I'm getting ready to do my suspension purchase and nobody really makes a "kit". sounds like its ala carte. Can I get fj rear springs or do i just order a kit for a 4runner or an FJ? Thanks!
What is interchangeable with the GX? 4 runner FJ
- Thread starter wingysataday
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Both 120 Chassis so everything Chassis wise. This also goes for all 120 chassis Toyota/Lexus vehicles
little_joe
SILVER Star
At a minimum, you need rear lower spring perches to fit coils - MetalTech has them, or make your own............
GX470 Rear Coil Conversion DIY Kit or GX470 Rear Coil Conversion Complete Kit + FJ/4Runner coils.
- Thread starter
- #5
I see there are 2 different kits on metal tech.
1)Why not get the $60 kit?
2) I noticed none of the kits come with a diff drop kit. Is there such a thing for the GX?
3) do I just order a kit for an FJ?
4) Do I really need UCA's?
5) I just want a lift high enough to clear 285/70/17's. I'm not hardcore. I also don't have a huge budget.
6) Can I get lighter rear springs and install air lift bladders in the coils for towing? I would like to hook up the stock air pump to them.
1)Why not get the $60 kit?
2) I noticed none of the kits come with a diff drop kit. Is there such a thing for the GX?
3) do I just order a kit for an FJ?
4) Do I really need UCA's?
5) I just want a lift high enough to clear 285/70/17's. I'm not hardcore. I also don't have a huge budget.
6) Can I get lighter rear springs and install air lift bladders in the coils for towing? I would like to hook up the stock air pump to them.
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- Thread starter
- #7
I found out 6) is exactly what another member has done!
1- it doesn't include the upper spring locators, which do three things. Keep the spring centered, proper length bump stop, and isolate the spring from the frame aka reduce interior noise
2- yes if you do anything more than a 2" front lift you'll want the diff drop to keep from chewing up inner CV boots.
3- Yes you can or order for the t4r, the rear spring height will differ on which vehicle you order for. OME has Prado 120 specific springs in 2 different heights.
4- A resounding yes! The factory alignment capabilities are horrible. Use the SPC/light racing uppers, they offer all the adjustability you'll need and retain a serviceable upper ball joint opposed to a uniball setup that is not dot legal and wear faster on the street due to contamination. They also provide more clearance as the suspension droops.
5- You'll need at least 3" lift in the front. You also may require a body mount trim and or wheel seam trim depending on tire and wheel offset.
6- The stock compressor will bearly fill the stock bags, I don't see it working well with aftermarket bags.
2- yes if you do anything more than a 2" front lift you'll want the diff drop to keep from chewing up inner CV boots.
3- Yes you can or order for the t4r, the rear spring height will differ on which vehicle you order for. OME has Prado 120 specific springs in 2 different heights.
4- A resounding yes! The factory alignment capabilities are horrible. Use the SPC/light racing uppers, they offer all the adjustability you'll need and retain a serviceable upper ball joint opposed to a uniball setup that is not dot legal and wear faster on the street due to contamination. They also provide more clearance as the suspension droops.
5- You'll need at least 3" lift in the front. You also may require a body mount trim and or wheel seam trim depending on tire and wheel offset.
6- The stock compressor will bearly fill the stock bags, I don't see it working well with aftermarket bags.
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- Thread starter
- #9
What's "t4rr"? Also I had an 06' Tacoma with a 3in lift on the front and did not have aftermarket UCA's. I wheeled pretty good off road and drove like that for 70k miles never had any problems with torn cv's or alignment issues. Is the GX much different?
I just read a whole thread about how useless the diff drop kit was. I guess everyone has an opinion. I'm thinking of just running 265's so I don't have to go cutting up the fenders. On my Toyota I just let the tires rub and never had any issues, just some worn areas. I'm calling toytec tomorrow and metal tech to see what they have to say. I just don't want the stink bug look with the rear all jacked up and the front diving.
I just read a whole thread about how useless the diff drop kit was. I guess everyone has an opinion. I'm thinking of just running 265's so I don't have to go cutting up the fenders. On my Toyota I just let the tires rub and never had any issues, just some worn areas. I'm calling toytec tomorrow and metal tech to see what they have to say. I just don't want the stink bug look with the rear all jacked up and the front diving.
Sorry typo T4R = Toyota 4Runner
Most coil over manufacturers specify uppers for 2"+ lift for the FJ/T4R/GX
The diff drop will lessen the CV angle about 10deg. Anything you can do to keep the ribson the boots from rubbing on each other helps reduce wear on the boots.
I run 265's and even have a little rub when loaded down and turning with a 2" lift in the front.
For the rear I have tried both OME springs and they were too high in the rear. I currently run non-trd 08' T4R springs with the metaltech spring conversion and it sits perfectly.
Most coil over manufacturers specify uppers for 2"+ lift for the FJ/T4R/GX
The diff drop will lessen the CV angle about 10deg. Anything you can do to keep the ribson the boots from rubbing on each other helps reduce wear on the boots.
I run 265's and even have a little rub when loaded down and turning with a 2" lift in the front.
For the rear I have tried both OME springs and they were too high in the rear. I currently run non-trd 08' T4R springs with the metaltech spring conversion and it sits perfectly.
- Thread starter
- #11
so no lift springs in rear?
Maybe an inch or so of lift. The nose sits so much lower than the rear on the GX it needed more "leveled" than lifted.
