IMPORTANT Lift questions?

Antpwr

Antpwr

New member
Alright, here is the story, i'm not new to toyota or off roading, have had a few 85 yotas on 36's and recently an 02 Tacoma double cab with 9" of susp. lift and 38.5 claws, (no body lift of cutting), i now own a 99 4runner limited, and have been looking at lift options, i want at least 3 plus, more hoping for 6", i think i have figured it out for the front at least, some minor fabing, no cutting or body lift wanted though, the problem seems to be the rear, i have heard that LC80 front springs, can get a 5" lift on the 4rnr rear, and that OME 851 will get 6", is any of this true, and i want to know if anyone has got an idea where the hell to pick up an adjustable pan hard bar, and adjustable links, as at that height the links will pull the axle forward more, and any ideas on how to safely get the 6" height all the way around would be helpful, any ideas are good ideas. The end goal, to run a set of 35" tires, either Baja Claws (had great luck with them) or something similar, thanks and appreciate the feedback.
 
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If you want that much lift with out any body lift your best bet is going to be a SAS. I don't think there are any other ways to get 6" of lift on our IFS unless you do some sort of custom long travel.

Ask Scott(addicted offroad) about the SAS if you need any info on that.
 
StreetKill831 said:
If you want that much lift with out any body lift your best bet is going to be a SAS. I don't think there are any other ways to get 6" of lift on our IFS unless you do some sort of custom long travel.

Ask Scott(addicted offroad) about the SAS if you need any info on that.
Click to expand...

You will need to do a sub frame drop (drop bracket lift) to drop the front diff and suspension. If you stay with IFS, 35s are hard on CVs, unless you aren't going to wheel it.

Panhard bar. It would be best to do a frame drop for the bar end. This will get the bar back to stock angle. Also if you lengthen the PHB that much, toy will have an arc that leans to the drivers side when flexing. So when you stuff the drivers side your axle will arc toward the drivers side and into the gas tank. This is a problem when stock and a long PHB will magnify that issue.

As far as rear coils. You have thought about the 851. Also look at the 850 and 850J Cruiser Outfitters (scroll down to US measurements)

Longer links, if staying with the stock frame mounts, will recenter the axle at ride height but they will force the tires into the rear of the wheel well when compressed.

I think you will still be cutting to allow 35s to tuck without rubbing tons.
Maybe some fiberglass front fenders will help.
 
I really don't like body lifts either but there is no way to get 5-6"s up front unles you do a pro-comp bracket lift. Which IMO is worse then the way everyone else runs 35's. That is 3" suspension, 1.5 BL and a little sawzall and hammer action. Or SAS and custom rear links.

To answer your other question Sonoran Steel makes an adjustable Panhard bar and I am working with a fab shop to make some link arms that are adjustable. The problem you will have with adjusting the arms to move the axle back is that you then wont be able to stuff the tire unless you do fender trimming.
 
hey guys thanks for the replys, first off, i have heard that using a drop pan hard bar is a bad thing to do, but using an adjustable one that stays in the stock location, is much better, and now thanks to you guys at least i know where to find one, thanks Pikeman, let me know how the adjustable links come out, and how much you could get them for. And i really dont want to cut anything up, just hate doing that on newer body styles. And i honestly never had one cv shaft fail on my 02 Tacoma, and that had 38.5s, even when it just had the 35s on it it never gave me a problem either, no humming, no clicking, no binding, even when i was pulling out 3/4 ton domestics barried up to the frame, lol. I would like to know if anyone knows if the geometry, and everything suspension and chassis wise is the same for the 99 4runner and the 02 tacoma, because the main component of the 6" lift is the brackets that drop the diff and rack and then larger longer knuckles, is it possible to use those pieces on the runner, and then try and find some 6" lift springs, thanks again guys
 
you can get 6" in the back with lc 9 wrap coils like I have, looks like the 851/861 can get pretty close to 6" also

I have my front coilovers at about 4" of lift. so I have a bit of rake, but its not bad,

if you want a true 6" up front you have to do a drop bracket like Gerdo said,
Flexincrunner has a Fabtech drop bracket lift on his, you can check it out.

Scottys "Addicted offroad" SAS sits pretty close to level with mine, hes not that tall. Ill take some pics when I go by there tomorrow if you want to see.
 
