3" lift extra necessities?

[wife's4runner]

The wife want's a "make over" for her 99 4runner, so its getting a lift and tires. I am getting the toytec 3" front spacers and rear ome coils and am wondering if a diff drop is really nescessary? I have read that it is nescessary and also that it is not. The 4runner sees mild offroad use several times a year when camping, or cruising down the beach.
thanks

 

[the great him]

id do it just so you dont wear out your CV boots as fast.

 

[Deaner]

Ya go with the diff drop, for the money it costs it will pay off in the long run saving you from buying and paying labour for the CV's. The ride will probably be a little smoother too with the diff drop.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

It's going to ride like sh*t on spacers. And the last thing you want it a p*ssed off wife. (ask me how I know) Do coils all the way around. If it's a budget thing, search the classifieds and looks for used ones, you might even find new in box that someone never installed.

 

[binhsterbinh]

It's going to ride like sh*t on spacers. And the last thing you want it a p*ssed off wife. (ask me how I know) Do coils all the way around. If it's a budget thing, search the classifieds and looks for used ones, you might even find new in box that someone never installed.

Well if he got 3" front top plate spacers, he should be okay as far as ride comfort since he's not pre-loading the coil anymore. For that amount of money though, I'd probably just rock some new Tundra 5100 coils and bump up the perch 3 notches for an extra 1-1.5" with his current 99 tall coils (assuming that is what he has). That method at least will improve the ride significantly over worn shocks while giving a decent lift up front.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Well if he got 3" front top plate spacers, he should be okay as far as ride comfort since he's not pre-loading the coil anymore. For that amount of money though, I'd probably just rock some new Tundra 5100 coils and bump up the perch 3 notches for an extra 1-1.5" with his current 99 tall coils (assuming that is what he has). That method at least will improve the ride significantly over worn shocks while giving a decent lift up front.

I had 1/4" top hat spacers on my '99 and it rode rough. You can pick up coils cheap enough that spacers just aren't worth it.

 

[Gerdo]

If you want to do it right, read post #1 http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/94229-fyi-tire-size-lift-fit.html
It little work to install a diff drop can prolong the life of the CV boots. CV boots usually tear due to being old and dry (that is why mine tore) or due to the bellows rubbing each other. I have minimized the rubbing by http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/90980-stretch-your-cv-boots.html

 

[Nelsonmd]

It's going to ride like sh*t on spacers. And the last thing you want it a p*ssed off wife. (ask me how I know) Do coils all the way around. If it's a budget thing, search the classifieds and looks for used ones, you might even find new in box that someone never installed.

Well if he got 3" front top plate spacers, he should be okay as far as ride comfort since he's not pre-loading the coil anymore. For that amount of money though, I'd probably just rock some new Tundra 5100 coils and bump up the perch 3 notches for an extra 1-1.5" with his current 99 tall coils (assuming that is what he has). That method at least will improve the ride significantly over worn shocks while giving a decent lift up front.

I had 1/4" top hat spacers on my '99 and it rode rough. You can pick up coils cheap enough that spacers just aren't worth it.

Pitbull is right. Don't do spacers. If she wants a "make over" then get new shocks and springs. They will feel so much better than the old springs and shocks and she will be happy. Also, I wouldn't lift it much if at all. The off-roading you do now sounds like it is well within the capabilities of the stock 4runner. You don't want to raise the center of gravity, that will just give it a rougher ride and make it more tippy (read unsafe, especially if you have kids).

You might look into some other things to tighten up the steering (rack guide, TRE's, LBJ's, etc.), but I don't think you will be happy with 3 in lift spacers.

 

[Gerdo]

Don't let the "get tippy" scare you. I'm sitting at ~4" in front and 5"+ in back and I can still haul around corners. I think with the better coils and shocks (ToyTec COs, 861, Bilsteins) and making sure everything is tight, it rides/handles better than stock.

 

[wife's4runner]

Thanks for the replies, I am not worried about the 3" of lift being tippy and I guess I will have to see how the top plate spacers affect the ride. I will also attempt to adjust the cv boots to save them and install the diff drop if necessary. If the ride is not acceptable I will look into extended front coils and shocks.
thanks again