1" or 2" leveling kit??

hawks02

hawks02

New member
Anyone with experience have an opinion on getting a 1" or 2" front leveling kit? I just want a front spacer and want it to level out the front to match the back. Does a 1" do the job or would a 2" be better? Or does the 2" make the vehicle sit up in the front? Thanks for any info.
 
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1" isn't quite enough, 2" makes it somewhat level. With a 2", there is about equal gap between the tire and fender front/rear, but then the roof and running boards tend to be pointed slightly upward. I suggest 1.5", it's a nice median. I am running FJ Cruiser coil springs on the front witha a Toytec topout spacer (1/2" thick). I gained right at 1.5", and the FJ springs had a pretty major effect on handling/ride quality (in a good way). I have air bags in the rear so I was unable to use the rear FJ Cruiser springs. I can tell a difference in ride quality on the front vs. rear, front is much smoother. The rear FJ springs will give some lift (~.5" seems to be common). My suggestion for those in your situation is to get FJ Cruiser springs front and rear, then also add the Daystar Budget Boost 1" spacer. With this setup, you'll be lifted ~2" in the front (maybe a tad more) and ~.5" in the rear, ending up with about the same stance as I have. There is a link in my sig to my lift/spring write-up, click it for more info/pics.
 
steezemcqueen said:
1-1.5 is just about right for leveling without doing anything to the rear.
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ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
1" isn't quite enough, 2" makes it somewhat level. With a 2", there is about equal gap between the tire and fender front/rear, but then the roof and running boards tend to be pointed slightly upward. I suggest 1.5", it's a nice median.
Click to expand...

:iagree:w/both.... Most who have gone with a 2" net lift come back and redo something to put some rake back in it. The other thing about leaving a touch of rake (which 1.0"-1.5" does) is that when loaded the vehicle doesn't look like it's dragging it's butt down the road.
:cheers:
 
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ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
1" isn't quite enough, 2" makes it somewhat level. With a 2", there is about equal gap between the tire and fender front/rear, but then the roof and running boards tend to be pointed slightly upward. I suggest 1.5", it's a nice median. I am running FJ Cruiser coil springs on the front witha a Toytec topout spacer (1/2" thick). I gained right at 1.5", and the FJ springs had a pretty major effect on handling/ride quality (in a good way). I have air bags in the rear so I was unable to use the rear FJ Cruiser springs. I can tell a difference in ride quality on the front vs. rear, front is much smoother. The rear FJ springs will give some lift (~.5" seems to be common). My suggestion for those in your situation is to get FJ Cruiser springs front and rear, then also add the Daystar Budget Boost 1" spacer. With this setup, you'll be lifted ~2" in the front (maybe a tad more) and ~.5" in the rear, ending up with about the same stance as I have. There is a link in my sig to my lift/spring write-up, click it for more info/pics.
Click to expand...

Where did you get the FJC springs? Did you buy them new oem or from someone? Are they spendy? How much did it run you for everything if you don't mind me asking?
 
FJ Cruiser Forums is your best best. I got mine "used". I found a guy on there who pulled a set off his FJ at 5k miles, he gave them to me, I just paid shipping. The Toytec spacer is $70, can't remember what shipping was but I know I've got less than $100 into it. I've seen full shock/spring sets go for under $100, so it's a rather cheap mod but yet is my favorite one thus far (even if it didn't lift, it'd be worth it to me because the ride is smoother, bumps aren't felt as bad).
 
Yeah go to Toyota FJ Cruiser Community and make a thread in the Wanted or find some in the For Sale section. Luckily I found a guy here in Nashville that had a TT FJC and he sold me his springs and Bilstein shocks for $30. I am hoping to get those and my Toytec spacer installed very soon. Ark Swamp Riders 4runner looks excellent if you want to search for his thread on his install.
 
I've got a set of Bilstein 5100s sitting in the garage, waiting for time to install them. I bought the adjustable height front ones -- per Bilstein, it'll raise the front end .85", 1.75", or 3", depending on which groove I put the snap ring into.

If I want a more level appearance, but not a front-end-high appearance, which groove would you pick?

I haven't found any pics of a 4th gen 4R with the Bilstein 5100s*, so I'm not sure if Bilstein's .85/ 1.75" ratings are accurate for the 4R, in terms of the actual results achieved. From what I've read, Bilstein sells the same shock for the 4R, Tacoma, and FJ Cruiser, but actual lift results may vary from model to model.

* with stock 4R springs and no other suspension mods -- I have seen pics of 4th gen 4Rs with the Bilstein adjustable shocks, but also with other mods, such as FJ springs, or Daystar spacers added too.
 
One guy put on the 5100's with FJ springs and got something crazy like 4" of lift if I remember correctly. I'm unsure on that, I always thought that was the actual lift amount, but I can't say that I've saw that. Either way you can get about the same lift, so just try it out and see.
 
4Runner8 said:
i think you could do a 1 inch toytec spacer with a toytec top out spacer and get right around 1.5 inches
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That is possible, and I was going to go that route. However, after several conversations with the Derrick (Toytec Lifts, a rep from the company) he really advised against using strictly the two Toytec spacers. It became a lengthy discussion and I can't remember the specifics, all I remember is that he advised I explore other options, not because it "can't" be done though.
 
oh okay well i would just say go 1" daystar... its literally like only 40 bucks and if you dont like it buy a 2'' from another company of daystar.
 
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
Noone does, that's the problem. See post #3 in this thread for my suggestions.
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There was a guy on here who sells 1", 1.25", and 1.5" spacers. I know he sold all three sizes to members of the forum. The spacer thicknesses were 1/2", 5/8", and 3/4", which you double the thickness to get the net lift on the vehicle.
 
I'd like to know who that is, because I've searched for hour and hours and never found anyone. Jason Burtman can make any size you want, but it's a one off deal and you'll pay for it. He *could* make a 3/4 inch spacer, but it'll be $200+.
 
LOL! if Jed is refering to a member back in 2007. I still have my hard disk w/ bookmarks of those classic threads Lol!
Looks like they are aluminum. :biggrin2:
 
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