This is my 98 4runner limited that I’ve been building for the last 3 years and I thought I would finally start a thread on it since I’m planing to start building the rear. It currently has Total Chaos 3.5” long travel and some 2.5x8 coilovers. I just picked up a rear sequoia axle to match the front and to help run bigger shocks with less cutting. I’m on a budget as I’m still in college so I’m planing on running total chaos links and then an outboard shock setup with some 2.5x12 bypasses.
LT 4runner build
- Thread starter Cstutz56
- Start date
UR_Mawm69
Well-known member
"All toyota fags LOVES THIS* .............................................................. and Jakey
haha. hell yeah, man! whatever you gotta do to keep driving it and taking it out on trails. even if they are "so called - pussy/slow trails". you'll be ahead of half of the people out there building trucks. me included. hah
haha. hell yeah, man! whatever you gotta do to keep driving it and taking it out on trails. even if they are "so called - pussy/slow trails". you'll be ahead of half of the people out there building trucks. me included. hah
UR_Mawm69
Well-known member
Idaho, huh??? HELLZ YEAH.
you ever take it out in da sticks and go muddin in er?!?!?
haha
you ever take it out in da sticks and go muddin in er?!?!?
haha
I hate mud but it’s gone in it
audioguy102
New member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2025
- Messages
- 1
Sikkkkkk cant wait to see more!
I have continued thinking about this rear end setup and have decided to go with a leaf spring rear end since my fab skills are not up to par with attempting to build a link setup. I also think it will be more unique.
I found these pictures online for inspiration but haven’t been able to find anything on the build, just these images.
I found these pictures online for inspiration but haven’t been able to find anything on the build, just these images.
Attachments
4xFoorOffroad
Active member
I think leaf springs require more skills than the Freelgood LT3 3 link kit and get less overall performance out of the setup.
I didn’t really want to do the FGP kit, not that I don’t think it’s a good kit but I just don’t think I’m up to the challenge of linking a truck. I have some friends out here that’ll help me out but I wanted to try something different that isn’t seen much.
desert_steve
Well-known member
Doesnt optoffroad make some kind of link kit for these things thats giving the 3rd gen guys awkward boners? I kept my 4runner on leafs because thats what it came with and I too didnt think I could pull-off linking it (amongst other reasons). Here we are 10+ yrs later and I regret NOT linking it all the damn time lol.
Id rather have 18" of linked travel instead of 18" of leaf travel, but thats just me. Either way, badass 4runner!
Id rather have 18" of linked travel instead of 18" of leaf travel, but thats just me. Either way, badass 4runner!
Thank you, yea freel good performance has a 3 link kit for the 4Runners I like it and it works really well but I like the idea of a leaf sprung 3rd gen. I don’t see it often and it’s much more simple than a 3link setup. Duneit currently has a 3rd gen that has rear leafs and he’s currently doing an engine and I-beam swap.
Leave it leafed. You’ll have much more drive time and fun times making memories and trips, opposed to miserable and not fun times putting it together in your driveway while cursing yourself for doing this.
One thing I’ve learned over the years, get out there and enjoy what you got, upgrade as you can, and try to have minimal down time. I’ve stepped away from my full built linked ranger and it just sits, in favor for my leaf sprung explorer. My and my wallet would much rather have to replace leaf spring bushings every couple years, instead of heims every year.
One thing I’ve learned over the years, get out there and enjoy what you got, upgrade as you can, and try to have minimal down time. I’ve stepped away from my full built linked ranger and it just sits, in favor for my leaf sprung explorer. My and my wallet would much rather have to replace leaf spring bushings every couple years, instead of heims every year.
4xFoorOffroad
Active member
Thats not his truck - they were just pictures of a 62 sua. They’re linked from the factory with a 4+ panhard. The FGP link kit is paint by numbers where putting a deaver sua is a lot of cutting and custom measuring, cycling, and fab. The FGP kit reuses the coil springs and everything indexes off of factory points. It works with their outboard shock relocation and cycles perfectly.
Having done a similar SUA on my taco with a buddy’s truck to take measurements directly from, I can verify it’s way more work to make leaves work well on this truck on top of all the cutting on the axle you’ll need to do convert it from coil springs to leaves. I don’t even think you’ll save money using leaves unless you score a great deal on new / slightly used ones.
Last edited:
desert_steve
Well-known member
Another thing you learned was the names of (most of) the tow truck drivers in your area...
[for clarification it was due to break-downs, not gay stuff]
I completely overlooked the fact that it’s not a leaf spring from factory setup. I would never suggest unlinking something for leafs. I meant more from a simplicity aspect, which I still stand by, just in linked form now. Haha
I already have to cut everything off of the axle since I’m swapping in a sequoia axle. None of the mounts line up so I’ll either be moving all my link tabs over to the new axle or making new ones for it. The FGP kit is almost completely bolt on if you’re using the factory axle.
