Originally Posted by rgcary

I've read over a few threads on this factory rake and 95% of 4Runner owners out there level their ride out because it "looks" better and say it drives better. My question is why did Toyota engineers make the 4Runner with a factory rake? There has to be a good reason for this... I'm a 4Runner owner and my X-REAS is starting to fail and I give Toyota engineers thumbs down on that design. So while I'm looking to purchase FJ 4x4 springs and Bilstein 5100's I'm starting to question the setup a little. Please help me put my doubts to rest... :-(

A few ideas that come to mind are highway travel, wind noise and aerodynamics. If you raise the front I would think you're changing the aerodynamics and could cause vehicle to use more gas and become less stable. Taller vehicles are also less stable when on driving highway speeds I would think? One guy said the running boards are not level now when raised?

The Bilstein 5100's set at .85 with FJ springs will level your ride from what I've read. If you leave the Bilstein's at standard adjustment and only install the FJ springs, which are still a little taller than stock 4Runners will it lift the front a little and just not level it at much? I assume that once you have the springs and Billie's installed to adjust them again they would need to be removed? So say I try the setup at standard height and want to move it to .85? I can't do that while it's installed, right? I'm paying for labor, so trying to not add on to much additional expense...

Another thing is when installing FJ springs in the rear it automatically raises the vehicle w/out any additional spacers from what I understand? So if you raise the rear with the FJ springs and leave the Billie's set to stock on the front with FJ springs with no height adjustment on the front I would think it would look funny?

I'm just trying to come up with the best way to do this setup, but either way it's less expensive than replacing the X-REAS at $2000 from Toyota. My 4Runner is a daily driver on highway mostly, all season SUV tires and family vacations. If you have time let me know your opinions on the best setup with the Billie 5100's and FJ springs without compromising the things I'm now questioning above.

I have a tendency to obsess about things. Can you tell? ;-)

Thank you for your time.