I have a 2003 4Runner V6 2WD. I took it to a shop, and asked for a 3" lift. After they finished their work, I noticed a popping sounds or a thud noise coming from the front end whenever I was turning. I took it back to them and they said I needed wheel spacers or to buy a wheel & tire package from them. This didn't make sense to me, since it was not a rhythmic sound. I went back to them twice, and got the same answer. I also noticed the front driver side camber was different than the front passenger side. I paid them $2,600. This is what they installed:
- Camburg X-Joint Front Upper Control Arms
- Bilstein 5100s Front and Rear
- Old Man Emu Medium Front Springs (sticker says 885X)
- Old Man Emu Medium Rear Springs (I never got the model # of rear springs, I assume also 885X?)
I took it to a second shop (recommended by people here on the forums) and this new shop said the springs were too stiff, causing my lower control arms bushings to be torn. Also that my front steering was maxed out and it was hitting the steering stops. He said he would adjust the front springs to the first clip and swap out the rear springs. He said the rear springs had to be swapped out because they were too tall for the rear Bilstein 5100s. After getting my 4Runner back, it is definitely softer, but now the back is lower than the front. The new rear springs read: "Bilstein G/X E4-FD1-Z002T01". This shop charged me $2,000.
This is what I think I have installed in my 4Runner currently:
- Camburg X-Joint Front Upper Control Arms
- Bilstein 5100s Front and Rear
- Old Man Emu Medium Front Springs (sticker says 885X)
- Bilstein G/X E4-FD1-Z002T01 Rear Springs
This is what I measured just now, from the fender to center hub:
- Front Passenger: 23.5"
- Front Driver: 23"
- Rear Passenger: 22.5"
- Rear Driver: 22"
From researching on the forum, people are saying the stock ride height is 19" front and 21" rear, but that was for V8 models (I couldn't find anybody reporting stock V6 ride height).
Did I pay for a 4" front lift and 1" rear lift? I have 31" tires on the 4Runner, and it doesn't look like I could put anything bigger in the rear, but the front looks like it could take 33s. Any advice? Should I call the second shop again?