THeGeNTLeMaN
WooD GRaiN WaRRioR
the difference in the two kits is the bump stop which is a factory Pardo part ... you can get the cheaper kit if you are able to source the bump stops yourself ... i just went with the more expensive kit to assure that i had everything i needed to make the conversion
yes you can install air bags in the rear coils .... i have bags from Airlift in mine ... I bought the coils 2nd hand from a friend who had them already inserted in the coils ... bc of the bags i also trimmed two humps off of either of the metal tech (pardo) bump stops
as you can see in this picture
they are currently not hooked up on my truck but the previous owner did have his hooked up to the factory air pump and had to lower (trick) the height sensor so it wouldnt constantly run ... hooking them to the factory air system is possible if you can remove the factory air bags without breaking the top airline clips when taking them off (which is a fiddly job to do and takes 2 or 3 small hands to unclip)... and he says that with air always in the rear bags it did make the ride a bit stiffer than he would have liked them to be ....
however i decided not to run to the factory air supply and i will later run direct lines from my bags to the rear bumper so they can be charged manually for towing proposes ... much like you would do on a pickup truck
hope this helps
if you are gonna add the air bags do not get the more expensive kit from MT. i went with the $60 kit and have aftermarket bags(mine are the ride rite firestone bags, not the air lift bags(shown above). you will be wasting a bunch of extra money going with the more expensive kit from MT if you plan on running air bags, save that money and put it towards the air bags. as for the coils making noise, you can eliminate that by putting a rubber pad between the springs and the frame -use a double sided spray adhesive to get it to stick to the frame.
these bags are not intended to be lift bags, they only increase the spring rate to help with towing and prevent sagging. these have served me well in my 4runner that i have built and are doing a great job in my GX. im super glad i did this. -i do not use the factory air pump, i have a ARB twin that i use for all my air needs
as to answer your question, the GX and the v8 4runners are identical under the body and skin. same frame, same motor, same trans and transfer case. it also shares the powertrain with the 100 series Land Cruisers. basically if it can be done to a 03-09 4runner, it will work on the GX so if you are looking for parts and cant find them, try instead searching for parts for a 4runner, if still nothing look at pre 2010 FJCs, 2010 and newer are on the 150 chassis and the GX470 is a 120 chassis vehicle
these bags are not intended to be lift bags, they only increase the spring rate to help with towing and prevent sagging. these have served me well in my 4runner that i have built and are doing a great job in my GX. im super glad i did this. -i do not use the factory air pump, i have a ARB twin that i use for all my air needs
as to answer your question, the GX and the v8 4runners are identical under the body and skin. same frame, same motor, same trans and transfer case. it also shares the powertrain with the 100 series Land Cruisers. basically if it can be done to a 03-09 4runner, it will work on the GX so if you are looking for parts and cant find them, try instead searching for parts for a 4runner, if still nothing look at pre 2010 FJCs, 2010 and newer are on the 150 chassis and the GX470 is a 120 chassis vehicle
THeGeNTLeMaN
WooD GRaiN WaRRioR
the "expensive" airlift system is only $81 ... not exactly breaking the bank ---> AIRLIFT 1000
Heh, that's actually (substantially) cheaper than buying isolators from Toyota...just need onboard air.
- Thread starter
- #17
I called metal tech yesterday and I had to make an appointment to speak with a suspension specialist. I guess that's today at 230.
I'm leaning on running the factory tire size because it seems like the sizes go from 265 to 285. No in between. I want to run the biggest tire without trimming anything. A slight rub at full compression or lock doesn't bother me I just don't want to have to start cutting up the fenders and everything.
I'm leaning on running the factory tire size because it seems like the sizes go from 265 to 285. No in between. I want to run the biggest tire without trimming anything. A slight rub at full compression or lock doesn't bother me I just don't want to have to start cutting up the fenders and everything.
You could also read the 15 or so build threads in this forum 
sounds like 265's are your answer. Also, the stock tire size is not very popular so choices will be limited and expensive.
i dont want to sound like a dick or rude, but all of us here have answered every question you have asked, yet you still dont listen to us. part of the information we have here we got from Metal Tech, the other part we have gotten from personal experience. i dont want to trash on MT because they have a great business, and are very knowledgeable, but you must remember that they work on all types of toyotas, not just GXs or even the 120 chassis... while yes their bread and butter is Land Cruisers, the GX is an odd ball, and it wasnt untill just a couple of years ago that MT got into working on GXs...
you need to do more research on this topic before you go calling and making yourself sound uneducated or "elementary"... BFG makes a 275 70 17 tire in their new AT KO2, and its a great tire. also you can run a 285 tire with no lift with the right wheel(s) -i had done so. yes it rubs a little at full lock turning in and out of a parking lot or over curbs etc. with the proper alignment settings you probably would not rub at all honestly with a minor bit of trimming. i have run a 285 tire from Nitto -Terra Grappler) and the BFGkm2 and now the Cooper St MAXX i was only lifted after i put on the BFGs.
what other questions do you have about the GX? what have we not answered? -just because not all have chimed in and said yes or no does not make it so, we simply say no more, because someone else has already correctly answered your question, and we felt no need to bombard the board with 20 "yes" etc.
now i could be taking this all wrong and maybe a tad personal, but all of us are here for two reasons, our love/interest/passion for these vehicles thus resulting in a vast knowledge of them and related hardware/components, and the desire to share our knowledge and learn from each other... now when someone comes to these boards/forums and starts to ask questions, and then appears to either ignores the answers given or does not want to listen to answers/advice given, some might take offence and write you off...
please ask questions but dont ignore the answers that are given. -if someone gives you bad info we will correct that or question that advice.
