Lift Help - opinions

[Jbot]

Hey all,
I have a 1999 runner with stock suspension, and stock 15" wheels.
I am looking into giving it a lift, maybe 3" maybe less, i dont know at this point.
Just wanting opinions from the more experienced in the forum. I have read all the lift threads but id really like opinions from those who are more experienced.

Thanks

 

[Kanger328]

Depends what you want to lift for. Looks or off road? If off road, how hardcore of a trail will you be going on?

 

[Jbot]

For both really. I like the lifted look, and i also go offroad, not to harsh a trail, just simple stuff, nothing thats going to require too much.

 

[tre9er]

For both really. I like the lifted look, and i also go offroad, not to harsh a trail, just simple stuff, nothing thats going to require too much.

OME springs give you options in the 1.5-3" range. If you don't mind a harsh ride (many say this about the OME's) then you can just go that way for simplicity.

Personally I'm leaning towards Bilstein 5100 (Tundra) adjustables up front with stock springs, 5th perch, for about 2-2.5" lift. In the rear I'm probably going 99 Highlander tall springs, new longer travel shocks (maybe RC's for now) and a Daystar 1.5" top spacer.

 

[jakknz]

OME springs give you options in the 1.5-3" range. If you don't mind a harsh ride (many say this about the OME's) then you can just go that way for simplicity.

Personally I'm leaning towards Bilstein 5100 (Tundra) adjustables up front with stock springs, 5th perch, for about 2-2.5" lift. In the rear I'm probably going 99 Highlander tall springs, new longer travel shocks (maybe RC's for now) and a Daystar 1.5" top spacer.

So you finally figured it out? I like the choices and best of all it won't set you back too much $$

For what you describe Jbot, tre9er has posted some good info. You won't need aftermarket uca's etc. Bilstein 5100's are an excellent choice up front and can be paired with eibach springs or you can keep the stock coils. In the rear you have OME's, LC coils, or spacers. Some guys have put the monroe quicklift struts in up front as well.

What you want really depends on what you want to spend. A decent 3" lift can be put together for under $500. You can gain 1" all around by getting '99 coils made for 16 inch wheel runners as your 15 inch wheels meant you got the shorter coils.

Questions for you to consider:

How much do you want to spend?
What kind of ride can you live with?
Will you do the work or will someone else?
How much lift do you really want?
Do you want a body lift at all in addition to the suspension lift?

If you provide those answers then we can narrow your options down.

 

[tre9er]

So you finally figured it out? I like the choices and best of all it won't set you back too much $$

In the rear you have OME's, LC coils, or spacers. Some guys have put the monroe quicklift struts in up front as well.

Yeah, I think I finally realized what my options were, and there weren't many, especially in the rear, for the money, and without tons of additional mods needed. Plus, I wanted scalability.

The LC's are about 4" lift minimum, for 7-wraps, so I don't know that this would work for him unless he wants to extend brake lines and drop the panhard. Then he'd have to do 3"+ front lift which means diff-drop, potential UCA rub or swap, etc.

 

[Jbot]

I dont really want to do too much extra to make it work as in brake line extension ect.
Its a daily driver so i dont want the ride to suffer too much, but im also on a tight budget so beggars cant be chosers i suppose.
Probably about 3" cant go to much more or my girlfriend wont be able to get in.
as for the body lift, i have no clue at the moment. havent really researched it

 

[tre9er]

I dont really want to do too much extra to make it work as in brake line extension ect.
Its a daily driver so i dont want the ride to suffer too much, but im also on a tight budget so beggars cant be chosers i suppose.
Probably about 3" cant go to much more or my girlfriend wont be able to get in.
as for the body lift, i have no clue at the moment. havent really researched it

I think you should look into either OME lift (wheeler's offroad has them) or bilstein 5100 tundra adjustables up front with stock springs, and 99 talls with spacers in the rear. You can pair the rear with some longer travel shocks, either bilstein tundras or something cheaper like rough country (also at wheeler's). That will give you about 2-2.5" lift and shouldn't require much more modification, though I'd recomment you look into panhard drop and difff drop (both cheap) down the road.

 

[Jbot]

I think you should look into either OME lift (wheeler's offroad has them) or bilstein 5100 tundra adjustables up front with stock springs, and 99 talls with spacers in the rear. You can pair the rear with some longer travel shocks, either bilstein tundras or something cheaper like rough country (also at wheeler's). That will give you about 2-2.5" lift and shouldn't require much more modification, though I'd recomment you look into panhard drop and difff drop (both cheap) down the road.

That sound doable and good.
Thanks for all your help, you got me out of a dilema

 

[cj80cruiser]

Yeah, I think I finally realized what my options were, and there weren't many, especially in the rear, for the money, and without tons of additional mods needed. Plus, I wanted scalability.

The LC's are about 4" lift minimum, for 7-wraps, so I don't know that this would work for him unless he wants to extend brake lines and drop the panhard. Then he'd have to do 3"+ front lift which means diff-drop, potential UCA rub or swap, etc.

Several people on here aren't using a diff drop with a 3" lift including myself.

Supposedly, extended brake lines aren't a must have item with the LC springs. I can't say for sure until I finally get around to putting mine in.

You can get away without a panhard drop although most would recommend it or an adjustable panhard.

 

[jakknz]

Several people on here aren't using a diff drop with a 3" lift including myself.

Supposedly, extended brake lines aren't a must have item with the LC springs. I can't say for sure until I finally get around to putting mine in.

You can get away without a panhard drop although most would recommend it or an adjustable panhard.

Agreed. With my setup, I'm not running a diff drop as I saw no need for it.

 

[tre9er]

I guess I've seen plenty of "torn CV boot" threads and the responses are usually "yep, that always happens after a good sized lift". I suppose if you don't really wheel it may never present itself as a problem. I've seen people mention they just bent the brackets on the rear brakes, too, so I get that it's not completely required.

 

[Kanger328]

If you're not going to do anything extreme, I'd say 3" is a good size lift. I went with OME 881 without top plate spacer up front and OME 890 in rear. Not sure what people mean when they say it's really stiff, but I find my ride to be just right (I understand it's personal preference).

I will say my set up has a lot of rake, which I don't like. I only got 1.25" of lift up front compared to 3" in back. I didn't want to stress out my CVs too much, but I really don't like the look. I may end up adding a 1" spacer.

If you're willing to spend $1,000+, I'd go with ToyTec's higher end options.

 

[tre9er]

I will say my set up has a lot of rake, which I don't like. I only got 1.25" of lift up front compared to 3" in back. I didn't want to stress out my CVs too much, but I really don't like the look. I may end up adding a 1" spacer.

Just get a beefy rear bumper

 

[Kanger328]

Just get a beefy rear bumper

Donate me one and I'll do it, ha! I wish. Too much $$$ for now, but it's on my list of to do's for the future.

 

[cj80cruiser]

I guess I've seen plenty of "torn CV boot" threads and the responses are usually "yep, that always happens after a good sized lift". I suppose if you don't really wheel it may never present itself as a problem. I've seen people mention they just bent the brackets on the rear brakes, too, so I get that it's not completely required.

With old boots it just happens, diff drops or not. The argument about diff drops are they do little to actually lower your front diff so the angles aren't really that much better....just slightly. Also, the diff is rotated with a diff drop which can potentially leave some of the internals oil starved.

Singtoe mentions this as a conversation he had with ECG which do a ton of gear setups for Toyotas.