4th Gen Suspension Options/FAQ

When i had my spacers on i was extremely close to the body mount in the front but rear of the fender. Mainly because of the 0 offset Methods. Now that im taller in the front how close would you think i'd be. I want to get them again and see if they'd work.

The fact people fit 285s with the same amount of lift makes me think ill be fine. Im at 38" up front on 265/70/17s and they're pretty heavily worn.

What is the measurement from the center of the hub to the fenderwell? That means a lot more than fender to ground since it isn't affected by tire size. Were you running the Methods and wheel spacers? Remember, you suspension cycles up and down. So even though at rest it sits higher, if you aren't dropping bump stops to limit up travel, it can still rub. On my setup, I haven't noticed any issues with the body mount, it's all in the plastic behind the mud flap.

Ark,
Your posts are very informative. I was hoping to trouble you by asking for some suggestions?

I just bought a 2006 4Runner Sport for my soon to be 16 year old son. Prior to giving it to him, I would like to do some mods. The problem is I am a complete idiot when it comes to mods. Here is what I am looking to do:

Lift/Level kit- he has mentioned 3" but not stuck on that height. Don't want to disable the XREAS.

The largest/widest tire I can fit in without any trimming etc. (above my ability)

A quality tire that will last that is aggressive looking. He likes the over the shoulder tread like on the Toyo trail grappler

Will be changing out the stock rims. (Would like to stay with the same size to ensure the spedo remains accurate.

It will be his daily driver and driven almost exclusively on road (of course I am sure a 16yo will take it off road without my knowledge :).
Really just looking to hook him up with a really cool 4runner.

What would be your suggestions ( I understand tastes vary)?

For the lift, any spacer lift will do. The main two options that come to mind are the Daystar 2.5" front / 1.5" rear and the Toytec 3" front / 2" rear. The Daystar is much cheaper and easier to install, and IMO the 1/2" is hardly noticeable. I also don't see that 1/2" making a huge difference in what tires will fit.

I really don't suggest a mud/off road tire, but that's just my opinion. You loose street performance, gain road noise, and typically spend much more money. Look into the Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs. They are much better on the street than any mud tire but still have the aggressive look.

You will want to get wheels that have similar offset/backspacing as stock to minimize rubbing. Many get wheels that will push the tire out even with the fender, but this will increase the probability of rubbing. With stock spec'd wheels, a 275/70/17 would be the biggest/widest that would fit. Every vehicle is different, but with stock spec'd wheels these should not rub. If they do, the front fender liner will need moved forward and possibly remove the front mud flaps. If this concerns you, you better stick with 265/70/17. There are not many tires available in a 275/70/17, but if you decide to get 18" wheels there are a lot available in the equivalent size (275/65/18). The size of the wheels should not affect the speedo, but going with larger tires will.

how much would be a fair price to pay for some fj coils off an 07 4x4

As others have said, anywhere from free to $100, depending on mileage. If I were paying $100, it'd have to be 15k miles or less. There are way too many out there for sale to pay more than that.
 
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What is the measurement from the center of the hub to the fenderwell? That means a lot more than fender to ground since it isn't affected by tire size. Were you running the Methods and wheel spacers? Remember, you suspension cycles up and down. So even though at rest it sits higher, if you aren't dropping bump stops to limit up travel, it can still rub. On my setup, I haven't noticed any issues with the body mount, it's all in the plastic behind the mud flap.

Im not 100% sure on the measurement. Its an 8.5" wide wheel with a zero offset so in theory that should be 4.25"? When i had them with the methods it was really close i mean if i hit a bump full crank i would definitely hit the body mount.
 
Im not 100% sure on the measurement. Its an 8.5" wide wheel with a zero offset so in theory that should be 4.25"? When i had them with the methods it was really close i mean if i hit a bump full crank i would definitely hit the body mount.

Sorry, I meant height from hub to the lip of the fender. Instead of measuring ground to fender (38"), measure hub to fender.
 
What is the measurement from the center of the hub to the fenderwell? That means a lot more than fender to ground since it isn't affected by tire size. Were you running the Methods and wheel spacers? Remember, you suspension cycles up and down. So even though at rest it sits higher, if you aren't dropping bump stops to limit up travel, it can still rub. On my setup, I haven't noticed any issues with the body mount, it's all in the plastic behind the mud flap.



For the lift, any spacer lift will do. The main two options that come to mind are the Daystar 2.5" front / 1.5" rear and the Toytec 3" front / 2" rear. The Daystar is much cheaper and easier to install, and IMO the 1/2" is hardly noticeable. I also don't see that 1/2" making a huge difference in what tires will fit.

I really don't suggest a mud/off road tire, but that's just my opinion. You loose street performance, gain road noise, and typically spend much more money. Look into the Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs. They are much better on the street than any mud tire but still have the aggressive look.