Antpwr said:
hey guys thanks for the replys, first off, i have heard that using a drop pan hard bar is a bad thing to do, but using an adjustable one that stays in the stock location,
Click to expand...

actually its just the opposite, you will throw off your geometry with an adjustable one,

if you drop the panhard bracket you keep the stock geometry,
 
yeah i was doing some research last night and came across the thread about using the lc coils, then i checked out OME and came across their spring heights, seems as thought the lc 9 rap, or the 420 comp or the 850J will get me as close to the 6" as i am looking for, and i kinda had a feeling that i could use the 02 tacoma drop brackets, and the knuckles on the 99 4rnr, just sucks i got rid of the truck before i could take them off, now i have to spend about 2k on a complete kit from fabtech, cheaper than piecing it out, which would run about 1900. Do you guys have any idea where i could find a bolt on drop phb bracket, for a resonable price, tight budget, especially when i still have to buy freakin tires and rims too.
 
thanks guys, appreciate the help to a newbie to the site, i am considering just going with the taco 6" fabtech lift like i had, and then go with the 6" lc 9 wrap coils, if i can even find any, or the 420/850J coils from Cruiser Outfiters, great site by the way, and then i think the drop down PHB bracket, and of course some little stuff along the way, brake lines, drop brackets, etc. I would like to ask all of those who have a 3" lift, what did you use, what stuff did you have to do to fit it, what size tires did you use, and how functional is it, thanks guys.
 
If you're getting the lift for looks, then the Fabtech will be ok (but expensive). If you're lifting it to increase off road ability, then go with a 3" suspension lift. The drop bracket lifts actually reduce your ground clearance from stock and aren't as functional on the trail as a 3" suspension lift. You also cannot easily return the truck to stock after you put a DB lift on because you have to hack out pieces of your stock IFS so you're stuck with it whether you decide you like it or not. In other words, in terms of functionality, the DB lifts suck. For info what we use for 3" lifts..
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/66976-3rd-gen-4runner-lift-information-faqs.html
 
Also if you plan to wheel it then 6" is way to tall anyways as our Runners are top heavy as it is. A good 3" lift Toytec Ultimate or Sonoran Steel 1.2 is what you need to be capable of running Black diamond runs. Take a look at the thread What Trails have you run that was revived recently. Also look for a number of trails that Jmoney,drifter,Brian2sun, Glenyoshida have done. Steve Shaffer of Sonoran steel is also on a few you tube videos as well as Glen yoshida of doing some incredible trails. All with a 3" lift. Also searh for Post Up you Flex shots in the offroad setion. If you want to wheel then a 3" with 33's will get you up just about anything. If you must have 35's then get the 1.5" body lift and follow the instructions on Sonoran Steels site on how to fit 35's.
 
Do NOT do the 420 or the 850J. They are super stiff in a LC which has a extra 1000 lbs over the 4runner. I would not want to know what they would be like in a 3rd gen. Get either the LC stock 9 wrap, the OME 851, or 861. The 9 wrap and the 861 will give you around 5-5.5 and the 851 should get you about 6. I have the 861's in my 4runner and i have about 5.5 inches of lift. Also, i used to rub with my 33's at full stuff before i did my body lift. I guess it depends on how you will be driving it. But full compression is full compression. No suspension is really going to change that.
 
hey thanks guys, been real busy lately, but i appreciate the help. I used to run the DB lift on my 02 taco, at first with 35s, never got stuck.....ever, and loved it, but did not realize the top heavy issue, like a dip****, never had the pleasure of owning a 4runner. I do plan on daily driver, and weekend wheeler, as i did with the taco, so it has to be functional, and i am thinking more and more that the 6" lift might just not be reasonably possible, will cost way too much, and will put me in the risk of a roll over, even with adding wider tires, and even some spacing. Im thinking of just going with the 3" lift, then unwillingly a 1-1.5" body lift with either the 33 or 35" claws. Tell me if anyone has come across the 3" spring lift from WabFab, or BlueYFab, are they any good, reliable, and do i need anything else with the 3" lift, hey thanks guys again, i can see why this is a great place to be, you all have been really helpful.

WabFab Off-Road LLC | 1996-2002 4Runner Lift Kits
BLUEYFAB: 4Runner
 
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