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RAV4 5th Gen @ NorthWoods Performance Spring REAR Kit>>> Worth the Money?

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RAV4 2020- Rear sagging when modestly loaded> Coil Spring UPGRADE Urgently Needed

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16K views 66 replies 18 participants last post by  FKHeath  
#1 ·
Hello,

Looking for someone that have tried the NorthWoods Performance Spring REAR Kit on his RAV4 5th Gen? Or, can provide company´s Feedback.

northwoodsperformance.com

Toyota Rav4 | Performance Spring Kit Rear | Northwoods Performance

Performance tuned rear lift springs for your Gen 5 RAV4. Our springs provide an increased spring rate over stock, and longer lengths to provide up to 2” of lift. We design our springs to provide less body lean and braking dive on the street, and added dirt and trail performance, without being...
northwoodsperformance.com northwoodsperformance.com

Does it worth the money? Does it really do the job (not sagging anymore)?
Is it NorthWoods Performance a serious company? Do they provide good customer service?
Any other feedback will be highly appreciatted.

Seeing they offer three Coil options. Thinking on trying the STAGE 3 personally.

STAGE 1—212# spring rate, provide 1.25”+ lift on non-hybrid vehicles. Recommend for LE, XLE when usually lightly loaded.

STAGE 2—212# spring rate, provide up to 1.5”+ lift on non-hybrids, 1.25” of lift on hybrids. Recommended for non-hybrids, heavier weekend loads and additional lift.

STAGE 3—250# spring rate, provide 2” lift on non-hybrids, 1.5”+ on hybrids. Recommended for hybrids and serious overlanders.

If somenone can share photos... Will be great!
 
#5 ·
Leaving here another option. This one is located in Canada.

www.dendoff.com

Toyota RAV4 Suspension Upgrade | Dendoff Springs Ltd.

Toyota Rav4 front and rear suspension upgrade is 40% stronger and 1-2″ taller than the stock base model
www.dendoff.com www.dendoff.com

Take a look at this:

They have 3 version of the rear spring now. 2 versions have recently been added.
The 3 versions they offer are all different strengths based on customer needs and vehicle use.

They have:
220 lbs/inch spring – similar feel to factory, but 2” taller
255 lbs/inch spring – for increased weight like camping gear, bikes, roof top tents etc.
305 lbs/inch spring – for very heavy loads, towing, overlanding rigs with lots of accessories
All versions give 2” of lift in rear

For reference, the OEM spring from an Adventure Rav4 is rated at 190 lbs/inch

The front spring has 1 design only. The OEM springs are 160 lbs/inch, their version is 222 lbs/inch. Front ends sits about ¾” – 1.00” higher
 
#6 · (Edited)
Not sure which way the OP went with to solve their sag issue but I thought I'd share my experience.
I recently purchased the Northwoods performance stage 2 rear spring kit for my 21 RAV4. I had recently installed a class 3 hitch and added in a full-size spare. Both added up to around 100 lb. I noticed the back end of my RAV4 was sagging lower than it usually did . Then if I had people riding in the back it would almost be hitting the bump stops.

After adding in the Northwoods performance rear spring kit, I was pleasantly surprised at the one and a half inches of lift I got and the ride quality is just like stock. No harshness at all. Pricing was fair as well. I'm in Canada and shipping all in to my door was around $250 Canadian. Install was really simple. I did it in my garage with a floor Jack in under an hour. Highly recommend Northwoods performance springs.
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#13 ·
I am not looking for any more lift. I do hate the sag that every Toyota that I've own developed eventually.
The rear springs look very airbag friendly. I'll prefer some height control so if our Rav develops a saggy issue, i'll consider airbags with stock springs. A little PSI, variable for load, and problem solved.
 
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#14 ·
Greasy said:
I am not looking for any more lift. I do hate the sag that every Toyota that I've own developed eventually.
The rear springs look very airbag friendly. I'll prefer some height control so if our Rav develops a saggy issue, i'll consider airbags with stock springs. A little PSI, variable for load, and problem solved.
Click to expand...
I have airbags in my midsize pickup. They are handy, however they lessen suspension travel a bit, they do stiffen the springs when empty because you can't run them at zero PSI, typically 5psi is the lowest recomended, and they all leak eventually. Everything is a trade off.

Still I agree, I hate rake. So I will likely try airbags soon.
 
#15 ·
How do you all feel about the "Timbren" SES Coil Enhancer Kit or the "Air Lift" 1000 Suspension Kits to help eliminate the rear sag. I recently reached out to Timbren thru email asking if it's just a sag remover or if it is just a suspension help. They replied to me saying it removes the sag and it helps with the sway and roll in the rear. I however have not asked Air Lift about their product. Just like to hear all your thoughts.
 
