Front suspension thoughts.

So I went through reviews and searches. I'd like some thoughts on keeping as close to stock ride height as possible but a better front end ride. 1" lift or so would be fine too but it will occasionally tow a 3000lb boat. The dive upon braking is bad. Truck has 135k on it also. It's a 2019 sr5 premium. I'd like to just get preassebled coil overs. Right now thinking of kyb srg4528/4529 kits. Rockauto has them for about 350 pair. Having a hard time finding bilsteins preassembled and coils springs that are 0-1"lift. Thoughts on this vs?

 

Welcome

 

Get 6112's and don't look back. Best thing I've done for my 4Runner. Someone here had problems with KYB's. KYB wasn't too helpful IIRC.

 

i will cast my vote for the Eibach Pro Stage 2. Had them for 70k miles and have done some solid off roading with them. My front driver side just blew and Eibach stood by their warranty and sent me a replacement free of charge and a hassle free experience. I dont know if Bilstein offers the same customer experience. KYB is decent but if you plan on going on rough terrain, Id go with EIbach. If you plan on just street driving, go with KYB

 

Been happy with my Bilstein 6112's, but to morf's point, I wish I had known more about the Eibach Pro Stage 2's when I decided to go aftermarket. Those look very solid and offer much easier height adjustment relative to the 6112's.

 

its funny you called me "morf". That was my nickname growing up. All my buddies call me Morf. Yeah, the eibachs have been solid. 2 Toyota Jamborees, 3x to Moab, Colorado 2x and they have just exceeded my expectations. Plus, the way they processed my warranty was exceptional. I was in a boulder garden in AZ, how i survived without damage is beyond me. I started hearing a squeak and knew something gave out. - I included a pic, what you dont see is to my left is like a 1,000 foot drop off and that rock garden lasted 2-3 miles. IT SUCKED. A side-by-side passed me and waited for me to get to the end. He told me....."we took bets on how bad you were going to damage your truck" Jokes on them. My 4R dominated. Nobody tell my wife i posted this pic. She gets pissed.

 

If you don't mind spending the money, 6112's are going to be a great set-up.

If you don't want to spend that much, get a pre-assembled set of 5100s with a 600lb (stock height) coil spring set at 0.85 inches.

 

I have a 2011 Trail and tow a boat a lot thats about 3200-3300# loaded. I'm running 5100's up front set at .85 and 5160's in the back that are toast but worked great, a few more $$ but a much better set-up. I'd probably do 5100's in back as well to save a bit of money and consider replacing the back coils while you are at it to help with the tongue weight.

 

Also, you could always just get a set of 5100's and re-use your stock front coil. Replacing your shocks using the "No Spring Compressor Method" is safe and easy.

https://youtu.be/5E6u7dC7EHg?si=3GYiJR8SPIiE5m1Y

https://youtu.be/jo0FJSi-KYs?si=Dp9eJbyhZsLTyYbb

 

That’s a great video, he hits all the important points except I’ve always let the truck down on its weight before tightening the control arms and bottom shock bolt.

 

just my $.02 but for a daily driver I love my set up for 2022. Bilstein 6112 with 600 lb springs set at 2” for the front and Wheelers T13 1.5” lift rear coils paired with Bilstein 5100.

or on my 2011 SR5, Bilstein 5100 with stock coils set at 2” up front or you can go 0-1” as you prefer and in the rear, stock coils with 1” poly spacer with 5100 shocks.

 

been there done that method, super easy!

 

I don’t think much about my front or rear end.

 

I got 5100's. Going to try the fronts set at clip 2 for the .8" lift and see how it goes. I did order new kyb mounts/tops too. Sticking with oem springs and bought timbrens for the rear for towing. Will see how it comes together. This is my daily so I don't want to go crazy with a lift and bigger tires

 

I had KYB struts on my Pilot. Just okay-should have done oem Honda, but was short on funds at the time.
Are you upgrading front and rear bump stops?

 

rear bump stops with timbrens for towing. It's still winter here so I won't know till spring. Occassionally will tow a small trailer and my 19' boat. I have a tundra crewmax for most of my towing needs. KYB quality hasn't been great the past 5 years. A decade ago they were top notch.

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! I thought Shock Surplus offered assembled Bilsteins, 6112's in front, 5100's in back or 5160's for a little more dampening longevity. Good luck.

 

A first or second gen pilot?

 

A 2004 first gen. No VCM and I sold it after 20 years and 240,000 miles.

 

Our 07 is at 226,000 the last 10 years it's rarely left the farm and we've abused it. In the process of putting kyp in the front. It really stinks how limited the suspension options on these are.

 

On your Pilot, Do you use the dash button to lock in the rear axle(VTM I think)?
I did once driving on fresh snow at a Sierra ski resort. Not because I was stuck but just to see how it worked.

 

Rock auto has great prices on 6112s. For an all around daily driver that you want lifted they are great.

It’s also easy to find a coupon ion line to get a few buck more off of them.

 

Keep in mind, while trying to solve very real issue of dive upon braking you can create other issues. This is because front vs. rear suspension stiffness also changes how 4Runner behaves at the limit of traction (e.g., wet, icy conditions) while turning. Putting stiffer suspension but only in the front is likely to result in more understeer.

 

Ours is only fwd.

 

I'm going to argue that the valving on the front of 4Runner is too soft to begin with. This warrants a firmer valving, IMO.

However, the rear shocks are actually matched pretty well to the stock weight in the back.

I have a Eibach shocks up front and stock rear shocks. It rides really nice and I don't get any weirdness in turns, wet or icy conditions.

 

UPDATE Got the 5100's put in today. Front at 2nd notch. Lift is about an inch maybe a little more even...supposed to be .86. Also put lean spacer on LF. Did my alignment after a quick road test on shitty roads. Drives really nice now like how it should have from the start. Nosedive is 90% gone and just going around a corner feels 10xs better. Other than my first set of snow tires years ago on my wife's van this is the best $500 upgrade I've done in years,

 

I have a Eibach shocks up front and stock rear shocks. It rides really nice and I don't get any weirdness in turns, wet or icy conditions.[/QUOTE]

I plan to do this; did you leave the Eibachs set at there as-shipped preload or did you have to adjust to obtain level. Thx

 

bilstein makes the 5100s. 4 clip settings. I used #2. Reused old OEM springs and put new top hats on from kyb which appeared to be oem brand.

 

Mine is on the 3rd clip from the bottom which is a 1.6" lift up front. I also added a 0.5" rear spacer.

It has the same stance as a stock Pro except 0.5" higher all around.

If you want yours closer to level (without touching the rear), you'll want to put your Eibach's on the 2nd clip from the bottom (0.85").

 

I went with the Billstein 6112s in front (preassembled from shocks surplus). Dobinson tubular UCAs
Billstein 5100 rears with B12 Billstein spring.
Durobump bump stops.
The ride is so much better. Corners great. No more nose dive when hitting the brakes. I agree that the Eibachs are a solid option as u can adjust them easily (but there wasn’t much research on them when I did my build). Any of these options r solid.
My cerclips r set at 4/6 and with the C4 bumper I’m at 1.4” lift in front and 1” lift in rear. Might go up to cerclips 5/7 which should pick the front up another 0.4” and level the truck nicely.
Good luck.