Daystar Lift Questions/Opinions

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britton406

New member
Ok first off, I am the most partial to the Daystar 2.5/1.5 if I'm judging on looks alone. What I'm am fighting with here is a small difference of looks Vs function.

My only real concern with the DS is losing that extra travel. I know there are quite a few people with this set up, and I wanted to know if you ever notice the travel bottoming out on the up stroke during daily driving. I was also concerned about alignments, and was wondering how may people purchased new upper control arms to accomodate the difference for the alignment. I was looking at the Light Racing UCA. Is this necessary or recommended??

As far as other options, I would like to leave everything as is including the springs and shocks. I'll replace those someday in the future when sag kicks in.

With that said, I also like the cornfed 2/1 but the difference is half an inch, so I feel like I might as well just stick with the daystars.

:hatsoff:

Thanks!
 
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I have the Daystar Spacer Lift & I was drooling over it for a year till I finally caved in.

It definately looks nice, but it's the same travel as stock, because you're just adding a spacer to extend the stock strut/shock assembly.

I actually help do the install & it's so much work for so little improvement.

I don't regret doing it, because if I didn't do it, I wouldn't have known this information.

If I did it all over again, I'd go with...

• OME

or

• Overland Warehouse Radflo 2.5

*****

I didn't replace my UCA, because I stuck only stepped up to 32" tires, if you were to step up to 33" or higher, then you need them for clearance.

As for alignment...only the Toe Angle for the front are adjustable, and my Caster Angle wasn't out of whacked too much, my vehicle is traveling perfectly straight.

*****

If you need photos or have questions about the Daystar Spacer Lift...please let me know. Actually if you need a Tutorial in installing a lift, let me know.
 
Daystar

X2 ^^

I've experienced no difference in travel during my daily driving or moderate off-roading. As for alignment, I had it done right after the lift (very much required) and haven't had any problems in the 5,000 miles since. I too went up a size and don't have any rubbing. For the price and functionality this is a great lift for those looking for what many folks think is the way the 4Runner should look from the factory. My .02
 
ok, so i just need to clarify; is this a body lift, or suspension lft?? so it doesnt take any of the travel out of the stock suspension?? for some reason I was under the impression that it was in the suspension, therfore reducing the amount of travel.
 
britton406 said:
ok, so i just need to clarify; is this a body lift, or suspension lft?? so it doesnt take any of the travel out of the stock suspension?? for some reason I was under the impression that it was in the suspension, therfore reducing the amount of travel.
Click to expand...

This is not a body lift. A body lift, puts space between the frame and body of a car. The daystar kit I just installed sat on top of the coil assembly but not IN the coil assembly. Some of the lift spacers, pre load the coils by being placed between the spring and the top of the perch. The daystar kit sits between the perch and the inner fender (if that makes sense). Daystar does not pre-load the suspension and you don't have to remove the spring via spring compressor to install it.
 
K.C. said:
I have the Daystar Spacer Lift & I was drooling over it for a year till I finally caved in.

It definately looks nice, but it's the same travel as stock, because you're just adding a spacer to extend the stock strut/shock assembly.

I actually help do the install & it's so much work for so little improvement.

I don't regret doing it, because if I didn't do it, I wouldn't have known this information.

If I did it all over again, I'd go with...

• OME

or

• Overland Warehouse Radflo 2.5

*****

I didn't replace my UCA, because I stuck only stepped up to 32" tires, if you were to step up to 33" or higher, then you need them for clearance.

As for alignment...only the Toe Angle for the front are adjustable, and my Caster Angle wasn't out of whacked too much, my vehicle is traveling perfectly straight.

*****

If you need photos or have questions about the Daystar Spacer Lift...please let me know. Actually if you need a Tutorial in installing a lift, let me know.
Click to expand...

So why is it you would go with OME? I know it would definitely perform better off road, but how is the daily driving with the OME set up? I have the XREAS and I only occasionally go 4wheeling so I plan on keeping it.

And actually, I would love to have some help from someone that has done it. My Dad is better with mechanical/Automotive know how, so I'm having him help. we are just a bit nervous with dealing with the XREAS.

Ive already reviewed JAs page, and it seems like something my dad and I can manage.

