bilteins on 3rd gen 4runner

[lee]

Re: Lee's setup, part 2

Lee, I found a reply in an older thread from you, stating that you have absolutely no rubbing with the tires. Great. New concerns: (1) With the one inch lift springs and larger tires, are there any other mods needed, like chassis drops or brake line extensions, or steering shaft extensions, etc.?

Nope! no other mods required at all. tires do not rub one bit and shouldnt even at stock height.

Originally posted by RockyMtRunner
(2) The Bilstein HD shocks listed for my 2000 4Runner 4WD on the Perfomrance Product site are for "original height." Did you use Bilstein HD's for the "original height" listing for your 2001 Runner, or is there a better choice? Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

i bought mine off ebay (they were cheaper). i got the stock-height HD ones, yes. You only need long travel shocks for higher lifts like 3"+... thats what my research turned up at least.

Originally posted by RockyMtRunner
Your Runner rocks, but I gotta ask you one more thing. I can't afford changes that just "look great." I need performance. I'm used to going anywhere and everywhere on Colorado's Jeep trails in my original but reliable '95 Tacoma, which I just sold with 168K miles. I would like to beef up my newly purchased 2000 4Runner to equal or better the Tacoma's trail ability. Will your PP 1" lift, Bil shocks, and 265/75R16 Goodyear's give significantly better rock and rutt performance, or do I need to go for heftier mods or maybe even back to a Tacoma? Right now my pudgy, original Runner with 108K rides more like a Buick than my good old Tacoma, even though a Runner is supposed to be somewhat similar to a Tacoma. Can you give me some encouragement? The SUV concept is much more useful to my dog and me than the truck bed, and that's why I went to a 4Runner.

i have seen some pretty rough crap in my time since the lift. ill link some picture galleries for you below of stuff ive seen and how dirty my truck gets.

as with anything, you have to make the choice yourself. ive climbed over obstacles in deep fear thinking i couldnt do so, but have come out relatively unscathed and proud of my runner for doing its job.

stock runners can do amazing things, so a small lift, tough shocks and good tires go a long way. its my opinion that 4runners are underestimated by their owners a lot. we have a couple of stock runners in our NE4ROC group that have tackled a lot of tough obstacles. wheel smart and youll be OK.

here are some galleries that i hope will help you make a choice:

http://kidmoe.com/4runner/goffstown/ - a stock runner and me
http://kidmoe.com/4runner/goffweare/ - two stock runners with me
http://www.ne4roc.org/album.html - this is the ne4roc album which has pics of several different trucks (stock, lifted, tacoma, 4runner) tackling all the same obstacles.

if you have more questions, let me know.

 

[mwc951]

This is the wife's "new" winter beater, next to her summer beater. I just installed PP 1" springs, Bilstein HD's & Michelin 265/75-16's.

Before

After

 

[RockyMtRunner]

Same lift for 2000 T4R?

Thanks, mwc951. Great pics. They really answer my questions well. I really like the look and the lift you got. Your mods seem just enough to help clearance without compromising emergency handling too much. Your wife's "winter" ride will get through some serious snow. I have two more questions for you: (1) With your 265/75R16's, do you have tire rubbing at any time, for example, while turning sharply and braking at the same time? (2) What year is your 4Runner? (The reason for the last question concerns something I read in another thread about the '99 and 2000 4Runners having springs with an extra coil that gives an extra inch right off the assembly line, an inch that the other 3rd generation T4R's didn't get. Since PP website lists the same one inch lift coils for all 3rd generation, would my 2000 4Runner have a new set of sweet yellow springs but no body lift? I emailed my question to PP but never got an answer.)

 

[mwc951]

Re: Same lift for 2000 T4R?

Like I said.....It's the Wife's winter beater!!!!

(1) With your 265/75R16's, do you have tire rubbing at any time, for example, while turning sharply and braking at the same time?
NO

(2) What year is your 4Runner? (The reason for the last question concerns something I read in another thread about the '99 and 2000 4Runners having springs with an extra coil that gives an extra inch right off the assembly line, an inch that the other 3rd generation T4R's didn't get. Since PP website lists the same one inch lift coils for all 3rd generation, would my 2000 4Runner have a new set of sweet yellow springs but no body lift? I emailed my question to PP but never got an answer.) [/B]

Mines a '98.....Maybe so.........Lee's late model sure looks sweet with a similar setup.

