GX470 TTUE TRD suspension install

[half k cruiser]

I finally got around to installing the suspension kit on my wife's 120 series. Hopefully others will find this information helpful. Right now there doesn't seem to be anything documenting this, so I will try and help out. This is the kit that was on clearance from Toyota to the tune of $577. First up will be the springs. Toyota claims these will lift a 2014 FJ 1'' in the front to level stance. Spring rate is advertised as 600lbs.

Spring height is almost exactly 14'' the same as a factory GX coil. Spacing between the coils is 1'' for the TRD's and 3/4'' for the OEM, so that explains the higher spring rate.

As you can see the new shocks are substantially larger then than OEM. I put both sides on the lower of the two settings.

The only modifications needed in the front are to grind a very small amount off of the metal shock eye bushing. I used a flap disc on the angle grinder and made a few passes to each side of the bushing, then checked for a snug fit.

The factory jack actually comes in handy to push the lower control arm down. This is the appropriate position to have it in. Once the arm is down you can easily pull the OEM strut and spring down, then install the new. I used a floor jack to bring the arm back into place afterwards.

New top hats from KYB

 

[Docwyte]

Very interested in hearing your impressions of the kit. Ride quality, how it handles and how much the lift was. You sticking with the OEM airbags in the back, or did you do a coil conversion?

Lift is only in the front?

I want to buy this kit but have limited height in my garage, don't want to lift the GX much at all, I only have a bit over 2" clearance right now fron the roof rails to the height limit.

 

[half k cruiser]

If using the KYB top hat kit, you will need to modify the top capture washer from its standard configuration to a 1/2 diameter round hole.

Here's everything installed

 

[half k cruiser]

I will update on the rear shocks when I get the chance to install them.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Very nice write up! Subscribed

 

[Arailt]

Great write up!

 

[subspd]

How much lift did you get?

 

[half k cruiser]

Ok, I didn't get started on the rears yesterday until afternoon. I made the decision to knock out the sliders first as they were getting in the way sitting in my garage. With that out of the way I pulled the DS rear and let the struggle begin. Nothing about this operation is particularly difficult, however, little things can add up. Do yourself a favor and cut the upper shock bolt off with a sawzall and make life easy. Moving on ..

So the TRD kit is pretty well sorted and comes with this neat little bracket for holding your reservoir. The factory provides the other piece of the puzzle in this conveniently threaded hole that you see above. I just ran an 8mm x 1.25 tap in there to clean everything out, then secured the bracket.

In order for the top of the shock to seat you will have to widen the upper hole to 1''. Make sure you have a big enough drill bit.

With the shock bolted in, secure the reservoir to the bracket, I chose to have the bracket hang down instead of up. Then bolt it all back together.

Here's a clearance check to make sure the tire will miss the reservoir. Notice I also removed the OEM frame mount bump stop so it wouldn't limit the up-travel. Factory 4th gen 4runner springs installed as well. I have heard that these are too soft once loaded. They were free, so I'm going to at least give them a go. If they don't work I will bump up the rate and maybe free height enough to get an additional inch of lift to set a rake front to rear.

 

[Arailt]

Looks good! Does the new upper spring seat act as the bump stop now?

Did you do a measurement up front yet?

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Yeah, I wanted to see if @half k cruiser confirms the 1.25” lift in the front that @Bama80 got with this kit. Front Hub to fender measurements would be great and a picture to see if the gx470 sits level.

I’ve been assuming that the gx470 came with a rake from the factory with the front being lower. Can anyone confirm this? Maybe @half k cruiser is right that this just restores the original height due to the old coils just sagging over an inch over time!

 

[half k cruiser]

Ok lets backtrack for a minute. The way I showed to mount the reservoir will not work on the PS. The hole is there, but it's a larger diameter and isn't threaded. I messed around with it for longer than I'd like to admit before I came up with this solution. Remove the clip holding the old TEMS connector in place. Directly above it is an 8mm x 1.25 hole. If you secure the bracket to this, you are in business. I ran the hose around to the inside of the shock so there's no chance of it contacting the tire. Then I went around and did the same on the DS.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Like the details on how to install the rear shock remote reservoirs. I was trying to figure out what TEMS was, but I found it. They are the unneeded wires that connect to the electronic Toyota OEM shocks.

TEMS (Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension) is a shock absorber that is electronically controlled to change the valving on the shock from COMFORT to NORMAL to SPORT.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Any update on the front hub to fender measurements? I wanted to update my table of lifts, but I'm not sure if:
(A) this kit is restoring you to stock heights in the front because of the sagging original stock coils, or
(B) you are actually getting a little lift in the front to level with the back.

I suppose we won't know unless we had the original factory hub to fender measurements.

Anyways, how do you like the ride so far with this TTUE TRD FJC kit?

 

[Mitchelllamme]

I just installed this on my 04. Yeah GX are pretty raked stock. This did give me a decent amount of front lift. Mine got around 1.75 from hub to fender. Also traded my arnott rear springs for one fj springs and got about .5 over the arnott springs.

 

[Arailt]

I just installed this on my 04. Yeah GX are pretty raked stock. This did give me a decent amount of front lift. Mine got around 1.75 from hub to fender. Also traded my arnott rear springs for one fj springs and got about .5 over the arnott springs.

How did you handle the two snap ring settings?

 

[Mitchelllamme]

I put them both on the highest setting. It came driver side up and passenger side down. I can’t see how me being in it would negate the passenger drop. It was a pretty decent bit higher. Rides just fine and level with a driver and no pass.

 

[Arailt]

The driver's side also leans due to the battery and gas tank being on that side. I'm thinking about getting this setup and would run both on the highest setting as well though. I have a 1/4" spacer left over from my Tacoma that in can throw in if it leans.

 

[Docwyte]

Can't we use the FJ upper front strut hat to avoid having to drill out the top capture washer?

Really want to order this kit, gotta wait till Friday to see how much actual headroom I have between the top of my rack and the bottom of the lift in my garage...

 

[joabmc]

Can't we use the FJ upper front strut hat to avoid having to drill out the top capture washer?

Really want to order this kit, gotta wait till Friday to see how much actual headroom I have between the top of my rack and the bottom of the lift in my garage...

Yes. I did a straight swap of all my FJC suspension.

 

[joabmc]

The driver's side also leans due to the battery and gas tank being on that side. I'm thinking about getting this setup and would run both on the highest setting as well though. I have a 1/4" spacer left over from my Tacoma that in can throw in if it leans.

Toytec sells a 10MM trim packer for the drivers side lean that will work as well.
Inserts right below the coil and strut. It’s an inexpensive fix for the lean. You can also buy the OME ones for about $12 on different sites.