General Lift Question

[luke87gt]

Hi guys,

I've had a chance to review some of the lift threads in the sticky section and based on that, I recently installed the Daystar 2.5/1.5 kit on my 2006 V6.

I got just barely over 3" of lift in the front and 1.5" in the rear, resulting in a nice level SUV. The only compromise is that I couldn't get much more than +2.0" of caster with the stock control arm. No biggie, as the road manners are just fine.

The reason for this thread is the following: With the little caster, any additional lift will almost surely result in me needing to get aftermarket upper control arms. What I'd like to know is, if I do get aftermarket upper control arms, how much additional suspenion lift can I safely tolerate before the next suspension component becomes maxed out.

For example, can I do the Bilstein 5100 set at 0.85 with the existing Daystar 2.5/1.5 kit (about 4" of total lift). What about the Bilstein 1.75" with Daystar (about 5" of total lift)? How about Bilstein 2.5" with the Daystar (5.75" of total lift)??

Let's assume that any front lift would be complimented with the appropriate rear spring/spacer combo to keep the SUV level at each of the three settings above.

Can the stock lower control arms, rack position, diff position relative to the driveshaft, etc tolerate all three settings above?

It would be helpful to understand where the limit is.

Thank you guys!

 

[Inv4drZm]

You'll max out well before 5".

At 3.5" or so you will severely compromise your ride quality by having almost zero downtravel at the wheel. At this point, if you stack spacers on top your shock to get more downtravel you will need to extend your bumpstops and you will soon bind you CVs at droop.

Your only other option is a body lift. Or a front long travel system.

 

[luke87gt]

I do have a 2WD, so the CV isn't a concern.

But it sounds like about 3.5" is starting to flirt with the point of compromise. Other than the body lift, what else are people doing to safely get say 4"+ of front lift?

Has anyone done the following:

Front (about 3.75 - 4" of total lift):
- Daystar 2.5/1.5
- Bilstein 5100 0.85" setting

Rear (2.5" total lift):
- Daystar 1.5
- OME 895e or FJ springs (895e will raise ~1" and FJ raise ~0.5" from what I understand)

 

[Inv4drZm]

Spindle lifts can get you 4" easily then.
[MENTION=101058]cloudrunner[/MENTION] has lift spindles on his.

I don't see the reason for +4" lift unless you run 35" + tires or like the look of a really tall truck.

 

[S p a r k y]

For almost 3 years I ran billies on1.75 with FJ front springs also with a daystar budget boost 2"net spacer. Ran fine for that long. Recently put billies down to 0" and now run 885's with a 1/4" spaced, 1/2" net.

New set up I am running about a 1/2 higher on front end.

So all of your math with spacers and other things, add up on paper, but combining them won't add up when actually on vehicle.

New setup rides better than old, but old did great for 40+k miles.

I ran the Billie/spacer combo with stock UCA's for a bit and aligned in spec. Went ahead and got UCA's and noticed a better ride after install.

Hope that helps

 

[cloudrunner]

With a 2wd you can go way higher than 5" if you want to. Personally, I am running a full Icon Stage 2 lift with Icon UCA's, 4" lift spindles and a 1.5" body lift. With the coil-overs midway I would estimate that I am around 8" or 9" higher than a stock 2wd 4Runner. I am also running Icons 3" overland springs I the rear with 1.5" Daystar spacers on top to keep it level. One major plus is my tires don't rub anymore!

 

[luke87gt]

Spindle lifts can get you 4" easily then.
[MENTION=101058]cloudrunner[/MENTION] has lift spindles on his.

I don't see the reason for +4" lift unless you run 35's or like the look a really tall truck.

Thank you for bringing up the spindle lift. That's an option I hadn't considered before.

It seems like a lot of guys here have done the 285/70/17 with modest 2.5-3" lifts, so it is possible. Given the amount of work required to get my 265/70/17 to clear, I thought it might be tough to get it the 285 to clear at the current height and current wheel offset. Granted, the Falken AT3W tires do run a little big compared to other brand tires of the same size, so that might be playing a role.

Hope that helps.

Mark, yes that is helpful. Your experience confirms that running a little more than the typical 3-3.5" of lift is doable without running into problems, even with stock control arms. And good point about the combined summations on paper can differ in the real world.

Cloudrunner, wow that thing is really up there! 4" spindle lift, interesting. And you didn't need any mods in the rear to account for that 3" rear spring and 1.5" Daystar spacer? Driveshaft and diff mate fine, no vibes, etc?

 

[cloudrunner]

That is correct, no additional modifications required other than extended brake lines. I went with Slee Off-Road for mine.

 

[luke87gt]

That is correct, no additional modifications required other than extended brake lines. I went with Slee Off-Road for mine.

Thanks for the confirmation. Is this the highest 4Runner here?

 

[cloudrunner]

I'm sure there is someone out there lifted higher than me.

 

[S p a r k y]

I'm sure there is someone out there lifted higher than me.

This one for sure, mostly spacer though