Lift advice needed

[probwhite1]

I'm about to begin a build on a 2017 Trail Premium with KDSS. I have everything nailed down that I want to do to it. The only place I get overwhelmed is the choices for the suspension lift. I want a 3" lift and I want it leveled. I'm looking for a complete kit to include UCAs.

I want to maitain daily drivability and do lots of mild off roading with the occasional moderate severity off roading. Weight wise, I only plan to add a bully bar and winch and some aluminum skid plates.

Can anyone recommend a complete kit - inluding UCAs - that's $2500 or under?

Thanks in advance!

 

[fkheath]

What you want is a leveling kit; that raises the front and the rear, the front more.

For only 2-3" front lift (1" rear), you don't need UCAs, rather a leveling kit that uses spaces is all; far less cost than $2500. I used the Rough Country leveling kit on my SR5: 2in Suspension Lift Kit for 2010-2019 Toyota 4-Runner 4wd | Rough Country(R). Even though it says it is 2" front, I ended up with more like 2.5".

It does not change the ride quality.

 

[Teamoatmealpie]

I've been happy with my Toytec Boss lift, paired with SPC UCA,

Solves the front end nose dive on braking that stock suspension exhibits, ride is much improved on and off road, can run 285/70/17 tires, doesn't break the bank.

Currently have 70,000 miles on mine, I would buy it again.

 

[Tuco S.]

Toyota 4Runner 2010+/Lexus GX460 Foam Cell Pro Suspension Kit - Stage 2

Ironman lists this kit at $2399 with free shipping, and they give you some free recovery mats (worth about $100). These have adjustable front coil seat heights. A lot of people report they get more than 2" actual rear lift with their 2" performance coils.

You could also look at Dobinsons through Exit Offroad (Crikey Mike is a member here). This is the route I went. I got their IMS shocks front and back, which is comparable to the ironman in the link (adjustable height front coil seats). Dobinsons has more options available to dial-in your desired lift height with their coils. Mike is a great guy, VERY helpful with questions. Those were two big selling points for me.

The Dobinsons UCAs were out of stock and not available for backorder, so I ordered Ironman UCAs. My whole setup with UCAs, diff drop, pre-assembled fronts was just under $2400 shipped.

Dobinsons IMS Suspension Kit Toyota 4Runner 2010-21 | Exit Offroad

 

[Tuco S.]

Just fyi if you're lifting 3" up front be prepared to deal with kdss lean. There are different paths you can choose to compensate for it. Adjustable height coil seats is one way.
You could look into kdss spacers from Treaty Oak Off Road.
They supposedly get the sway bars back closer to their original geometry prior to installing a lift. This may also help with the clearance issue in the rear with the kdss sway bar bracket hitting the panhard bar at full droop. You could also look into eimkeith's panhard correction kit to get the panhard bar back to horizontal after installing your lift.

 

[Jerhelo]

I just did a toytec boss kit with SPC UCA and like it on my 21 TRD Off-road. Did 285 nitro MT tires and yes my mileage dropped considerably. I’d post pics but don’t have the minimum posts yet. But I am happy with the end product for sure.

 

[probwhite1]

What you want is a leveling kit; that raises the front and the rear, the front more.

For only 2-3" front lift (1" rear), you don't need UCAs, rather a leveling kit that uses spaces is all; far less cost than $2500. I used the Rough Country leveling kit on my SR5: 2in Suspension Lift Kit for 2010-2019 Toyota 4-Runner 4wd | Rough Country(R). Even though it says it is 2" front, I ended up with more like 2.5".

It does not change the ride quality.

Thanks but as I said, I'm looking for a complete kit including UCAs.

 

[Rapid_Amble]

Toyota 4Runner 2010+/Lexus GX460 Foam Cell Pro Suspension Kit - Stage 2

Ironman lists this kit at $2399 with free shipping, and they give you some free recovery mats (worth about $100). These have adjustable front coil seat heights. A lot of people report they get more than 2" actual rear lift with their 2" performance coils.

You could also look at Dobinsons through Exit Offroad (Crikey Mike is a member here). This is the route I went. I got their IMS shocks front and back, which is comparable to the ironman in the link (adjustable height front coil seats). Dobinsons has more options available to dial-in your desired lift height with their coils. Mike is a great guy, VERY helpful with questions. Those were two big selling points for me.

