Bob's build

[bob3dsf]

Some initial pics.

FJ springs

Just need to get a 1.5" spring spacer for the rear springs and will have pretty much what I need minus the time to install (the hardest part). Not looking to do anything crazy. Gonna go 1.75 on the fronts and plan on getting some 265/70/17's when it's time for new shoes.

Anyone have alternate suggestions for tires? Would 275's cause a problem with stock UCA's (rubbing)? I'm not trying to go nuts and I don't want to fry my wheel bearings.

Also eventually gonna go for a Whitson Metalworks roof rack. Very nice!

Anyway, will post again when I can get to this thing....

Cheers!

 

[Morphyne]

Stick with your original plan. You are likely to rub.

 

[bob3dsf]

Roger that...

 

[S p a r k y]

Roger that...

Many of us have gone through this setup and kept going or have came back.

Including a recent [MENTION=92586]fulltiltboogie[/MENTION] he went with 1.75" and is now going to take back out and go 2.5" with a rear 1.5".

I had a slightly different in front before with 2" front and 1.5" rear and the rake was 1.75" difference front to back.

What I am trying to say is, I would go 2.5" front with the FJ and 1.5" rear spacer with FJ's and you will be perfect sitting with roughly a 1" rake between front and rear

As far as the 275/265 debate. Rubbing UCA's shouldn't be an issue at all. Now if you are going to run spidertrax or some other type of wheel adapter to widen the stance, you are going to have to do a little modding, fender liner etc. But it will not be drastic, very easy.

If you are not going to run adapters, then 275's should work, if anything just some slight fender liner moving etc.

Do not be afraid of moving the liner, my 9 year old did most of it, as I directed.

To find 4runners with 275 etc, I always went to Google, typed 275/70/17 4runner, then clicked on images, you can see what people have done.

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Happy to hear I could be a part of your build! Looking forward to pics after your lift!

 

[bob3dsf]

Many of us have gone through this setup and kept going or have came back.

Including a recent [MENTION=92586]fulltiltboogie[/MENTION] he went with 1.75" and is now going to take back out and go 2.5" with a rear 1.5".

I had a slightly different in front before with 2" front and 1.5" rear and the rake was 1.75" difference front to back.

What I am trying to say is, I would go 2.5" front with the FJ and 1.5" rear spacer with FJ's and you will be perfect sitting with roughly a 1" rake between front and rear

As far as the 275/265 debate. Rubbing UCA's shouldn't be an issue at all. Now if you are going to run spidertrax or some other type of wheel adapter to widen the stance, you are going to have to do a little modding, fender liner etc. But it will not be drastic, very easy.

If you are not going to run adapters, then 275's should work, if anything just some slight fender liner moving etc.

Do not be afraid of moving the liner, my 9 year old did most of it, as I directed.

To find 4runners with 275 etc, I always went to Google, typed 275/70/17 4runner, then clicked on images, you can see what people have done.

Hmmm... Ok, thanks for the perspective. Another reason I was going to go 1.75" on the 5100's was worry about CV angles. I'll have to look back through some threads because I forget now what I had found out. Someone posted a pic of the CV's with the 1.75 setting and I think they were straight with pretty much 0 angle. I had read about scooting up the liner in the fender well, very easy indeed. I guess I'll start researching 175/70/17 prices, maybe I can get a deal if I buy 5 since I need to get the spare too. And no, I do not plan on using spacers/adapters.

 

[bob3dsf]

Happy to hear I could be a part of your build! Looking forward to pics after your lift!

Absolutely! Your rack looks like a rock solid product. I'll definitely be contacting you in the future, the 'when' is the hard part...

 

[fulltiltboogie]

Hmmm... Ok, thanks for the perspective. Another reason I was going to go 1.75" on the 5100's was worry about CV angles. I'll have to look back through some threads because I forget now what I had found out. Someone posted a pic of the CV's with the 1.75 setting and I think they were straight with pretty much 0 angle. I had read about scooting up the liner in the fender well, very easy indeed. I guess I'll start researching 175/70/17 prices, maybe I can get a deal if I buy 5 since I need to get the spare too. And no, I do not plan on using spacers/adapters.

I'd go straight to 2.5 on the 5100's. The only reason I didn't from the beginning was because I was concerned about the possible reduced travel in the shock (and I got a killer deal on the FJ's). At this point I don't think going to 2.5 from the start would've really mattered much as far as travel goes. I REALLY wanted to run 275's with my set up and I saw a stock 4th Gen on Google that SAYS he's running 275's stock height w/o rubbing, but after installing my SCS wheels and 265's I don't think 275's are possible at stock height. Definitely not possible with 5100's set at 1.75. I moved my liners, but I still get a tiny bit of rubbing backing out of my driveway. Honestly, I'll probably ditch the 5100's and FJ's and go with coilovers and new springs in the rear just so I know I'll have enough clearance for these 265's.

There are a handful of tires to choose from in a 275. Most of them are 10ply which would likely give you a harsher ride. Availability is limited on 275's in any style or brand, so blowing a tire and finding a replacement would suck. GoodYear discontinued their Silent Armor in a 275. Cooper and Hankook are the only 6ply A/T tires in a 275 I could find. And availability in either was limited.

Keep us posted on your results...

