3rd Gen 4Runner Lift Information and FAQ's

[AZBub]

Hi Guys,

I have a 99 FWD SR5 with 283 K.

My suspension is original and getting tired. The front stands at 20 5/8, the rear at 20 1/4, measured from the center of the hub to the fender. I run 265/70/17.



A few day ago I came across a set of springs and rear shocks from a 2019 TRD 4Runner.

After reading some of the threads on this forum, I decided to pull the trigger and buy the set.



I installed the rear springs and shocks and currently measure at 21, not a huge gain but better than before.

The rear spring, when truck is lifted, are loose due to the longer shocks from the Gen5. They sit OK when back on the ground.

Is this something that can be remedied with shims or should I go for Tundra 5100?



Also, what set up for the front if I go with the Gen5 springs?

Thanks

so 5th gen rear springs are shorter and wider. they will give a cadillac ride on the road but forget about them if you off-road, you will spit the springs with high articulation using 5th gen rear springs on a 3rd gen. keep the shocks but get some taller rear springs which you can find in the stickies in FAQ. also you should find out what the compression is on those shocks and adjust your rear bump stops.

Tundra 5100 front shocks are adjustable with a clip. you could use the front springs HOWEVER, spring rate is pretty important and i’m not sure what those are.

You really need to do a lot more reading.


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[AZBub]

Thanks for the info! One more quick question, is this in reference to the Tundra 5100’s or the 4runner specific ones?

Tundra 5100s offer more travel than the 4runner specific ones and more settings for the perch.


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[4Runner4Leon]

so 5th gen rear springs are shorter and wider. they will give a cadillac ride on the road but forget about them if you off-road, you will spit the springs with high articulation using 5th gen rear springs on a 3rd gen. keep the shocks but get some taller rear springs which you can find in the stickies in FAQ. also you should find out what the compression is on those shocks and adjust your rear bump stops.

That's somewhat surprising to me - I read a number of threads here where folks were quite happy with the 5th Gen rear springs. I installed a set in my 3rd Gen recently, and have also been happy (so far).

I don't do serious wheeling, so maybe that's the disconnect, but for my purposes they have been great, and priced very well.

 

[phattyduck]

That's somewhat surprising to me - I read a number of threads here where folks were quite happy with the 5th Gen rear springs. I installed a set in my 3rd Gen recently, and have also been happy (so far).

I don't do serious wheeling, so maybe that's the disconnect, but for my purposes they have been great, and priced very well.

5th gen springs can come out if you pair them with longer shocks. With 10mm trim packers and stock length shocks, there is no way they will come out on their own (either flexed or full droop).

The 5th gen rear shocks are about 2" longer than 3rd gen shocks and might bottom before hitting the stock bump stops - I'd worry about that too...

-Charlie

 

[Jidaran]

I’ve got a 2002. Currently sitting on 5100s and 99 talls on the rear, 4600s and stock coils on the front, which amounts to 20.5” hub to fender in the back and 20” in the front, so it has a very slight positive rake.

I’m planning on installing 99 talls and 5100s on the front soon. Bilstein claims the 5100s provide 0-2.75” of lift, depending on the perch. However, since I’m installing springs that are 1” taller, I should expect 1” of lift in the front if I use the lowest perch, correct?

I’m wondering if this could leave me with a negative rake – which seems weird, as I’d have 99 talls on all four corners.

Even if it sits level while empty, it’d definitely have a negative rake if I’m loaded up. To account for this, I was thinking of adding 1.5” daystar spacers in the back. I know a lot of people dislike spacers and would recommend the 906s instead, but I’m gonna hold off (at least, for now) as I have a feeling the 906s would be too stiff and I’m not trying to spend that kinda $$ right now anyway.

Does this sound like a sensible set up? From what I’ve read, this small lift won’t require me to extend the e-brake cable or the rear brake lines.

I know this forum is inundated with dumb lift questions, but I was just hoping for some input before I pull the trigger on this. Thanks everyone.

