GX470: Radflo 2.5" with FJC coils

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little_joe

little_joe

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Got the Radflo put on this weekend and a few folks asked for some pictures, so here they are. If you want others, tell me and I'll get them.

Many thanks to the many others who have posted their tech here - it really helped me!
  • 2007 GX470 w/ 90k mi.
  • Radflo 2.5" shocks with 600# Eibach springs up front.
  • 2010 FJ Cruiser TT stock rear coils, got them for free w/ 40k mi on them.
  • MetalTech rear coil conversion pieces, I sourced the isolators on my own.
  • 255/75R17 Hankook AT's on 2014 4R Trail Edition wheels.
  • Measurements taken with full tank of gas; no 3rd row; and a +60 lb battery up front.
I did not adjust the front coilovers for any lift: they are left at the Radflo-recommended lowest setting (1" of space from top). I also pulled off the OPOR sliders prior to this (I have to repaint them).

Measurements post-install from center of hub to botton of flare, keep in mind there's always some deviation due to method and tape:
  • Left front: 21"
  • Right front: 21 1/8"
  • Left rear: 20 3/4"
  • Right rear: 21"
(I'll remeasure once the OPOR sliders are back on.)

I am taking it for alignment this week and will post results.

I did the install by myself in my garage which was +95*, so I took numerous breaks for water and to cool off. In all, it took me ~8 hrs, probably 5-6 hrs of actual work. My wife added leverage as needed. I had no surprises or problems, except one of the front shock actuator allen-head bolts stripped - and was promptly solved using vise grips. Everything else came apart and installed without issue.

Ratcheting wrenches were a godsend; 4mm and 6mm allen wrenches were needed; I pulled all of the air crap; and I found popping the tie-rod from the knuckle was very effective (as opposed to popping the ball joints, as I found some 4R guys did).

Some pictures:
Front coilover, swaybar relocation block. Very pleased with the cv and tie rod angles.
lf_front

lf_front


Rear shock. Yawn.
rearshock

rearshock


Rear spring setup.
rearspring

rearspring


Rear wheelwell clearance.
rearwell

rearwell


Front wheelwell clearance.
frontwell

frontwell


Front view.
front

front


Side view.
side

side


Rear view.
rear

rear

 
Overall initial impressions: this suspension exceeded my expectations! The quality is superb; the ride is fantastic. I am uncertain if the FJC coils are a perfect solution as the rear can be a little bouncy at low speeds; but at mid/high speeds, it's smooth as can be and all of the wallowing is gone. I might look into the Swayaway 1.5" coils for the rear, not sure yet.

As of this writing, I only have 100-some miles on it, so I'll follow up 1) as I put on more miles and 2) hit some trails.
 
nice write up, the GX looks great with that bit of lift and the T4R wheels
 
You are relatively close, may have to start having SE GX owner events! :P
 
GXO said:
You are relatively close, may have to start having SE GX owner events! :p
Click to expand...

Dan, I'm in! Too bad the trails out by Cullowhee are all shut down, that place was awesome. I met you out there at an Upstate/ONSC fall ride maybe 8-9 yrs ago, and unfortunately - as an Ohio U alumni - I made a snarky comment about you going to Miami. I apologize. :)

****************

The pictures I posted were on a slope, if that wasn't obvious. The truck is near perfectly level.

****************

Got the alignment today and some numbers concern me. He was able to dial in Camber to 0.2* on both front tires (left was 1.1* and right 0.7* before).

Toe is set to 0.04* on the left, 0.06* on right, improved from -0.02*/L and 0.05*/R. Total toe is 0.1* and steer-ahead is -0.01* - which both seem about perfect.

Caster is what has me baffled. Left front is 2.2*, right front is 3.3*. The left is slightly out of spec, and I wonder what might cause this and what the impact may be? (keeping in mind caster isn't adjustable, and upper a-arms aren't in the plan.)
 
lol, no worries on the Miami thing :)

Windrock is fun, maybe there?

I miss the holy land.
 
