I'm going to be getting new coils for my 98 4Runner. I just want a little lift and get a little more stiffness. (I'm going to be towing a uhaul trailer from Oregon to Alaska) I can get a set of OME coils that will provide appx. 2" of lift but I don't know if they will be stiffer than stock as most websites say that they provide good flex. Do you guys know how they compare in stiffness to stock? Performance Products has a set of 1" lift springs that will be stiffer than stock. Am I going to be running into a quality issue with these? I know that I am going to cause additional wear on my CVs by doing this but do I need to get new shocks if with either a 1" or 2" coil? Also, am I going to have to get the front realligned or recambered with new coils? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I've heard that the Performance Products 1" lift is quite a bit stiffer than stock. Some people don't like the ride due to the stiffness. I even know 1 person that removed it because of that complaint.

The OME rear coils and shocks are high quality and an excellent choice. For 2" of lift, I'd recommend OME 890 rear coils. New shocks in the rear will improve the ride quality much more than different coils. Especially if you'll be towing anything, you'll really wish you have different rear shocks - anything other than the crummy stock shocks. The OME rear shocks are very good. Plus you'll increase your rear wheel travel to be 15" with the OME shocks. That's better than most shocks. Use OME N86C rear shocks if you have a mostly stock truck (regarding weight). Use N86 if you have lots of extra weight in the rear all the time, such as a custom rear bumper and spare tire rack. I have the N86 shocks and 891 springs ("called heavy duty") along with plenty of extra weight. I'm glad I have the extra weight or it would be too stiff. If you only will do occasional towing with no extra weight normally, then I'd recommend the N86C shocks.

I don't know about the front shocks or coils for either OME or PP because I replaced the entire coil-over assembly with Sway-A-Way adjustable coil-overs 3 years ago. They're more expensive, but you can fine-tune your lift height. Actually, there's definitely better quality coil-overs on the market now (like Kings and Donahoe Racing both give a better ride). The SAW's use one of the stiffest spring rates (675 ppi now), which is only good if you have lots of extra weight of an aftermarket front bumper and winch. I disagree with their too-stiff coils. I bought Eibach coils that are softer to go on my SAW's. I still can't fully compress them.

Probably any aftermarket replacement of the front coils will be stiffer than the very soft stock springs. The SAWs might be the stiffest (which is not a good thing), although the PP lift is also way up there somewhere in stiffness.

After ANY lift change in the front, you will always need to immediately get a re-alignment. You'll need a re-alignment BEFORE you try a larger tire, if that's your plan.

You might consider a 1" (or less) diff drop to improve the CV angles and to make it less likely to have a problem with tearing the CV boots due to the lift. Roger Brown makes a diff drop kit.

You should read an article about multiple people's opinions about their 3rd gen ('96-'02) 4Runner lifts at this link (http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/4Runner/tech/suspension/).

Marmot,

Thanks for the information. That was just what I was looking for. I ordered the 891 Coils and I think that I will be going with the N86 shocks. I am going to be putting a heavy duty bumper on the front (ARB, TJM) and I have a safari rack and I will be carrying lots of gear in the back most of the time. I have already ordered the diff drop kit from Roger Brown also. BTW - I'm a native Coloradoan...from Ft. Collins. Thanks again!