 

[rharout]

After lift: front is higher than back

just installed the bilsteins and performance products springs on my 1997 and the difference is amazing..

I kept the stock size tires.. becasue i heard the 75s are hard to keep balanced...

The only downside to the upgrade is that the front end of the truck looks much higher than the back now... and with the the lift, the tires look small.

Do you guys know of the front will settle over time? Or if I can put spacers or something in the rear to make it look proportiaonal?

this is the best money spnt on the truck so far.. can't wait to put it to real use!

Thanks for all you help everyone.. I'll try to take some snapshots an post em

Rich
1997 4Runner

 

[mwc951]

Yep......
the ass end seems to sag just a bit. Many guys use spacers in addition to springs......this must be the reason why.

 

[rharout]

spacers

any recommendations on spacers and where to get them?

 

[lee]

http://cornfedsuspension.com/

cornfed has tons of spacers in different sizes.

my rear and front ends are even, actually, so im surprised to hear this.

as for the question about whether 99s and 00s will see lift, id say they will. these are about 2" of lift (a smidge less), and your 99/00 springs have most likely settled a little bit. it may not be a huge lift, but if you wanted a lot, then you wouldnt go with these springs.

also, 70's and 75's have no inherent difference in balancing... its the brand and style of tire you choose that matters. my mt/r's have balance perfectly.

 

[bflooks]

okay, i have just read up on this thread, so here it goes...


lee's truck is done up enough to be a smidge better than stock. i am one of the stock 4runners in ne4roc, and i have tackled everything lee has (and a bit more ), but i need to use a bit more caution when clearing rocks and what not.

as for the years that had an extra coil in the springs...not aware of that. i know pat161 has a 2000, and i think i may actually sit about a half in higher than he does. if that helps at all.

and for a lift...
it all depends on what you want. these springs put you up about 1.5-1.75", plus and extra inch for the larger tires. the springs are about $369 for the whole set. you can get a daystar or revtek kit that lifts 3" with spacers in the front, and 2.5" in the rear with springs for about $350. it is all in what you are looking for.

i know that i want more than the pp springs give, so i am not going to bother. i will be getting one of the kits i just mentioned. just make sure you know what you want, and use the advice given to make your choice. just keep in mind, with the 3", you need the diff drop spacer as well. so, add $15-20 on top of the kits. i believe you can then add up to a 33" tire with the 3" lift. i would say up to 31" tires with the pp lift.

 

[mwc951]

I was considering 2" Downey springs, now I wish I had got them for front & rear.

 

[phishman9]

I thought I was set on getting the PP springs, but now that I see they throw you up almost 2", I'm not so sure. I don't think I'd mind 2", it just makes the tires look dinky. Since my 4Runner is unfortunately used 90% road, and the rest off, looks sometimes outweigh off-road capability. The 265x75s rub a tad on turns, so a little lift should get out of trouble.

I guess my question is if anyone knows of some springs or alternative setup that gives you a true 1". I'm probably being too picky and end up going with the PPs anyway....

 

[RockyMtRunner]

Reply to bflooks

Apprieciate your input, bflooks. I still want to do lee's modest mods, but I sure as heck don't want a saggy rear-end! I would really like to find out why lee's unit stands level and other folks are reporting the lower rear-end. When it comes to springs, are we comparing apples to apples? The springs I have been considering (lee's too?) are at: http://www.performanceproducts.com/...formance+Products+1+Inch+Lift+Springs&type=20

Could the shocks used with these springs account for the sag, or lack of it? Remember, Lee used Bilstein HD's. I contacted Performance Products and asked for a representative to read this thread and post a reply that might help us clarify what's going on. Hope they do it. It could get'em some business.

