little_joe
SILVER Star
Following on from my Radflo install thread - GX470: Radflo 2.5" with FJC coils - I ended up buying custom rear coils from Coil Spring Specialties in Kansas (Coil Spring Specialties).
Initially my request was based on the 2007 V8 4Runner Sport rear springs, and I specified a progressive rate with +3/4" lift, +15% additional spring rate, support for 200 lbs additional weight over the 4R specs. After thinking a bit while waiting for them to be made, I opted for +1" lift and 100 lb additional weight.
The arrived exactly when CSS said they would. I received them late Friday evening, and they were: +1" lift, 15% additional spring rate, 200 lbs additional weight. Sigh. After thinking it over, I decided to install them anyway. The applied finish on them did not blow me away compared to some of the shiny finishes on other coils, but the finish looked even and fully functional. Hey, it's a spring.
When I pulled one of the 2010 FJC TT rear coils and laid it next to the new coil, I thought - o crap. The new coil is slighly shorter, but has more wraps and appears to use slightly larger diameter steel. I don't (yet) have a caliper to measure, but will pick one up tomorrow to verify this.
Anyway, the fit is spot on, exact same dimensions so fitting to the MetalTech rear coil conversion base + 4R coil isolators was perfect.
Wrapping up the install, they netted exactly 1/2" lift on each side and it sits perfectly level side to side. And I didn't have to adjust the front any, which is what I was hoping for. We couldn't know the actual lift due to weight differences between the 4R and GX, but it worked out perfectly for me.
The ride? O my goodness, They are perfect! The ride is night and day compared to the FJC coils! At both slow and high speed (up to 80), with the rear 2.5" Radflos the rear is perfectly stable, soaking up the bumps with minimal bobbing. On my usual route where the FJC coils would allow the axle to hit the bumpstops, these springs soaked up the dips and humps and imperfections and did not hit the bumpstops.
Obviously they are new, so I'll follow up as I put some miles on them and get to work them on some trails and forest roads. But my initial impression is overwhelmingly positive.
Obligatory pics:
Initially my request was based on the 2007 V8 4Runner Sport rear springs, and I specified a progressive rate with +3/4" lift, +15% additional spring rate, support for 200 lbs additional weight over the 4R specs. After thinking a bit while waiting for them to be made, I opted for +1" lift and 100 lb additional weight.
The arrived exactly when CSS said they would. I received them late Friday evening, and they were: +1" lift, 15% additional spring rate, 200 lbs additional weight. Sigh. After thinking it over, I decided to install them anyway. The applied finish on them did not blow me away compared to some of the shiny finishes on other coils, but the finish looked even and fully functional. Hey, it's a spring.
When I pulled one of the 2010 FJC TT rear coils and laid it next to the new coil, I thought - o crap. The new coil is slighly shorter, but has more wraps and appears to use slightly larger diameter steel. I don't (yet) have a caliper to measure, but will pick one up tomorrow to verify this.
Anyway, the fit is spot on, exact same dimensions so fitting to the MetalTech rear coil conversion base + 4R coil isolators was perfect.
Wrapping up the install, they netted exactly 1/2" lift on each side and it sits perfectly level side to side. And I didn't have to adjust the front any, which is what I was hoping for. We couldn't know the actual lift due to weight differences between the 4R and GX, but it worked out perfectly for me.
The ride? O my goodness, They are perfect! The ride is night and day compared to the FJC coils! At both slow and high speed (up to 80), with the rear 2.5" Radflos the rear is perfectly stable, soaking up the bumps with minimal bobbing. On my usual route where the FJC coils would allow the axle to hit the bumpstops, these springs soaked up the dips and humps and imperfections and did not hit the bumpstops.
Obviously they are new, so I'll follow up as I put some miles on them and get to work them on some trails and forest roads. But my initial impression is overwhelmingly positive.
Obligatory pics:
