Hello All,
My 4Runner is a 1997 SR5, all stock, 138,000 miles. The rear end is sagging, a common issue as far as I have researched. I want to replace the rear coil springs. Can anyone recommend good stock type replacements that will bring the rear back up? All I have found on this site is for high lift rock crawler applications. I tow a small 17ft fiberglass boat. I replaced the rear shocks last year with stock type. Thanks in advance!

What might work for you is an add-a-leaf kit.

I know Rancho was real good about supplying for the older Toyotas, but see now they pretty much play to the Tundra, Tacos, and new FJs these days for that year.

I did a google and found a few things; let us know what you find; my '99 is beginning to look like a butt-sag candidate too. Tow a boat on occasion; haul a trailer with materials all the time.

You can get new OEM springs from toyota. I think sonoran steel sells them (99' highlander springs)
Or you can order MOOG springs from rockauto.com

Another low cost solution to consider is using air shocks.. I've used them for years with relatively little problem..

Even with the extra weight I've added, (rock sliders, rear skid plating, rear dual battery and tool box) the air shocks have provided acceptable lift (I run 95psi in the shocks) to not only overcome the spring sag, but bring the rear height back above original ride height. The shock mounts on the 4Runner are massive and beefy enough to carry weight full time.

I've used both the Gabriels and Monroe air shocks and prefer the Monroes.

The Monroe shock you can use on the 4Runner is the part number MA700..

You may not find it listed for the 4Runner application because the diameter of the lower rubber bushing hole is slightly smaller than what a perfect fit would be.. but, all that means is when you install them, you need to use some WD-40 to lubricate the bushing and a little muscle to get it on the mounting..




Shock installed, fully extended....the bushing in red circle is the one more difficult to install due to the hole being on the small side.


For off roading, the shock allows a bit longer droop of the axle for better articulation, but not enough to have clearance problems..

One caveat..with ANY aftermarket shock.... the metal bushing support rings that comes with some aftermarket shocks are made of thinner metal than the original toyota shocks. I had one of the after market bushings fatigue fail, and allow the upper shock stud mount and nut pull completely through the upper mounting hole.

The upper (most outer ring next to the stud nut shown in the pic below) metal bushing failed, demonstrating that axle rebound shock force (driving on rough surfaces) is considerable, and more of a factor than the compression loading from the shocks carrying weight to support the vehicle.

Save the original Toyota thicker metal bushings and use those on the outer end instead.

Great info guys; thanks!

RockAuto is only okay for me in Alaska; their shipping $$ is nothing short of obscene for me.

Anyone know if they make a model that would fit 84-88 Trucks and 84-89 4Runners in the rear?

Try strutmasters.

Another option is to replace your rear springs with stock rear springs from a '99 or '00 since it's been proven that those years were slightly higher when stock from the factory. It's not a big difference, but something like 1 inch.

Another option is to install air bags inside the rear coil springs. I know someone that did that on their 3rd gen 4Runner primarily because they occasionally towed something plus they wanted to avoid occasionally hitting bump stops on big bumps. It was inexpensive and they loved the result. Sorry I don't know the specifics.

I don't want to sidetrack this, but I still have my stock '00 rear springs sitting in a box in the garage. I replaced them with lift springs after only a few thousand miles when I bought the vehicle new. I'll sell them cheap. If someone's interested, send me a PM.

Thanks to all for such great info. I'm thinking I'll replace the coil springs since I just did the rear shocks last year. I checked rockauto and they have moog. If the year 2000 will fit my 1997 I'd like to know a price.
Thank you!

All of this generation's coil springs would fit, so any '96-'02 4Runner springs would fit your vehicle. Moog may or may not have the fine tuning of spring rates for slightly different years that Toyota wanted from the factory. I see that Moog does have different springs for the 4 cyl versus the 6 cyl, so obviously be sure you don't select the lighter springs associated with the lighter 4 cyl vehicle.