4xFoorOffroad
Active member
Axle isn't the complicated part - locating your leaf mounts, spring perch / pinion angle, and cycling the main leaf would be. With the sequoia axle, removing the buckets for the coils on your 4 runner axle and moving them over would help make the coils still work and the FGP kit has all the link mount gussets and can help you locate the lower links. And the rest would line up on the frame side of the links. I'm not saying go either way in your build, but no way is a custom spring under setup going to be easier, signficiantly cheaper, or have more performance than the other options available.
Last edited:
desert_steve
Well-known member
So checking out their website, that link kit looks badass. AND they offer an axle-side mount kit specifically for people wanting to swap to a tundra/sequoia/etc axle.
Yeah, the kit is going to be a little more expensive than swapping to leafs, but not by that much. New deavers (I suggest H70+ pack) will run you over $1k, plus shackles and all mounts (somewhere between $250-$500 depending on how you do it), plus brake lines and little misc things - youll be knocking on the $2k door for sure. And the only way youre going to pull the full 17+ inches of travel that the leafs are capable of is by going into the cab, or doing a cantilever. The second one gets pricey, ask me how I know. Plus now theres a bunch of moving parts back there and nowhere to add super-cool overland gear like water tanks with built-in pumps and extra batteries for my solar panels (thats all a joke, although I do like the water tank idea for camping trips).
Either way youre going to have to buy shocks and figure out where to mount them, so thats a wash.
In conclusion, I vote you go links so that I can live vicariously through someone that took the old peoples advice and wont regret their leaf spring decision down the road.
Yeah, the kit is going to be a little more expensive than swapping to leafs, but not by that much. New deavers (I suggest H70+ pack) will run you over $1k, plus shackles and all mounts (somewhere between $250-$500 depending on how you do it), plus brake lines and little misc things - youll be knocking on the $2k door for sure. And the only way youre going to pull the full 17+ inches of travel that the leafs are capable of is by going into the cab, or doing a cantilever. The second one gets pricey, ask me how I know. Plus now theres a bunch of moving parts back there and nowhere to add super-cool overland gear like water tanks with built-in pumps and extra batteries for my solar panels (thats all a joke, although I do like the water tank idea for camping trips).
Either way youre going to have to buy shocks and figure out where to mount them, so thats a wash.
In conclusion, I vote you go links so that I can live vicariously through someone that took the old peoples advice and wont regret their leaf spring decision down the road.
Doubleggregg
Active member
Yay i get to chime in...
i have a camburg long travel 1996 3rg gen and a shit ton of copy cat parts that the Duninit dude had on his truck to put 64" leafs springs under mine one day...
Duneinits truck had a giant motorsports "universal" 64 inch leaf spring kit on his 4 runner so i bought that from Geoff @ giant, I have 64" deaver leaf springs from a bronco my buddy barely used on his bronco, 16" 2.5 triple bypass shocks and i have a 9" camburg full float rear end for my 3rd gen. All this will be on it ne day hopefully. BUT this was all purchased and planned before the FGP kit was developed, and i also have a custom 35 gallon fuel cell.
With all that said i have contemplated selling it all minus the cell and linking it, my 4runner will be a mostly desert trying to go fastish rig and if you ask alot of people leafs / shock package can be tuned to make it capable, but I think if you can link it you will be "better" off and in a little cooler position in the end.
Also, do you happen to know Walter at total off road up there? He is one of my best friends and id bet if you get to know him or already know him hes a great contact to have plus he might even be down to help wrench here and there.
Gregg
i have a camburg long travel 1996 3rg gen and a shit ton of copy cat parts that the Duninit dude had on his truck to put 64" leafs springs under mine one day...
Duneinits truck had a giant motorsports "universal" 64 inch leaf spring kit on his 4 runner so i bought that from Geoff @ giant, I have 64" deaver leaf springs from a bronco my buddy barely used on his bronco, 16" 2.5 triple bypass shocks and i have a 9" camburg full float rear end for my 3rd gen. All this will be on it ne day hopefully. BUT this was all purchased and planned before the FGP kit was developed, and i also have a custom 35 gallon fuel cell.
With all that said i have contemplated selling it all minus the cell and linking it, my 4runner will be a mostly desert trying to go fastish rig and if you ask alot of people leafs / shock package can be tuned to make it capable, but I think if you can link it you will be "better" off and in a little cooler position in the end.
Also, do you happen to know Walter at total off road up there? He is one of my best friends and id bet if you get to know him or already know him hes a great contact to have plus he might even be down to help wrench here and there.
Gregg
Haven’t done any suspension work yet but just more thinking. Had a buddy who wanted my factory headlights so I traded him for some retrofits he had laying around. I’m going to get the shock relocation on Thursday and go with what you guys were saying and do the FGP 3-link and will be saving the sequoia axle for later since I need to get new gears for it and I’d like to keep my e-locker in my stock axle.
