Here's the deal. I want to lift 2002 sr5 4wd. I'm looking at an OME complete set up with SPC uca's to get approximately a 3" lift to be able to put 285/70/17's underneath it using a (-12) offset so they stick out about 1.5" or so. Here's my dilemma, this is for my 16yr old daughter, it's her first vehicle and o know she won't be off roading. We live in the VA beach area, so she may go in the sand in North Carolina and that's about it. So I'm thinking I could achieve the same look using the spacer kits I've seen and just replacing the stock springs with new shocks die to wear and mileage. Not sure if I have to get extended shocks, but I will if needed and extended brake lines as well. It'll be a daily driver and to spend approximately $1800 on a lift kit she won't really use is giving me a hard time. Please let me know what you think about doing the spacer thing given her use.
Lift blocks vs suspension lift?
- Thread starter Mikeyt
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To be blunt I think the idea of lifting your 16 year old daughter's first vehicle is ****ing stupid.
Mudeprived
New member
This.
jgue467
Senior Member
I agree with Everyone above, first vehicles should be stock, mild and easy to drive and hopefully won't end up as pinatas.
I'd keep the tires stock, it will handle much better but if you really want a mild lift do a Body Lift instead.
It still raises COG but by about 2/3 less due to only the body being lifted, all else stays put, doesn't affect suspension geometry either.
Oh and its far cheaper than your current choices. Fat Pats and others exist as parts suppliers.
Luck, hope She enjoys the Runner for a very long time. :cowboy:
I'd keep the tires stock, it will handle much better but if you really want a mild lift do a Body Lift instead.
It still raises COG but by about 2/3 less due to only the body being lifted, all else stays put, doesn't affect suspension geometry either.
Oh and its far cheaper than your current choices. Fat Pats and others exist as parts suppliers.
Luck, hope She enjoys the Runner for a very long time. :cowboy:
96RedRunner
Senior Member
I used the polly lift with new factory shocks, new springs on 96RedRunner for couple years. This was back when Toyota had a recall for rear spring sag (2000)
so I purchased new front springs only. Was a pavement DD during this time.
I wouldn't do it for safety reasons on high milage springs with the change of COG. Had 265-75-16 tires, net lift was probably 2".
Both my daughter and son learned to drive with this setup, all survived the experience, Lol. Every kid is different, results can vary with new driver learning curve.
Good Luck!!
so I purchased new front springs only. Was a pavement DD during this time.
I wouldn't do it for safety reasons on high milage springs with the change of COG. Had 265-75-16 tires, net lift was probably 2".
Both my daughter and son learned to drive with this setup, all survived the experience, Lol. Every kid is different, results can vary with new driver learning curve.
Good Luck!!
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You want to do your daughter a favor to ensure her safety? Buy her a five speed. Driving a vehicle with a clutch keeps the driver engaged, leaving less time for texting, etc. Both of my kids actually took their road tests in a manual trans vehicle. The examiners were very impressed.
And, yes, say no to the lift.
And, yes, say no to the lift.
MaineRunna
Member
I had a customer about 20 years ago who bought his son a late model Audi as his first car which he promptly totalled. Then he bought him a late model Saab, which he totalled. When he showed up with a gold mid 80's Chevy Celebrity station wagon for inspection and told me the story of the previous vehicles. I told him that maybe it would have been a better idea to start with the Chevy. I think lifting the 4Runner 3" and putting bigger tires on a new driver's vehicle thus changing the center of gravity, handling characteristics and making the speedo read lower speed than you are actually going is not a good idea. The stock ride height and tire size is more than adequate for daily driving, snow storms, beach driving, mild off-roading etc. Hell, you could do that with a Subaru.
If you really want to do this just go with 2" or 3" strut and rear coil spacers. You don't really need to change the shocks or brake lines.
Of course who am I to talk, when I first got my license I was doing rollbacks for an hour straight in a remote part of town with my dad's 78 Pontiac or driving around with like 10 people in it never wearing seatbelts of course.
