who find themselves with a free pair of springs like I did, go for it. But if you’re going to pay I’d just get something designed to fit out of the box.
-If I was to do it again, I think I’d again choose not to invest the time in adjusting the inner rubber cone stoppers to fit perfectly, I think it’s fine the way I did it by just throwing the 5th gen stoppers and springs in.
-Riding home it was a waaaay better feel from the sagged out rear end I had before. Nice and firm.
-2in was barely noticeable until I had a friend stand on the rear bumper, the 4runner handles weight so much better now.