New HE - rear suspension height (too high)

[fj5000]

Hi Gang - long time follower so I understand this isn’t a popular question AND it appears it’s been discussed in reverse (without conclusion). So here goes..

New HE - not new to the 200. Highway miles and very light trailing. I don’t like the height of the rear set up. Too high.

Staying stock - how can I lower this? Can I simply install 2019 springs?

 

[bloc]

Hi Gang - long time follower so I understand this isn’t a popular question AND it appears it’s been discussed in reverse (without conclusion). So here goes..

New HE - not new to the 200. Highway miles and very light trailing. I don’t like the height of the rear set up. Too high.

Staying stock - how can I lower this? Can I simply install 2019 springs?

Third row or without? If no, you are lighter in the back than a base model and their springs might not fix the problem.
I’d give it some time to settle in, personally. And consider adding steps or sliders to aid getting in/out so you don’t notice the height as much day to day.

 

[JohnPW]

Is your concern how it looks = too much rake, or is it the actual load height?

if you don’t like the rake of the factory truck, then adding the OEM front coil spacers is a great, simple mod for not a ton of money.

 

[fj5000]

Is your concern how it looks = too much rake, or is it the actual load height?

if you don’t like the rake of the factory truck, then adding the OEM front coil spacers is a great, simple mod for not a ton of money.

Sorry. Good catch. No third row. I have front spacers coming - this is really for looks. Rear height compared to top of tire just looks like a big gap.... wondering with the front spacer, slightly larger tire and a BASE rear suspension of that will solve it. Can’t tell if the base rear springs etc will lower this slightly.

 

[JohnPW]

Sorry. Good catch. No third row. I have front spacers coming - this is really for looks. Rear height compared to top of tire just looks like a big gap.... wondering with the front spacer, slightly larger tire and a BASE rear suspension of that will solve it. Can’t tell if the base rear springs etc will lower this slightly.

I feel the front coil spacers level out the truck and make the rear height less noticeable. A taller tire will solve obviously; I recently replaced stock tires with 275/65r18 and even the slight 0.6” taller spec was noticeable to me. My 2016 has the third row, but I have rear coil airbags which raised the rear about an inch so similar rear height to the HE. A slightly taller tire and front coil spacers look right to my eyes, without going to LT rated tires that I don’t need.

I don’t know what rear coil spring options you have, hopefully someone can comment there.

 

[Tex68w]

What is the part number for these front coil spacers y'all speak of?

I feel the front coil spacers level out the truck and make the rear height less noticeable. A taller tire will solve obviously; I recently replaced stock tires with 275/65r18 and even the slight 0.6” taller spec was noticeable to me. My 2016 has the third row, but I have rear coil airbags which raised the rear about an inch so similar rear height to the HE. A slightly taller tire and front coil spacers look right to my eyes, without going to LT rated tires that I don’t need.

I don’t know what rear coil options you have, hopefully someone can comment there.

No rubbing issues with those 275's I assume?

 

[Nola622]

2019 base rear coils will lower the back. I would wait to see how you like the look with the front spacer first. 275/65 will fit fine and look a little better wheel-well gap wise.

( I run 275/65/18 tires and use HE rear coils on a 2013. I have compared 2013, 2019 and HE rear coils and the HE coils are the highest with no rear weight. 2019 were the lowest. I believe Toyota sought to reduce the rake in the US market over the years. The reason it looks bad is probably the stock tires and wheel offset but that's just my opinion. I think Toyota runs the wheels too far inboard on the 200 series out of the box.)

 

[JohnPW]

What is the part number for these front coil spacers y'all speak of?


No rubbing issues with those 275's I assume?

Front coil spacer- Before and after photos - Part number: 43136-60020

forum.ih8mud.com

No rubbing with 275/65r18. Most 275/70r18 (33”) and 285/65r18 will also fit with minimal rubbing, but the latter sizes are mostly only available in heavier LT rated tires that impact ride quality and which I don’t need for my uses.

 

[TeCKis300]

Curious what the HE ride height is. Mind getting the wheel center to fender lip measurement for front and rear?

 

[tdcruiser406080100]

Curious what the HE ride height is. Mind getting the wheel center to fender lip measurement for front and rear?