If you really want to do this just go with 2" or 3" strut and rear coil spacers. You don't really need to change the shocks or brake lines.
Of course who am I to talk, when I first got my license I was doing rollbacks for an hour straight in a remote part of town with my dad's 78 Pontiac or driving around with like 10 people in it never wearing seatbelts of course.
All this is good food for thought. I see all of your lines of thinking and very good advice and I sincerely thank you for it. I'll probably get her used to it first before any changes. I know she's been looking at them for a while and they look sweet as I've seen many of yours out here and was looking to do the same thing. Sometimes I forget living vicariously through or with the kids isn't always a good idea....lol I guess with my older two I built them mild stop light racers I figured why not lift one? The other two didn't have a problem so why not, but you can't push the limit but much....haha You guys have been the voice of reason I didn't consider. Thank you for your input as I value it because it really wasn't something I considered. I just thought what ha would there be raising a little would be, but didn't really consider COG and roll quotient as being a factor. Maybe I'll lower it instead...lol She can hug the ground better...haha That being said, I know I'll do something to it because I'm not one to keep something stock when I get it. I'm a tinkerer so I gotta do something, exhaust for sure. Any other suggestions?
tystaco
New member
I get what you are saying, but I also remember my senior year when my 17 year old girlfriend taught my to drive stick and she could cruise that old Ford Tempo while on her cell phone and eating chicken nuggets with sweet and sour dipping sauce.
96RedRunner
Senior Member
It's the internet everybody has an opinion.
When teaching my kids driving I had two vehicles one lowered, one lifted.
I explained the difference, they experienced the difference in handling characteristics.
Both tended to drive more sensible in 4Runner than SCCA prepped Miata.
I took them wheeling with them behind the wheel, they learned how to drift a figure 8 in Miata.
Everyone is different, teach your daughter all you can and pray.
Wow! I hope you married her. Sounds like a keeper to me.
Edit - Beautiful dog, by the way. A blue merle Aussie?
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robbyfargo
New member
IMO suspension lift. Blocks might give the truck the same look but suspension would be more practical on the long run. If your daughter won’t be doing much off-roading, then you sure can! Good luck brotha!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
tystaco
New member
Nah, I traded up to better. My wife loves her 2000 limited.
And thanks, that's my boy, Blitz.
Hey 96redrunner, teaching your lids how drift in your 4runner would've been quite impressive.....LOL. My daughter isn't quite the adventurous type and there aren't really any places to go around me to do that type of driving anyway, she would have to ask permission to do so. And that little location device I have would let me know if she got out of a certain mileage radius which she knows of she tried...haha.
Jon88
New member
Man I’m 31 have kids as well so take this from another dads perspective, don’t do it. I put a 3” suspension lift on mine with 295/75/17 and replaced about every component you can think of to make it safer. With that being said Our 3rd gens are not the safest things to drive lifted like that, the braking distance gets affected, the MPG go way down, the turn over rate increases dramatically, I won’t even go over 70 in mine on the nicest road around. It was raining today I barely hit 60MPH and it was sketchy. If I was you I would do a cheap mild 1” lift with some 265’s all terrain tires, this way it will look good yet keeps your daughter in something safer and easier to drive. Just my two cents
96RedRunner
Senior Member
Lol, no way in hell a 4Runner will drift and stay right side up!!
Both rides were mine used to teach driving skills, off limits if their mother or I not in car with them during learners permit stage.
Daughter wanted Accord coupe, son Jeep cherokee when license cut'em loose.
Neither have had a wreck yet, daughter speeding tickets, got that from her momma. Son drives like an old man, lol.
As for lifting your daughter's 4runner, Do it right. Would be a life long regret if you went cheap and she was injured or worse.
A really safe setup, my opinion, 99 Tall springs and 265/75-16 tires, wheels of her choice maybe.
Springs can be had for $100 each approx. swaybar end links won't need changing, stock geometry is retained.
Good Luck
