YotaConvert said:
thanks Cybercannon! let us know what you find out... I was considering the DS as well as the CF...please let us know how you like it...
No problem. I went with the Daystar for many of the reasons on JA's website
here . I like the black better. I like that it was an inbetween size (2.5/1.5) of the cornfed options and that the polyurathane won't corrode and should last the life of the vehicle.
They did change the design, but I like it. The daystar is now all topout and has no preload spacer. JA liked the Daystar because the last version's preload spacer was less than cornfed, so the springs weren't already... uh... so preloaded
. Now the springs are completely the same as before, so it shouldn't stiffen the ride much if at all.
I guess one concern of it being topout is overextension of the ball joint, but on the 2.5" lift it's fine. I think another concern was the CVs, but Bulldog does a lot of this stuff and in a thread over at toyota120 stated that it shouldn't be a problem until you get over 3". If anything mine are now angled slightly downward (from body to wheel), where as stock they were angled upward and the angle was larger/worse. Basically it's more in line now than it was stock, so I'm not worried.
The install was likely easier on one hand and I suspect a bit more difficult on the other hand compared to the last Daystar version. The spring/shock assembly does NOT need to be taken apart like before. No coil compressors or vice grip needed. It came with extension bolts that go over the existing 3 bolts (per side) and the spacers slip over those. The instructions are adequate, but I still used JAs and Bulldogs guides to the install and just skipped the steps for the absent preload spacer. One tool you definately want is that pitman arm puller. The instructions said to just hit the side of the spindle. I worked that thing up and down with my mallet and no way. Had to go to autozone the next day to get the puller and that did the job in 3 seconds.
The slightly more difficult part than the last version (I suspect) is trying to squeeze the taller assembly back into place. Being all topout now I bet it's a bit taller than the previous version. Squeezing it out in the first place was hard enough. Putting a 2"-3" taller object back in there proved quite tricky and required fancy use of the floor jack and the bottle jack on the roof of the wheel well.
So far I'm very happy. It looks so much better. I walk out to it in a parking lot with it's more aggressive stance and it looks like SUVs are supposed to before auto manufacturers starting catering more to moms and mall rats. Isn't that what the highlander is for??? Leave the 4runner a rugged trail vehicle damnit. What's with this lowering to the ground for more car like feel? Buy a highlander or a sienna and don't touch the 4R's heritage.
(Done ranting).
It feels pretty much stock over bumps and rail tracks to me, but it is taller and I notice that slightly more taking corners, but it still doesn't have nearly the body sway of the jeep GC I test drove. No where close to that things rocking and swaying. Made my wife sick.
I got the 2.5"/1.5", but actually had about 3" in the front and 1.5" in back on stock tires. It has a slight rake forward. Ground clearance is now 10.5 - 11" under various parts of the front skid plate and about 9.25" under the rear diff (again on stock tires and full tank of gas).
I'm waiting for tires and wheel spacers before posting any pics and I'll do that in my own thread. I'm trying to decide between 265/70/17 BFG TA/KOs or 275/70/17 GY wrangler SAs. I like the BFGs aggressive look, but the GYs are slightly bigger. They both have the mountain/flake rating. I need to see them side by side. Choices.....
Sorry to hijack the thread. The jist of my experience is that I'm happy with the daystar and I did not need to reroute wires.