 

[4runnerfiend]

I’ve got a 2002. Currently sitting on 5100s and 99 talls on the rear, 4600s and stock coils on the front, which amounts to 20.5” hub to fender in the back and 20” in the front, so it has a very slight positive rake.

I’m planning on installing 99 talls and 5100s on the front soon. Bilstein claims the 5100s provide 0-2.75” of lift, depending on the perch. However, since I’m installing springs that are 1” taller, I should expect 1” of lift in the front if I use the lowest perch, correct?

I’m wondering if this could leave me with a negative rake – which seems weird, as I’d have 99 talls on all four corners.

Even if it sits level while empty, it’d definitely have a negative rake if I’m loaded up. To account for this, I was thinking of adding 1.5” daystar spacers in the back. I know a lot of people dislike spacers and would recommend the 906s instead, but I’m gonna hold off (at least, for now) as I have a feeling the 906s would be too stiff and I’m not trying to spend that kinda $$ right now anyway.

Does this sound like a sensible set up? From what I’ve read, this small lift won’t require me to extend the e-brake cable or the rear brake lines.

I know this forum is inundated with dumb lift questions, but I was just hoping for some input before I pull the trigger on this. Thanks everyone.

I have 99 talls on the 4th perch of Tundra 5100's. I'd advise getting the tundras over the 4runner. They are just beefier. hub to fender is ~23" however the lowest perch of the Tundra is lower than stock.
Yes these 99 talls are 1" taller. you will yield a higher lift when switching out stock coils to the 99's and pairing with the 5100's

I think the spacer are ok if you want to keep the OEM ride and are not putting a ton of weight in the rear.
You do not need to extend the brake line if you are doing a mild lift. however I do recommend when you get it all back together, and before the tires go on let the rear axle droop as far as it can, slowly and keep an eye on that line just to make sure. You can bend the bracket a bit to give it a little more room.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

5th gen springs can come out if you pair them with longer shocks. With 10mm trim packers and stock length shocks, there is no way they will come out on their own (either flexed or full droop).

The 5th gen rear shocks are about 2" longer than 3rd gen shocks and might bottom before hitting the stock bump stops - I'd worry about that too...

-Charlie

I kept my original 3rd Gen shocks when I put in the 5th Gen springs. The springs are a bit loose at full droop allowed by shocks, so I may be looking for a trim packer at some point.

I was just a bit surprised at the earlier comment about 5th Gen springs being a poor choice for the 3rd Gen, but perhaps that was meant for serious wheelers.

 

[Jidaran]

I think the spacer are ok if you want to keep the OEM ride and are not putting a ton of weight in the rear.

Yup - that's exactly where I'm at. Thanks!

 

[jsclimbs]

That's somewhat surprising to me - I read a number of threads here where folks were quite happy with the 5th Gen rear springs. I installed a set in my 3rd Gen recently, and have also been happy (so far).

I don't do serious wheeling, so maybe that's the disconnect, but for my purposes they have been great, and priced very well.

What shocks did you install on the rear?
I don't intend on doing any extreme wheeling, maybe some washboard dirt roads.
We use the truck for ski trips and camping/ hiking. Lots of road miles from California to Colorado, so ride comfort is important.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

What shocks did you install on the rear?
I don't intend on doing any extreme wheeling, maybe some washboard dirt roads.
We use the truck for ski trips and camping/ hiking. Lots of road miles from California to Colorado, so ride comfort is important.

I kept my original 3rd Gen shocks, they're fine for now.

 

[4Rubber]

Has anyone ever ran 99 talls in front with the 890 out back? Would this result in too much rake, even with 5100s on a higher perch up front? I’ve only ever seen people with the 99 tall/906 setup. Interested in any pics or thoughts on this.

 

[phattyduck]

Do I need springs also -how do I even check the springs - or just the struts / shocks ?