The Dobinsons UCAs were out of stock and not available for backorder, so I ordered Ironman UCAs. My whole setup with UCAs, diff drop, pre-assembled fronts was just under $2400 shipped.

Dobinsons IMS Suspension Kit Toyota 4Runner 2010-21 | Exit Offroad

+1 on IMS. I’m also now running them with 302/505 springs and JBA UCAs. Get the fronts preassembled and diy is easy. Exit off-road also sells dirt king UCAs FYI. No KDSS here. Ride is more controlled and very smooth, even more than Dobinson twin tubes which I had before. And the twin tubes were a vast improvement over OEM.

 

[probwhite1]

Thanks guys. I like the options y'all have outlined and am looking into them.

I mentioned that the build will be on a 2017 w/KDSS however I'm actually in the process of purchasing a truck. I just came across a great deal on a 2017 Trail Premium without KDSS. Given the issues some of you mentioned with doing a 3" lift w/KDSS, am I better off without it?

I'm pulling the trigger on one of the 4Runners tomorrow.

 

[Jono.ful]

With your budget, get yourself a set of bilstein 5100's, ome springs, and anything other than spc uca's.

Unless you actually plan to use your truck to its full potential, then go save up about $6k and come back to ask the question again.

 

[lewdog998]

With your budget, get yourself a set of bilstein 5100's, ome springs, and anything other than spc uca's.

Unless you actually plan to use your truck to its full potential, then go save up about $6k and come back to ask the question again.

Please enlighten me on why u say not to get spc ucas....I was thinking about pairing some with eibach lift springs on my 20 pro. Are there issues with them?

 

[Jono.ful]

Please enlighten me on why u say not to get spc ucas....I was thinking about pairing some with eibach lift springs on my 20 pro. Are there issues with them?

Ask Google. There are literally hundreds of reports of broken welds and other failures with spc uca's across their entire product line.

In my experience, eibach springs are also junk. My old Radflo coilovers came with eibachs, they bagged out after about 18 months, at which time I swapped them out for a set of springs from King, which were as great as you'd expect.

Tbh, I didn't have an awesome experience with ome either, but they're cheap and a lot of guys seem to have good luck with them. Springs are inexpensive (even kings), get the best ones you can from a reputable brand. My preference personally is to go with something race-proven, rather than just whatever the current fad is (*coughcoughdobinsoncough*)

 

[lewdog998]

Ask Google. There are literally hundreds of reports of broken welds and other failures with spc uca's across their entire product line.

In my experience, eibach springs are also junk. My old Radflo coilovers came with eibachs, they bagged out after about 18 months, at which time I swapped them out for a set of springs from King, which were as great as you'd expect.

Tbh, I didn't have an awesome experience with ome either, but they're cheap and a lot of guys seem to have good luck with them. Springs are inexpensive (even kings), get the best ones you can from a reputable brand. My preference personally is to go with something race-proven, rather than just whatever the current fad is (*coughcoughdobinsoncough*)

Appreciate the info....I will do some more digging. The solution of the eibach springs is more or less a temp one as I want to get some use out of the fox units before I ditch them. That being said, the ucas will be more of a longterm purchase that I would expect to work with whatever upgraded (king, icon ome or whatever) setup in the next year or so. This vehicle is more of a daily driver than not. What is your suggestion on a solid, serviceable uca...something quiet too.

 

[Jono.ful]

Appreciate the info....I will do some more digging. The solution of the eibach springs is more or less a temp one as I want to get some use out of the fox units before I ditch them. That being said, the ucas will be more of a longterm purchase that I would expect to work with whatever upgraded (king, icon ome or whatever) setup in the next year or so. This vehicle is more of a daily driver than not. What is your suggestion on a solid, serviceable uca...something quiet too.

I run a lot of Total Chaos parts (again, racing pedigree). I've had their uca's on for about 8 years now, but I'd recommend you swap out the spherical bearings for an emf sealed uniball which will last a long longer than an open bearing, and are a direct replacement for the f&k rod ends bearings that Total Chaos uses

Camburg would be my second choice.

I have no experience with the jba uca's personally, but these would be something I would take a close look at as well. A lot of guys local to me really seem to like them, but jba does seem to have a habit of sending out some Jesusy crap with their truck parts for some reason.

