1st lift for 97 tips

sheepherda

sheepherda

New member
I just ordered the LC/TRD lift setup for my truck. I plan on using the KYB Monomax shocks I already have installed for the rear. They are only a year old and I read where other people are using them with the LC coils. The parts I have ordered are the LC coils off of the front of a 94 or 95 and the Tundra front Setup with the Bilstein shocks. I told the place I ordered Tundra stuff from that it needed to be from a truck with the off road package and Bilstein shocks. I am planning on ordering a dif drop but would like to have some input on it before purchasing.

This is the first lift I have ever done, so I would like any input you could give me. I am expecting the parts in about a week. Are there any other parts you think I should get before starting the build?

Any special tips that might make the job easier?

Any tips and all help is welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
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sheepherda said:
I just ordered the LC/TRD lift setup for my truck. I plan on using the KYB Monomax shocks I already have installed for the rear. They are only a year old and I read where other people are using them with the LC coils. The parts I have ordered are the LC coils off of the front of a 94 or 95 and the Tundra front Setup with the Bilstein shocks. I told the place I ordered Tundra stuff from that it needed to be from a truck with the off road package and Bilstein shocks. I am planning on ordering a dif drop but would like to have some input on it before purchasing.

This is the first lift I have ever done, so I would like any input you could give me. I am expecting the parts in about a week. Are there any other parts you think I should get before starting the build?

Any special tips that might make the job easier?

Any tips and all help is welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
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Are the fronts already put together? Which LC's did you get? You might need to get new rear shocks. Not sure on the extended length on the KYB's. Diff drops are kind of split on if they work or not. I don't have one, but I've got two blown CV's at the moment. I also know people with one who still have blown their CV's.

And maybe if there are some local guys around, that would definitely make it easier.
 
I got the LC's from the front of a 95 cruiser. I did a bunch of research before finding a place that had them or could find them for me. Thanks Duhockey for the heads up on Rocki Top Auto. The knew exactly what I was trying to do as they have been working with people from this site a lot. The fronts are already put together so I am hoping that will make things easier. They came off of a 02 TRD with 60,000 miles on it. The same place I got the LC coils from also helped me out with these. Still trying to find some local guys to give me a hand but I am pretty good when it comes to working on vehicles. My dad has been restoring older cars all my life so I had no choice in learning a thing or 2.
 
It's pretty straight forward. Make sure to remove the e-brake and brake lines in the rear. If you have rust issues, hit it with some PB blaster a few days before you get started, so it gets nice and soaked in.
 
Do those TRDs have the stock top hats on them? If so, you'll need to change out those with the ones from your 4Runner. The TRD tophat is too big to fit in the housing, which is why you need to switch over the 4Runners...and you will need a spring compressor to do that.
 
I am going to assume they do have the stock top hats. The only way I will know for sure is when they are delivered. I am glad you told me this ahead of time because this is something that would have put me way back trying to get them in there. Or I would have thought I got the wrong ones. I can get my hands on a spring compressor to get them swapped out. Any issues with this besides being sketchy?
 
The rear shocks can be a PITA to get out sometimes. If you're having trouble, I found the easiest way (outside of cutting them off) is to drill a hole in the shock cover, stick a longer screwdriver through the holes and then twist off.
 
sheepherda said:
I am going to assume they do have the stock top hats. The only way I will know for sure is when they are delivered. I am glad you told me this ahead of time because this is something that would have put me way back trying to get them in there. Or I would have thought I got the wrong ones. I can get my hands on a spring compressor to get them swapped out. Any issues with this besides being sketchy?
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The compressors are definitely sketchy...we had one break while putting the tophats on. The Tundra coils are pretty strong, and you need to compress them a lot to be able to start the nut...it helps to put it in a vice, or have one person hold facing away while the other person tightens/loosens the compressors.
Or you could just take them to a shop and have them done for $40-50 or so. The last pair I did, we took to the shop (he works for Toyota) and it didn't even take 10 minutes to switch them out.
 
