Advice on Spacers and Lifting a 3rd Gen

[JohnLocker]

Hello Everyone I am new to the forum this is my first post and I am happy to be a part of the forum. I currently have a 2001 SR5. It's OEM everything the only thing that's aftermarket is my roof rack I added to it. This is my first car. I have always liked cars since I was young and now that I have one I would like to make it my own and express myself via my truck. So first things first I want to say I don't know anything or I should say I don't know much about Trucks and offroading and all that. What I plan on doing with my 4runner is giving it a lift kit I just want it to be a little higher and then add some spacers to make it look wider than it already is. I don't plan on offroading I live in Southern California so I just rather give it a mean, aggressive look to its whole body. As someone that doesn't know much about parts such as Spacers, Coils, Springs, the basic parts of lifting a vehicle what would you recommend to me and what would work for my 4Runner? My preferred price is below 1k if it has to be around 1k then that's fine. I also want to note that I will be buying new tires soon and I do want to get custom rims so I am unsure if that will affect my lift kit.

Please if possible leave links anyways Thank you


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[spartacus]

Hello Everyone I am new to the forum this is my first post and I am happy to be a part of the forum. I currently have a 2001 SR5. It's OEM everything the only thing that's aftermarket is my roof rack I added to it. This is my first car. I have always liked cars since I was young and now that I have one I would like to make it my own and express myself via my truck. So first things first I want to say I don't know anything or I should say I don't know much about Trucks and offroading and all that. What I plan on doing with my 4runner is giving it a lift kit I just want it to be a little higher and then add some spacers to make it look wider than it already is. I don't plan on offroading I live in Southern California so I just rather give it a mean, aggressive look to its whole body. As someone that doesn't know much about parts such as Spacers, Coils, Springs, the basic parts of lifting a vehicle what would you recommend to me and what would work for my 4Runner? My preferred price is below 1k if it has to be around 1k then that's fine. I also want to note that I will be buying new tires soon and I do want to get custom rims so I am unsure if that will affect my lift kit.

Please if possible leave links anyways Thank you


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Welcome to the forum. How much lift. In your price range bilstein 5100 with ome 881 up front or use the front springs currently on the runner and notch it up on the shock you can go up to 2.3 inches. Rear 5100 with 906 will net you a 2 inch. There are other options that will raise it higher. if you go higher then 2 inches then add the diff drop kit. Also if you go with bigger tires and wheels get the correct offset and may want a tundra brake upgrade.
You want to start reading here.
3rd Gen 4Runner Lift Information and FAQ's

 

[JohnLocker]

Welcome to the forum. How much lift. In your price range bilstein 5100 with ome 881 up front or use the front springs currently on the runner and notch it up on the shock you can go up to 2.3 inches. Rear 5100 with 906 will net you a 2 inch. There are other options that will raise it higher. if you go higher then 2 inches then add the diff drop kit. Also if you go with bigger tires and wheels get the correct offset and may want a tundra brake upgrade.
You want to start reading here.
3rd Gen 4Runner Lift Information and FAQ's

I'm looking for about 2 inches of lift right now. And the tundra brake upgrades gotcha thanks for that. I just don't know what parts will fit or not. EDIT: That Link helped acutally thank you


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[spartacus]

I'm looking for about 2 inches of lift right now. And the tundra brake upgrades gotcha thanks for that. I just don't know what parts will fit or not.


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Toyota Suspension Lift Kits, Parts & Accessories - Toytec Lifts good vendor here. shop with vehicle input.

Go to Bilstein 5100 Complete Set | 3rd Gen 4Runner. put your vehicle information and it will give you options. They are also a vendor here so look at vendors and they might have black Friday discount code for forum members. you can also call em.

 

[JohnLocker]

Toyota Suspension Lift Kits, Parts & Accessories - Toytec Lifts good vendor here. shop with vehicle input.

Go to Bilstein 5100 Complete Set | 3rd Gen 4Runner. put your vehicle information and it will give you options. They are also a vendor here so look at vendors and they might have black Friday discount code for forum members. you can also call em.

Ah cool thank you


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[JohnLocker]

Toyota Suspension Lift Kits, Parts & Accessories - Toytec Lifts good vendor here. shop with vehicle input.