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#20 ·
@Don21204 , what did you end up doing? I’m curious if anyone has tried the coil enhancer kit.

@jordoncloutier , did you have to get an alignment after installing the Northwoods springs? The instructions mention removing the inner pivot bolt for the LCA which I believe is an adjustable bolt?

the timbrens look easier to install but do they do anything to reduce sag? It seems they would only help with dynamic loading.
 
#23 ·
I did get an alignment after installing the Northwood springs , everything came out great and all perfectly within spec . The springs actually improved the well know issue with negative rear camber these 5th Gen rav4's ....

To install the springs all I had to do is disconnect the sway links and the most outer lower control arm bolt . Not the inner adjustable one . Super easy in my garage with a floor jack and some hand tools .
 
#21 ·
I just received my Timbren coil enhancement Upgrade yesterday and I talked to Timbren through email and asked them about their product and they told me it takes away the sag and reduces the roll and sway in the rear end... I have not installed them yet but I believe in the product OVER the Airlift 1000 inner coil bag system... don't have to constantly adjust air pressure. They were cheaper in price if you go to www.etrailer.com. Love that site. Didn't want to go with upgraded springs in the rear because it gives a 1.5 inch lift. But no lift in the front end... I plan on getting the 2in Torque Suspension Lift Kit for my 2023 Adventure Trim this summer.
 
#26 ·
jordoncloutier said:
slightly larger than stock springs which have a better spring rate as well,
Click to expand...
jordoncloutier said:
If you start to look at a lot of the RAV4s the road today with stock rear suspension. It definitely looks like most of them are sagging in the rear. Especially when you add any passengers or any cargo in the back.
Click to expand...
I agree. To prevent or alleviate sagging (as opposed to increasing ground clearance for off road use) it's best to get coil springs with a higher rate that still provide close to the same ride height as stock. That keeps the CV joint angles within spec and makes alignments easier. The only downside with a higher spring rate is the likelihood of a stiffer and harsher ride and road feel over bumps, tar strips and pot holes.
 
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#29 ·
I installed basically the same thing as the Timbren last summer, before a moderately loaded road trip we took. I used ones from RubberShox that were about $30. The great thing about these is that they absorb some of the NVH that is transmitted through the spring, but the biggest benefit is that they eliminate one coil of the springs from flexing. This increases the spring rate by 15-20% and results in a noticeable reduction in understeer. In my case, I used ones that barely increased ride height and during our road trip did not result in rear end sag, though we weren't all that near the load limit of the vehicle. Just the driving benefits alone made it a worthwhile thing to do.
 
R
#35 ·
I wanted to check before responding so apologies for the delay.

I got the black compound in size “C”. That’s actually the thinnest RubberShox that has a diameter in the 5” range so there was no ability to go thinner. It really is the right thickness though - you don’t want it to be loose when the spring is at full extension and this size has a fairly deep groove for the coil, which is why I had to trim the groove wall so I could slide it in without teaching the entire neighborhood some colorful words. In all seriousness, if the spring maintains contact with the bottom of the groove even at full extension, only a minimal groove wall height is needed, and the taller groove wall height got folded over and then trapped underneath the coil so I trimmed it down to where the wall was shorter and stiffer, and so couldn’t get folded over into the groove. For extra security, there are holes so that you can use a zip tie to ensure the dampener won’t get displaced.

i just again looked at the instruction sheet and they show how to cut the groove wall to ease installation in cases where that is necessary. When I’m by a computer, I’ll scan and post that sheet.
 
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#42 ·
Spring rate is linearly dependent on the number of active coils (revolutions) of the spring, so using the Timbren or the similar RubberShox removes one coil from the approximately seven that are available to compress. This will increase the rear spring rate by about 15%. Depending on how tall it is, it may raise rear ride height slightly, but the higher spring rate will both decrease sagging with added weight, and reduce the suspension compression when going over a bump.

By the way, my apologies. I've been busy for the past week and haven't posted the RubberShox instruction sheet. I'll get that up in the next day or two.
 
#44 ·
cool stuff guys!
watching and taking notes!

and lol on the language lesson for the kids...
just remembering the christmas story movie and the great furnace fighter.
lol

working on the same stuff on the 4.1 rear.
lots of tools and stuff in the rear hatch area.
need an better than stock over load spring setup.
99% of the time it will be full loaded so no issues with height when empty.
i just need it at stock height when full loaded.
 
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