 

[bob3dsf]

I'd go straight to 2.5 on the 5100's. The only reason I didn't from the beginning was because I was concerned about the possible reduced travel in the shock (and I got a killer deal on the FJ's). At this point I don't think going to 2.5 from the start would've really mattered much as far as travel goes. I REALLY wanted to run 275's with my set up and I saw a stock 4th Gen on Google that SAYS he's running 275's stock height w/o rubbing, but after installing my SCS wheels and 265's I don't think 275's are possible at stock height. Definitely not possible with 5100's set at 1.75. I moved my liners, but I still get a tiny bit of rubbing backing out of my driveway. Honestly, I'll probably ditch the 5100's and FJ's and go with coilovers and new springs in the rear just so I know I'll have enough clearance for these 265's.

There are a handful of tires to choose from in a 275. Most of them are 10ply which would likely give you a harsher ride. Availability is limited on 275's in any style or brand, so blowing a tire and finding a replacement would suck. GoodYear discontinued their Silent Armor in a 275. Cooper and Hankook are the only 6ply A/T tires in a 275 I could find. And availability in either was limited.

Keep us posted on your results...

Interesting, so how do I tell how many plies the tire is? Is that the difference between a P-metric and LT tire? Do your SCS wheels have different backspacing than stock, and causing the rubbing?

 

[dropspace]

I have FJ springs with 1.5" rear spacers and the fronts set at 1.75".

Contrary to some here, I like this setup. There is visible rake from the fenders but I feel like a bit of rake at the fenders is fine. The running board is less than 1/16" up in the back so its pretty close to level.

I also carry bikes alot on a hitch rack so I don't want to have negative rake when hauling them.

The shop that did my shocks also did the alignment. They have a pro front end specialist there that does great work. he told me that I was out of caster and he actually had to massage the settings to compensate. Surprised me a bit because others have gone to 2.5 setting with stock UCA's, but I trust this guy. He got it to work but he said there is no room for more lift. This is on a 4x4 V8 as well so a bit non-standard from what other people are running here. It may have to do with the fact that the springs are brand new, never installed?

I don't mind a bit of a rake and like the setup.

This is how mine sits (with hitch rack + 1 bike)

 

[theliman]

Hmmm... Ok, thanks for the perspective. Another reason I was going to go 1.75" on the 5100's was worry about CV angles. I'll have to look back through some threads because I forget now what I had found out. Someone posted a pic of the CV's with the 1.75 setting and I think they were straight with pretty much 0 angle. I had read about scooting up the liner in the fender well, very easy indeed. I guess I'll start researching 175/70/17 prices, maybe I can get a deal if I buy 5 since I need to get the spare too. And no, I do not plan on using spacers/adapters.

If money isn't a big factor, consider paying for Cornfed's 1" rear spacer. I did FJ/Bilstein (1.75 up front) with 1" in the back and I think it sits perfectly.

 

[bob3dsf]

I have FJ springs with 1.5" rear spacers and the fronts set at 1.75".

Contrary to some here, I like this setup. There is visible rake from the fenders but I feel like a bit of rake at the fenders is fine. The running board is less than 1/16" up in the back so its pretty close to level.

I also carry bikes alot on a hitch rack so I don't want to have negative rake when hauling them.

The shop that did my shocks also did the alignment. They have a pro front end specialist there that does great work. he told me that I was out of caster and he actually had to massage the settings to compensate. Surprised me a bit because others have gone to 2.5 setting with stock UCA's, but I trust this guy. He got it to work but he said there is no room for more lift. This is on a 4x4 V8 as well so a bit non-standard from what other people are running here. It may have to do with the fact that the springs are brand new, never installed?

I don't mind a bit of a rake and like the setup.

This is how mine sits (with hitch rack + 1 bike)

Cool. Thanks for your input. I had seen other setups with the 1.75 setting on the fronts and the 1.5" rear spacer. The caster adjustment was another reason I am probably going to go with my original plan. I do a good bit of highway driving to and from work so I want to maintain as much steering stability as possible. aftermarket UCA's are nowhere near my budget right now.

 

[bob3dsf]

If money isn't a big factor, consider paying for Cornfed's 1" rear spacer. I did FJ/Bilstein (1.75 up front) with 1" in the back and I think it sits perfectly.

How well did yours do with alignment parameters after the lift?

I'm beginning to learn that there can be fairly wide variability in how well techs can use their alignment machines (and all the features they offer) and experience in ways to manipulate the alignment adjustments (as well as how much "slop" they are willing to accept in either getting the adj. to dead-on spec or allow them to just be somewhere within the spec range).

 

[dropspace]

The guy that did my alignment is very good at what he does and spent quite a bit of time on mine after the lift. He ran out of caster just barely but was able to compensate to the point where he felt it was within acceptable tolerances.

A pep boys or firestone alignment job where they just adjust what the computer tells them to adjust is not always the best long term option. I doubt I would have had good results taking it to the cheaper places, at least in my case.

 

[theliman]

How well did yours do with alignment parameters after the lift?

I'm beginning to learn that there can be fairly wide variability in how well techs can use their alignment machines (and all the features they offer) and experience in ways to manipulate the alignment adjustments (as well as how much "slop" they are willing to accept in either getting the adj. to dead-on spec or allow them to just be somewhere within the spec range).

Not sure. Went with a Firestone lifetime one for the reason you mentioned - if it looks way off, I can go to another location and try again. Here are the results, not really sure how to interpret them but I think it's ok.

 

[oljedi11950]

I'm at 2.5 & no worries , lil rub backing out of the driveway when I hit the gutter . Align is good