Go to Bilstein 5100 Complete Set | 3rd Gen 4Runner. put your vehicle information and it will give you options. They are also a vendor here so look at vendors and they might have black Friday discount code for forum members. you can also call em.

I feel like I'm asking a stupid question but can I add non adjustable coilovers and spacers so my 4runner can be lifted and have a wide stance to it.


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[JohnLocker]

Welcome to the forum. How much lift. In your price range bilstein 5100 with ome 881 up front or use the front springs currently on the runner and notch it up on the shock you can go up to 2.3 inches. Rear 5100 with 906 will net you a 2 inch. There are other options that will raise it higher. if you go higher then 2 inches then add the diff drop kit. Also if you go with bigger tires and wheels get the correct offset and may want a tundra brake upgrade.
You want to start reading here.
3rd Gen 4Runner Lift Information and FAQ's

You mentioned the 5100 Bilstein and for OME I couldn't find any 881 sized that will work for my vehicle and for these shocks. So I looked at those Toytec front coil lift springs. I don't know if they will work. I dont know what to do.

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[spartacus]

You mentioned the 5100 Bilstein and for OME I couldn't find any 881 sized that will work for my vehicle and for these shocks. So I looked at those Toytec front coil lift springs. I don't know if they will work. I dont know what to do.


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Take a minute. Making mods to your truck should be fun.
Here is another link.
1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner Lift Kits, Shocks - Bilstein, Radflo, ICON, RCD.
I suggest you call or email some of the vendors I linked to earlier and talk to them. They will steer you in the right direction. Toytec, total automotive have good customer service.
Also go to the 3rd Gen section and browse through the build threads lots of pics and info from members.
If'you would have posted in the 3rd Gen 4runner section you would have gotten a better response.

 

[JohnLocker]

Take a minute. Making mods to your truck should be fun.
Here is another link.
1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner Lift Kits, Shocks - Bilstein, Radflo, ICON, RCD.
I suggest you call or email some of the vendors I linked to earlier and talk to them. They will steer you in the right direction. Toytec, total automotive have good customer service.
Also go to the 3rd Gen section and browse through the build threads lots of pics and info from members.
If'you would have posted in the 3rd Gen 4runner section you would have gotten a better response.

can I still post this in the 3rd gen section and thank you


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[Keros]

Hello Everyone I am new to the forum this is my first post and I am happy to be a part of the forum. I currently have a 2001 SR5. It's OEM everything the only thing that's aftermarket is my roof rack I added to it. This is my first car. I have always liked cars since I was young and now that I have one I would like to make it my own and express myself via my truck. So first things first I want to say I don't know anything or I should say I don't know much about Trucks and offroading and all that. What I plan on doing with my 4runner is giving it a lift kit I just want it to be a little higher and then add some spacers to make it look wider than it already is. I don't plan on offroading I live in Southern California so I just rather give it a mean, aggressive look to its whole body. As someone that doesn't know much about parts such as Spacers, Coils, Springs, the basic parts of lifting a vehicle what would you recommend to me and what would work for my 4Runner? My preferred price is below 1k if it has to be around 1k then that's fine. I also want to note that I will be buying new tires soon and I do want to get custom rims so I am unsure if that will affect my lift kit.

Please if possible leave links anyways Thank you


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Terminology about spacers:

Wheel spacers are a plate, essentially a washer, that fits between the wheel and hub, effectively decreasing the offset of the wheel. A +30 offset wheel becomes a +15 offset with a 15mm spacer. They utilize the vehicle's existing wheel studs.

Wheel adapters have a second set of studs mounted in them (see spyder trax). So the adapter is bolted to the hub, the wheel is bolted to the adapter. Same idea and result as the wheel spacer but alot beefier and significantly more expensive.

My own opinion: Spacers are just a no-go. For the trouble of a 5-10mm difference, it doesn't seem worth the hassle. Tire shops can and will refuse to install them back on after messing with your stuff. You may have to/want to install longer wheel studs to use spacers and make sure you have enough thread engagement. It seems to me to be a lot of hassle and safety concern to install a $15 part that your life relies on... and other road users as well.

Having a set of spider trax adapters on my ex's 3rd gen, they're a good ol' pain in the ass. For the cost of the adapters, the hassle of installing them (& maintaining them), we should have just gotten the wheels with the offset we wanted and sold the OEM style wheels we were going to use. Net cost would have been the same for a fraction of the hassle.

