Newbie 97 SE -Replace/lift suspension advice?

[balihai787]

Hi all,

 

Great forum here, already learned a lot! thanks! Any advice you guys want to give to help on redoing my suspension would be awesome

 

I have a 97 SE with 240k mi that runs well and looks good, had it a few months but it needs some love before I drive it into the ground. I'm basically handy at fixing things when I know whats wrong but get scared crapless when its new or I don't know what the problem is or how to go about it. I live on the BigIsland of HI and shipping here is really expensive so any parts I can get on AmazonPrime helps! I generally drive on-road thru town (although the roads aren't great) but getting to most ocean access is off-road (minor trails to super gnarly lava rocks) and I want to make sure my truck handles.

 

I found this forum looking to redo my front suspension and trying to find the right parts. My current tires, bfg longtrail 265/70R15 are done so I want to put some BFG AT KO2 31x10.5 on it. Good tires and a small suspension lift. The suspension sags so I need to replace this along with the tires- maxing my paychecks out here so trying to do this right with quality parts yet still be able to pay my rent!

 

1. The ball joints definitely need replacing- I see $50 MOOGs and a host of other brands, most about $50-60- think I'm scared of the $20 ones after I saw someone drop their tacoma on the trail last weekend: the front axle was sitting on the broken ball joint with the body resting on the tire and the dozen trucks that were blocked in had to machete/drive a path through the jungle to get around it. What are the recommended brands? How about getting a greasable balljoint?

 

2. Coil springs? I'm ooking at the OME ARB2921 or ARB2923 for the front springs- but no have on amazon...only moog springs for the front which don't seem as popular. Everyone seems to like the OME and I don't want to lift my truck too much to cause CV or any other issues.

What is the real difference in drive between the medium and heavy spring? I feel like I should get the medium spring for the front and heavy in the rear. (I kinda like the smooth ride in town and tend to go slow when offroad)

Any advice?

 

3. Front Struts and rear shocks- I can't afford the OME, but how do you guys like the RanchoRS5000?

KYB has an excellent priced kit for front and rear- 335016, that I think is the HEAVY suspension.

Again- what should I expect or look for in the feel/drive with these types of struts? All I've ever done in the past is replace with stock-factory parts or regular 'autopartsstore' parts so never "customized" anything before.

 

4. Also- I don't really know if I need to replace the strut mount and/or bearing that sits above the front strut/spring since I haven't removed anything yet- The FSM calls it either the "strut mounting insulator" or the "spring upper seat" depending if its above or below. Rockyroad sells a "trim packing leveler" and theres a whole thread devoted to guys making their own...is the same thing?

I don't want to lift the truck too much to cause problems but this part seems important! Especially to line up with the rear which I think OME ARB2922 0.6" medium or ARB2610 1.24" Heavy spring for the rear...again- don't know what to choose!

 

Thanks!!

 

 

[cntryboy_88]

As far as your ball joints the 50-60 ball park sounds about right and I've yet to come across grease able ball joints for our truck...if you go with a heavy spring it's just gonna give you a stiffer ride...there isn't to much in the way of lifting...a lot of people do go with the OEM struts and they work just fine...also Steve fluery who is a member on here sells spacers you can buy at a pretty decent price (4x4design.com) and you can get some lift that way...anything more than a 1.5-2 inches you will blow out your cv's so you'd have to do a sub frame drop...many people on here have done anywhere from 2-4 inch subframe drops and they work great...one guy I think even did a 9" sfd but that was crazy...you'll find mixed emotions on the rancho shocks some people have had great luck others not so much but you can't go wrong with the kyb knes

 

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[fleurys]

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