How do you level your 4Runner?

[wkeryder4]

I was wondering how you guys determine if your 4Runner is level? Since I swapped out my coils I got to thinking about how to determine if it was level. I have previously always measure from floor to fender and thought that it would be level once they were all the same or as close as possible. However, after taking some measurements I noticed that the 4th Gen 4Runner has a bit of a rake in the body lines themselves. In that I mean the front fender is lower than the rear fender even when the measurement from the front door sill and the rear door sill is equal. I noticed that even though my front fender is about 1.5-2" lower than my rear fender the body itself is almost completely level. Do you guys take this into account when leveling out your 4Runners?

 

[Avwizz]

I would assume that "level" would mean that the front and rear are at the same height, regardless of the body lines. Personally I'd want a bit of rake so whenever you put something in the back it sits more level rather than looking like your back shocks are toast.

P/s I see you're in florida, what part?

 

[S p a r k y]

Mine has roughly 1.5" or rake just about perfect IMO! May try 1" but that requires me doing work, so may not happen!

 

[preacher35]

I was wondering how you guys determine if your 4Runner is level? Since I swapped out my coils I got to thinking about how to determine if it was level. I have previously always measure from floor to fender and thought that it would be level once they were all the same or as close as possible. However, after taking some measurements I noticed that the 4th Gen 4Runner has a bit of a rake in the body lines themselves. In that I mean the front fender is lower than the rear fender even when the measurement from the front door sill and the rear door sill is equal. I noticed that even though my front fender is about 1.5-2" lower than my rear fender the body itself is almost completely level. Do you guys take this into account when leveling out your 4Runners?

I think most people here on T4R.org measure as you did, from the ground to the top fender lip. Toyteclifts.com measures from the center of the hub to the top fender lip. But addressing your hypothesis about rake, I completely understand what you are getting at. I suppose the only way to TRULY measure how level the vehicle is, you first must define which part of the vehicle must be level. I would suggest that it is the frame. Thus, would you measure from the ground to the frame spars? Yes, but wheel clearance seems to be the most important reason for lifting, and thus, the "ground to lip" measurement is the most dominant.

 

[wkeryder4]

I think most people here on T4R.org measure as you did, from the ground to the top fender lip. Toyteclifts.com measures from the center of the hub to the top fender lip. But addressing your hypothesis about rake, I completely understand what you are getting at. I suppose the only way to TRULY measure how level the vehicle is, you first must define which part of the vehicle must be level. I would suggest that it is the frame. Thus, would you measure from the ground to the frame spars? Yes, but wheel clearance seems to be the most important reason for lifting, and thus, the "ground to lip" measurement is the most dominant.

It seems to be the consensus to measure from fender to floor or hub to floor to get the most accurate information. To make sure I wasn't crazy I went back and took measurement from the bottom of the front fender on the door side and the bottom of the rear door closest to the tire and the numbers are only about .25" higher in the rear. This is with my front fender to floor at 38" and rear fender to floor at 40". The only reason I ask this is because I'm going back and forth on setting my bilsteins up one more notch to the .85 setting. I think the truck looks completely level as it sits now but the front fender definitely lower than the rear. I think I'm just making this harder than it needs to be lol. It's going to stay where it is unless someone convinces me otherwise.

I would assume that "level" would mean that the front and rear are at the same height, regardless of the body lines. Personally I'd want a bit of rake so whenever you put something in the back it sits more level rather than looking like your back shocks are toast.

P/s I see you're in florida, what part?

I'm in Jacksonville.

 

[Avwizz]

For the actual measurement you'll want to go with the center of hub to fender. going from the ground to fender will give variances because of the tire size or even inflation.

 

[Rocket61]

What I do is measure ground to fender, then ground to top of tire, and finally subtract half of the second measurement from the first.

so: ground to fender - (ground to top of tire/2)

That's the most accurate way to get a hub to fender measurement.