But once the spider trax adapters are on, they're good to go. Dudes bounce their rigs off rocks with 44" super swampers with spidertrax spacers and they hold up. Some NASA guy on a Jeep forum did an finite element analysis on his spacers and determined the adapter is stronger than the OEM Jeep wheel.

In any case, I'd strongly recommend to get the wheels you want with the offset you want and go straight to that. Unless you get a smoking deal on some spidertrax, it's really not worth the cost/hassle.

 

[JohnLocker]

Terminology about spacers:

Wheel spacers are a plate, essentially a washer, that fits between the wheel and hub, effectively decreasing the offset of the wheel. A +30 offset wheel becomes a +15 offset with a 15mm spacer. They utilize the vehicle's existing wheel studs.

Wheel adapters have a second set of studs mounted in them (see spyder trax). So the adapter is bolted to the hub, the wheel is bolted to the adapter. Same idea and result as the wheel spacer but alot beefier and significantly more expensive.

My own opinion: Spacers are just a no-go. For the trouble of a 5-10mm difference, it doesn't seem worth the hassle. Tire shops can and will refuse to install them back on after messing with your stuff. You may have to/want to install longer wheel studs to use spacers and make sure you have enough thread engagement. It seems to me to be a lot of hassle and safety concern to install a $15 part that your life relies on... and other road users as well.

Having a set of spider trax adapters on my ex's 3rd gen, they're a good ol' pain in the ass. For the cost of the adapters, the hassle of installing them (& maintaining them), we should have just gotten the wheels with the offset we wanted and sold the OEM style wheels we were going to use. Net cost would have been the same for a fraction of the hassle.

But once the spider trax adapters are on, they're good to go. Dudes bounce their rigs off rocks with 44" super swampers with spidertrax spacers and they hold up. Some NASA guy on a Jeep forum did an finite element analysis on his spacers and determined the adapter is stronger than the OEM Jeep wheel.

In any case, I'd strongly recommend to get the wheels you want with the offset you want and go straight to that. Unless you get a smoking deal on some spidertrax, it's really not worth the cost/hassle.

alright, thank you for the information. I just want to mention I don't know much about anything when it comes to this kinda of stuff. In a few months, I am going to be going to school to be studying car mechanics. My problem is that I don't want to buy a $1,000 part and then have it ruin my suspension, whether it be by sagging, or it being too stiff, etc. When you mentioned spacers are a no-go it made me think how else can I extend my wheels outward. I am not going to be Off-roading. I just want to make my 4Runner mean, aggressive, and bad to the bone. So I have other questions what if I didn't lift it and just added spacers or those wheel adapters? Or add a lift kit, Spacers/wheel adapters what should I look for, be aware of, what specific parts will I need? I will most likely be keeping the same tires 225/75/R15 But with some custom wheels. The reason is that the tires on my 4Runner right now are cracking so I need tires as soon as possible.


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[Keros]

alright, thank you for the information. I just want to mention I don't know much about anything when it comes to this kinda of stuff. In a few months, I am going to be going to school to be studying car mechanics. My problem is that I don't want to buy a $1,000 part and then have it ruin my suspension, whether it be by sagging, or it being too stiff, etc. When you mentioned spacers are a no-go it made me think how else can I extend my wheels outward. I am not going to be Off-roading. I just want to make my 4Runner mean, aggressive, and bad to the bone. So I have other questions what if I didn't lift it and just added spacers or those wheel adapters? Or add a lift kit, Spacers/wheel adapters what should I look for, be aware of, what specific parts will I need? I will most likely be keeping the same tires 225/75/R15 But with some custom wheels. The reason is that the tires on my 4Runner right now are cracking so I need tires as soon as possible.


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I forget that everything is cheaper in the states. I spent $400 getting spider trax spacers here in Canada. And then put those on wheels worth $400... But then I recently bought a set of wheels, with the same offset that assembly would have, for $800. Which is what I mean... it really wasn't worth it.

Looks like they're not too bad on cost, two sets would be $260 USD
1996-Present 4Runner

My position on wheel adapters is SpiderTrax or bust. There's no evidence of anyone ever breaking a Spidertrax adapter via abuse... everyone that's had a problem, it was traced to installation error.

