Fabtech 6" lift system

[PeoplecallmeIan]

So fabtech just released this thing for the T4R. I personally wouldn't run a cross member kit but the look of 6" of lift is pretty nice. I guess if you are looking for that SEMA/DUB car show look this is the way to go. They have 2 options: w/ resi's or without. For the low price of $4,500 lol

PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS

What is everyone's thoughts on this type of suspension lift?

 

[konahoss]

So fabtech just released this thing for the T4R. I personally wouldn't run a cross member kit but the look of 6" of lift is pretty nice. I guess if you are looking for that SEMA/DUB car show look this is the way to go. They have 2 options: w/ resi's or without. For the low price of $4,500 lol

PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS

What is everyone's thoughts on this type of suspension lift?

They make decent lift kits. I have installed a few on 3/4 and 1 ton Silverados with no issue. If you want more that 3-4" of lift on an IFS vehicle, you have to use new cross members and drop the front diff. If not your CVs and Tie rods will not last.

 

[shrub1]

I personally think it looks absurd and should come standard with a flat billed hat.

 

[konahoss]

I personally think it looks absurd and should come standard with a flat billed hat.

Agreed, If i want to run 35+" tires and a 6" lift, I will do it to our JK Rubicon or TJ. The 4runner looks good leveled IMHO.

 

[Jetboy]

It could make for a true 3" lift with control arms near stock geometry that rides a heck of a lot better than IFS on it's tippy toes...

If there were a 1.5" bracket lift that physically fit - I'd consider it for a 3" total lift with better geometry.

The biggest issue is cost. $4500 would put a pretty good dent in a long travel kit. It might not get you all the way there, but it'll get you fairly close.

 

[honda250xtitan]

It could make for a true 3" lift with control arms near stock geometry that rides a heck of a lot better than IFS on it's tippy toes...

If there were a 1.5" bracket lift that physically fit - I'd consider it for a 3" total lift with better geometry.

The biggest issue is cost. $4500 would put a pretty good dent in a long travel kit. It might not get you all the way there, but it'll get you fairly close.

drop bracket, spindles, custom length coilovers: Solid setup, 3" lift with OEM geometry. 4x4 IFS is a biotch. I blew through steering racks on my titan from running 3" of lift with a mid travel kit and heavy 33x13's

everyone who says their ICONS at 3.5" of preload "rides like butter" are meth heads.op2: /sarcasm

 

[Inv4drZm]

everyone who says their ICONS at 3.5" of preload "rides like butter" are meth heads.op2: /sarcasm

Have you ridden in one?

Mine rides perfectly well on the streets and on washboarded dirt roads. Even when jumping it. Just like my brother's FJ with the same coilovers (ext. travel Icons). I have 1.3" of downtravel at the shock, which by my guess is 2.6" at the wheel. I've kept it high to stay as level as I can with the 3" rear lift coils and to keep it over the rocks. You won't notice the lack of downtravel on the streets, maybe when bombing through the desert but I haven't done that yet. I know when it bottoms out because the UCA hits the spring and makes a loud clank noise and it only does that when bouncing up and down crawling a rocky trail during a hill climb.

I do need long travel if only for being able to lift the front more.

Also you titan may not represent all IFS vehicles with regards to it's durability.

 

[shrub1]

It could make for a true 3" lift with control arms near stock geometry that rides a heck of a lot better than IFS on it's tippy toes...

If there were a 1.5" bracket lift that physically fit - I'd consider it for a 3" total lift with better geometry.

The biggest issue is cost. $4500 would put a pretty good dent in a long travel kit. It might not get you all the way there, but it'll get you fairly close.

Agree with this.

 

[Inv4drZm]

It could make for a true 3" lift with control arms near stock geometry that rides a heck of a lot better than IFS on it's tippy toes...

If there were a 1.5" bracket lift that physically fit - I'd consider it for a 3" total lift with better geometry.

The biggest issue is cost. $4500 would put a pretty good dent in a long travel kit. It might not get you all the way there, but it'll get you fairly close.

You could consider a 1.5" body lift. You don't get the mid frame ground clearance increase of the drop bracket but you get the tire clearance increase. And it's way cheaper.

 

[honda250xtitan]

Have you ridden in one?

Mine rides perfectly well on the streets and on washboarded dirt roads. Even when jumping it. Just like my brother's FJ with the same coilovers (ext. travel Icons). I have 1.3" of downtravel at the shock, which by my guess is 2.6" at the wheel. I've kept it high to stay as level as I can with the 3" rear lift coils and to keep it over the rocks. You won't notice the lack of downtravel on the streets, maybe when bombing through the desert but I haven't done that yet. I know when it bottoms out because the UCA hits the spring and makes a loud clank noise and it only does that when bouncing up and down crawling a rocky trail during a hill climb.

I do need long travel if only for being able to lift the front more.