Thanks Martin! Yes same tire pre/post lift, in either case they rub very very slightly at full lock, and just on the black plastic fenderliner.
 
little_joe said:
Thanks Martin! Yes same tire pre/post lift, in either case they rub very very slightly at full lock, and just on the black plastic fenderliner.
Click to expand...
I have 255/75R17 Duratracs (no lift) and they rub a bit at full lock (and a little bit prior), but I think that's just on the plastic fender liner as well.
 
Not sure if this is an anomaly, but after a week of driving around, no more drivetrain clunk. Nice added benefit, and confirms my suspicion the issue wasn't the driveshaft but rather the suspension itself.
 
An update and a question:

The ride around town is excellent with this setup. However, having loaded it up a couple of times now for road trip/camping, the FJC coils are actually pretty bad.

Going to OBX and to the NC mountains - gear includes a 35 qt Engel + a very modest amount of gear - the rear squats down about 1/2". The real problem is the rear end is bouncy as heck and hits the bumpstops on the mildest of washes and bumps.

I need rear springs, but I don't want much/any lift. The Radflo Eibach's are advertised at 2", same with Icon and OME. They all seem to be about 20-30% higher spring rate than stock 120 platform (4R and FJC). Max I want 1". Is anyone aware of a quality 1" lift spring for this platform?

(I had cut-down springs on my 80 w/ the mfgr's blessing and they worked perfectly, but am a bit reluctant to do that again.)
 
do what i did, i tow a lot and so for me having the FJC rear coils they did not hold the weight i wanted, so i added a set of firestone ride rite air bags. fixed the issue now i can load up the GX or tow what ever i want and just fill the bags and be fine with it. -you will have to get rid of those coils spring isolators though, because thats were the air bags go
 
@The Great Him I have thought long and hard about the airbags and may yet go that route, nice to hear the confirmation it is a great solution!

I also ran across Coil Spring Specialties in KS, they can make custom coils to my specs for just less than or about the same price as the common known brands. And apparently they make coils for Deaver and others...........
 
little_joe said:
@The Great Him I have thought long and hard about the airbags and may yet go that route, nice to hear the confirmation it is a great solution!

I also ran across Coil Spring Specialties in KS, they can make custom coils to my specs for just less than or about the same price as the common known brands. And apparently they make coils for Deaver and others...........
Click to expand...
Custom coils might be nice... But I like the ability to change my spring rate as needed or to suit my needs (add or remove air). Remember this is how Lexus/Toyota -as well as many other manufacturers accomplish this with their air ride systems. I would have stayed with the stock Lexus system had it not been for limited travel and risk of a bag getting a hole and leaving me without any suspension. Honestly with 3or so psi they system is unnoticed and the suspension is nice and soft.
 
Ideal setup for a lifted GX would be progressive rate rear coils (Icon) with airbags for load/towing. Simple and effective!
 
Did you swap the rear bump stops to the ones that are used on the non air suspension 120? I understand they are much shorter, part number is maybe 48306-60180?
 
I did not swap the axle tube/frame bumpstops, just put the isolators in the springs. And Dan I'd like a progressive coil, however I don't want the 2" of lift of Icon, Radflo, et al.
 
I had a lengthy call with an engineer from Coil Spring Specialties in KS and I'm going with them. I'll have the final design in the next day or so, but they are providing me a progressive rate coil at the unloaded/loaded heights I want. I'll follow up once I have the specs finalized; and again once I install them.

What an amazing experience so far: they asked a lot of questions to make sure they're providing exactly what I want, they've offered great advice. Very refreshing compared to the "we make x and you will love it" (b/c that's all we make; and regardless of what your actual needs are).
 
I ordered today from Coil Spring Specialties, springs will be here in about a month.

Based the config off a 2007 4R Sport V8 oem rear spring, hope this works out:

+3/4" height over stock
+15% rate increase
+200 lb additional load

This nets a progressive rate that should squat no more than 1/4" with 200 lbs of gear in the rear.
 
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