Leveling with Toytec Coilover

[WisedUpRoverOwner]

So this may be either dumb or someones done it already. I want to level the truck but I don't particularly want a spacer puck on the front end. I also don't want to waste my money buying bilsteins etc when down the road I want to lift the whole truck 3". Would anyone see any reason not to install either the toytec coilover or the icon coil over and just set them to be a level height with stock setting in the rear?

 

[Jeremy556]

I would also add rear shocks, so you will have similar damping at both ends.

 

[Stifler]

I think adding TT coilovers and cranking them down is more of a waste than a $40 top mount spacer. I would either lift it once and right, slap a $40 puck in the front until then OR leave it stock.

 

[adam2562]

I would also add rear shocks, so you will have similar damping at both ends.

agreed... but it sounds like waste.. i have a spacer on my front and haven't found a reason why i would take it out.

 

[eddiebx]

I would also add rear shocks, so you will have similar damping at both ends.

At which point, you might as well just add the rear springs too and lift the damn thing already, lol.

IMO, if you're planning to eventually lift, just either do it all right now, or wait and do it all at once when you're ready.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

I'd say it's OK but not ideal. The big gain is reducing the nose dive so that alone is worth it. The coilovers are the expensive part so ideally I agree with the others. Do the rear springs and shocks at the same time for max benefit. You will not regret it.

 

[ryan87]

Mine is leveled with coilovers. Lifted it about 1.5 or so. And plan to do the rear later down the road. Also I had brand new 32" tires which I will probably get 33s when I lift the rear and crank up the front. That's the plan anyways

 

[Lenny33]

It's nice to know that there are more impatient people than myself! anything done before the real lift just seems like wasted effort and money (to me, anyway). Just hold off and do it right once.

 

[Lenny33]

BTW, I am a new owner and in that impatient time also, but was able to throw on some 285/75 17s with very little rubbing (for now, until I lift). Are you going larger tires?

 

[WisedUpRoverOwner]

Thanks for the input guys! I should have clarified my reasoning more. First I want to level because I'm going nuts with how it looks. I also want to fix the nose dive issue and the lean to driver side. I have enough for the whole lift now but not for tires which makes it look ridiculous if one is done without the other. The puck isn't much of an option for me because it ruins the ride.

 

[Jeremy556]

Tires will make a similar, or more difference in ride. I would (and did) change to LT tires before changing suspension.

 

[Lenny33]

Maybe some more first hand experience needs to weigh in here, but I do not see the puck compromising or even changing your ride, just leveling.

 

[Jtwo]

Like all of the others, I would do it all at once. I went through the same thing as you, hated the way stock ride looked. Went through all of the options (Spacers, Bilstien 5100, coilovers and springs). I saved up and went with Toytec coilovers, springs and UCA's, couldn't be happier.
That being said, if I could do it over again I would've went with icons, don't get me wrong I like the ride quality of the Toytec's but they are a major pain in the a$$ to adjust being bottom adjust coilovers.
Good luck and remember, buy once cry once.....
-J

 

[Stifler]

The puck isn't much of an option for me because it ruins the ride.

if you go with something top mounted you wont even know it is there..

 

[cbielat]

So this may be either dumb or someones done it already. I want to level the truck but I don't particularly want a spacer puck on the front end. I also don't want to waste my money buying bilsteins etc when down the road I want to lift the whole truck 3". Would anyone see any reason not to install either the toytec coilover or the icon coil over and just set them to be a level height with stock setting in the rear?

I don't think it's a stupid idea to buy the coil over set up for now. You'll have a better set up in the front and will reduce the nose dive upon braking. I would agree to get the rear shocks and springs as well though to have even performance response. You don't need to crank it all the way up but it would be slightly taller. Might as well do it right the first time like you say. The spacer will not have any positive effect in the way the suspension feels from stock.

 

[kiecker]

Like all of the others, I would do it all at once. I went through the same thing as you, hated the way stock ride looked. Went through all of the options (Spacers, Bilstien 5100, coilovers and springs). I saved up and went with Toytec coilovers, springs and UCA's, couldn't be happier.
That being said, if I could do it over again I would've went with icons, don't get me wrong I like the ride quality of the Toytec's but they are a major pain in the a$$ to adjust being bottom adjust coilovers.
Good luck and remember, buy once cry once.....
-J

Thanks for posting this thread and comment up. I, too, am going through this debate in my head. Biggest thing is there's sooo/too many options it just gets a bit confusing. I too first looked at spacers but shot that down. Then on to Bilsteins with stock springs. Current progression is a conglomerate of Toytec, Boss, and Icon. Shurg.....