Also you titan may not represent all IFS vehicles with regards to it's durability.

didn't notice the sarcasm?

and no shit, titans are notoriously unreliable in a lot of aspects lol.

 

[Jetboy]

You could consider a 1.5" body lift. You don't get the mid frame ground clearance increase of the drop bracket but you get the tire clearance increase. And it's way cheaper.

No body lifts. I'd rather use a torch than put a body lift on. The primary spots the 4runner has problems are frame and underbelly/breakover. Bigger tires are the best fix, but a lift can help too. Maxed out IFS angles can work in some offroad tasks - but they suck for daily driving. Doesn't matter what shocks you have. The geometry dictates a lot of the problems. Unequal length a-arms only have so much range of useable geometry.

I don't think it makes sense for me to go much bigger. I already have a rock crawler that's a shitty daily driver. If I wanted to - I think Big Mike at Marlin has the best formula. Custom long travel to relocate forward from All Pro, 4.88's and dual cases. Works great with 37s. Still drives reasonably well too. And has pretty good flex. I think it might be better with a small bracket lift though.

 

[57buick]

I hope to get this fabtech kit eventually. I don't see why anybody would think its not worth it. The crossmember is gonna be the same clearance as stock but you have the look of the lift but with your suspension flat and level like its supposed to be from the factory which is desirable and should improve the ride rather than us lifting with spacers and putting the CV's out of alignment and reducing suspension movement because we already have our lower arms flexed?

Tell me if i'm missing something?

 

[YellowSnow]

eep:



I think it’s perfect for SR5 owners....

 

[Jetboy]

I hope to get this fabtech kit eventually. I don't see why anybody would think its not worth it. The crossmember is gonna be the same clearance as stock but you have the look of the lift but with your suspension flat and level like its supposed to be from the factory which is desirable and should improve the ride rather than us lifting with spacers and putting the CV's out of alignment and reducing suspension movement because we already have our lower arms flexed?

Tell me if i'm missing something?

The crossmember is higher than stock compared to the lower control arm mounts. It drops the LCA 3 inches but only lowers the cross member about 1.5 inches. It also allows larger tires. I would prefer other options. But these kits work. I've been though the Rubicon with a a guy with a similar kit on an fj cruiser. It worked well. Should fit 35s even at 3 inch lift.

I wouldn't spend $4500 on a bracket lift though. Save a bit more for a long travel kit. Just moving the control arms won't help the short suspension stroke of the stock arms.

 

[57buick]

The crossmember is higher than stock compared to the lower control arm mounts. It drops the LCA 3 inches but only lowers the cross member about 1.5 inches. It also allows larger tires. I would prefer other options. But these kits work. I've been though the Rubicon with a a guy with a similar kit on an fj cruiser. It worked well. Should fit 35s even at 3 inch lift.

I wouldn't spend $4500 on a bracket lift though. Save a bit more for a long travel kit. Just moving the control arms won't help the short suspension stroke of the stock arms.

the fabtech kit is actually $2500 I already have new KING coilovers and shocks

 

[canadian bum]

I hope to get this fabtech kit eventually. I don't see why anybody would think its not worth it. The crossmember is gonna be the same clearance as stock but you have the look of the lift but with your suspension flat and level like its supposed to be from the factory which is desirable and should improve the ride rather than us lifting with spacers and putting the CV's out of alignment and reducing suspension movement because we already have our lower arms flexed?

Tell me if i'm missing something?

What kind of use are you planning for?

If you're going for looks and not any really hardcore wheeling than yeah you can run it. That being said people have wheeled the drop bracket lifts in the past. But if you're looking to wheel you'll gain more from a long travel kit. Depends more on application than anything.

 

[Jetboy]

the fabtech kit is actually $2500 I already have new KING coilovers and shocks

Still a lot of $ for what you're getting. Normally a bracket lift assembly is around $1,000. For example rough country Tacoma version is $1k. The front should be interchangeable with a 4Runner. Although you may have minor adjustments to be made.

The rear could simply be any 3" lift rear from Dobinson for example. If you're planning to run height at 3-4" total lift. Daily driving performance will be much better than a 4" lift with stock control arms.

There's a significant difference between this type of a setup where it's really a 3" bracket and 3" preload adjustment to get you to 6 total inches and a 6" bracket drop like this one:

As compared to this:

In terms of off-road performance, I think there's a good argument to be made that outside of rock crawling duty a 3" lift with drop brackets and better geometry along with 35" tires would perform better than most 3" suspension preload lifts that are the standard.

However, long travel is probably the ideal setup for most offroad use. And in the rocks - more clearance is usually a bit benefit. You can see how much more clearance you get in this Tacoma with long travel arms. And it has a lot more travel. But it's also a bit more $. ~ $2500-3k for the front control arms, plus axles, plus some solution for the rear.

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