Lastly, regarding how much "lift" from higher profile tires, I found a good webpage: http://discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.dos

It seems that going from 265/70R16's to 265/75R16's will yield an increase in ground clearance for the entire unit (chassis and all) of 0.52 inches, not 1.04 inches. Only the tire profile, not profile X 2, will increase the ground clearance. Yes?

 

[lee]

I guess my question is if anyone knows of some springs or alternative setup that gives you a true 1". I'm probably being too picky and end up going with the PPs anyway....

cornfedsuspensions.com

1" spacers.

 

[lee]

i wouldnt count the tires as part of a lift.. its all pretty negligable.

as for the money, yea the springs are expensive. i wanted to go the route of new springs, and i can add cheaper spacers to go up even higher later on.

i dont like the idea of keeping stock springs, but thats just me. i wanted tougher, new, higher springs to begin with. but you dont have to do what i did of course.

whenever brian actually lifts, hopefully he can chime in with experience on how his kit worked out.

im gonna probably add a 2" spacer later on and do the whole diff drop thing etc.

this will give me a total lift of about 3 to 4" on all new suspension components, which makes ME feel better.

 

[bflooks]

i stand on corrected on the added lift by going to the 265/75 tires. my appologies.

as for a saggin rear...do you carry a some weight in the rear? and i am sure you have already mentioned this...but what year? as lee said, it probably just sagged a bit, but i don't see many 3rd gens (if that is what you have) with the sagging rear. i have about an 80 lbs sunb enclosure, but off-road gear in the back of my truck, and the truck does not sag. this is on a 98 runner with 140k on the odometer. still stock springs. i agree with lee about the ruggedness of the pp springs. please do not take what i said the wrong way. i am just saying that pp is not the only way to go. i am hoping to have the lift done this winter, and i will be more than happy to post up about it. hell, perhaps lee and i can tackle the same trail, and have one another ride along in each rig to get 2 opinions on the set ups.

as for the needed lift in the rear, you can get almost anything. toytec, daystar, revtek, cornfed, or even one of the "ebay specials" that will work to level your rig out.

 

[lee]

heck yea!

im actually psyched to see you do this setup so we can see what it does

man 3" of lift will put you UP THERE... should look really sweet.

 

[lee]

as for a saggin rear...do you carry a some weight in the rear? and i am sure you have already mentioned this...but what year? as lee said, it probably just sagged a bit, but i don't see many 3rd gens (if that is what you have) with the sagging rear. i have about an 80 lbs sunb enclosure, but off-road gear in the back of my truck, and the truck does not sag. this is on a 98 runner with 140k on the odometer. still stock springs.

brian makes a good point... some 3rd gens do sag but theyre the 96's and those which have had consistently large loads in the rear. do you have something really heavy back there?

brian has a lot in his trunk and his truck sits perfectly level.

im not sure why after changing to pp springs you wouldnt sit level, it makes no sense.

mine is perfectly even.

 

[phishman9]

cornfedsuspensions.com

1" spacers.

Yea, I was looking at those, and it's probably the best option for me. Still need to find some tougher standard springs, but the spacers will get me started nicely. Thanks for your help.

Anyone ever find any downsides to using spacers? I'm a bit of a tyro when it comes to suspensions.

 

[RockyMtRunner]

Larger tires and warning lights

My long-time mechanic Louis expressed a concern about going from the stock 265/70R16 tires to 265/75R16's. He feared the ABS light would come on due to the difference in wheel rotations from what the computer expected, and he thought the Check Engine light might come one due to the speedometer discrepancy. He thought computer reprogramming or new chips might be needed. Louis works at an independent shop. He is very honest and resourceful, and he took very good care of my '95 Tacoma. I plan to turn over my 2000 4Runner to him for regular maintenance and repairs. But he doesn't have a lot of experience with mods. Is he wrong about the trouble lights coming on? I told him about this forum and said I would ask you all.

Thanks in advance. I really appreciate this group. This thread might keep some of us newbies from spending a lot money on mods we would later regret.

 

[lee]

he is indeed wrong.

if anything, the speedometers are CURRENTLY off by 3mph. putting 265/75's will correct this. it did on mine.

no warning lights, the computer has no isses at all with this.