Just Installed 2" Topout Spacer

[dylanc]

Hey everybody, I just lifted/leveled my 4runner and thought Id share.

I bought the Daystar 2" topout spacer from Wheelers ($50 w/ shipping) and had Big Brand Tire install it ($210 w/ alignment). I bought the topout spacer (part of the OLD Daystar kit) because I did not want to change the ride characteristics, as a preload spacer would do.

So far I am extremely pleased with this mod, and wish I had done it earlier. Gas mileage does NOT seem to be affected in any noticeable way (I still have stock size xterrain tires). I have not lifted the rear, so the truck has almost zero rake. It doesnt look like a monster truck, but to me it looks 10x better than the sunken nose stock setup. As soon as these tires wear out Ill throw on a set of 265/70R17 AT's.

 

[dylanc]

Heres a pic:

It looks like the front is higher, but its really not. I used a crappy camera phone so the small lens distorts things that arent equal distances away.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Very nice! Looks great. Congrats, nice upgrade


:cheers:

 

[PA08T4R]

I'm curious, when you all say that it is now level, were are you measuring or what are you considering to be level?

Since I have been watching this site, I've read various post about lifts and leveling the 4Runner. I do agree that the front looks low and should come up some. When I briefly looked at mine, it seemed to be level at the frame to the ground. The sidebars appear level, the bottom of the windows look level to the ground. Why I ask is because I have not been able to actually see one lifted and have not had the time to find a level service and take exact measurements. My concern is that if I lift the front to level the body look, the other parts (frame/window bottom) will look like they are going up hill.

I'm guessing that someone has probably already done the measuring and would appreciate it if they could share their thoughts and findings.

Look forward to any input.

TS

 

[Falls]

Looks good although hard to tell since it's not on level ground.

I thought preload and top out were better for the ride quality ??? I still cannot get the top out spacer and preload spacer thing or where they get positioned in there. One of those things I'll never get and many have tried to explain to me. ( Maybe it's my 4th grade education that hinders my understanding )

Dylanc , how many miles on your truck ?? V6/V8 ?

 

[chaz]

level

stop looking at the running board so much. put it on level ground & youll see everything still looks like its going down hill, with the possible exception of the RB. ive raised my front 2 ins. & the front still sits 3/4 - 1 in. lower than the rear.( depending on the side you measure) but yes the running board is about 1/2- 3/4 higher in the front. (think of it as your thumb nail size in difference) thats nothing. if you cant live with that little off then either dont lift it more than 1 in. or remove the running boards (install rock sliders). hey, raise the rear an in. at the same time .maybe someone has done a mod on the runners to make it appear more level? all other measurements - grd to top of side molding, grd- window bottom ,etc. are still lower in the front , again , at least to me, its just the running board measurement that is is slightly out of level (1/2-3/4) with a full 2 in. front lift. funny thing is, at stock height, the front of the running board looks like it goes slightly down hill, even the measurement will verify that. but i guess that looks more exceptable to the human eye.

 

[SP Jon M3]

To OP: Just be careful with that lift...

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/suspension-and-axle/133913-why-most-spacer-lifts-are-bad/

 

[UPS92008]

Looks good. I def want to get my 4runner level and a touch taller at the same time. Nice stance for sure.

 

[chaz]

spacers

that was a very good read on the tundra site, more people thinking of thick spacers should check it out.

 

[EH007]

I think his 2" lift is actually accomplished by using a spacer that is 1" thick. A spacer that small shouldn't cause any problems with the balljoints. But even so, I think 2" of front end lift is too high if you are going to leave the rear suspension at stock height. I prefer to have a little bit of rake remaining. That way if I have a heavy load of cargo or I'm towing something, the back end will not look like it is sagging.

 

[08t4rUR]

Dylanc, could You post some more after pics? Thanks!

 

[BAF85]

When you put the BFG AT's on there it is going to finish it off.. Your gonna love it.. I have the same set up on my 2005 and it made all the difference in the world.

 

[dylanc]

Looks good although hard to tell since it's not on level ground.

I thought preload and top out were better for the ride quality ??? I still cannot get the top out spacer and preload spacer thing or where they get positioned in there. One of those things I'll never get and many have tried to explain to me. ( Maybe it's my 4th grade education that hinders my understanding )

Dylanc , how many miles on your truck ?? V6/V8 ?

Ive got about 75k on my 4Runner.

Topout spacers dont mess with the suspension characteristics at all, it just shoves the whole suspension setup down (which means the truck goes up). Preload spacers essentially lengthen the suspension, giving the same end effect but also stiffens things up. Member J.A. has done some really good writeups and even threw in some diagrams so see if you can find some of his posts. He also has a website that has his writeups.

 

[dylanc]

I'm curious, when you all say that it is now level, were are you measuring or what are you considering to be level?

Since I have been watching this site, I've read various post about lifts and leveling the 4Runner. I do agree that the front looks low and should come up some. When I briefly looked at mine, it seemed to be level at the frame to the ground. The sidebars appear level, the bottom of the windows look level to the ground. Why I ask is because I have not been able to actually see one lifted and have not had the time to find a level service and take exact measurements. My concern is that if I lift the front to level the body look, the other parts (frame/window bottom) will look like they are going up hill.

I'm guessing that someone has probably already done the measuring and would appreciate it if they could share their thoughts and findings.

Look forward to any input.

TS

Oh man your OCD is worse than mine :biggrin2: The pic is really deceiving due to it being taken with a camera phone that has a tiny plastic lens - stuff gets distorted. By level I mean the fenders are the same height above the tires. I havent measured, but the running boards and windows look level too. To me, it looks like the 4runner body was made parallel. In other words, if you set just the body on the ground, the fenders and windows would be level to the ground/running boards. Therefore, by cranking the front up about 2", I leveled everything, which really looks a ton better.

 

[dylanc]

When you put the BFG AT's on there it is going to finish it off.. Your gonna love it.. I have the same set up on my 2005 and it made all the difference in the world.

For Sure! As soon as these stock tires wear out and its 265/70R17 BFG AT's