Body lift vs spacers...your take

[810moto]

Ok, I am in the process of narrowing down what I want to do but would like some good solid input before I make the move.

Body lift vs spacers. what works better and is easier to get done in a weekend. I have looked at the
Toyteck 1" body lift, 2.5" FRONT 1.5" REAR LIFT KITfrom Daystar
Cornfed spacers 3/2 & 2/1.
how much lift would i actaully get out of these kits and whats the best bang for the buck.

As it sits now, the front fender is 33" off the ground and the rear is at 36". I would like to level it out and maybe get an added inch in the rear.
Pros...cons....ideas?????
As always, thanks for your help and input.

 

[Shotty Johnson]

I did the front 1" spacer(2"lift) leveling kit to my 04 two weeks ago. It took me 2 hours and it was a piece of cake. I am looking for some FJC spings next, and some FJC wheels too.

 

[810moto]

what brand did you use and how does it ride? you are saying that a 1" spacer has given you 2" of lift on the front correct?

 

[BlairB]

Well what is your goal for lifting your truck? Just looks? Also, how much lift do you want? If you are wanting to get rid of the rake on your truck, a BL won't do it since it will lift it evenly. I would say start with a suspension lift, a body lift does not raise the underside of your truck at all, at least with a spacer lift you will have some more clearance under your skids and frame rails (not sure if you off road)

As for which is easier to install, I would probably say body lift.

I have a body lift, but only got it to fit bigger ties. My front fenders are 39.5/40 off the ground and rear fenders are 40/40.5.

 

[Merle]

Both? But I started with the spacer lift. There's more functional benefits with a spacer lift than a body lift (more ground clearance).

 

[810moto]

Well what is your goal for lifting your truck? Just looks? Also, how much lift do you want? If you are wanting to get rid of the rake on your truck, a BL won't do it since it will lift it evenly. I would say start with a suspension lift, a body lift does not raise the underside of your truck at all, at least with a spacer lift you will have some more clearance under your skids and frame rails (not sure if you off road)

As for which is easier to install, I would probably say body lift.

I have a body lift, but only got it to fit bigger ties. My front fenders are 39.5/40 off the ground and rear fenders are 40/40.5.

I would like to start with getting rid of that nasty rake but not sure what size spacers to get. I see your point on the body lift. What spacer kit did you prefer?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Measure the gap between the rear tire and bottom of the fender, then do the same on the front. Typically there will be about 2" difference. However, a 2" lift puts the running boards with an upwards slant towards the front. I chose a 1" spacer lift with FJ Cruiser front springs, this setup will give 1.5-2" of lift.

 

[Maz]

Well what is your goal for lifting your truck? Just looks? Also, how much lift do you want? If you are wanting to get rid of the rake on your truck, a BL won't do it since it will lift it evenly. I would say start with a suspension lift, a body lift does not raise the underside of your truck at all, at least with a spacer lift you will have some more clearance under your skids and frame rails (not sure if you off road)

As for which is easier to install, I would probably say body lift.

I have a body lift, but only got it to fit bigger ties. My front fenders are 39.5/40 off the ground and rear fenders are 40/40.5.

Question Blair, and anyone else please chime in. I want a lift not for looks, but to create more ground clearance. I've faithfully searched for and read lots of threads about lifts, and ended up genuinely confused about at least one thing. On the higher lifts at least, I read things about dropping down the diff? I assume they're talking about the differential, but what it this about? When you lift then drop something back down, that would seem to defeat the purpose to some extent.

Sorry if this question is too elementary, but I'm sort of lost here.

 

[martini]

One difference is that a body lift won't change your CV angles or other suspension components. To add a question here, are there any suspension lifts that will not change the CV angles (other than a lift then diff drop)? If not is the way to go to switch to aftermarket CV boots if you have problems after a lift?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Question Blair, and anyone else please chime in. I want a lift not for looks, but to create more ground clearance. I've faithfully searched for and read lots of threads about lifts, and ended up genuinely confused about at least one thing. On the higher lifts at least, I read things about dropping down the diff? I assume they're talking about the differential, but what it this about? When you lift then drop something back down, that would seem to defeat the purpose to some extent.

Sorry if this question is too elementary, but I'm sort of lost here.

Good answers can be found in this thread:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/61513-lift-requiring-more-alterations.html

 

[Maz]

Let me see if I'm reading that thread correctly. It is when you go over 3 inches that you have to start adjusting things. For example a Toytec Ultimate 3" lift package (which is one option I'm seriously considering) wouldn't require any changes to brake lines, differential, etc.

Is that correct?? Thanks again for the all the great help people offer here. It's hard to imagine being without it.

 

[810moto]

Ok, so lets just say i am going to get the daystar 2.5/1.5 lift. What will something like that run me $$$ wise? I really want to get this and get it on. The T4R rake is driving me nuts!!!!