I 2nd the recommendation on taking them to a shop to have the top-hat switched out. It is a PITA and extremeley dangerous to do it with an external spring compressor. Any decent shop will have a strut compressor which cradles the entire assembly and prevents the spring from flying off if something does happen to break.
 
shadow247 said:
I 2nd the recommendation on taking them to a shop to have the top-hat switched out. It is a PITA and extremeley dangerous to do it with an external spring compressor. Any decent shop will have a strut compressor which cradles the entire assembly and prevents the spring from flying off if something does happen to break.
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Maybe I will take your advice on this one. I guess it's always better to be safe than sorry. I am open to any and all advice on this. Is there anything I might need to purchase in order to complete the lift in a day?
 
I was like you, figured it wasn't a big deal to use the compressors...never again! And nope, you shouldn't need anything special. Maybe some PB Blaster to loosen everything up. This first lift I did took about 5 hours...second took about 3.5...its actually pretty simple with our trucks.
 
I am going to give myself 6 hours to do it. I feel like I am pretty handy but would like to give myself some room if needed. Also gives me an excuse to stick the wife with the 2 kids for a day. hahaha
 
Most guys say remove the rear panhard bar, i did it on 3 of the 4 runners i've lifted. I was tempted to try it without removing it and was able to. its a bi*** getting it back on. I find it easiest to just break the rear shocks off... just bend back and forth till they pop, shouldn't take more than 10 good bends. I was able to lift all 4 of those without removing the brake lines, just make sure the line doesn't stretch that much. It helps to have a floor jack near you when doing the rear. Use it to raise the opposite side you're working on when installing your springs. PM me if you get stuck the day of, i'm pretty quick to respond.
 
Most guys say remove the rear panhard bar, i did it on 3 of the 4 runners i've lifted. I was tempted to try it without removing it and was able to. its a bi*** getting it back on. I find it easiest to just break the rear shocks off... just bend back and forth till they pop, shouldn't take more than 10 good bends. I was able to lift all 4 of those without removing the brake lines, just make sure the line doesn't stretch that much. It helps to have a floor jack near you when doing the rear. Use it to raise the opposite side you're working on when installing your springs. PM me if you get stuck the day of, i'm pretty quick to respond.
 
All I removed were the sawy bar links on the rear. I left the panhard and the brake lines. I second the jack, as you'll need to get the axle pretty low to pop those springs in.
 
hungryeddy said:
Most guys say remove the rear panhard bar, i did it on 3 of the 4 runners i've lifted. I was tempted to try it without removing it and was able to. its a bi*** getting it back on. I find it easiest to just break the rear shocks off... just bend back and forth till they pop, shouldn't take more than 10 good bends. I was able to lift all 4 of those without removing the brake lines, just make sure the line doesn't stretch that much. It helps to have a floor jack near you when doing the rear. Use it to raise the opposite side you're working on when installing your springs. PM me if you get stuck the day of, i'm pretty quick to respond.
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This is great info. Thanks for giving me the option to get some tips if need be. To bad you're not in Memphis to give me a hand. It would be nice to have someone close by that has done this before. I tried searching for local groups or clubs but didn't have in luck finding anything. I am going to try and use my existing shocks in the rear so I will do my best to avoid breaking them. They only have about 20000 miles on them. If I don't like the way they ride I will replace them down the road.
 
sheepherda said:
This is great info. Thanks for giving me the option to get some tips if need be. To bad you're not in Memphis to give me a hand. It would be nice to have someone close by that has done this before. I tried searching for local groups or clubs but didn't have in luck finding anything. I am going to try and use my existing shocks in the rear so I will do my best to avoid breaking them. They only have about 20000 miles on them. If I don't like the way they ride I will replace them down the road.
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If you plan on using the shocks on there, just take out the bottom mounting bolt...you won't be able to get enough slack to remove/install the coils without doing that.
 
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