Suspension types for 86 4Runner

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Nov 25, 2008
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Location
SLC, Utah
im wanting to solid axle the front of my 86 4 runner and am wondering what would be a good leaf spring set to get for all round use (wheeling, highway, etc...) old man emu would be my inclination, any thoughts?

Where there's a newb, there's a way :flipoff2:
 
since i am a rookie on the parts factor, i gotta start somewhere, so out of the three (marlin, OME, and All Pro) Marlin is considered the best? why is it i hear so much on OME
 
All pro and marlin are almost identical. Biggest difference is the marlin hanger is a 1" drop (so 2.5" over an '85), and the All Pro is around 2" (for 3.5" drop over an '85). (it has changed over the years from 1.5 to 2.5"). Most of their parts are sourced from the same suppliers.

OME doesn't make a solid axle swap kit. Thus why it would take more work to put an OME kit together.

I have Marlin, All Pro, OME, Trail Gear (gasp! I don't like most of their parts either), Pro Comp, Rancho, etc etc etc on my truck. They all work. Just some better (and ALOT better) than others.
 
since i am a rookie on the parts factor, i gotta start somewhere, so out of the three (marlin, OME, and All Pro) Marlin is considered the best? why is it i hear so much on OME
I would consider OME and Marlin at the top, All Pro... somewhere below, and TG not on my shopping list. :cheers:
Old Man Emu are only mentioned these days due to their legacy from selling Australian made Leafsprings back in the olden days. - I think ARB haven't sold Australian made Leafsprings in Australia for more than three years. :meh:
 
i was going at first for the OME leafs, 2.5" lift. i actually wasn't looking for the solid axle swap kit. was going to find a toyota pickup or the 85 4runner. thanks for the input.:flipoff2:
 
If *I* were doing it again, I would do exactly like I did it the first time. I hand-built my own front hanger, then installed OME springs, Bilstein 5100-series shocks. Very very happy with the OME springs, I have about 80K on mine now and wouldn't hesitate to get them again. I do waay more highway miles than wheeling, and I use my truck waaaay too much to make it the ultimate wheeler. It's very capable, but still very comfortable to drive at the same time. I also have lift laws to contend with, so I have to keep it legal, and the OME's keep the truck barely under the radar.

Maybe Marlin will sell you his kit without the springs?
 
If *I* were doing it again, I would do exactly like I did it the first time. I hand-built my own front hanger, then installed OME springs, Bilstein 5100-series shocks. Very very happy with the OME springs, I have about 80K on mine now and wouldn't hesitate to get them again. I do waay more highway miles than wheeling, and I use my truck waaaay too much to make it the ultimate wheeler. It's very capable, but still very comfortable to drive at the same time. I also have lift laws to contend with, so I have to keep it legal, and the OME's keep the truck barely under the radar.

Maybe Marlin will sell you his kit without the springs?

Marlin will sell you all the parts from his sas kit individually, then you can run OME springs.

But FYI, if you run the marlin parts, with OME springs, the truck will sit 2.5" taller in the front than in the rear due to the drop in spring hangers.
 
Old Man Emu are only mentioned these days due to their legacy from selling Australian made Leafsprings back in the olden days. - I think ARB haven't sold Australian made Leafsprings in Australia for more than three years. :meh:

x2. OME "Dakar" springs are made in Malaysia these days. Heck, even ARB bumpers and siderails (TJM included) are made in Thailand. :clap:
 
Doing a solid axle swap leaves the possibilities endless. It all comes down to HOW much fab work you can and WANT to do.

If you have the money, buying the Marlin 4" SAS kit is the way to go. You get everything you need except for the solid axle and gears and front drive shaft. You can also buy their matching rear lift kit, though you'd want a 5" spring for the rear to compensate for the weight of the 4runner top and rollbar.

If I were to have the money, an IFS truck and the desire to have the nicest ride on and off the road, I would go with Marlin, hands down. Unfortunately, I am a poor college student, so I had to find the cheapest route possible.

Thus I had my friend Luke over at 4x4 Labs make me a spring hanger (I dont have a welder and I suck anyway) and some 6" shackles for the front and rear and u bolt flip kits($120). Then I went to a junkyard and sourced some Jeep wagoneer front leaf springs and some chevy 1500 pick up 63" rear leaf springs (all 4 springs cost less than $100).

Driveline wise I was able to use my rear (prior to going dual cases) but I had my friend make me a square front driveline ($50).

Most everything else I bought from Marlin (shocks, upgraded brakes, brake lines, etc) but the junk yard springs and the stuff from 4x4 Labs saved me a lot of money. Not to mention my friends and I did all the labor so that cut out that cost right there save a few 30 packs of beer.

Looking back I wouldn't change a thing. I wish I could have afforded the Marlin springs because everyone I know that has them LOVES them and I have seen how well they do on the street and offroad.

It all comes down to what you want to spend. There are endless junk yard spring options (Rears up front, chevys, waggys, F150s, S10, etc..) and that is the area you can save the most money aside from the labor cost. Check out the pirate4x4.com Toyota FAQ, there is a TON of great cheap lift ideas in there.

OME and All Pro are both quality companies as well but like others have said, I would steer away from TG. I chose to support Marlin Crawler because they are the innovators behind the dual case system and have never hesitated to sit on the phone with me for an hour to listen to my questions or help me figure out a problem I may have. Not to mention the few times there was a mistake, they were quick to make it right and always hooked me up free shwag (not just a cheap keychain, but beanies and sweatshirts) for their mistake. I can't say the same about a lot of other companies.

Not to mention... if you ever break down on the trail and Marlin happens to find you, he will do whatever it takes to get you rolling again, even if you didn't ask for his help. I've seen Marlin working on broken trail rigs more than I have ever even seen him wheeling :D
 
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