Hey all, my air system finally gave up and no indie shop will work on the system, and the dealer price for parts alone is insane, so I've managed to convince an indie to do a coil conversion for me. I figured I'd get the arnott spring kit but wanted to ask about the shocks.

I understand the rear shocks are 'special', are they still usable after a conversion? If not, can they be replaced by 'normal' shocks?

Any suggestions on replacement shocks when doing a coil conversion?

I appreciate your input. Thanks!

 

To convert your airbags to coils, you can use any normal shock absorbers on the rear. The adjustable factory shocks are stupid expensive. However you will lose the adjustability from that **** in the main Console. Many folks run the Bilstein or you could also get Toyota 4Runner rear shocks of the same generation the fourth gen 4runner.

 

Air gave up how? Just bags, or pump too?

 

Thanks!!! I don't think I've ever used the adjustability function, so I won't be missing much. I was looking at the Bilstein, but can't find a matching set for the fronts (figured I'd refresh those as well), will the 4600 bilstein fronts work on the GX? Otherwise I'll just get a different brand and cause some folks reading this heartburn

Not sure, was taking a day trip and the ride went to sht, smelled a burning electrical smell, at a stop noticed that the ride height was on the axle and no compressor sound. I've not had a chance to diagnose, but at the very least there is a leak somewhere and the compressor burned through a fuse (moment of truth: I haven't checked the fuses yet, and don't have the know how to check the relay, so I'm making some assumptions here). However, at this age and mileage I was just going to replace the bags and compressor all at the same time, but considering no one aside from the dealer was willing to muck with it, I figure its a perfect time to convert to coils

 

Yes, at this mileage and age, if not the airbags, it’ll be the lines, the compressor, height sensor and what have you will eventually need replacement. You can source 4Runner Bilstein struts/shocks, 4600 or 5100 or another brand of your choice. For piece of mind and I also wanted to do a complete suspension refresh, I went with Dobinsons IMS Coilover system. Long wait from Australia but well worth it!

 

A aftermarket compressor replacement, and the Arnott air bags, is a standard maintenance for the 470's. One key thing to do is, gotta take apart the air valve box in rear near pump, clean it good, lube the orings, reassemble for use, these get dirty inside.

Or, ditch air, go springs, and replace oem shocks with Bilstein units when the pem shocks fail.

 

Hey all, another question, if I decide to do this myself, does the coil spring just "sit" on the perch that the air spring was on? the Anott's conversion springs did not come with an insulator for the lower perch, and came with a ribbed one for the upper. Is that really all there is to it? The compression between the axle and the frame keeps the springs in place?

Thanks again!

 

You would need to buy a "coil conversion kit" so the spring has something to sit on. Dobinsons and SSO make kits that do add some lift, and Metaltech makes a kit that does not add any additional lift, either work, just account for it when selecting your rear springs.

 

I did buy Arnott's "kit" but it only comes with an upper insulator, even their site's installation instructions don't show anything to hold the spring in place-> https://arnottinfo.com/manuals/C-2410.pdf

 

The PDF shows spring sitting in a lower perch.
I would perhaps just get some rubber sheet (neoprene or EPDM) and cut some "washers" for the spring to wedge on.
It's also possible to make DIY urethane bushings.

 

If you don’t have a proper lower spring seat, you would need at least some sort of “hockey puck” for the spring to go around- prevents spring shifting. I suggest you source a lower spring seat because metal on metal is no bueno.

 

Thanks, I did pick up a set of Energy Suspension insulators, but they aren't going to do anything other than cushion the spring as far as I can tell.



So, aside from the upper insulator, spring, and lower insulator, is that all that is needed?

 

You’d still need something like this though. It needs to be secured to the OEM airbag/spring perch. This is the kit I have.

 

Found this kit very reasonably priced.

https://jdmuscleusa.com/products/ico...IaAsCAEALw_wcB

 

Those look like they are to be used for a lift, I'm not wanting to increase the height. And the bottom of the Arnott springs are fairly flat, not sure they'd seat into something like what you've linked to. The Arnott springs are similar to the Monroe 90022C kit, which also only have the rubber bushings.