Help With Lift Decision

[Lexusbstrdchild]

Well i have my 4R and im ready to lift it already. I had the OME lift on my 3rd gen and loved it. Im not sure i want to drop that kind of cash on this one although i loved how the old one rode. The suspension on my 4th gen (sr5) seems really soft to me but maybe i need to get used to it. I like the Daystar kit (KT09115) and think its probably the way to go. I do light wheeling, dont plan on towing, and its mostly driven on highway/city streets. So to my question, does the Daystar lift change the feel of the suspension any, or does it stay mostly the same? Also, since i dont have xreas, do you think i could take the whole strut assembly down to my tire shop to have them compress the springs to get the new top assembly put on? I havent used a spring compressor and they kinda scare me! Any help is appreciated! (And yes i have been using search, these are just specific questions so sorry)

 

[K.C.]

Stock

Slightly Modded

(October 15, 2009)

• Daystar Spacer Lift 2.5/1.5 (Preload/Topout)
• P265/70R17 Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revos

...for now

Daystar Spacer Lift
2007 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition Lift

thank you J.A.

&

Daystar (Spacer) Installation On 4Runner w/XREAS
Daystar (Spacer) installation on 4Runner with XREAS - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

thank you bulldog

Photo: Unionjack

The 3rd annual PPHHR, Sunday 10-25-09 fun run for all at Hollister Hills SVRA
The 3rd annual PPHHR, Sunday 10-25-09 fun run for all at Hollister Hills SVRA - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

 

[K.C.]

Some members did baby steps by going w/ a Spacer Lift & many members Did It Right The First Time.

I currently still have my Daystar Spacer Lift...after 2 month, I was ready to upgrade. I haven't upgraded yet, because the wallet won't let me!!

Anywho...I was reading about Daystar Spacer Lift for over a year if not two. I landed a Used Daystar Spacer Lift Kit & was hyped up to install them. If you don't know how to do suspension, you'll easily spend $300 on labor alone. Good thing I have a friend w/ a shop, I was able to help w/ my supervision as a peace of mind. My goodness...all that work just for a slight increase. If I did it all over again...I would go straight to Coilovers.

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

Some members did baby steps by going w/ a Spacer Lift & many members Did It Right The First Time.

I currently still have my Daystar Spacer Lift...after 2 month, I was ready to upgrade. I haven't upgraded yet, because the wallet won't let me!!

Anywho...I was reading about Daystar Spacer Lift for over a year if not two. I landed a Used Daystar Spacer Lift Kit & was hyped up to install them. If you don't know how to do suspension, you'll easily spend $300 on labor alone. Good thing I have a friend w/ a shop, I was able to help w/ my supervision as a peace of mind. My goodness...all that work just for a slight increase. If I did it all over again...I would go straight to Coilovers.

Thank you for the replies i know these topics are beat to death! I know i dont want any type of lift where i need to extend or change anything regarding brakes or steering. I want to keep it as simple as possible. I like the idea of doing it right the first time too! Im just wondering if i will be happy with the DS lift. I did the last lift myself, so it wont be much different. Im just scared of spring compressors i guess!

 

[A10MileHusker]

Well i have my 4R and im ready to lift it already. I had the OME lift on my 3rd gen and loved it. Im not sure i want to drop that kind of cash on this one although i loved how the old one rode. The suspension on my 4th gen (sr5) seems really soft to me but maybe i need to get used to it. I like the Daystar kit (KT09115) and think its probably the way to go. I do light wheeling, dont plan on towing, and its mostly driven on highway/city streets. So to my question, does the Daystar lift change the feel of the suspension any, or does it stay mostly the same? Also, since i dont have xreas, do you think i could take the whole strut assembly down to my tire shop to have them compress the springs to get the new top assembly put on? I havent used a spring compressor and they kinda scare me! Any help is appreciated! (And yes i have been using search, these are just specific questions so sorry)

I have a spacer lift from Toytec and love it but I think you should do the "Ultimate Lift Kit" by Toytec. If you want to do it right the first time, thats the way to go in regards to Toytec.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