So KC, do you have the XREAS? I might need some pointers/tips to help with dealing with it
 
Technically the Daystar spacer gives you more travel in the form of droop. This is because the strut controls the droop distance and moving the strut down ultimately provides more droop. Up travel is unchanged as the bump stops limit compression before the strut bottoms.
 
britton406 said:
we are just a bit nervous with dealing with the XREAS.
Click to expand...

Don't be... these top out spacers are easy to install. You don't need to un-hook the Xreas to connect them. In fact the springs can be changed with out dis-connecting Xreas.

Flexus said:
Technically the Daystar spacer gives you more travel in the form of droop. This is because the strut controls the droop distance and moving the strut down ultimately provides more droop. Up travel is unchanged as the bump stops limit compression before the strut bottoms.
Click to expand...

If up travel is unchanged, then how do you figure there is more travel? There is more clearence between the lower control arm and the bump stop, so there is more travel, and a higher risk of the struts bottoming out.

Edit: Never mind... I see what you are sayin. The wheel will never go any higher than it did with out the lift.
 
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britton406,

The reason why I would NOT do Daystar Spacer Lift if I did it all over again, because I want a better strut/shock replacement. Higher lift and can take the weight of a Schrockworks Bumper if I ever want to go that route.

You can ask ANYONE that ditched their XREAS, none of them regret it.

Daystar Spacer Lift is a Suspension Lift, not Body Lift.

*****

If you do decide to keep XREAS, the only way is to do a Spacer Lift.

J.A. has the best tutorial. I don't have XREAS, however, I read his tutorial almost 5x.

If I was able to remove the Spacer in a blink of a second from a Magic Genie...I'd let you have it.

...Please don't hesitate if you have more questions...
 
K.C. said:
If you do decide to keep XREAS, the only way is to do a Spacer Lift.
Click to expand...

Or you could add FJ coils for some lift... I got 1" lift from the coils plus I added a 1/2" spacer for another 1" of lift. Up 2" in the front with a better spring rate and I kept my XREAS intact. When the XREAS finally let's go, I'll probably go with the OW Full 2.0!
 
deedubb said:
This is not a body lift. A body lift, puts space between the frame and body of a car. The daystar kit I just installed sat on top of the coil assembly but not IN the coil assembly. Some of the lift spacers, pre load the coils by being placed between the spring and the top of the perch. The daystar kit sits between the perch and the inner fender (if that makes sense). Daystar does not pre-load the suspension and you don't have to remove the spring via spring compressor to install it.
Click to expand...

This Daystar kit from Wheelers says it has a prelaod spacer.

fjdstrlift.jpg
 
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The daystar you just posted, is different from the one I have. The one I bought is NOT pre-load and was only a front spacer (2.5") that sat above the coil assembly plus the rear (1.5") spacers. I installed it so I know this is correct. I'm not saying there isn't 2 different types of daystar lift, but mine was not like the picture you posted.
 
Thee preload is the old style, wheelersss is about the only place I know of that still carries them. The new design is an "easy install" kit that is topout only.
 
I installed the Wheelers "old" kit about 10 months ago for a couple reasons. First, I too liked the look of the DS kit and I specifically wanted to avoid a topout only spacer kit. Its true they are very easy to install but on a large down suspension stroke they can put a lot of stress on the ball joint. The hybrid topout/preload kit seemed to be the way to go to avoid this as well as firm up the ride. With this kit though you will have to use a spring compressor. I was able to do the front and rear with help from a friend in about 5 hours taking our time. We've never done anything like this before so its not too terribly difficult. I did not replace my UCA's and although the alignment was able to get everything mostly back to how it should be, the "caster" setting on alignment is still lower than Id like and unable to go any higher without UCA's. This is normal for these types of lifts and not a big deal as it drives pretty stable but high winds on the highway will def push you around. I too would have liked to install an Overland Radflo kit but took an honest look at what Id be doing and determined my factory Bilsteins would be fine, the truck just needed some clearance. Happy with my choice for the last 18k.
 
Synister is right, you can have "too much" topout. The preload/topout combo of the old style IMO is a better kit, but it will firm up the ride just a little (I don't think that's a bad thing).
 
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