Sonoran Steel 1.2 v. OME setup

[digitalferg]

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

I'll be running quite a bit of weight with my upgraded dual swingout rear bumper and quite a bit more heavy with a RTT and a bunch of other stuff inside and out. I'll get another weigh-in done when I'm fully loaded up next.

Right now the rear is OEM LX450 front coils and OEM Tokico LC80 shocks. That all is waaaaay too soft as soon as i put anything in the truck. Though it's just about perfect for an unloaded rig IMO (slight rake). So what I'll be going to is a set of the LC80 coils Kurt had and some nice stiff OME shocks. The coils ended up being around 50 lbs/in greater spring rate with around an inch higher ride height after we factored in my truck weights--(incidentally, they also just so happened to be the tallest/most-wraps ones he had in his inventory). On paper, it sounds like it will be just about right for me. The OEM shocks will most likely be N74E's (borrowed from the LC80 kits), just still have to officially measure it all up though for the shock length and such.

As for the front, the 5100s are definitely going away. And its going to be the OME N91S shocks with the Tundra coils and some spacers. May end up with the OME coils and spacers if it still doesn't feel right though.

I am gearing up for a rear axle and ifs front diff swap around between my two 4Runners in the next week or two and will be making the suspension changes at the same time so I'll keep you posted. I'll post up more specific info on all the coils/shocks when I get there plus all the loaded and unloaded heights and weights.

The snorkel is the Tacoma Safari Snorkel. Got it from Cruiser Outfitters.

-Ferg-

 

[wyorunner]

Well that all sounds good, im not going to change anything until i see how it sits and rides after the new bumpers. Thanks for the information. Did you have to do anything to customize the snorkel to make it fit or was it just as the directions say cut a whole and attach?

 

[digitalferg]

Well that all sounds good, im not going to change anything until i see how it sits and rides after the new bumpers. Thanks for the information. Did you have to do anything to customize the snorkel to make it fit or was it just as the directions say cut a whole and attach?

For the snorkel, you need the Tacoma intake tube that is inside the fender. Its part number 53807-35020. Supposedly some of the earlier years 3rd gens had the same tube already...I wish I had a pic of mine but I don't.

You also have to do something about the power antenna. The most popular thing to do is to pull the power antenna out and replace it with the Tacoma whip antenna. I read one other thing where a guy flipped his power antenna around or something. I went with the Tacoma whip antenna. Works great for me.

Other than that, it fits right up and it didn't seem much different than other snorkel installs. Of course I had Kurt help me with this one.

-Ferg

 

[wyorunner]

Now that ive totalled change topics, thanks for the information. Already have the whip mod. Back to the topic. I still dont know what i have under my rig, its all OME, it handles great but rides a little stiff, i think its because i have all the heavier coils. Im hoping it lift height doesnt change much after getting the bumpers, so that way i can save a little money and put it else where.

 

[baja_banana]

Message from Sonoran Steel

Hello Ben Ferguson-

Sometimes what you read is actually true. The shocks are made specifically for my company by Bilstein. This was a very expensive endeavor, but one I felt was the only way to build the best suspension for the vehicle.

The off the shelf Tacoma 5100 series shocks are an absolute and complete disaster on a 3rd gen 4Runner. They are valved entirely wrong for the vehicle. In addition to the shocks we also had several custom poly pieces made to perfectly mount the coils to the shocks.

Also we are a ToyTec dealer as well. I can sell you the entire line of products they offer as well.

Hope to see you out in Pritchett Canyon with your rig.

Steve Schaefer
Sonoran Steel Fabrication
Tempe, Arizona

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Hello Steve, welcome to ExPo and thanks for the heads up on your Bilstein's. Is it still the case that you do not sell the shocks seperate, only as assembled units? I'd like to try a set of your Bilstein shocks with some OME coils as a further iteration of the testing we have been doing.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Hello Ben Ferguson-

Sometimes what you read is actually true. The shocks are made specifically for my company by Bilstein. This was a very expensive endeavor, but one I felt was the only way to build the best suspension for the vehicle.

The off the shelf Tacoma 5100 series shocks are an absolute and complete disaster on a 3rd gen 4Runner. They are valved entirely wrong for the vehicle. In addition to the shocks we also had several custom poly pieces made to perfectly mount the coils to the shocks.

Also we are a ToyTec dealer as well. I can sell you the entire line of products they offer as well.

Hope to see you out in Pritchett Canyon with your rig.

