There is a way to not destroying them. Simply take the 3 10mm coarse screws off the inner fender side and fold the plastic down toward you. Then you can use your pointer/thumb to pinch the tabs close and push down. Or you can use a pliers to pinch and push down. Then you don't have to buy new plastic tabs.


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Hey Dudes,

@infamousRNR and I have a new video for you. We installed a 2" Toytec Body Lift for @phokingchink . It's a long one, but if you want to know exactly what you need to do to be successful installing your body lift on your 3rd Gen, it's worth sitting through the whole thing. Plus, it's entertaining, soooooooooooo
Sit Back and Relax and Enjoy the Show!

Peace out,
Timmy the Toolman

If I ever do a body lift, i will reference this video. Although I am more curious about the suspension lifts. Also i think I would have at least vacuumed that vehicle if I knew someone was going to be working on it. But I guess thats just me.

Well dude, you're in luck then. Sean and I also did a full Toytec Suspension Lift for Eric and that video will be coming out soon. I'm lucky Sean is so good at the video editing because I don't think I'd have the same patience as him to do all the detailed stuff to make the videos nicer to watch. As soon as he has time to knock that one out, I'll be posting it.

The lift video will include:

the suspension components (front coil overs & rear coils and shocks)
upper control arms
pan hard bar replacement (with explanation of how to adjust to center axel)
extended brake lines (front and rear)
extended bump stops

Nice! Cant wait!

Alright Timmy, got a question for you. Out of all the things I would like to do to my island runner,
The most beneficial upgrade would probably be new rear springs and shocks.
I cant even take 2 people and their luggage to the airport without riding the bump stops the entire way there.
Here's what I got......

- 2x 3ton jack stands
- lots of hand tools
- 2 wheel chocks
- the stock jack
- no paved driveway, just dirt, which is surprisingly sturdy

I was thinking of doing one side at a time and perhaps resting the axle on to the spare tire and the removed tire to reduce my chances of dying. Placing both jack stands on the side Im working on. Then using the stock jack with blocks to push the frame/body away from the axle just enough to replace the springs. I suppose one of those spring compression kits might work. The real constraint is that everything has to fit in my luggage as far as the new coils and shocks. Also being super remote, i would definitely get extras of any bolts, nuts, and washer that could break or be lost ans so forth.

What do you think? Recipe for death? 4runners for life?

What I'm picturing in my head...

It would be nice to get that kind of lift using the stock jack.

You don't need to work on one side of a time to be safe. You can do it just like everyone else does it with supporting the rear of the truck on the frame with your jack stands and then using the hydraulic jack to lower the rear axle to the point you can get enough flex to remove the springs. If you're not lifting and just replacing the springs with new ones, you'll have enough flex to get them out without damaging your brake line. If you're adding longer springs, you'll probably have to remove the brake line in order to get the rear axle low enough to fit the springs in and then it would be wise to add an extended brake line after you get the springs in.

If I were working on dirt, I'd want to disperse the load the jacks are resting against. Big metal plates would be ideal, but I gather you wouldn't have something like that. So, some thick plywood would be your best bet. Put a big square of plywood between the jack and the ground to disperse the load to the earth. If you don't do this, I think the jack legs will sink into the dirt even with heavily compacted soil.

So, jack up under the 3rd member with your hydraulic jack and it would be good to also have the jack rolling on a thick sheet of plywood as well. Get the truck way up and resting on jack stands on the frame members on each side so you'll be able to lower the rear end enough to get the springs out. I'm thinking there's a chance your 3 ton jack stands aren't going to be high enough for this job. You need taller jack stands, meant for working on trucks, to be able to support the frame high enough. You've seen my videos so you know the size I'm talking about.

Don't forget ratcheting wrenches are pretty much a must when removing the top nut of the rear shocks unless you plan on cutting them out. Same with the installation of the new shocks. A ratcheting wrench makes the job tolerable, but it's still a pain in the ass.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions.

**Edit - I just realized you only have the stock jack the rig comes with. This isn't ideal. A floor jack is something you really should invest in. Do you have a store on the island you can buy one from?

Thanks for the info. I am quite impressed with the dirt in my driveway.
I have used the stock bottle jack to lift the front end many times with very minimal sinking.
In April Im moving to a new place that has actual concrete!
My concern is mainly the stock bottle jacks ability to balance the axle when working on the springs.
I feel like it would topple over when I start pulling on the spring and shock.
Are the rear control arms able to keep the axle from shifting forward and backwards too much?
I do have a set of gear wrenches so Im good for the top shock nut.
I will be replacing with OEM stuff, nothing fancy.
I was going to bring a chain wrench to help remove and install the shocks and extra lower shock bolts in case I break those.
I dont suppose you know the maximum length bolt that can fit the lower shock?
I read a thread where someone found their bolts cross threaded and was considering longer bolts since there are more threads than are used on installation.
I even thought about the night before my plane trip back to the states I could break the shock bolts loose just to see if the snap.
That way I would know for sure if I need new bolts or an easy out kit and all that.
Im trying to prepare for anything since resources are limited out here.

Thanks.

They want $300 USD for a 3 ton floor jack. So ill try and fail my way before I give them that much money.


**Edit I have a fantastic floor jack in the states. Sadly it wont fit in my luggage and is over the weight limit.

Hey Dudes,

@infamousRNR and I installed a Toytec lift for @phokingchink and of course we videoed the whole thing so we could share it with the masses.

If you want to install a complete lift on your 3rd Gen, this is the video to watch. Is it long? Of course it is. But, if you can stand listening to me for an hour and 20 minutes, you'll have all the information you'll need to be successful installing a lift on your rig.

Here's the video and Enjoy the Show!

Changing the rear shock with that body lift already in place is basically cheating. Otherwise another great video!