Check your ride height! If it is lower than 'stock' new springs (even OEM) will lift it back up. Shocks shouldn't have a significant effect on ride height.

5100's are designed to work with OEM springs (read the directions, it is right in there!), along with 1.5" rear spacers or 2" lift 220 lb/in springs (read, OME 2906). The front can be set at stock ride height or lifted up to slightly more than 2" lift in multiple increments - also right in the directions for them.

-Charlie

 

[phattyduck]

What it suppose to be stock ?

All the lifts are measured compared to 20" from the center of the hub to the fender lip.

My '99 2WD SR5 was about 20 1/4" all around before any modifications. Other years will be lower. '99 4WDs will be higher.

-Charlie

 

[grokglock]

So I ended up getting these which seem to be 9 wraps. How bad will it be if I go with 5100's in the front with stock coils? I don't mind rake

 

[AZBub]

So I Got a set of 5th gen Trd coils for all 4 corners for $125 shipped that with the 5100 ? Work y’all ?


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sure, just no a whole lot of lift. i’d compare it to the 99 talls at best. Also 5th gen front shocks WILL NOT WORK in a 3rd gen.


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[AZBub]

So I ended up getting these which seem to be 9 wraps. How bad will it be if I go with 5100's in the front with stock coils? I don't mind rake

so you’ll probably want 5160s in back. and Tundra 5100s in the front. You’ll end up pre loading the spring a Ton to get the desired look. and there will be rake. i assume you have read the 6billion topics on 3rd gen lift info?


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[AZBub]

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So that pic is pretty much how a 99 tall sat new. maybe a smidge taller.
I had 5th gen rear springs early on and wasn’t impressed with them off-road at all. ON ROAD they were like a marshmallow though. Then there is the issue of spitting springs. they were shorter than my stick rear springs but the wire was thicker. under full flex you could almost grab them and yank them out. I’m pretty sure the seay bar was limiting the travel just enough to keep them in there.


The people saying they got a lot of lift may have had a 4runner that came with the least amount of lift from the factory or had really tired suspension parts. It’s really hard to compare how much lift everyone gets because there are so many variables that they started from. It’s also absolutely silly to measure lift from ground to fender (this is known with the elders in the forums and quite possibly discussed more than the meaning of life itself). measure center hub to fender. I mean going from factory 255 65r16 to 285 75r16 will show gobs of lift if you measure ground to fender....


I presume your new to 3rd gens? There was a guy “Absalom” who had some thread called a cookie cutter lift thread or something like that. It’s probably the better way to go because it laid out what to get and real world expectations of each setup. It was one of his most helpful posts actually the rest was a lot of toot my own horn sorta stuff [emoji23]. What happens to NOOB 3rd gen owners is they change their suspension several times because they did t do enough research or think they will be happy with the cheap setup. It doesn’t work, trust me we all been there and done that. I’m on my 4th iteration with suspension...

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[grokglock]

Where are you guys finding TRD Tundra struts and springs? I was able to get LC coils from Ih8mud but I can't find TRD Tundra fronts.

I need about 3 inches of lift in the front. Will 99 talls and 5100's do that in the front?

 

[AZBub]

Where are you guys finding TRD Tundra struts and springs? I was able to get LC coils from Ih8mud but I can't find TRD Tundra fronts.



I need about 3 inches of lift in the front. Will 99 talls and 5100's do that in the front?

just get the front eibach springs and call it a day. you can get them from Toytec or wheelers off-road.


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[AZBub]

They gonna work with the 4Runner bilstiens 5100 in the back or do I need a regular shock or could I use a 2.5” spacer lift in the back ? Just want to be safe don’t want them falling out I’m not out west anymore so this one won’t be in Moab . I mean I got the springs for $30 each with shipping , I’d like to use them . Especially if there like 99 springs new


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the 3rd gen 4runner specific bilstein shocks will work fine with 5th gen springs. 4th 4runner? you should know better than suggest a spacer :-/


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