For a good bit of lift and light off roading, the Daystar lift would be good I think. I'm not sure how familar you are with lifts, but there are two types of lift for the front. The first is a topout, which mounts on top of the shock assembly and doesn't change ride quality. The second is preload which goes inside with the coil and firms up the ride. In addition, I'd suggest looking into the FJ Cruiser shocks/springs. They will give .5-.75 inches of lift and provide a slightly firmer ride. You can do just the springs and keep your OEM shocks. I've seen the coils for about $50 on ebay and other forums. Just something to look into since you said you wanted to get a little firmer ride.

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

For a good bit of lift and light off roading, the Daystar lift would be good I think. I'm not sure how familar you are with lifts, but there are two types of lift for the front. The first is a topout, which mounts on top of the shock assembly and doesn't change ride quality. The second is preload which goes inside with the coil and firms up the ride. In addition, I'd suggest looking into the FJ Cruiser shocks/springs. They will give .5-.75 inches of lift and provide a slightly firmer ride. You can do just the springs and keep your OEM shocks. I've seen the coils for about $50 on ebay and other forums. Just something to look into since you said you wanted to get a little firmer ride.

is there a certain model or anything to look for on using FJ parts or are all the FJ springs and shocks the same?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Some came with Bilstein shocks but any of them should work from what I hear.

 

[THEROK]

why isn't the bilstein 5100 shock kit more popular given it's a complete non-spacer solution with quality shocks to match? it's design to work with the stock springs up front.

i got the ome rear springs or whatever they are and 5100s all around and it rides beautifully.

2.5" lift up front and 1.5" in the back.

i think it's $700 for the kit? i forget. all i know is it cost me $3K for my complete lift job with BFG TA KOs. well worth it.

 

[Maz]

K.C...question.

I've been following the lift thread very closely. Having XRES and wanting to keep it, makes the spacer threads like this one are very, very helpful....thank you to all involved. That being said I'm getting a pretty good feeling for the Daystar lift advantages / disadvantages. However one thing that still leaves me confused is the precoil vs. regular spacers.

Sorry if this question is an old one, but what is the difference again, and what do they do or not do that makes them desireable? Thanks.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

A pteload spacer goes inside the assembly with the coil. This provides similar lift but slightly firms up the ride. A topout goes on top of he assembly and ride quality remains the same. The problem is that you can have "too much" topout lift and overextend. Most larger lifts (2 inches and more) use a combination of preload and topout. One more thing is that you shouldn't go by what daystar says on the amount of lift. They advertise spacer thickness. At least on the front you gain double the spacer size, so be aware of that.

 

[Maz]

A pteload spacer goes inside the assembly with the coil. This provides similar lift but slightly firms up the ride. A preload goes on top of he assembly and ride quality remains the same. The problem is that you can have "too much" topout lift and overextend. Most larger lifts (2 inches and more) use a combination of preload and topout. One more thing is that you shouldn't go by what daystar says on the amount of lift. They advertise spacer thickness. At least on the front you gain double the spacer size, so be aware of that.

Thank you Swamp Rider. I think you may have had a typo and wrote preload twice, but on one example you meant to say non preload or topout? Let me paraphrase what I'm understanding, combined with some of what I've previously read, and please let me know if I'm getting this right?

A precoil and regular spacer both give about the same amount of lift. While the precoil does firm up the ride, the trade off is it doesn't affect the amount of of travel? While a regular spacer has little if any affect on the ride, it does effectively shorten up the amount of travel and can be more succeptable to bottoming out?

Lastly the Daystar system can work with XRES (which I have, and want to keep), but you must be aware that on the front end you will actually end getting double the amount of lift in comparison to the actual thickness of the spacer.

