Binding Issues Regarding Lifts

[Thirty4]

Binding Issues Regarding Lifts- HELP PLEASE

Hey everyone - I have a more specific or surgical question regarding lifts for the 5th Gen 4Runners. Please don't jump all over me for asking the following question as I did read as much as I could, but I need clarity for peace of mind. The lift that I would be interested in is the Toytec Ultimate with UCA's. So, my question is, does this particular lift at all lead to or contribute to binding issues? My concern is binding, which I am not very familiar with. I lifted my FJ with the Icon package with UCA'a and never took into account the possible side affect of binding. I wouldn't even know if it was actually occurring.

Take into context that I will only be off roading moderately. No massive or even large rock crawling. Small to medium at best. The clearance would be for other things like streams, moderate climbing, holes, ruts, mud, etc.

I am looking forward to everyone's knowledge and responses. In short, will the Toytec lift I am considering bind? Note, it does include relocating the diff and sway bar.

Thank you!!! I am veteran of the FJ world and ABSOLUTELY looking forward to modding the 4Runner. It better suits me at this stage in life. :biggrin2::biggrin2:

 

[Jetboy]

It's hard to say without knowing what type of binding you're referring to. I suspect you're thinking about reaching the limits of the upper ball joint. That is typically what will limit your down travel with OEM a-arms. The replacement UCAs should give you enough range of motion in that component that you will bottom out your shock in the coilover first. Pretty much every aftermarket shock should have a rubber bumper internally at the end of the travel. So you should not have any issues with your front suspension "binding". The rear generally also is limited in down travel by the shocks. I don't think you'll find any rear binding at the limits with that kit. You may if you put long travel shocks on (longer than just the normal lift kit shocks).

I've never found any binding in my system with OEM UCAs. I currently have Fox 2.5 Factory series front coilovers and Fox Performance series rear shocks (extended length), and as of Monday I also have my OEM coils in the rear. For the last year or so I've run full airbag rear suspension where I could adjust the rear ride height anywhere from -1" to all the way up to max out the shock travel, maybe +8" of lift? The shocks remained the limiting factor for rear suspension travel.

Also - skip the Diff drop. It is unnecessary and may even lead to driveline vibration in the front drive shaft.

 

[RonJR]

"Binding" is more likely with a tophat spacer (Daystar, etc.) than with a coil-over style lift. The reason is that the spacer simply moves the whole shock down, so the down travel is now somewhat excessive and can lead to UCA ball-joint binding and/or inner CV joint binding. The outer CV joint isn't a problem, since it's already designed to handle 30 degree steering angles.

The standard Daystar "2.5 inch" spacer lift actually comes closer to being a 3" lift, at least it did on my installation, and the inner CV joints would lock up at full droop. I took the spacer over to the band saw and thinned it down to give a 2.5" lift like I ordered, and now everything works just fine.

Keep in mind that, as long as your sway bar is still in place, your suspension likely won't ever achieve full droop while driving, simply because the sway bar will limit the difference in travel between the two sides. (Obviously, if one front wheel is off the ground, the other one is bearing all the weight and is at full compression. That compression transfers through the sway bar to limit the droop of the lifted wheel.)

 

[Thirty4]

Thank you guys very much for your detailed replies. This type of infomration really helps!! I have already been through a lift process and I am learning so much more in your replies than I did the first time. I just went in blind before, which is generally something that I do not do. I did more research for my winch than I did the suspension. I know, screwed up right! I just trusted that information from the vendor and went for it. So, thanks again as this type of detail provides clarity for me. I just don't want to push the warranty aspect too much in this case.