Comprehensive 5-lug 2nd gen lowering info.

Just out of curiosity, is there any reason to opt for a custom coil over mount rather than convert the top eyelet to a stem/stud mount?

 

YES! The OEM Shock mount is just designed to mount & hold the Shock! NOT the Spring & Shock I.e. the weight of the truck‼️
You’re not the first to ask the question but be my guest to be the first to try it.

 

Had to think about this for a second but I understand - as a coilover the spring and strut are one unit, so trying to support it with just the stud through the stock shock mount hole would be catastrophic (to say the least).

I'm actually thinking about just using the shock and keeping the stock spring. With my current set up, the front struts (XR Bilsteins) are a bit too short for the stock spring, so I'll eventually need to replace them with some slightly longer units - maybe I can upgrade at the same time? I have QA1's at the rear and like the quality and that they are adjustable, so wondered if I could make some of their coil struts work - find the right length, get the stock spring caps to fit, and change the eyelet at the top. Or am I oversimplifying this too much?

 

So you’re saying that the XR shocks are not the best fit? Would you recommend getting those or another strut for lowering/handling?

 

No, not really - but I think if you're going to go with the XR shocks, you should use them with the matched XR springs or springs that were made for that strut. In my case, the XR springs I took off are about 1.75" shorter than the base 2wd springs I replaced them with, which means the base model springs need to be compressed 1.75" before they can even begin to fit into the same spot the shorter XR springs go (and of course, all springs have to be compressed/preloaded in install). I'm no expert, but somehow that doesn't seem right - what I think is happening is the overly compressed longer spring is stretching out the shorter Bilstein strut as far as it can go, and neither is able to operate at the length it is designed for. My (subjective) experience so far is that the front end is bouncy - to the point where you need two hands on the wheel if you hit a pothole or larger junction point at freeway speed.

In side by side pictures of the Bilsteins and base struts, the springs seat does appear to be noticeably lower, which would make sense as it needs to accommodate a longer spring. Unfortunately I don't have a base strut to measure so I cannot definitively say how much lower it actually is. Also, when assembled, the base strut and spring seem to be longer as well, but again I don't have any actual measurements to confirm.

I can say that the truck did sit about 1" lower with the matched XR Bilstein strut and spring than it does now (with the XR Bilstein and base spring), so the matched XR setup is a good combo if you want to lower just a bit and have a stiffer overall feel.

 

Hmmm...
We have a SR-5 5 lug w/ 2.7L & a stick. I started off with XR springs, XR Bilstein’s & Tundra Racing lowing mounts. It’s was WAY TO F-ing stiff. I then installed the stock springs and the ride hight only came up about a 1/2” but the ride was a lot better! I then went to QA1 coilovers w/ 525# springs. The ride and handling was a step up. I installed new UCA to get the alignment within specs. I then went to Viking coilover’s w/ 500# front springs as they have a shorter front & better length rear shocks for all spring rear drop / 6 lug rear springs w/ 1/2” spacer on the right side & 1/4” spacer on the left side for the Taco Lean. I really don’t think the OEM shocks spring mounts & XR Bils. spring mounts are any different in hight as I check the hight when I removed the stock shocks to install the XR Bils. The lower photo is with 10” springs I have changed to 12” springs.

 

You may be right; as I mentioned, I don't have any actual measurements outside of the difference in spring length between the XR and stock base springs. By chance, do you still have the stock strut? I've been chasing down measurements (lower eyelet to spring seat, spring seat to stud end, and overall length) but I haven't been able to get my hands on one to measure nor find someone who has one to measure.

I do have a picture (not mine, provided to me by Bowers86) that show an XR Bilstein/Xii spring side by side with a stock spring/strut assembly; it's just a picture but there does seem to be a difference between the distance from the spring seat to the top hat. Would be nice to know that actual distance for reference.

 

I don’t have any but I just purchased an bone stock mint condition 07 Regular Cab with 27k miles and a vendor that is coming out with a new supercharger system for the 2.7L asked me if they could use the truck for testing and for demo vehicle to promote their system. They asked me to please don’t change a thing on the truck as they want a bone stock truck‼️ I have already installed cruise, wipers, new OE leather wheel & knob, I’m detailing the engine bay & undercarriage. But after the supercharger system is installed w/ a new header & 2.5” exhaust system w/ a 5x8x14 resonater & 5x11x22 muffler, they will test, video and photograph. Then I can get the truck back. I will install new Viking coilover suspension w/ 6 lug leafs, have notches installed, Gears w/ Truetrac, Two piece StopTech’s, 19” forged Ray’s to clear the brakes, Toyota 86 seats w/ full length Tacoma center console, Snug top bed cover, baby stereo system w/ alarm, tint, super bright driving lights in the OE fog location, color match handles, mirrors, grill, bumpers and other small mods. I have everything but the Truetrac setting in our garage.

