Sonoran Steel 1.2 v. OME setup

[cruiseroutfit]

IFA rules. 4490 unloaded.

-Ferg-

Whats your Front & Rear numbers

 

[digitalferg]

Damm. I knew I'd need front and rear, but I'm not so sure the IFA I went to is able to to something like that... It appeared to be an old *** scale. The platform I parked on was old wooden slats and the guy was using a balance scale to get the weight.

Am I missing something? Or do I need to just pay a visit to a more modern IFA?

-Ferg-

 

[cruiseroutfit]

A more modern scale would be in order

 

[digitalferg]

Whats your Front & Rear numbers

Ok. I finally made it up to IFA in Draper today.

2400 front
2100 rear

Totals 10 pounds heavier than when I previously weighed it--but I figure pretty darn close considering human error factor and possible differences in fuel tank amounts.

-Ferg-

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Ok. I finally made it up to IFA in Draper today.

2400 front
2100 rear

Totals 10 pounds heavier than when I previously weighed it--but I figure pretty darn close considering human error factor and possible differences in fuel tank amounts.

-Ferg-

Excellent. When is your next day off? Give me a ring one of these days and we'll do some 'theoretical lift installs' using the calculator I built

 

[SLC97SR5]

I'm also interested if the Bilsteins are valved special for Steve at Sonoran Steel. I have wanted to try out a pair up front and swap out the OME N91s.

I have the OME 891 is the rear with the N86 shock and a 1/2" poly spacer. The ride is firm and controlled when unloaded but becomes plush and predictable when loaded.

--To clarify; when this forum speaks of the TRD coils are we talking about the progressive Tundra V8 TRD coils that Sonoran uses?--

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...--To clarify; when this forum speaks of the TRD coils are we talking about the progressive Tundra V8 TRD coils that Sonoran uses?--

Correct

 

[digitalferg]

Been pullin stuff off my rig and making a few changes and upgrades to it and it just so happens that with my rear bumper and spare off, and my sliders off, and completely unloaded, my rig sits just about perfect for where I would like it to sit when its unloaded but with the bumper and tire carrier and sliders on. Snapped a quick pick. Yes, I'm a number one fan of some nice rake. I prob wouldn't mind it sitting down about an inch lower in the rear though. Added a second pic of how it sits with it unloaded but with sliders, bumper and tire on. Sorry not the same angles and such but I think you can see the differences well enough. I guess really the main goal in the end is to have it not be sagging when loaded and not have mushy suspension when loaded. If I get a bit of unloaded rake out of it then that's a sweet bonus.

Anyway, as we talked about yesterday Kurt, I'm planning on coming by on Monday to try and nail some of this suspension stuff down. (And if you're swamped then just consider me a box packin orangutan or wrench turnin helper monkey for the day. )

-Ferg-

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Sounds like a plan Ferg. Sully and I actually spent a good amount of time dialing in the spring rates of all the common front coils, 880-886 OME's (our calculations all were within 5% of the published values, therefor giving me confidence in our numbers on the unlisted springs). I've got an excel calculator built that just whips out the rate after a few minutes of measuring.

 

[austintaco]

03 Tacoma with Tundra coils

Hello. I have been lurking on here for some time, but I have been a part of yotatech and TTORA and Ultimateyota for some time. I did the Tundra coils on my double cab about two years ago after buying a used setup from a TRDparts4u member on Yotatech, and following Bamachem(Andy's) updates on this combo.
At that time, the preferred shock was the Tundra red/blue, and I believe it is the shock from a 2wd TRD Tundra.
For my Tacoma, its worked well, but I really don't wheel it that much. I have an 84 4runner for that, but recently, I added an ARB bumper on the Tacoma and I thought I would have to get a new setup, but to my surprise, the truck has settled very little if any. I think the older setup(Tundra 4wd coils with 2wd shocks) handles the weight of the bumper nicely. Currently, I am running 255/85/16's on blacked out 4runner Limited wheels and I am loving it.

My only question, and somebody else asked this earlier, but I didn't see a reply, is if anyone has any info on the bilsteins that Steve has made for him. I have his setup on my truck, except for the bilsteins and I would like to try them out next, if I could get my hands on them. Anyone have any info?

I will post some pics of my trucks on here soon, as I think I lean toward the expedition side of 4wheeling more than the Rock Krawling side. I like the fact that there is a link to Interbike on the front page which is my real passion (biking and triathlon) so I think I found the right place

 

[Ric]

I say do your research, not only on this site, but other toyota sites, go with what makes you happy :smiley_drive:

 

[wyorunner]

Ferg and Cruiseroufit, id like to know your results of what ya'll decide to do with the lift options. Im getting custom bumpers built as these messages are posted. The rear bumper could way a lot more than most, around the 180-220 figure. Its got a tire carrier and hi-lift holder. The front will be about 200 as well with the winch and dual batteries after i get done. Therefore im probablly going to need a better lift to keep close to the height i currently have. Thanks. Also, ferg where did you buy your snorkel? Im not sure what i currently have its all OME, which has been pretty good for the two years ive had it. Its time for an upgrade. Thanks
Turner

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I'll let Ferg update you on the progress but he and I spent 3-4 hours this week measuring all the coils I had in stock, used & new alike including many of the OME offerings & Toyota offerings. Our results for known rate springs were within 5% (most were less) so we are pretty comfortable with our results thusfar

 

[RusM]

I have decided to go for the Sonoran lift when funds become available, based on the ride. I have seen several comments that the SS1.2 will ride like a Cadillac. That sounds good to me! I am hoping that it will also fix the 'unsettled' and 'jittery' suspension issues that I am having right now.

 

[digitalferg]

My only question, and somebody else asked this earlier, but I didn't see a reply, is if anyone has any info on the bilsteins that Steve has made for him. I have his setup on my truck, except for the bilsteins and I would like to try them out next, if I could get my hands on them. Anyone have any info?

There were rumors that the Sonoran Steel ones were the same 5100s that others were carrying, and I went out on a limb and bought them elsewhere anyway and after running them on my 4runner for a year, I can all but guarantee you they have to be different--if all the guys running the SS kit had the same front shocks as me, there would be a lot of unhappy SS kit owners...

I recently saw this comment over on yotatech from Steve at SS regarding a for sale add for some bilstein 5100s: "these shocks only work with stock Tacoma springs on a Tacoma. On a 4Runner they are like a rubber band, the valving is way off." That is exactly how the front of my 4runner behaves--rubber band.

Unfortunately, wherever SS actually gets theirs is a tightly regarded secret so nobody knows really where else to get them. And also unfortunately, SS only sells them if you buy the kit from them... --Which buying the kit is what I should've just done from the get-go as I only ended up saving ~$200 bucks in the end and now I'm spending easy that much more to fix it all up cause its all wrong. But, I think where I'm now going to end up after working with Kurt will actually be a great setup as well.

-Ferg-