You don't have the lean, good for you! Lots of us do, and many people have invested a significant amount of time investigating the causes and potential solutions. I can assure you that I do not have an issue with my springs, mounts, or torn bushings as you suggest. And I can also assure you that the handful of other individuals I know with lifts on their 4Runners do not have those issues. But we all experience the driver's side lean.
The most likely cause is that the 4Runner is a right-hand drive vehicle that was converted to left-hand drive for use in the US and other markets. In right-hand drive markets (Japan, Australia, etc.), the gas tank, battery, front diff, etc. are on the opposite side of the driver resulting in more even weight distribution. Not so in the US.
It appears as though the stock Toyota springs attempt to compensate for the problem, as the driver's side springs are slightly longer than the passenger side (hence the different colored markings). Unfortunately, aftermarket springs are not usually supplied in this configuration. Therefore, the driver's side rear needs either a longer spring or a spacer to compensate for the lean, as described above. Some 4Runners require some adjustment in the front as well.
Short of speaking directly with the Toyota engineers, there is not much more that any of us can do beyond what has already been done. I don't think it is fair of you to compare this with taping over the check engine light, as you have self-admittedly done zero research on the subject while many others have. Plenty of threads on the issue if you would like to educate yourself on the issue and propose a solution.
I
have proposed solutions. My "zero research" and statements posted thus far are based off basic observations in traffic and direct mechanical experience. I have yet to see this lean that appears to occur everywhere except the Northeast. There are three 4th gens in my neighborhood....all absent of lean. All of them are raked, with the exception of mine, and I think we all agree on rake so we're done there.
I take forum posts with a huge grain of salt. Once people start to latch on to an idea, it runs away more often than not. I couldn't begin to tell you the variety of motorcycles out there have a "bad second gear design from the factory" or how many "faulty AWD systems" exist.
It's not like I'm posting for my own amusement. I've made observations that contradict how common this topic seems to be and posted my thoughts as well as suggestions. Again, I get it. We've gotten very comfortable with spacing shocks over the last 10years and anything that goes against that mindset MUST be wrong.
Fair or not, my experience causes me to have my doubts that 160lbs justified to one side of a vehicle that is sprung for 5000lbs or more is going to result in a permanent and significant sag of 3/4" or more. There is something else going on there.
Not sure what kind of lifts you've been installing, but you've obviously been ridiculously lucky if you've never had the driver side lean. I had to install a Daystar 1.5" to compensate for the driver side lean after installing my lift. MANY people on this forum have had to do it also, it's very common. Maybe it's more common with certain lift kits than others, but it's common enough that there are tons of posts about people doing it.
This is the first I've seen on this topic in the ~4 years I've been here. The suspensions I've installed have been across numerous makes and models, both lifts and drops, spanning across several years. Zero of my installs have resulted in ride height issues.
Chalk it up as "ridiculously lucky" I suppose because me telling the forum "I might be good at this" won't go over well.
:heh:
I'll repeat something that was obviously missed the first time:
Adjusting ride height on coilovers is a completely different ball game than spacing the location of a shock. The two adjustments cannot reasonably be compared since coilovers are desgined for changing ride height without moving the position of the shock.
In closing, I won't be responding to anything else in this thread since a few seem to be upset. Please know my only intent was to offer some perspective on why spacing shocks isn't the greatest idea and why it should be avoided.
Carry on....