You will want to get wheels that have similar offset/backspacing as stock to minimize rubbing. Many get wheels that will push the tire out even with the fender, but this will increase the probability of rubbing. With stock spec'd wheels, a 275/70/17 would be the biggest/widest that would fit. Every vehicle is different, but with stock spec'd wheels these should not rub. If they do, the front fender liner will need moved forward and possibly remove the front mud flaps. If this concerns you, you better stick with 265/70/17. There are not many tires available in a 275/70/17, but if you decide to get 18" wheels there are a lot available in the equivalent size (275/65/18). The size of the wheels should not affect the speedo, but going with larger tires will.



As others have said, anywhere from free to $100, depending on mileage. If I were paying $100, it'd have to be 15k miles or less. There are way too many out there for sale to pay more than that.


Ark,

Thanks for the info! If I went with the Daystar 2.5/1.5 and the 275/65/18 do you think it would need trimming, moving the liner, removing mud flaps? Would the spedo need calibrating? I really appreciate your help!!!
 
Being 17 I could probably give a little insight as to what he may want. First off I believe the only lift you could go with while keeping XREAS is the Daystar Spacer Lift which is a 2.5" spacer up front and 1.5" In the rear. With that lift for tires I would consider either those Trail Graps, or the BF Goodrich KM1's which are the tires that come stock on a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. They are a 32" Tire that are listed as size 255/70/17. They are quite easy to find as many Rubicon owners lift their rigs and get bigger tires and lift their stockers on Craigslist. For rims my personal favorites are the KMC XD Series Addicts, the Method Standards, Stealth Custom Series Stealth 6, and the ATX Crawl. If you choose to lose the XREAS as most do, the Toytec Website has options, as well as Metaltech for full kits that are 3" of lift.

HHI,

Thanks for the recommendations! Great to hear from someone close to his age. I really like some of your choices. Got my head spinning. May hit you back up when I narrow things down.
 
HHI,

Thanks for the recommendations! Great to hear from someone close to his age. I really like some of your choices. Got my head spinning. May hit you back up when I narrow things down.

No problem, that's what I'm here for. Just hit me back whenever you get closer to a decision and I can add some more insight.
 
Ark,

Thanks for the info! If I went with the Daystar 2.5/1.5 and the 275/65/18 do you think it would need trimming, moving the liner, removing mud flaps? Would the spedo need calibrating? I really appreciate your help!!!

I wouldn't rule out some rubbing, but it shouldn't be anything major. A lot of this depends on the wheels. The rear shouldn't be a problem, just the front. It takes a few minutes to move the liner forward and remove mud flaps, that should take care of any rubbing you experience. The speedo will be off, but shouldn't be more the a few mph at normal highway speeds.
 
Clicking noise

Just installed my lift last weekend and there is a faint clicking/loose noise when i go over bumps that i didn't hear from stock suspension. It's almost like a loose washer noise or something. Tough to describe. Just wondering if anyone of the 100's that have done the lift themselves have experienced any similar problems after the lift. Thanks.
 
Just installed my lift last weekend and there is a faint clicking/loose noise when i go over bumps that i didn't hear from stock suspension. It's almost like a loose washer noise or something. Tough to describe. Just wondering if anyone of the 100's that have done the lift themselves have experienced any similar problems after the lift. Thanks.

Where is it coming from (front or rear)? Is it a light click or more of a clunk?
 
The main thing that came to mind is the sway bar end links, but I'd expect those to be a solid clunk. You may want to check and make sure there is no contact between the sway bar and shock/coil. Can you tell if it is from only one side or both?
 
The main thing that came to mind is the sway bar end links, but I'd expect those to be a solid clunk. You may want to check and make sure there is no contact between the sway bar and shock/coil. Can you tell if it is from only one side or both?

Can't tell which side, I'll do some more digging this weekend and maybe put one side on ramps to get some flex and take a look. I'll let you know what I come up with.
 
Spacer lift options?

Just bought an '06 4runner, V6 sport edition, all stock (it's the wife's ride actually). It's only got 65k miles, and the only thing it needs is some new tires; the Coopers on it now have a little tread left but they are very LOUD. So I want to get new tires, but am also considering a lift at the same time. I think eventually I will go to an OME/Superflex or similar setup, but for now I only want to do something minor mainly to improve looks. I plan to avoid any serious 4-wheeling for awhile (we have a '98 runner for that :heh: ). I've been reading through pages and pages of posts, but hope that Ark or someone else could lend some advice, so here's what I'm wanting to do:

1. Preserve XREAS for now, we really love the way the runner rides.
2. Jump up one tire size to 265/70R17.
3. Correct some of the factory rake. To me, I prefer the roof line and running boards to be level, not necessarily having the wheel wells level with the tires, although that isn't terrible.
4. Want to keep it relatively cheap, including doing the install myself if possible.