When I remove the stock suspension I can measure. Just because the XR Bils don’t have the shock stroke as the stock shocks do doesn’t mean the ride hight/lower mount is taller/higher. Plus the red springs on the Bils are aftermarket stiffer springs made by Eibach for an out of business vendor. There are spring companies that can make custom springs but they are not cheap to have made! Plus if you have a spring rate that is too stiff for the valving of a shock you will kill the shock. Remember the max ride hight drop that’s more than 1.5” to 1.75” lower than the stock ride or about.25 to .5” lower than the stock XR ride hight the alignment will be out of specs!

 

How can I drop the front of my truck another inch and a half front and rear

 

Fat people

 

Lmao

 

What's your current set up (including front and rear shocks and springs, wheel and tire size)? And are you looking to get rid of wheel gap or have the entire truck ride lower as well?

 

I have 2 inches in the front and 3 in the rear the front is a 2 inch drop strut and rear is 3 inch block

 

And I have a 17 inch wheels and a 235 wider tire

 

For the rear, you can get Xrunner/Prerunner/4x4 leaf springs or a 4" block. The leafs will drop it due to a decreased arch but drop may not be exactly 1" more than you have, like the block would.

For the fronts, it sounds like you are working with a shortened shock that has the spring perch lowered - you could try shorter springs (like XR springs) as that should make the working length of the shock shorter, but I'm not familiar with your shocks or how the stock spring sits in it so I can't definitively say how much it will lower it by (if at all). For reference, the XR springs are just under 10" and the stock springs are about 11.5", but the XR springs are thicker gauge so they are stiffer and will compress less.

Other than that it would be going with DJM control arms (they do have a 3/4 kit so that might be exactly what you need, just use the stock shock and springs). Or you could go coilovers and that will get it exactly where you want it - Feal and Strictly Street sell them for the 5-lug or you can piece together a set like many on the forum have.

If you are just looking at getting rid of wheel gap, you could just go bigger wheels - a 19" rim with comparably sized tires will add 2" of wheel diameter and will bring the fender 1" closer to the wheel.

 

You should also get rid of the K&N air filter. It’s been proven that the OE cloth filter flows better and does a MUCH better job!
Little do people know if you use liquid laundry soap mixed with water in a spray bottle, saturate the filter with the soap solution, let set for awhile, then rinse the soap out the opposite direction of the air flow. You don’t need a lot of pressure. Let dry and install. The drying takes time. OEM air filters are great quality filters and do the best job!

 

Im looking at running’s XR springs/Bilsteins for a moderate drop, an inch over 4x2 5lugs from what I read?

What made your combo stiff the rear blocks?

For the rear what’s best way to bring the rear down with some performance in mind ? What are the advantages of a 4x4 leaf pack or XR set up which would comprise some payload?

Larger sway up front and adding one to the rear is something I’m also considering.

 

X brace, qa1 2 way , steel Leaf or 4x4 leaf , 4 in block notch

Front coilover qa1 2 way djm drop spindles... winnah

 

The front X-runner springs and the red aftermarket springs are even worse!
There’s a guy here that did an iron block LS w/ AC in a Pre-runner and he went with QA1 and 500 lbs springs he said the springs & shocks ride really great. And there are guys here running 600 lbs springs in five lugs because they think it makes them handle better! They get susp. so stiff that the tires lose contact with the road.
I highly do NOT recommend X-runner springs in the front of your five lug. But I’m not you, some think they are fine with over stiff springs. Not me I’ve tried it both ways. I just ordered 450 lbs springs to get rid of the the 525 & 500 lbs springs I have.
I would much rather keep your stock springs with X Bils and the SOS kit. Find a set of 6 lug rear springs. See where that sets you and go from there any lower than 3” lower then stock in the rear you’re going to be bottoming hard over big dips.
But don’t listen to me I’m an old fart that still likes to shift and turn corners without coming to a stop.

 

Guaranteed I wouldn’t want drop springs. I’m looking to keep the truck at minimum factory XRunner height. From the XRunner reviews I did read about the suspension being quiet firm. I guess the same is for base model conversions. Post #305 says there may be fitment issues if I run the XR Bilsteins with base springs. Can anyone confirm this?

In the rear I just want 1-1.5” drop, can I get that with just the 6 lug leafs? I already have a LS460 on coilovers. I don’t want to overhaul too much on this truck. I wanna lower it slightly but I’m also running plus size 28.2” tires. I’d like to try the 29” 255/55/18 in the future.