Best suspension for better handling

It looks like suspension has been gone over pretty heavily but I'm not seeing much talk in those discussions about achieving better handling, only about budget versus high $ lift kits. I'm not trying to teach a dog to fly but I would like to optimize where possible.

I had 265/70/17 BFG KO2's and Bilstein 6112/5160 installed with no lift which helped massively with handling and I could leave it alone as is and learn to live with it. But I have a hard time leaving good enough alone and can't help but think that I could throw some parts at her to really dial things in.

Parts I'm considering -

- Icon Upper control arms - 58451DJ
- OEM Lower control arms so I don't have to mess with pushing new bushings out/ in
- Rear springs - Torn between Dobinsons or Eibach leveling springs
- Icon rear control arms - 54000T

What are your thoughts? Is there anything else I could do to help the rear suspension?

Would an entire rear link kit help at all?

Would I be wasting money on anything other than rear springs?


- Just realized I did not title this post properly at all and I'm not seeing a way to update it.

Title should have been - "Would a rear link kit help improve handling on road". The pictures of the Icon rear control arms that I linked show what looks like the equivalent of a ball joint instead of the normal rubber bushing. That led me to think that those joints might help with articulation and keeping the tires on the ground on and off road.

 

Research the difference between progressive, digressive, and linear valved shocks. Then make a decision on what’ll fit your needs. You listed a relatively cheap lift, just like the one you have installed so it won’t give you much more performance. Coilovers will be your best option, but you’ll be spending upwards of $3000 for a decent set, plus the maintenance that comes along with it. Rear links won’t help much in regards to handling, they serve the purpose of holding everything together. Like said above, research. Suspension isn’t exclusive to 4Runners.

One of my best handling upgrades was installing wheels with negative offset and wider tires.

 

Just wondering why you would replace your oem lower control arms with oem lower control arms...?

 

This is the kind of stuff I was after.

And more of the first page or 2 of "I'm getting a 3 inch lift with 35 inch tires" or "top 10 suspension lifts" that only mention shocks, springs and front control arms.

Just searched again and I'm not seeing much about rear suspension other than talk about shocks and springs. I know that I can spend $3k+ on shocks and improve the ride but my question was more specific towards what I could do to help out the rear and whether I would be wasting money on rear links etc, which I suspect might be the case since there's a lack of content talking about it if it were that great of a mod I'm sure there would be more people talking about it.

 

It's not unheard of, aftermarket arms worth the upgrade are in the thousands and pushing bushings out/ in sounds like a nightmare I found a thread of a seasoned tech in a shop taking 7+ hours to install new bushings and absolutely hating life with an ending comment that the price for new control arms would have justified the time saved.

 

Installing a 1” lift spring will help firm things up as they’re firmer than OEM. I don’t think there’s any options for firmer springs at OEM height. The links just keep things together, don’t necessarily help in improving handling, unless you’re building a rock crawler in which case they will have a bigger role than a 4runner at stock height/lifted.

 

What I'm hearing with the rear links is if it aint broke don't fix it! Waste of money unless the bushings are shot I'll just stick with rear springs.

 

For better handling, like on road handling? I sugguest dobs springs, since they are slightly stiffer and they have stock height springs. Aany amount of lift, sure won't help handling.
Front
C59-238 1" lift
Rear
C59-323 oem height

 

Soooo limited experience with 4runners but I'm happy with the handling changes on my lift.

2019 Bilstein 5100 set to 1.75 front eibach 1 in coils rear. 255/75 tires on FB wheels....... Noticable better in every way. Like I said my only experience! Now Wranglers I can have a informative conversation

 

For better handling driving canyon roads, lowering the center of gravity might help
.

 

Now we know what a slammed 4Runner looks like.

I’ll state the obvious, if one is looking for great handling on the street then a Corvette would be a much better choice over a 4Runner.

Seriously, most people on this forum who have upgraded to aftermarket mono shocks have reported an improved stiffer ride on the street.

Due to my age I am probably the minority here, I enjoy the softer ride that the OEM shocks provide. When I was a young pup I owned a 5.0 GT Mustang that handled like a dream but rode like a lumber wagon.

 

I'm glad I didn't have to be the one. The only "handling improvements" made to a 4R are those that improve off road capability. On road improvements generally will negatively affect off road performance.... no thanks. Honestly this is a huge heavy vehicle, drive it like one. LOL. I love to haul ass but I drive like a grandma in the 4R...

EDIT: I will admit the amount of dive when braking on a stock suspension was horrible and made the brakes feel really grabby. Problem solved w/ a lift that had a higher spring rate up front. So if that's what you are talking about then... new front springs.

 

There is also upgrade sway bars. which helps greatly in a station wagon such as the 4runner....

 

I don't actually have any insight into your question. But, if you'd like to change the title of the thread, click on the little button that says " thread tools" And then the option to edit the title will pop up.

 

Stiffer rear coils would probably give you what you’re looking for. I went from stock, wheeler t-13 to icon 52700 and it stiffened it up and made the rear feel better. I also added a trail arms and a panhard bar. Not sure if it helped.

 

How can one lower a 4 Runner? I searched far and wide and all I can find is OEM height or lift kits. I don't necessarily want to drop it that low but would very much be interested in about 1.5" to 2" drop.

 

Have the springs chopped. That’s the old school method.

Why???

 

Ditch the Icons.

I had nothing but squeaks from the UCA. New bushing and proper grease did nothing.

It was bad enough we traded the 4R instead of changing or going back to stock.

 

If you’re looking for better on road handling, then thicker sway bars. That will make it act more like a car on the street, and also more like a car off road.

Nice shocks and springs (even if at a higher spring rate) will only go so far in controlling the weight shift that will get you into trouble .

 

Lost of aftermarket support for 4 Runners but no lowering springs. Bumer.
I guess stock it is them.
We purchased the car more for reliability and piece of mind rather than off road capability. If few inches lower we could get in without using the awkward step.