Level 13TE

[Lucas06]

Hey just visited an offload shop today discussing leveling my trail. His recommendation was a daystar 2.5 spacer. After extensive research on this site and reading every thread imaginable about bilstein 1500's I think it's the way I want to go(i had spacer on my 06 SE and wanna try something diff).The biggest issue I struggle with is wether to go .85 or 1.75 setting? I don't really want to spaceer the rear.

Also does anyone know a decent shop in Vegas? Or where have you had them installed? This is the first mod for my new 4runner and want it to look good. Thanks for helping to beat this horse.

 

[BobsTrail]

Bilsteins

I put 5100s in front set to 0.85. I think if I had done 1.75 it would be level but may get a reverse rake when loaded. Photo is with 0.85. The rear is 1 inch higher measured at the top of the wheel well.

 

[philsey]

Here's mine set @ .85. It has a very very slight rake, but personally I'd not want the front set higher.

 

[NoDak]

man that is a nice looking blue te.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

man that is a nice looking blue te.

Lol was gonna say the same thing! Nice TE there......

 

[eddiebx]

Here's mine set @ .85. It has a very very slight rake, but personally I'd not want the front set higher.

View attachment 101982

Of all the angles you could've taken this picture to show us the slight rake, you pick the one angle that blocks the entire rear wheel well with the only pole in sight. :doh:

 

[jbstrd]

Hey just visited an offload shop today discussing leveling my trail. His recommendation was a daystar 2.5 spacer. After extensive research on this site and reading every thread imaginable about bilstein 1500's I think it's the way I want to go(i had spacer on my 06 SE and wanna try something diff).The biggest issue I struggle with is wether to go .85 or 1.75 setting? I don't really want to spaceer the rear.

Also does anyone know a decent shop in Vegas? Or where have you had them installed? This is the first mod for my new 4runner and want it to look good. Thanks for helping to beat this horse.

You should try hooking up with a forum member in your area to do the lift install yourself. I believe [MENTION=83218]Vegas[/MENTION] installed his own lift. Not that I am volunteering anyone, but there are always people willing to help other members out on this forum.

 

[philsey]

Of all the angles you could've taken this picture to show us the slight rake, you pick the one angle that blocks the entire rear wheel well with the only pole in sight. :doh:

Whiney little beotch ...

 

[HwyChile]

Whiney little beotch ...

View attachment 102003

Now you took a picture of it on a hill. Man can't you take a decent picture. LOL Just kidding.

On a more serious note, how did you like the shocks and have you had any trouble out of them? I read where some people have had leaks, etc. from them. Also, did you have to get an alignment?

I just bought a 2014 Trail and I am thinking of buying the same shocks but I am not sold on trying to level it because I don't want to have to get an alignment and I am concerned about messing up any of the engineering that went into the suspension and the car. There is a reason it has the rake that it has from the factory. I may use those shocks on the factory ride height with stock sized AT tires. I don't do any real off roading, just camping, transporting dirt bike on ranches, etc.

 

[HwyChile]

I put 5100s in front set to 0.85. I think if I had done 1.75 it would be level but may get a reverse rake when loaded. Photo is with 0.85. The rear is 1 inch higher measured at the top of the wheel well.

What do you mean by the rear is 1 inch higher. I was under the impression that leveling meant to just raise the front. Why is the rear higher?

 

[BobsTrail]

I set the 5100s to 0.85 and not to 1.75. This brought the front up, but not enough to level it.
That helped the nose dive and when loaded does not go reverse rake.

I also added Air Lifts and leave them at 5psi unless carrying more passengers and gear.

 

[eddiebx]

What do you mean by the rear is 1 inch higher. I was under the impression that leveling meant to just raise the front. Why is the rear higher?

In factory form, the front is ~2" shorter than the rear (measured at the fender)...so if you only lift 1" up front you still end up with the rear being 1" taller, that's all

 

[Lucas06]

Thanks for the help...still would be interested in seeing one set at 1.75. Great looking 4runner I have the same color TE.