 

[SecretAgent]

there's a link somewhere around here for the daystar kit on amazon.com for $159.00+ shipping. i was going to order it from there, but I got bit by the OME bug due to a weakened factory struts and springs after 137k miles of use.

 

[BRK]

Ok, I am in the process of narrowing down what I want to do but would like some good solid input before I make the move.

Body lift vs spacers. what works better and is easier to get done in a weekend. I have looked at the
Toyteck 1" body lift, 2.5" FRONT 1.5" REAR LIFT KITfrom Daystar
Cornfed spacers 3/2 & 2/1.
how much lift would i actaully get out of these kits and whats the best bang for the buck.

As it sits now, the front fender is 33" off the ground and the rear is at 36". I would like to level it out and maybe get an added inch in the rear.
Pros...cons....ideas?????
As always, thanks for your help and input.

I recently bought an '08 4-runner SR5. I have no idea why a manufacturer would reduce the ground clearance on a utility vehicle. Probably an idea from the same bozo that decided to remove the dipstick on the automatic transmission. I'm no expert, but bought the vehicle because I live several miles off the pavement and another mile past the end of a maintained road. Soon as I got it, I had Desert Rat install a Daystar kit, 2.5" lift in the front and 1.5" in the rear. I also removed the running boards for more clearance. I think the parts were about $165.00, $100.00 for the post wheel alignment, (you want this) for a total of about $490 with tax.

I am delighted with the setup, it gets around great in snow and mud with worn out Michelin tires. (60,000 miles on vehicle.) I would consider the lift an essential part of a purchase.

 

[810moto]

I recently bought an '08 4-runner SR5. I have no idea why a manufacturer would reduce the ground clearance on a utility vehicle. Probably an idea from the same bozo that decided to remove the dipstick on the automatic transmission. I'm no expert, but bought the vehicle because I live several miles off the pavement and another mile past the end of a maintained road. Soon as I got it, I had Desert Rat install a Daystar kit, 2.5" lift in the front and 1.5" in the rear. I also removed the running boards for more clearance. I think the parts were about $165.00, $100.00 for the post wheel alignment, (you want this) for a total of about $490 with tax.

I am delighted with the setup, it gets around great in snow and mud with worn out Michelin tires. (60,000 miles on vehicle.) I would consider the lift an essential part of a purchase.

@ BRK....do you have any photos of your runner after the install???

 

[HB 4X4]

Lift the suspension first. You will get added clearance for tires, but most importantly you get ground clearance. Body lifts add no benefit to ground clearance, and it will look less lifted since the frame doesn't move higher.

Personally I would never do a BL unless it was to clear tires. I went with a 1" BL for this reason, but it was after having 3" of suspension lift. If all you are looking for is a bit of lift, leave the body lifts to the Hummers.

 

[JAC]

I got a Brand new Daystar rear spacer 1.5" for sale ...$40 shipped

I bought it for my 04 4r 2wd but because the company where I bought it from didn't shipped it on time I had to buy from another seller that had it in stock to make sure I got it on time.

So if you are interested send me a PM.

 

[Axis]

Anytime I read about ground clearance with body lifts I get more confused. My understanding is that a body lift does just what the name implies-lifts the body (duh!) and not the frame. So extremely newb question is what is considered the body and what is the frame? In other words, if I were to install the daystar 2.5/1.5 what components under the truck will be lifted and what won't be? The main reason I am lifting is to improve offroad ability, and I will eventually put bigger tires on (which even I understand lifts the whole truck), but not for a while since it came with brand new BF Long trails (which I find awesome BTW). I know that replacing the suspension is the more thorough way to lift, but I just can't justify pulling out a perfectly functioning suspension system on a truck I just spent over 25k on.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

As you said, a "body" lift just raises the body. These are kits that are installed between the frame and the body. Thus, your frame stays in the same position, but your body now sits up off the frame, giving your more clearance for tires. A suspension lift includes components that go in with the shocks/coils. The Daystar kit is a suspension lift. This essentially extends the length of the shocks/coils, pushing the wheels down further. When the wheels are pushed further down, this will raise everything (i.e. frame). The one thing that you can only change with tires is the height of the rear diff, since in the rear it just drops down the axle. This is a very non-technical explanation, but maybe it'll help. Clear as mud?

 

[Axis]

Clear as mud?

Haha-Ok, that does help. I guess I was misusing the term body lift. The daystar 2.5/1.5 is a suspension lift. Got it. So the only component that is not lifted with this setup is the rear dif, and the only way to lift that is with bigger tires. So to get back to the topic of this thread, why the hell would anyone install a body lift over a suspension lift since a suspension lift will allow for bigger tires AND more clearance and body lift would only allow for bigger tires?