GX470 Suspension suggestions and overall height question

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bobinsofla

bobinsofla

10 Year
Joined
Jan 10, 2012
Threads
5
Messages
38
Location
South Florida
Gentleman,

It has been some time since I have been active on the forum so I hope everyone is well and warm.

Just got the word that my suspension on my 2007 GX is in need of replacing (leaking in front and rear). The trusty "Lexenbiest" just rolled to 102,000 miles on my trip back from Georgia.

I would want o go away from the airbags to a standard suspension, front and rear, and would appreciate all suggestions, recommendations and two cents. My desire is a mild 1"-2" lift.

Also, with all the folks with a 2-2.5 inch lift - do you happen to know the overall height of your truck? I ask because I would still like to be able to pull into my garage. I know this will depend on if you have a roof basket or other aftermarket roof rack. I currently have the OEM rack.

Thanks in advance for the advice. If any of you are in the South Florida/ Palm Beach County area and have a garage you know and trust to do the conversion, I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
Bob
 
I have old man emu springs that give just under 2" lift along with 265/70r17 tires. I come in at around 79-80" to the factory roof rack. I still fit into my 7' garage with the addition of Yakima cross-bars and a homemade platform rack from 1" square steel.
 
I recently completed a ~3" front lift, 1.5" rear...and added 33" tires...and I cleared my standard garage door. So I think you'll be fine in that regard, with a mild lift.

If I were you, I'd keep it simple - Bilstein 5100's up front (they have 4 different height adjustments) with stock springs, and convert to factory FJ rear coil springs with a 1.5" (poly) spacer as well.

Would be straightforward and relatively inexpensive.

- Brian
 
GXO said:
I did my build and park in a 7' garage no problem (I removed the stock roof rack)
Click to expand...

Dan - you had your suspension work performed at AAC, correct? I am relocating to Georgia (south of ATL) later this year so I may try to hold off until I'm up there and have AAC do the suspension work...
 
orion said:
I recently completed a ~3" front lift, 1.5" rear...and added 33" tires...and I cleared my standard garage door. So I think you'll be fine in that regard, with a mild lift.

If I were you, I'd keep it simple - Bilstein 5100's up front (they have 4 different height adjustments) with stock springs, and convert to factory FJ rear coil springs with a 1.5" (poly) spacer as well.

Would be straightforward and relatively inexpensive.

- Brian
Click to expand...

Brian, did you order a rear "kit" like what I see offered on Metaltech and other sites?
 
I did not, because I like to take the hard route! (I'm kidding...I'm just a cheap DIY'er)

I have a build thread going on this forum, check it out for pics and details.

But the gist is: I used a "custom" upper mount to locate/center the spring, and made hold-down brackets (just some 1" wide, 3/16" thick flat stock bent into a short "U" shape...bolt through the center, with a large washer under the spring seat) to keep the lower end of the spring held in place on the OEM axle (lower mount).

My solution should work with poly upper spacers, but you'd have to measure the ID of the upper side of the FJ springs to see if they would fit around the "mount" I used.

- Brian
 
The metaltech kit is based on my install...the uppers are FJ cups. ACC can do it easily.
 
Yep, I think that is it indeed! 2" is a misnomer depending on your stock age. I went up 5.5" because stock was squishy.
 
GXO said:
Yep, I think that is it indeed! 2" is a misnomer depending on your stock age. I went up 5.5" because stock was squishy.
Click to expand...

What??!! Your stock suspension was so deflated that your lift kit resulted in actual 5.5" of lift from where you started? Dan, your GX would have looked like a lowrider before the suspension switch!!!
 
It was quite low. Plus I did the heavy lift so it went up more than 2". Now that I have all the armor on it and it settled it is just where it is supposed to be.
 
You know, guys, I'm somewhat surprised that my front shocks need replacing. I guess 5000 lbs. can wear out a shock after 100,000 miles. Were any of y'alls front shocks leaking bad when you did your conversion or was it just the back suspension that was crapped out?
 
I am not sure if I can post this here but it is relevant to this discussion. I have a set of ICON rear coil springs and the Toyota rubber bump stops that go inside of the coils I want to sell, they are used, I had them in my 2007 GX470. I needed a heavier spring as a weigh an absolute ton with all my expedition gear in the truck. $225.00 for everything.

Here is a link to the springs

http://iconvehicledynamics.com/shop...-4runner-overland-lift-rear-coil-springs.html

Seth
 
OK, gents. So in looking at what I think I want for the suspension, I've landed on the Ironman setup. But the latest question is, could I pair a soft ride shock, with a "suffix B" firmer spring. What would be the concern there?
 
bobinsofla said:
OK, gents. So in looking at what I think I want for the suspension, I've landed on the Ironman setup. But the latest question is, could I pair a soft ride shock, with a "suffix B" firmer spring. What would be the concern there?
Click to expand...

Like a "performance" or "B" spring with foam cell shocks?? If so that's a great setup. Their springs can be used with the nitro or foam cell shocks. I had the foam cell on my Tundra and loved them. I have the nitro now and they're good but I would have preferred the foam cell.
 
Sam Stewart said:
Like a "performance" or "B" spring with foam cell shocks?? If so that's a great setup. Their springs can be used with the nitro or foam cell shocks. I had the foam cell on my Tundra and loved them. I have the nitro now and they're good but I would have preferred the foam cell.
Click to expand...

Sam,

It would not be a foam cell shock. It is this: Nitro Gas Soft Ride: Part number suffix GRC
 
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