I measured my HE when new While doing a little flex test.

Center of wheel to inside edge of fender.
Front: 20”
Rear: 21-7/8”
*Drivers & Passenger side were exactly the same and after the fork test thing.

New Heritage 200 fork lift flex test.

I was curious.. and I have a fork lift. And well.. just because! New stock 200 series 2020 Heritage Edition. 708 miles. I have about 200 or maybe 250lbs of tools in the back I normally carry around for work. Tires: Dunlop Grandtrek 285/60R18. I think about 30” tall. I lifted until the other...

forum.ih8mud.com

Since then I have added ARB drawers loaded with tools. The rake went from 1-7/8” to 1-1/4”. The rake works for me because I am fairly level towing a 26ft trailer with WD hitch.

My news year’s resolution to overthink suspension mods is going well. Currently it’s Bilstein with 2721 OME springs. Not sure of what rear height will end up with that spring. May have to install rear first to determine best guess front shock position to maintain a slight rake.

 

[bloc]

I believe Toyota sought to reduce the rake in the US market over the years.

The part numbers disagree, or they did it some way other than rear springs. One side of the rear spring part numbers didn’t change from ~2011 all the way to 19, the other side did.

 

[fj5000]

2019 base rear coils will lower the back. I would wait to see how you like the look with the front spacer first. 275/65 will fit fine and look a little better wheel-well gap wise.

( I run 275/65/18 tires and use HE rear coils on a 2013. I have compared 2013, 2019 and HE rear coils and the HE coils are the highest with no rear weight. 2019 were the lowest. I believe Toyota sought to reduce the rake in the US market over the years. The reason it looks bad is probably the stock tires and wheel offset but that's just my opinion. I think Toyota runs the wheels too far inboard on the 200 series out of the box.)

 

[fj5000]

Thank you for all the responses. I’ll dig into the 2019 springs.

Dumb question but is that all I need to get this sit a bit squatter? (Springs only?)

 

[sdnative]

Currently it’s Bilstein with 2721 OME springs. Not sure of what rear height will end up with that spring. May have to install rear first to determine best guess front shock position to maintain a slight rake.

Are you planning the full Bilstein 6112/5160 set except using OME 2721 rear springs? Please let us know how you like the ride with that setup. I may need to swap in some OME 2720 since the Bilstein rear springs are only considered a medium load and may not provide enough support when fully loaded. If you don't need a lot of rear height, you could consider the 2720 instead. Same load rating just slightly shorter.

 

[dnh1]

Thank you for all the responses. I’ll dig into the 2019 springs.

Dumb question but is that all I need to get this sit a bit squatter? (Springs only?)

Yes. It does not have to be "2019 springs" just base springs. The HE springs make it sit higher in the back.

It does not have anything to do with the lack of third row seats. It is the springs. I took the third row seats out of my base and it still look the same as it did before height wise.

 

[CharlieS]

Contact a shop that does a lot of suspension upgrades and see if you can get takeoff springs from a base.

I think most of these just get junked. I know I've always thrown away the stock springs when removing them.

Most people go in the other direction (lift, not lower).

 

[CharlieS]

Thank you for all the responses. I’ll dig into the 2019 springs.

Dumb question but is that all I need to get this sit a bit squatter? (Springs only?)

Springs and load determine ride height. Buy a set of rear boxes and fill them with heavy recovery gear and you may get the stance you want. Or swap in shorter springs.

 

[Nola622]

The part numbers disagree, or they did it some way other than rear springs. One side of the rear spring part numbers didn’t change from ~2011 all the way to 19, the other side did.

Correct - one side rear coil got shorter from 2013 -> 2019. I haven't tested others. The part number that changed is the longer spring if I remember correctly. I don't know for other years like 08-09 or 2020 since I haven't measured those coils.

 

[luke27617]

DELETED

 

[jtownse6]

Hi Gang - long time follower so I understand this isn’t a popular question AND it appears it’s been discussed in reverse (without conclusion). So here goes..

New HE - not new to the 200. Highway miles and very light trailing. I don’t like the height of the rear set up. Too high.

Staying stock - how can I lower this? Can I simply install 2019 springs?

I’d love to have your rear 2020HE springs