Steve Schaefer
Sonoran Steel Fabrication
Tempe, Arizona

Steve, I had thought the 3rd gen 4Runner and 1st gen Tacomas shared the exact same front suspension. Is this not true?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Steve, I had thought the 3rd gen 4Runner and 1st gen Tacomas shared the exact same front suspension. Is this not true?

Dimensionally, sorta. Many of the same components will interchange, I think what Steve is eluding too is the handling characteristics of the two vehicle being different.

Additionally the coil to frame clearance of the Tacoma is slightly less than that of the 4Runner, which only becomes a problem in a couple of spring/strut combination's.

Ferg and I have now tested a half dozen different OME/Bilstein Combinations between his 4Runner and my Tacoma and we just about have both of them dialed in perfectly. We are heading out on a big trip tomorrow, we'll report more on that later.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...Ferg and I have now tested a half dozen different OME/Bilstein Combinations between his 4Runner and my Tacoma and we just about have both of them dialed in perfectly. We are heading out on a big trip tomorrow, we'll report more on that later.

Guess its time to report

I'm running the new Nitrocharger Sport struts with the 882 coils. Do to my heavy front end (SC, bats, winch, bar, skids, shower, etc) I still needed a bit of space, so I'm running a 1/2" top out spacer and a 'prototype' 10mm poly spacer as well. Ferg is running a very similar setup as of his last variation, I'll let him detail that.

I am absolutely loving the handling both on and off-road, its been flogged pretty hard through the last 3 months and is holding up great to the point I see no reason to make any additional changes (other than I like to demo things on my truck and might do so again in the future).

 

[aheiser]

Cool good info Kurt. So would you say with the larger spacer, etc and the "settled" 882s, you end up with close to ~2.5" of front lift?

Sounds like you've had good experiences with the 882's and I'm looking at going the same route. I'm just concerned that once they settle, with a heavy front end, I might just barely eek out 2" of lift with 5mm trim plates.

Either way, looks like a sweet combo you got going!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Cool good info Kurt. So would you say with the larger spacer, etc and the "settled" 882s, you end up with close to ~2.5" of front lift?

Yes, if not a tad bit more, say 3". Keep my weight in mind, even a truck with a winch/bullbar will likely sit 1/2" taller than I am. I think Ferg's 4Runner was ~1/2" taller following the exact same components install.

Sounds like you've had good experiences with the 882's and I'm looking at going the same route. I'm just concerned that once they settle, with a heavy front end, I might just barely eek out 2" of lift with 5mm trim plates.

I have, I've put over 150k miles on the 882 combos with a couple of others in the mix. A good mix of reliability and performance.

Either way, looks like a sweet combo you got going!

Some OME combos for you to compare:

96 EC, 882/5mm trim spacer, standard Dakar rears w/32" tires


04 DC, 882 w/spacers, beefed Dakar rears w/32" tires


97 EC, 882 w/5mm trim spacers & standard Dakar rears w/33" tires & trimmed flares

 

[Applejack]

Man!! There's a lot of information to absorb in this thread. I just sat down and went through it all, and now I'm sweating!
But it's good stuff, I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with my 4runner's suspension as well. Thanx for posting all this info up guys!

 

[SilverBullet]

Just to put in my two cents, I have had the OME front and back setup for just under 3 years now, and it has settled to nearly stock height on my 98. I am going to the SS 1.2 this spring. I wish I could tell you more, but the "2 inch" OME lift only netted me about 3/4 to 1 inch of lift, then my 32" tires got the rest. They may have changed since I bought them, but I want to run a 33 or 35 and that can not happen with my current setup. I know 35's require trimming and som eother stuff with SS, but I can't even clear a 33 at full flex right now with what I have.

 

[SafariRNR]

Just to put in my two cents, I have had the OME front and back setup for just under 3 years now, and it has settled to nearly stock height on my 98. I am going to the SS 1.2 this spring. I wish I could tell you more, but the "2 inch" OME lift only netted me about 3/4 to 1 inch of lift, then my 32" tires got the rest. They may have changed since I bought them, but I want to run a 33 or 35 and that can not happen with my current setup. I know 35's require trimming and som eother stuff with SS, but I can't even clear a 33 at full flex right now with what I have.

Arn't the typical quoted heights for the 2000-02 4runners. Being a 98' yours would already be an inch taller. Not that it matters for your dilemma, but it would make since with the advertised lift vs. your actual lift.