So in conclusion:

1. precoil is firmer, but doesn't affect the amount of travel a suspension system can take over a bump

2. Non precoil retains original firmness, but shortens the amount of travel

3. Daystar's system both with and without XRES will give you double the lift of the spacer's thickness

One additional question please about ''most larger lifts (2 inches and more) use a combination of preload and topout." Does that apply to Daystar's 2.5 / 1.5 XRES compatible system? Thanks.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Sorry I posted from my blackberry nd that is a typo. The second should be topout. As far as I know you got it right in your post. To my knowledge, which is somewhat limited, with ANY front spacer lift your lift is double the spacer thickness.

 

[K.C.]

K.C...question.

I've been following the lift thread very closely. Having XRES and wanting to keep it, makes the spacer threads like this one are very, very helpful....thank you to all involved. That being said I'm getting a pretty good feeling for the Daystar lift advantages / disadvantages. However one thing that still leaves me confused is the precoil vs. regular spacers.

Sorry if this question is an old one, but what is the difference again, and what do they do or not do that makes them desireable? Thanks.

The only way to retain XREAS is to get a Spacer Lift.

XREAS stands for "Cross Linked Relative Absorber System".
X-REAS was designed to help improve vehicle on-road handling performance. This technology links each of the vehicle's shocks to it's diagonal counterpart via a gas hydraulic chamber. During cornering or when traveling over bumpy surfaces, the gas hydrauilc chamber acts like a bank "borrowing" fluid from the cross-linked shock bearing the least amount of force and "loaning" it to the shock sustaining the greatest amount of force. This exchange of fluid helps the 4Runners wheels maintain contact with the driving surface and helps lessen vehicle body sway, pitch and roll, making for a more comfortable ride.

Daystar Spacer Lift
2007 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition Lift

via J.A.

Photo J.A.

 

[K.C.]

X-REAS Picture
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=96905

via Luxury

How To Identify X-REAS Suspension
How to identify X-REAS suspension - Toyota - 4Runner . org Forum

dingo, J.A. & Uneek

 

[K.C.]

I have the 6pc Daystar Spacer Lift.

6pc vs 4pc

Rears are the same regardless of kit.

6pc - front has a preload & topout spacer
4pc - front has no preload...it just has a bigger topout spacer & has bolt extensions.

Whenever you compress anything...it gets firm. So since we had to compress the spring to put in the preload spacer, the ride should be firmer right? I actually don't even notice a difference.

6pc - for the fronts, you replace the stock stud/bolt
4pc - for the fronts, you have a bolt extension on top of the existing stock stud/bolt

I haven't read any problems from anyone on this forum nor Toyota120...but knowing it's an extension...just doesn't make me as ease.

...for further reading...

Daystar Spacer Lift
2007 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition Lift

via J.A.

 

[K.C.]

Cheapest Daystar 2.5/1.5
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/55393-cheapest-daystar-2-5-1-5-a.html

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

why isn't the bilstein 5100 shock kit more popular given it's a complete non-spacer solution with quality shocks to match? it's design to work with the stock springs up front.

i got the ome rear springs or whatever they are and 5100s all around and it rides beautifully.

2.5" lift up front and 1.5" in the back.

i think it's $700 for the kit? i forget. all i know is it cost me $3K for my complete lift job with BFG TA KOs. well worth it.

thats a good question. I like the idea of the bilstein lift as its a bit more than the spacer lift but should ride good as well. Why dont you hear about the bilstein lift more?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

It is a more expensive option for people, which is why it isn't as common. Alone, they provide no lift in the rear. They are a great way to level out the front, but you can get spacers to do that at a fraction of the cost. Most that want more lift than can be achieved by a regular spacer go to coilovers, which is my assumption as to why these aren't as popular. A very popluar option is FJ Cruiser springs and shocks. I've found complete setups for under $100. This is a very appealing option, and fairly common. Why spend more on the Bilsteins if not needed? For me, they seem like an excellent option. The only downside is that the rear shocks are something like an inch longer than stock. I'm not sure if this will cause issues for most of you guys, but on my 4runner with the OEM rear air suspension it will mess it up so I can't run them.

 

[00328]

If you have Xreas, ditch it and go OME. Have whoever you buy it from put the fronts together. Very simple DIY install. You won't regret it. Provides a very nice ride and levels it out.