Wheel spacers is something I'm not willing to install on my truck. Others do it, sure. There's plenty of outfits that make them. But if I'm not willing to install it on my stuff, I'm gonna be clear about that. It's entirely an opinion, right or wrong.

Regardless, lower (more aggressive) offsets will wear out wheel bearings faster by putting more leverage on them (the center of the wheel is further from the hub) and cause some strange handling by modifying the scrub radius. Among other things. Nothing serious though. It's not gonna disintegrate bearings... they just won't last quite as long... I put on my 18x9 wheels and had to do both front wheel bearings within a year...

I don't want to be a buzzkill, but I'm not sure how much better 225/75R15's are going to get by getting more poke with lower offsets. You might be more satisfied to pick up a set of stock 16's, split spoke wheels with 265/70R16, or upsize to 265/75R16. Chances are some 3rd gen dudes are unloading their stock kits for cheap... you could get a set of take-offs and have a cheap upgrade and fix all your problems in one swoop.

I think the bare-body 3rd gen trucks had a nice offset with the OEM wheels. The "sunk-in" look is much more prominant on the body-clad limited models. Looks like yours has the bare wheel arches, so OEM offsets will look baller with the 16" OEM size and 265/70R16 tires.

 

[JohnLocker]

I forget that everything is cheaper in the states. I spent $400 getting spider trax spacers here in Canada. And then put those on wheels worth $400... But then I recently bought a set of wheels, with the same offset that assembly would have, for $800. Which is what I mean... it really wasn't worth it.

Looks like they're not too bad on cost, two sets would be $260 USD
1996-Present 4Runner

My position on wheel adapters is SpiderTrax or bust. There's no evidence of anyone ever breaking a Spidertrax adapter via abuse... everyone that's had a problem, it was traced to installation error.

Wheel spacers is something I'm not willing to install on my truck. Others do it, sure. There's plenty of outfits that make them. But if I'm not willing to install it on my stuff, I'm gonna be clear about that. It's entirely an opinion, right or wrong.

Regardless, lower (more aggressive) offsets will wear out wheel bearings faster by putting more leverage on them (the center of the wheel is further from the hub) and cause some strange handling by modifying the scrub radius. Among other things. Nothing serious though. It's not gonna disintegrate bearings... they just won't last quite as long... I put on my 18x9 wheels and had to do both front wheel bearings within a year...

I don't want to be a buzzkill, but I'm not sure how much better 225/75R15's are going to get by getting more poke with lower offsets. You might be more satisfied to pick up a set of stock 16's, split spoke wheels with 265/70R16, or upsize to 265/75R16. Chances are some 3rd gen dudes are unloading their stock kits for cheap... you could get a set of take-offs and have a cheap upgrade and fix all your problems in one swoop.

I think the bare-body 3rd gen trucks had a nice offset with the OEM wheels. The "sunk-in" look is much more prominant on the body-clad limited models. Looks like yours has the bare wheel arches, so OEM offsets will look baller with the 16" OEM size and 265/70R16 tires.

this is currently my 4runner if I go with 265/70R16 will this put stress and ruin my suspension from going to a bigger tire size and rim size? And will it be scrapping and rubbing against my fenders and axles?


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[Keros]

this is currently my 4runner if I go with 265/70R16 will this put stress and ruin my suspension from going to a bigger tire size and rim size? And will it be scrapping and rubbing against my fenders and axles?


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If you get a set of 16x7 factory split-spoke wheels (looks like yours, but 16" dia), you'd be fine to run 265/70R16. That's the OEM designed tire size for those wheels. The offset is the same as what you have now... it just mounts a wider tire as the factory spec.

If you choose to go with adapters, spacers, or aftermarket wheels, there's no guarantee that it'll all fit without rubbing. Rubbing on the axles isn't likely... if you're going into crazy widths (like a 285+), it might have problems with the upper control arm.

Regardless, a tape measure is your friend.
Rim & Tire Size Calculator. Custom Offsets - Wheel-Size.com
Wheel Offset Calculator | 1010Tires.com Discount Online Tire and Wheel Store
Wheel Offset Calculator
ReadyLIFT | ReadyLIFT Tire Wheel Sizing Guide
Wheel Fitment Calculator | Find Your Fitment | Fitment Industries

You can measure your known installation and compare that to what you're planning and determine if it'll fit.

 

[JohnLocker]

Ok i will go up a size and see what happens thank you


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