Does your 4Runner lean on the Driver Side

[rickwol]

You should have seen my 2nd generation (1990) 4-Runner. It always sagged in the tail end but evenly on both sides. When I would take it camping with a small load, driving at night would illuminate the tree tops. (Soft coil springs, I believe) My 2000 Ford Explorer sagged in the rear on the driver's side as well. It was a problem with the leaf spring on that side and seemed to affect other Explorers of that vintage as well.

 

[Will733]

Has anyone installed a driver side rear spacer to correct the 0.5" of lean?

I've heard that if you only installed a 1.5" spacer on the drivers rear, you would end up with 1" lift there and still get about 1/2" on the passenger side as well since the rear springs are 1/4 to 1/3 inboard from the end of the axle.

I'd like to fix the lean but don't want to over do it either... so maybe just a 1" spacer on the rear driver side would work out well.

 

[Antman]

For about a hundred bucks you can get an airlift 1000 kit for the rear springs. This will give you the ability to even out side to side lean, as well as sagging in the rear from a heavy load, or towing. I can tell you it's the best $100 I've spent on mine- very useful.

 

[harper7]

Sometimes you can swap springs in the rear and see what you get.Pretty easy to do. Or I read somewhere on the FJ forum they make small thin spacers to try to level it.

Or you can get one of these to ride shotgun to level it out but they can be quite expensive!:rtfm:
But she'll provide ...
Warmth in the Winter
Shade in the Summer
Level your 4Runner............
There's a few drawbacks to this mod but can't remember them right now..lol:girl:

 

[Will733]

Sometimes you can swap springs in the rear and see what you get.Pretty easy to do. Or I read somewhere on the FJ forum they make small thin spacers to try to level it.

Or you can get one of these to ride shotgun to level it out but they can be quite expensive!:rtfm:
But she'll provide ...
Warmth in the Winter
Shade in the Summer
Level your 4Runner............
There's a few drawbacks to this mod but can't remember them right now..lol:girl:

:jaw drop: Thanks Harper, I knew I could count on you!

Maybe if money was no object, then I could go that route...but since I'm looking for a cost effective method, maybe Ant has the right idea.

For about a hundred bucks you can get an airlift 1000 kit for the rear springs. This will give you the ability to even out side to side lean, as well as sagging in the rear from a heavy load, or towing. I can tell you it's the best $100 I've spent on mine- very useful.

What is the max lift you can get out of it? I wouldn't go over 1", but are there any problems taking it offroad if you've pumped extra air to lift it a bit?

 

[IsItMe?]

glad this thread popped up. my shop was freaking out after my lift install trying to level it out...always comes up exactly 1/2 inch off. i'm pretty sure my 250 doesn't help either, so the gal above might be my ticket to level.

 

[1engineer]

It seems everyone agrees that the "lean" is caused by the gas tank and battery + the driver. For all of you that want to fix the lean I have one question: What happens when you are low on fuel and your 4Runner is just sitting in the driveway?

 

[reds10]

1/4" to 3/4"(full tank).

sucks.

 

[icsa]

why these soft springs?

I was driving behind a 4Runner Trail this weekend and it was leaning considerably on the right side. It had 2 passengers sitting on the right side. (i don't know about the load in the trunk)

But, I had never seen another SUV or truck leaning so much - i'm sure its driving dynamics are affected (dangerously) at highway speeds.

Why did Toyota chose such soft springs? For an offroad vehicle, I would expect stiffer (but what do I know?!).

See for instance Mike's video, way too much bouncing: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...dition-shoreline-blue-pearl-6.html#post862803

 

[Will733]

Rear level now.

Finally decided to test out the theory of installing only 1 rear spacer to solve the drivers side lean issue. Worked perfectly!

Here are the measurements now after putting in a 1.5" Daystar spacer only on the driverside rear:

37 2/16 - Front/Driver
37 6/16 - Front/Passenger
38 3/16 - Rear/Driver
38 4/16 - Rear/Passenger

The 1.5" spacer added about 1" to the driver side and 0.5" to the passenger side.

I'll try to get some better pictures on a more level surface soon.

Apparently Eric at SoCal Suspension Garage in San Diego also worked on a White 5th Gen today, installing the Billsteins and 1" rear spacers. Wonder if they are on this forum too...?

 

[mc1200s]

I wonder if the dealer could install a 1/2" rear driver side spacer free of charge to fix the visable lean... (I know I'm probably dreaming)

I've got the lean and spoke to the dealer about it shortly after I purchased the 4runner. I'm leaning ~0.5" and I think Toyota considers a +/- 0.75" gap acceptable for production standards so there is nothing they will do for us.

My lean is drivers side and is most visible in the front.

 

[Hardrunner]

Most TE lean to the passenger side..think its related to KDSS. Even full tank of gas doesnt level it or lean it to the driver side.

 

[cbielat]

Yes, mine as well.

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Most TE lean to the right...think its related to KDSS. Even full tank of gas doesnt level it or lean it to the driver side.

Not related to KDSS.... KDSS doesn't effect the ride height of our trucks. The Gas tank, battery, and some other crap is located on the left (driver's) side of the vehicle. This is why it leans to one side. those of us with coil overs adjust accordingly. Those without, there are a few options available to compensate for the well known "driver's side lean".

 

[Hardrunner]

TE's with KDSS lean to the passenger side. Explain that one.

 

[1engineer]

Not related to KDSS.... KDSS doesn't effect the ride height of our trucks. The Gas tank, battery, and some other crap is located on the right (driver's) side of the vehicle. This is why it leans to one side. those of us with coil overs adjust accordingly. Those without, there are a few options available to compensate for the well known "driver's side lean".

Drivers side is LEFT side always.

 

[Ducmonsta]

Drivers side is LEFT side always.

Uh oh, 1E!? Is that you? "always?"

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that the 4r is not available as a right hand drive model. As its most likely a Prado in other countries. But, "always" left side?!

 

[1engineer]

Uh oh, 1E!? Is that you? "always?"

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that the 4r is not available as a right hand drive model. As its most likely a Prada in other countries. But, "always" left side?!

Sorry. Should have put a qualifer at the end stating "On left hand drive models only" lol but that would have messed it up even more. Hey did you read the "brake noise posts?" I posted a good link to brake calclations there.

 

[phillyd2]

Yet nobody had a issue with 37 2/16? :sobbing:

 

[Ducmonsta]

Yet nobody had a issue with 37 2/16? :sobbing:

Technically this is not wrong. 37 8/64s is! :boxer: