compare these lifts please

sschaefer3 said:
White and snow, I do not know who you are, but if you call me I am sure I can help you set your truck up so you are happy. I can't help you if I don't know you need help.
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Hi Steve, David Vincent in Westminster, CO. I bought my kit from you probably in May 2012, and I've had it installed on 2 trucks now (last truck was totalled). I'm happy with the performance, and I appreciate your willingness to help out. I have it dialed pretty much the way I want it now (I gave up on the LC rear shocks and welded in custom shock mounts). My main gripe is the cost. I know that is somewhat unavoidable using dealership Toyota parts, but I do feel like I probably put a little too much money into my suspension for what it is.
 
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Illestreker said:
Does the front suspension travel change at all?
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Just wanted to clarify something here... I know Atrox said the travel will change depending on your lift height. That's not 100% accurate. The total overall travel remains the same. The total travel is determined by the length of the shock, and the shock does not change lengths. Your down travel vs. up travel will change depending on where you have the coilover set at. If you have the coilover maxed out and the shock is fully extended you will essentially have 0" of down travel, and a boat load of up travel. You want to find a good median where you still have down travel.

From my experience the ICON set up is the best performing setup on and off road, but if you are doing mostly highway/city driving they are probably overkill.
 
sn0wrunner said:
Just wanted to clarify something here... I know Atrox said the travel will change depending on your lift height. That's not 100% accurate. The total overall travel remains the same. The total travel is determined by the length of the shock, and the shock does not change lengths. Your down travel vs. up travel will change depending on where you have the coilover set at. If you have the coilover maxed out and the shock is fully extended you will essentially have 0" of down travel, and a boat load of up travel. You want to find a good median where you still have down travel.
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This is correct and an IFS lift is really just a ride height change. You want down travel. IFS works a lot better when you have some. All up does not work very well.

Travel does not change with lift height, travel is dependent on shock length as Jeff stated.
 
Great discussion, and I really appreciate Steve for chiming in too. I've been very happy with my SS 1.2 kit. I've had it on for around 3 years now. The only thing I might change in the future is go with OME 861 springs in the rear when I build a heavier rear bumper with tire swing-out and full size spare tire hanging off the back end.
 
I'm starting to really get a grasp on these two lifts as well as other options out there. So I really appreciate all the feedback.

Another question, whats the general consensus on the softest setup with the most amount of flex? Front setup? Rear setup?

My guess is coilovers with 600lb spring (maybe 550 if stock weight) would have the softest ride and most flex for the front especially if you dont crank them up much. I am right here?

for the rear i'm guessing the softest and most flex would LC 7 wraps, or do the 8 and 9 wraps have more flex simply because they're longer? Or, would it be the toytec superflex rear coils? And then what shock would be softest and help achieve most flex in rear... bilstein?
 
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I mean, it's going to be similar w all the lc coils. They are soft as hell and flex like crazy. But so do my ome's I replaced the lc coils with.

You may be over thinking. Call Steve at Sonoran steel and just ask. I was on the phone w him yesterday talking about rear shocks and the best choice for my preference. Which would be a nice stiff and stable ride in road, but something that would gave me great flex off road. I have the bilstein 5100s and hate them personally. They can barely hold
My tires on the ground. I have stock from the dealer land cruiser front coils and hardware on the way right now. And can't wait to get stability back.

Sorry for the rant. Just felt I should share.
 
Are you saying you didnt like the bilstein 5100's in the rear because they were TOO soft?
and that was 5100 and LC together?
 
"overthinking" is impossible for me. On my other truck I lifted it several times, designed a custom "mid-travel" coilover front supsension that was a low budget custom build and I was never happy. I spent to much money and wasted more time and just put it all back to stock. If I had done more research and figured out exactly what the ideal setup FOR ME was then I could of done it right the first time.

Exactly why now with this truck i'm "overthinking" it. I only wanna lift it once.
 
Whatever. Over thinking is so freakin common for this "hobby". Yu learn what you love from experience. Go try what you think you should and you will know if it works for you or not. And for goodness sake, don't use a tape measure to check your height differences unless you want I think about the infamous "lean". Also one coil should be a hair taller than the other and belongs on the drivers side.
 
Have some fun with it. enjoy learning. half the fun is discovering what you want and prefer. You're prob not gonna only do suspension stuff once. And if you think that you may want to rethink your choice of hobbies
 
True I see what your saying. I'm no rookie when it comes to suspension lifts and trucks.. but yeah im a toyota and 4runner rookie for sure. I dont wanna be the guy who buys spacers, then upgrades to OME, then thinks its too harsh, and gets the SS 1.2, then says to himself man I wish my front was more adjustable... I want coilovers now. See what im saying... waste of money and time.

Do it right the first time. Thats why I ask as many questions as possible trying to figure out works best for me.
 
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The front bilsteins however are awesome w the trd tundra coils like what Steve sells at Sonoran. And they are adjustable. There's a snap ring that goes around the shock with 4-5 heights .I can't remember.

As far as the rear goes. I am back and forth w OME coils. Not sure which I like more. But the great part is that stuff can be sold and little $ lost.
 
Can you tell me what you didnt like about the 5100 in the rear and what you meant by, "they couldnt hold my tires on the ground". And thats with 35's too right?
 
They sucked since I had 265 75 cooper discoverer mts on factory wheels. Then sucked more when I had Yokohama geolandar MTs and now with the 35s. When I say not on the ground I mean as simple as a burnout on dirt, grass, rock, and especially asphalt. If tires are not perfectly balanced then they will literally bounced of the ground because they are not able to dampen fast enough to keep the tire firmly planted.
 
The balancing thing I'm referring to for road driving. As far as how they perform, they are just flat out to damn soft and can't handle what the rear axle is throwing at them. The 5150s however should be able to handle it.
 
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