Icon makes an ok uca too, but there is nothing special about them to justify the premium price.

Dirt King seem to be pretty popular with the domestic truck market - which in my opinion is enough reason to avoid them - but their uca's seem to be a fine product.

If money is no object, then go with Marlin Crawler's LT ifs setup.

 

[Tuco S.]

That being said, the ucas will be more of a longterm purchase that I would expect to work with whatever upgraded (king, icon ome or whatever) setup in the next year or so. This vehicle is more of a daily driver than not. What is your suggestion on a solid, serviceable uca...something quiet too.

Ironman UCA has 4 degrees caster built-in, allows 33" tires easily, and uses the same kind of bushings and sealed ball joints as oem, which last a long time and are quiet and maintenance free. They're also fully rebuildable using oem parts that can be sourced at any Toyota dealer. You can always wait for their next sale or use a 5% off code for forum members: TLCA5OFF

 

[Tuco S.]

Thanks guys. I like the options y'all have outlined and am looking into them.

I mentioned that the build will be on a 2017 w/KDSS however I'm actually in the process of purchasing a truck. I just came across a great deal on a 2017 Trail Premium without KDSS. Given the issues some of you mentioned with doing a 3" lift w/KDSS, am I better off without it?

I'm pulling the trigger on one of the 4Runners tomorrow.

Kdss has certain benefits and limitations, so it would be worth your time to figure out exactly how the system works, and preferably drive one with and one without before purchasing. I have it and like it very much. It will likely require some additional work to get it squared away after a lift, but nothing major.

 

[Jono.ful]

Ironman UCA has 4 degrees caster built-in, allows 33" tires easily, and uses the same kind of bushings and sealed ball joints as oem, which last a long time and are quiet and maintenance free. They're also fully rebuildable using oem parts that can be sourced at any Toyota dealer. You can always wait for their next sale or use a 5% off code for forum members: TLCA5OFF

OEM ball joints are a non serviceable part. Toyota will tell you to replace the control arm once your ball joints go, which they do. Same would apply to the Ironman BJ's.

My criticism of ironman's uca's would also be that their bushings are non-greasable. Ask anyone who has had to cut out their control arms because of seized alignment cams/tubes on the oem bushings, and you'll get an ear full. The rubber bushings also do not have as long a service life as urathane bushings or the adjustability of heims.

If you want a low/no maintenance part that you just replace when it wears out, sure go get a set of ironman's. If you enjoy some DIY maintenance, and want a UCA that can basically be infinitely rebuilt, get anything else.

 

[Tuco S.]

OEM ball joints are a non serviceable part. Toyota will tell you to replace the control arm once your ball joints go, which they do. Same would apply to the Ironman BJ's.

My criticism of ironman's uca's would also be that their bushings are non-greasable. Ask anyone who has had to cut out their control arms because of seized alignment cams/tubes on the oem bushings, and you'll get an ear full. The rubber bushings also do not have as long a service life as urathane bushings or the adjustability of heims.

If you want a low/no maintenance part that you just replace when it wears out, sure go get a set of ironman's. If you enjoy some DIY maintenance, and want a UCA that can basically be infinitely rebuilt, get anything else.

Cool story. You seem to know more about Ironman's product than they do. Ironman says they are fully rebuildable. The bushings and ball joints are a press fit, so to rebuild you'll have to take it to a shop if you don't have a heavy duty press. The oem bushings and ball joints seem to last a long time. I would think if they failed often there would be a lot of posts complaining about it.

By the way, just got this in an email. Ironman is having a 25% off sale site-wide through March 17 with code GREEN25.

 

[Jono.ful]

Cool story. You seem to know more about Ironman's product than they do. Ironman says they are fully rebuildable. The bushings and ball joints are a press fit, so to rebuild you'll have to take it to a shop if you don't have a heavy duty press. The oem bushings and ball joints seem to last a long time. I would think if they failed often there would be a lot of posts complaining about it.

By the way, just got this in an email. Ironman is having a 25% off sale site-wide through March 17 with code GREEN25.

Find me a part number for an oem Toyota 4runner ball joint...... Its ok, I'll wait...... I'll even give you an official Toyota parts diagram and the link to a Toyota oem parts supplier.

Take your time......

 

[Jono.ful]

And also, this



..... And this (granted, these are lca bushings, but my point remains that bolts seize in the oem bushings)