For example, I have a 2013 TE and if I went with Icon....
Icon Stage 1, standard travel, $1,754.80 2010 5th Gen 4Runner Stage 1 Lift - Metal Tech 4x4

For $325 more add in some UCA's
Icon Stage 2, long travel w/ LR UCA $2,079.80 2010 5th Gen 4Runner Stage 2 Lift w/ Light Racing UCA's

For $930 more change the UCA's to billet. (Really?? Are billet $930 better? Not sure.)
Icon Stage 2, long travel w/ billet UCA $3,009.75 2010+ 5th Gen 4Runner Stage 2 Lift - Metal Tech

Of course there's these options too:
Bilstein w/ FJ $909.99: 3" Lift W/ Bilstein 5100 Height Adj Coilovers FJ/4Runner

Toytec Ultimate $1,218.99: FJ Cruiser/4Runner Ultimate 3" lift package

Boss $1,259.99: BOSS Suspension System for 10+ 4Runner and FJ

Add another ~$1000+ for 285 70 17 tires on stock rims (should fit with any of the above I gather).

Perhaps I just need to spreadsheet this up and look at how they compare. I'm also totally open to listening to suggestions for things I know I'm overlooking. I come from motorcycle background, not cars/trucks. I love getting out, exploring, and being a bit dumb in some people's mind - yes I've had my old WRX on 3 wheels loaded in Mexico on high clearance roads. It's all about picking a line I'm loving my TE and know in the future I'd like to beef my current ride up a bit both for aesthetics and potential clearance issues.

 

[superwhite]

BTW, I am a new owner and in that impatient time also, but was able to throw on some 285/75 17s with very little rubbing (for now, until I lift). Are you going larger tires?

Didn't realize that would be possible. Do you have pictures? Any trimming required?

 

[Lenny33]

I can try to post a pic tomorrow, but just to be clear - it does rub, just not bad. I plan to lift within a month so I can be careful until then and not crank the wheel to tight. No trimming but I need to move the fender liner when I get a chance.
Definitely not a permanent solution, but very doable for a short period. The reason I did this is that when I bought the truck I talked them into throwing new tires on it, so I decided to go with what I would want once lifted.

 

[CaliTE]

So this may be either dumb or someones done it already. I want to level the truck but I don't particularly want a spacer puck on the front end. I also don't want to waste my money buying bilsteins etc when down the road I want to lift the whole truck 3". Would anyone see any reason not to install either the toytec coilover or the icon coil over and just set them to be a level height with stock setting in the rear?

I essentially did what you are looking to do. My main priority was to get rid of nose dive, with the intention of going full lift later. I got the Toytec coil overs, but also added the rear bilstein 5100's to improve damping front and rear. It made a huge difference to the way the 4runner rides. I set the front coil overs to their lowest setting and it sits level and looks a lot better.

I also added 285's, but there is rubbing and full lock on bumps driving forward and in reverse. I did the liner mod and removed the mud flaps and the rubbing now only occurs on the frame mount. Beware, with leveling the 4runner you will have to re-aim the headlights otherwise you will piss off most drivers at night and constantly have high beams flashed at you.

I'm happy with my setup for the most part. I think the additions of the bilstein shocks front and rear make a huge difference. If i was going to keep it at this height I would opt for 275's because there would be no rubbing issues at all. However, I will be lifting it to full height in the next couple of months, but right now I share the 4runner with my wife because she likes driving in a bigger vehicle..... So I had to compromise because she was against it being fully lifted. If it wasn't for that I agree with the majority of posters here that you should do the whole thing at once.

However, if I were to do it all over again with the intention of not lifting fully I would still replace the shocks all around, but go with the cheaper bilstein c-clip kit up front with eibach springs. It makes that much of a difference to the ride as far as i'm concerned.

Another reason I didn't mind the idea of getting my full lift in 2 stages was that the outlay of cash will be less severe on personal cash flow. All I need to do is buy the springs and a good set of UCA's now.

Good luck.

 

[Stream2Stream]

My current plan for this summer is to mimic what [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] did. Sway-Away rear coils. Billies all around. But, while he used the stock springs, I am thinking about getting the Toytec's because I am also going to be adding a 4x4labs front bumper. I still want to run 265s (because I want to at least attempt to keep my MPGs in the high teens) so I don't really need the full on Ultimate or Boss.

Of course…we still have 4 months for you guys to convince me otherwise...