Front/ rear height difference

[KCcarguy]

Alright fella's, I've been looking at lift/ leveling kits and trying to decide what I want to do with my 'runner. I'd like a subtle lift and thinking 5100's might be a good way to go. Whatever I do, I want to maintain a slight factory rake. I'm trying decide the best method for measuring front and rear height differences. When measuring the distance from the hub center to the wheel well, the difference is about 2". But, when measuring along the side skirts, the difference is only 3/4"-1". That raises some questions:

-What is the best way to measure? I don't want my truck to have a saggy arse.

-Any chance toyota could have changed rear springs/ ride height from 2010 to 2011 (mine is an '11 model)?

 

[philsey]

... I'd like a subtle lift and thinking 5100's might be a good way to go. Whatever I do, I want to maintain a slight factory rake.

That's exactly what I wanted. I put on 5100's F&R, fronts set at .85. This is what it looks like now.

-Any chance toyota could have changed rear springs/ ride height from 2010 to 2011 (mine is an '11 model)?

I *doubt* it.

 

[Renegad44]

Hey guys, I'm looking to level my 2011 also, what exactly is this 5100 you'll are talking about? Thanks...:cheers:


I found out what I needed. Thanks anyhow. LOL :bravo:

 

[KCcarguy]

That's exactly what I wanted. I put on 5100's F&R, fronts set at .85. This is what it looks like now.

View attachment 43751

Yours looks good. Is there any rake remaining? After seeing yours I think going over .85 would = saggage.



I *doubt* it.

I doubt it as well, But I know a lot of guys are leveling with 5100's set at 1.75....so I'm trying to understand what's going on.

 

[philsey]

I doubt it as well, But I know a lot of guys are leveling with 5100's set at 1.75....so I'm trying to understand what's going on.

You're confusing "lifting" and "leveling".

Leveling is what I did: Usually means raising ONLY the front enough to level out the truck - the rear ride height does not change. You can use (Bilstein 5100) adjustable front shocks to do this, or coil spring spacers.

Generally speaking, Lifting is raising the entire truck (front & rear) by various means. Since the truck has a factory rake, you'd raise the front more than the rear to lift the entire truck.

Experts will chime in ... I only know enough to accomplish what I wanted to do. Have no need or desire to lift the whole truck.

Why don't you read the "Lifted PIX" sticky thread at the top for ideas?

 

[ct221933]

I doubt it as well, But I know a lot of guys are leveling with 5100's set at 1.75....so I'm trying to understand what's going on.

Just a word of caution....setting the front bilstein 5100 at 1.75 (3rd notch) will not level the truck....instead you get a slight reverse rake. I measured it after installing Bilsteins just in the front and could not stand the look. Had to install spacers in the rear.

 

[4ShoreRunner]

Just a word of caution....setting the front bilstein 5100 at 1.75 (3rd notch) will not level the truck....instead you get a slight reverse rake. I measured it after installing Bilsteins just in the front and could not stand the look. Had to install spacers in the rear.

Any chance the SR5 and TEs have different rear coils? My 5100s are on the 3rd notch, 1.75 and I am leveled on driver side and about 1" higher in the rear on the passenger side.

 

[ct221933]

Any chance the SR5 and TEs have different rear coils? My 5100s are on the 3rd notch, 1.75 and I am leveled on driver side and about 1" higher in the rear on the passenger side.

Maybe....I compared notes with another fellow T4R.orger who has a SR5 without 3rd row and no leather. He did not have a reverse rake with just the front bilstein set at 3rd notch according to him. The only possible explanation for my slight reverse rake with only front bilstein set at 3rd notch is I have 3rd row seats.

 

[KCcarguy]

You're confusing "lifting" and "leveling".

Leveling is what I did: Usually means raising ONLY the front enough to level out the truck - the rear ride height does not change. You can use (Bilstein 5100) adjustable front shocks to do this, or coil spring spacers.

Generally speaking, Lifting is raising the entire truck (front & rear) by various means. Since the truck has a factory rake, you'd raise the front more than the rear to lift the entire truck.

Experts will chime in ... I only know enough to accomplish what I wanted to do. Have no need or desire to lift the whole truck.

Why don't you read the "Lifted PIX" sticky thread at the top for ideas?

I realize what 5100's do, what a true "lift' is, etc. I'm sorry I was not more specific. I've been member for two months and was a "lurker" before that. I've researched the hell out of this stuff. I've looked through the entire LIFTED PIX thread multiple times. We're getting off the subject. I just want to know what is the best reference point of front to rear ride height.

 

[ct221933]

Just a word of caution....setting the front bilstein 5100 at 1.75 (3rd notch) will not level the truck....instead you get a slight reverse rake. I measured it after installing Bilsteins just in the front and could not stand the look. Had to install spacers in the rear.

Here are the measurements with front bilstein installed at 3rd notch and rear is stock.


Front Driver's: 36.75"
Front Passenger's: 36.90"
Rear Driver's: 36.10"
Rear Passenger's: 36.60"

 

[KCcarguy]

Here are the measurements with front bilstein installed at 3rd notch and rear is stock.


Front Driver's: 36.75"
Front Passenger's: 36.90"
Rear Driver's: 36.10"
Rear Passenger's: 36.60"

Could you do measurements using the rocker panel as a reference rather than the top of the wheel arches? My concern is that the body-work/ styling is throwing people off and 1.75 is resulting in the front being higher. I noticed when looking through the lifted pics section some of the guys at 1.75 looked a little front-high....especially the SR-5's. As far as I have read, the SR-5 and the trail have the same springs. So I'm wondering if it's that way on all 5th gens, but the bodywork on the SR-5 makes the front-high situation more noticeable.

 

[KCcarguy]

^^^^sorry man. It's getting late! :roadkill:

I'm surprised there's not more of a difference! Maybe these trucks just look better to me when they're just a bit higher in front.

 

[Will733]

Here are the measurements with front bilstein installed at 3rd notch and rear is stock.


Front Driver's: 36.75"
Front Passenger's: 36.90"
Rear Driver's: 36.10"
Rear Passenger's: 36.60"

That 3rd row must weigh quite a bit... Here are my measurements:
Front Driver: 36 6/16
Front Passenger: 37 2/16
Rear Driver: 37 0/16
Rear Passenger: 37 8/16

I also have tires that are almost 33", which is why mine is slightly higher.

Only rake is driver side slouch which is common, but these measurement change sometimes depending upon the slope of hill I'm parked on and will rarely end up slightly higher in front by like 1/4" but usually looks level or slightly higher in rear.

 

[philsey]

If anyone is interested in front Bilstein's, there's a new set in the classifieds. FYI, these are B/O everywhere.