Building an '06 V8 4Runner

[Redline]

Finally, finally installed my OME lift on my '06 V8 4Runner project. I've had the parts since early January but have been waiting for my Shrockworks front bumper to be made and shipped. The bumper has still not arrived but I need to get moving on this build. A much needed boost!

OME 886 Spring w/ N140S Struts for the front,
OME 895 Springs w/ N141 shocks for the rear.

Having driven only a few miles with the new suspension, it feels terrific. Firmer but not harsh. Still feels good going down the road. Now it's time to rip-off the running-boards and mud flaps.

With a little luck the front bumper will arrive by the end of April so I can add the winch, have some better recovery points, and improve the approach angle and overall clearance.

Here's to getting ready for the '07 Expedition Trophy and all the months between... and after :wings:

 

[Redline]

DaveInDenver

I thought I might get a "photos" scolding response ...

redLine

 

[Redline]

B4

Don't have any wheelin' pictures with todays lift (just installation shots) but do have these B4 shots in total "mall mode"

Hope I have the posting procedure correct.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Good looking truck, even before the OME!

 

[Redline]

Thanks for your kind comments... Though I have to say I think it looked like every other "Soccer-Mom SUV" until today. That said, the stock 4th gen. 4Runner w/ATRAC works amazingly well in stock, low-rider trim. Ride height/clearance was probably the biggest limitation. Now that this very necessary modification has been accomplished, I hope my time will allow for the modification flood gates to open fully while I crawl forward during the coming months.

I removed the running boards this evening. It was like putting a nice bathing suit on a beautiful woman; it made the rest of the package very noticeable.

Good looking truck, even before the OME!

 

[Redline]

Alignment Settings

Alignment Baseline Jan 2007, 2,000-miles (factory/as delivered)

Left Right

1. Total Toe Front -0.05*
2. Left/Right Toe +0.00* -0.05*
3. Camber -0.26* +0.23* -0.49*
Cross Cam

4. Caster +3.00* +0.06* +3.06*
Cross Cas

5. S.A.I. +12.0* +12.4*

6. Total Toe Rear +0.20*
7. Left/Right Toe +0.50 -0.30*
8. Camber -0.15* +0.20* -0.35*
Cross Cam

9. Thrust Angle +0.40

After the OME Lift Mar 2007, 4,400-miles, adjustments were made to obtain the readings below.


Left Right

1. Total Toe Front +0.07*
2. Left/Right Toe +0.03* +0.04*
3. Camber +0.24* +0.05* +0.28*
Cross Cam

4. Caster +0.69* +0.25* +0.94*
Cross Cas

5. S.A.I. +11.4* +11.8*

6. Total Toe Rear -0.03*
7. Left/Right Toe +0.28* -0.30*
8. Camber -0.41* +0.09* -0.32*
Cross Cam

9. Thrust Angle +0.29

I understand the basic of alignment, but don't ask me to interpret the above data with specific, scientific detail. But I'm sure there some here who will have interesting comments. Other than looking at numbers and specs my biggest concern is if a vehicle handles and operates well.

redLine

P.S. I had the numbers separated so they were easier to read but when posting my tabs very removed.

 

[Redline]

New 'Street' Tires

The stock Michelin Cross Terrain P265/70R16 tires were pulled and replaced with 32-inch Toyo A/T LT265/75R16 (C-range) for everyday driving and light-duty off-highway work. There will be another set later for slippery conditions.

 

[Redline]

Front Anti-Sway Bar issue

I have a problem with my OME suspension. Suggestions & help would be much appreciated

Last week a friend (pro Tech. specializing in front end/alignments/suspension repair) and I installed my OME suspension. Though I'm capable of doing the job with the exception of putting the struts inside the front springs (he has a press), he did most of the work while I helped, watched, took pictures and notes.

OME from Slee:
886 front coil, N140S strut
895 rear, N141 shock

We did drop the anti-sway bar during the installation to make things easier, but I think I read somewhere this is not necessary or recommended. Did I screw this up?

I didn't drive it much until today, but I had a noticeable squeak/rubbing noise coming from the right/front, as well as twitchy /unusual steering control. I discovered the sway bar is contacting the bottom of the spring mount on the lower end of the strut! Obviously this is not acceptable for many reasons. Are sway-bar drop brackets the best way to deal with this? Nobody makes extended bar-end links I assume like for a Jeep?

Maybe this contact we didn't catch affected the limited caster he was able to put back in?

For now I'm pulling the sway-bar until I figure out what I need to do.