Based on these criteria, I am obviously considering a spacer lift. I seriously considered the Daystar 2.5/1.5 kit, but I worry it may be a little too much lift (most seem to get 3" in the front), and I also have concerns about the design being a 100% topmount with that much lift, based on what I have read here and elsewhere. Seems like that would put undue strain on the CV axles. Also, the DS 2.5/1.5 looks ok, but it seems slightly nose-high to me. Having said that, I do like the idea of a top-mount installation, I think I could do that myself w/ the XREAS system, even though I've never done it before.

The first question I am wondering is if the Daystar 1" budget boost on the front (KT09117BK), combined with the 1.5" rear kit (KT09118BK) would do what I need it to do? Would this actually lift the front 2", and the rear 1.5"? What effect would this have on the factory rake? And it looks like the front is a top-mount install, so I could tackle that myself.

Or, are there spacer kits from other manufacturers I should consider? Or maybe some other options I am missing?

Of course, any other tips or recommendations are greatly appreciated! This is an awesome thread!!
 
Just bought an '06 4runner, V6 sport edition, all stock (it's the wife's ride actually). It's only got 65k miles, and the only thing it needs is some new tires; the Coopers on it now have a little tread left but they are very LOUD. So I want to get new tires, but am also considering a lift at the same time. I think eventually I will go to an OME/Superflex or similar setup, but for now I only want to do something minor mainly to improve looks. I plan to avoid any serious 4-wheeling for awhile (we have a '98 runner for that :heh: ). I've been reading through pages and pages of posts, but hope that Ark or someone else could lend some advice, so here's what I'm wanting to do:

1. Preserve XREAS for now, we really love the way the runner rides.
2. Jump up one tire size to 265/70R17.
3. Correct some of the factory rake. To me, I prefer the roof line and running boards to be level, not necessarily having the wheel wells level with the tires, although that isn't terrible.
4. Want to keep it relatively cheap, including doing the install myself if possible.

Based on these criteria, I am obviously considering a spacer lift. I seriously considered the Daystar 2.5/1.5 kit, but I worry it may be a little too much lift (most seem to get 3" in the front), and I also have concerns about the design being a 100% topmount with that much lift, based on what I have read here and elsewhere. Seems like that would put undue strain on the CV axles. Also, the DS 2.5/1.5 looks ok, but it seems slightly nose-high to me. Having said that, I do like the idea of a top-mount installation, I think I could do that myself w/ the XREAS system, even though I've never done it before.

The first question I am wondering is if the Daystar 1" budget boost on the front (KT09117BK), combined with the 1.5" rear kit (KT09118BK) would do what I need it to do? Would this actually lift the front 2", and the rear 1.5"? What effect would this have on the factory rake? And it looks like the front is a top-mount install, so I could tackle that myself.

Or, are there spacer kits from other manufacturers I should consider? Or maybe some other options I am missing?

Of course, any other tips or recommendations are greatly appreciated! This is an awesome thread!!

Too much of a topout spacer can cause over-extension of the shock. If it's a street driven truck, it should never be an issue. I think either the 2.5/1.5 kit or the budget boost front, 1.5 rear would work well for you. If you don't like the 2.5/1.5 kit only because it's all topout, you can still purchase the old design kit that uses a preload and topout spacer from Wheeler's Off Road.

Daystar Lift Kits for Toyota 4Runner -Wheeler's Off-Road, Inc-

It's your call whether you want to lift 2" front, 1.5" rear or 2.5" front, 1.5" rear. Either would work, I like the 2.5/1.5 setup the best, but people have used both.
 
If I have a stock 07 V8 Sport x/Xreas and I want to keep XREAS and get a little bit of lift overall and removal of some, but not all, of the rake, does it make sense to get a spacer kit that is either.....

1" front, 1" back - giving me 2" front and 1" back

or

1.5" front, 1.5" back - giving me 3" front and 1.5" back

....and so on depending on what I want.

Does this makes sense as I'm a total novice and don't understand all the terminology but read this thread?

I want something modest but noticeable.
 
It does make sense JohnnyT, I think most would recommend going with the Daystar 2.5/1.5 spacer lift for a nice even look (little rake left) and some lift with no downsides and it's cheap. But there are tons of avenues to take to get to the same spot. Like I am doing the Bilstein 5100 shocks that adjust in the front set on 2.5" lift, FJ Cruiser coils front and back, and the Daystar 1.5" spacer, for about 3/2 in lift. But, I am yanking out the XREAS to do this, which is why the Daystar method is I think maybe the best thing for you since you want to keep it intact. I think though, that by adding good shocks like the Bilsteins, better springs from the FJ Cruiser, and installing new sway bar poly bushings I will not miss XREAS as bad as I might by doing other routes. I just went through all this in the last 2 weeks with XREAS so I thought I would share my path to the combo I picked.
 

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