Stock Springs

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Bear80

Bear80

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This kinda started a year ago when I first put 305/70s on my stock '97, it seemed to have as much tire to fender space as my dad's stock '95 that had the 275/70s. So I took a set of '96 LX450 springs and swaped them on to his '95 LC.

The '96 LX450 front springs have 8 coils vs. the 7 coils on the '95.
The '96 LX450 RH rear spring was apx. 10mm shorter than the '95 RH.
The '96 LX450 LH rear spring was the same height as the '95 LH.

SO WTF??!!?? The front now sets heigher than before, and in the rear we can't really tell a diff. I wish I didn't live so far aways so that we could have compaired the stock springs off mine to these. But I did the next best thing and started looking at part numbers.
 
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'95 spring choices

First the 1995 model year has sveral options for springs, which all depend on the build date.

On the front for example, the usage dates can range: 08/92-01/95, 08/94-01/95, 07/95-01/98, etc.

For my father's with a 06/95 build it uses 01/95-07/95, with part numbers: 48131-6a450 RH and 48131-6a70 LH.

The rear springs are also numerous in usage periods and also show height choices. Again I will use my father's as a baseline, but the only rear spring the EPC shows for a 06/95 build is a LH rear spring with usage dates 01/95-07/95. Part number is 48231-6a080 and height 452.5mm. So who knows what the RH rear spring is, all the other RH springs listed end with a usage date of 01/95.

The listed heights are as follows:

LH 464.0mm
LH 476.0mm
LH 481.5mm
LH 452.5mm
RH 452.5mm
RH 464.0mm
RH 470.0mm
 
'97 spring choices

So I looked up what my '97 might have.

The front springs come up with only one choice for the left and right. Part numbers 48131-6a460 RH and 48131-6a490 LH.

There are 2 choice for each side for the rear springs.
LH: 48231-6a120, height 476.0mm and 48231-6a070, height 447.0mm
RH: 48231-6a100, height 464.0mm and 48231-6a250, height 458.5mm

Without my rear springs here, I cannot tell which set I have. When I go home I will pull the springs out and measure them.
 
'96 LX450 spring choices

Now to see what springs I put on my dad's wagon today.

The LX450 has only one set of options for front and rear springs.

Front, 48131-6a790 RH and 48131-6a800 LH
Rear, 48231-6a070 LH, height 447.0mm and 48231-6a100 RH, height 464.0mm

Both front and rear springs have usage dates of 11/95-01/98.
 
Now I would guess that if the springs for a LX450 are the same as the '96-'97 LC they would have the same part number.
Yet the fronts do not and the rears do. So does that mean the front LX springs are made different, taller, shorter, softer??? Confused yet?

Also why then do the '97 model years have 2 sets of rear spring choices, and were both used and if so for what applications? *Note that when I get home I will measure mine to see if they are the LX likeness or the other option.

Also no listed '95 springs match part numbers to the '97 or LX. And the '95 have optional rear springs that are heigher than those for later model years, so what applications were those used for? Actually the only spring off a 95 that is used on the LX and later LC is the RH rear spring. BUT this is also listed as not only a RH but also a LH on the '95! :eek:

I hoped to end the LX and LC "softer ride" debate but I think I opened a pandora's box for not only the LX differences but also differences in LC springs. I don't even want to know what the 92, 93 or 94 used for springs. :confused:
 
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Since you have access to these numbers. I'd sure like to see 94 and 91. I've sworn that my 91 sat stock a lot higher than our 94. Heck, I'm waiting on my new Js for the 94 and if stock 91s would be a little taller I'd stick them in. I'm going wheeling on Sat. in my 94 and it is completely stock, even the Michelins. I'm scared because I'm going from my 91 which had 35s, Js with spacers, low profile bumpers, and sliders. So now I'm unprotected and basically a lowrider. Fortunately this trail has a lot of bypasses.
 
ginericfj80 said:
Since you have access to these numbers. I'd sure like to see 94 and 91. I've sworn that my 91 sat stock a lot higher than our 94. Heck, I'm waiting on my new Js for the 94 and if stock 91s would be a little taller I'd stick them in. I'm going wheeling on Sat. in my 94 and it is completely stock, even the Michelins. I'm scared because I'm going from my 91 which had 35s, Js with spacers, low profile bumpers, and sliders. So now I'm unprotected and basically a lowrider. Fortunately this trail has a lot of bypasses.
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Well I have no way of knowing the height for the front springs, only the rear heights are listed.

In your case I'd pull the springs off the 94 and compair them with the ones off the 91. My guess is it can only be about 1/2 heigher at the most.
 
Not really in your vintage but here is a shot of a 93 front spring in the foreground and a set of front springs off a 92 in the background. An extra loop on the 92's. Ride height was identical.

Spring%20length%202.jpg
 
robinhood4x4 said:
Check out this thread, we think we've found a difference between certain LXs and the FJs.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=45074
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Ok so I see the light for the rear LX springs, I would be better off with the LC springs. But this does not solve why the LX front springs are different than the LC (96-97) in part #'s.

I'm really curious why the '95 and older had so many spring options, front and rear. And why my dad's '95 had shorter coils up front. Also there are taller rear spring options for the older models. My guess is they probably were never used in the US but only listed in the EPC. Most likely used for other markets with tire carries, sub tanks, etc. Then after '96 the EPC only lists what the US market came with.
 
I believe just the 91's and 92's.
 
I just sold the set of 8 wrap off my 91. Gave them to a local guy on this list, they wouldn't work for his 99 runner, so he sold them to someone they would work for.
But yes, you are correct, the 91's definitely had 8 wraps.
Funny how it takes 4-Runner owners to realize that the springs are all different in the 80's
Would it be that the 3FE is heavier and thus needing more wraps???? just a thought...
 
Land Speeder said:
I just sold the set of 8 wrap off my 91. Gave them to a local guy on this list, they wouldn't work for his 99 runner, so he sold them to someone they would work for.
But yes, you are correct, the 91's definitely had 8 wraps.
Funny how it takes 4-Runner owners to realize that the springs are all different in the 80's
Would it be that the 3FE is heavier and thus needing more wraps???? just a thought...
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That's me. I just bought them off Brett! I can't wait to get them in and see how much more they lift the rear end of my 1997 4runner. Glad you had them,

Chris
 
ravencr said:
That's me. I just bought them off Brett! I can't wait to get them in and see how much more they lift the rear end of my 1997 4runner. Glad you had them,

Chris
Click to expand...

Nice, hope you like them!
Are you local too?
 
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