 

[Tucson T4R]

I'm running the 886 OME springs on my 04 4Runner and the sway bar does not contact the front strut spring. The clearence is close, maybe 3/8" but it never touches the spring. I'm not sure why your would be dfiferent than mine??

Any chance the sway bar was bent prior to installing the OME lift? The only other differnce is you are running 886 springs before adding the wieght of the new bumper. Maybe the lighter weight with the stiffer springs sets you up for the sway bar contact?? No knowledge behind that guess, just a WAG.

Other than alignment adjustments being out of spec, I can't see a logical reason yours is making spring contact and mine doesn't, Maybe someone else here with more experience will have a better idea? I would also talk with Ben at Slee Offroad. He has a lot of experience with OME and 4Runners.

Please keep us posted on what you find.

 

[Redline]

Thanks for the input. No bumper/winch yet as I'm still waiting for my Shrockworks to arrive... Contacting Ben is a good idea. I'm giving some thought to adding caster correction of some type. For now I took the anti-sway-bar off. I don't think it was bent in its first 4000-miles, which only included a few easy 4-wheelin' trips, but its surely possible.

I'm running the 886 OME springs on my 04 4Runner and the sway bar does not contact the front strut spring. The clearence is close, maybe 3/8" but it never touches the spring. I'm not sure why your would be dfiferent than mine??

Any chance the sway bar was bent prior to installing the OME lift? The only other differnce is you are running 886 springs before adding the wieght of the new bumper. Maybe the lighter weight with the stiffer springs sets you up for the sway bar contact?? No knowledge behind that guess, just a WAG.

Other than alignment adjustments being out of spec, I can't see a logical reason yours is making spring contact and mine doesn't, Maybe someone else here with more experience will have a better idea? I would also talk with Ben at Slee Offroad. He has a lot of experience with OME and 4Runners.

Please keep us posted on what you find.

 

[Redline]

I removed the anti-sway bar for now, it's not bad without it. Now it sits low on the left side (where all the weight is). Maybe a small spacer will be needed/desirable after I add the rest of my weight.

 

[Tucson T4R]

I removed the anti-sway bar for now, it's not bad without it. Now it sits low on the left side (where al the weight is). Maybe a small spacer will be needed/desirable after I add the rest of my weight.

Good deal. I also see that you found the expertise of "Bulldog". :bowdown: No better advice on 4th Gen 4Runners. Even though Ihave no contact, I may look into the sway bar relocators just give me a larger buffer space. Let me know how it changes, or not when you install the SW bumper and Bud Built skids. Thanks

 

[Redline]

Looking at it more closely this morning, the whole left side is sitting noticeable lower. I think the anti-sway bar was keeping the vehicle level, keeping things tight side-to-side. I'm guessing many don't take their anti-sway bar off, even for a short time to see this imbalance?

I removed the anti-sway bar for now, it's not bad without it. Now it sits low on the left side (where al the weight is). Maybe a small spacer will be needed/desirable after I add the rest of my weight.

 

[njtaco]

I have a problem with my OME suspension. Suggestions & help would be much appreciated


I didn't drive it much until today, but I had a noticeable squeak/rubbing noise coming from the right/front, as well as twitchy /unusual steering control. I discovered the sway bar is contacting the bottom of the spring mount on the lower end of the strut!

The clearence is close, maybe 3/8"

Just a thought, but was the bar centered left/right when reinstalled? You only mentioned contact on the right side, how much clearance did you have on the left? I hope you get this figured out...good luck.

 

[Redline]

The noise was coming from the right side, but it was touching or almost touching on the left too. The bar did look even side-to-side. We simply removed it and bolted it back up when finished. I don't think it was moved in its bushing/mounts at all. Good idea though.

I do think that the stout OME springs that are for a V8 WITH heavy bumper & winch, but currently have nothing but the V8 on them, may be part of the problem. Certainly taller now than it will be when I dump some weight on the springs. This is why I was waiting for my front bumper before putting the suspension on... but I needed to get started on this build so the OME suspension went on first without anything else.

I'm going to get some sway bar spacers from Downey, and hopefully the bumper arrives in a few weeks. I'm hopeful that mounting the bumper and winch will drop the front enough to make the sway-bar work fine and allow for more caster. If not, then maybe aftermarket upper A-arms or another solution, as on-road handling must be near perfect.

Just a thought, but was the bar centered left/right when reinstalled? You only mentioned contact on the right side, how much clearance did you have on the left? I hope you get this figured out...good luck.