 

[HwyChile]

In factory form, the front is ~2" shorter than the rear (measured at the fender)...so if you only lift 1" up front you still end up with the rear being 1" taller, that's all

It makes perfect sense now that you explain it. I guess I did not have enough coffee when I read it earlier. :doh:

 

[philsey]

Now you took a picture of it on a hill. Man can't you take a decent picture. LOL Just kidding.

Keep it up b!tches, I've got plenty of pics.

.... On a more serious note, how did you like the shocks and have you had any trouble out of them? I read where some people have had leaks, etc. from them. Also, did you have to get an alignment?
.

I like them, no problems. I'm due for an OC tho, and I want to check them then.

Alignment? Yes, but I also had some wandering issues, and from this Forum learned that the caster needed to be changed from stock, so that, plus tires, was all done at once.

As to "leveling", you're right; .85 still has a little rake, but I preferred that to the 1.75 setting. I just didn't care for the stock rake, plus I wanted firmer shocks. The springs are just a little too soft also, but I don't care enough to fix that.

 

[veloindy]

Keep it up b!tches, I've got plenty of pics.

View attachment 102021



I like them, no problems. I'm due for an OC tho, and I want to check them then.

Alignment? Yes, but I also had some wandering issues, and from this Forum learned that the caster needed to be changed from stock, so that, plus tires, was all done at once.

As to "leveling", you're right; .85 still has a little rake, but I preferred that to the 1.75 setting. I just didn't care for the stock rake, plus I wanted firmer shocks. The springs are just a little too soft also, but I don't care enough to fix that.

good grief, philsey, this picture is at an angle! LOL

I should take a pic of mine, but I'm lazy. Maybe this weekend.

HwyChile, Billy's have a lifetime warranty, don't worry about leaks. Mine are set to .85 in the front, and love it. If you want to completely eliminate the nose dive, the stock springs have to go.

 

[HwyChile]

good grief, philsey, this picture is at an angle! LOL

I should take a pic of mine, but I'm lazy. Maybe this weekend.

HwyChile, Billy's have a lifetime warranty, don't worry about leaks. Mine are set to .85 in the front, and love it. If you want to completely eliminate the nose dive, the stock springs have to go.

Thanks for that excellent advice sir. That is exactly what my research has me thinking. I am not sure why Toyota made the suspension so spongy. I just traded my 2011 Highlander for my new 2014 Trail, and my Highlander was nothing like this. I can live with it but I prefer not to if I can fix part of it. I love the Trail so this will just make it better. I may do the same .85 as you. Either that or stock setting.

 

[HwyChile]

Keep it up b!tches, I've got plenty of pics.

View attachment 102021



I like them, no problems. I'm due for an OC tho, and I want to check them then.

Alignment? Yes, but I also had some wandering issues, and from this Forum learned that the caster needed to be changed from stock, so that, plus tires, was all done at once.

As to "leveling", you're right; .85 still has a little rake, but I preferred that to the 1.75 setting. I just didn't care for the stock rake, plus I wanted firmer shocks. The springs are just a little too soft also, but I don't care enough to fix that.

Much better picture. That looks nice. I suspected the springs are soft too, but like you I don't want to replace those if I don't have to do so. Are you saying the alignment caster settings won't work and there needs to be some other setting?????

 

[philsey]

No. I'm saying that MINE had some steering wander from new. After reading here about how to improve this, I waited until after installing Billys and tires to have an alignment with the caster set to +4 deg.

 

[HwyChile]

No. I'm saying that MINE had some steering wander from new. After reading here about how to improve this, I waited until after installing Billys and tires to have an alignment with the caster set to +4 deg.

OK. I just ordered my Bilstein 5100 shocks from Mud Flaps--#24-196499 for the for the front and #33-187174 for the back.