Lift leveling kit W/ XREAS

[DannyLlama]

Hi All, I'm reaching out to the community once again for some help and advice.

After installing the sliders, I have lost 2-3" ground clearance. After doing some reading it seems that I have a couple of options. All of which are lift spacers.

Doing some reading and came across this form from the 3rd Gen Forum:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/66976-3rd-gen-4runner-lift-information-faqs.html

Specifically this:
Spacers
The least expensive way to lift your 4Runner is by using a coil spacer. A coil spacer basically preloads the spring which lifts the truck. Spacers can be used for up to 3" of lift. Spacers are seen as inexpensive because they do add a lift but are not recommended by most for off road. These serve more for aesthetic purposes and while they can be used on stock coils, they can also cause sagging of the stock coils at a faster rate.

Some of the options are:

DayStar KT09134BK - 2.5 all around lift
Toyotec 1.5 front only lift.
Toyotec 2.5 all around lift.

My main 2 concerns are:

1. Will this kind of Lift ruin my suspension over time? As indicated above.
2. Installing spacers rather than new shocks/springs only improves aesthetics? Or will it give me an advantage off road?

[*]k
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Like I said a more stiffer suspension is not what I'm looking for, just to regain stock ground clearance.

:thanks:

 

[Qjake]

Icon c/o's and LR uca's up front, 2" lift coils in the rear. Ditch the XREAS! You won't regret it!

 

[DannyLlama]

Icon c/o's and LR uca's up front, 2" lift coils in the rear. Ditch the XREAS! You won't regret it!

Trus me QJake, that would be my first choice along with replacing front bumper. that will be all later after I completely take over the rig.

For now spacers are my only option.

BTW - Why would not go with this > http://www.metaltech4x4.com/p-560-2010-current-4runner-stage-6-lift.aspx

 

[sandwich]

This thread is relevant to my interests. Now that I have wheels/tires I'm contemplating a small/subtle lift.

Icon c/o's and LR uca's up front, 2" lift coils in the rear. Ditch the XREAS! You won't regret it!

This is the route I'd LOVE to take, but I am most concerned about resale value dropping way down by deleting a major factory installed feature.

 

[Qjake]

Trus me QJake, that would be my first choice along with replacing front bumper. that will be all later after I completely take over the rig.

For now spacers are my only option.

BTW - Why would not go with this > 2010-Current 4Runner Stage 6 Lift - Metal Tech 4x4

That kit is certainly very nice but it's way overkill for a daily driver that wheels occasionally and I think I could find better uses for the extra $3k

This thread is relevant to my interests. Now that I have wheels/tires I'm contemplating a small/subtle lift.




This is the route I'd LOVE to take, but I am most concerned about resale value dropping way down by deleting a major factory installed feature.

The Icon components are far superior to the oem xreas system that Toyota is using. Personally I wouldn't consider xreas a major feature, heck for under $400 you can get Bilstein 5100's all around and have a better ride IMO.

 

[Intruder]

1. Will this kind of Lift ruin my suspension over time? As indicated above.
2. Installing spacers rather than new shocks/springs only improves aesthetics? Or will it give me an advantage off road?

1. Yes, as above. I think because of the spring preload it may also give a harsher ride over bumps.

2. Other than a bit of extra clearance spacers don't do anything for you off road. In fact I'd think that taking a spacer lift off road will accelerate the wear on your springs and possibly cause other damage since the shocks are not designed to be loaded that way.

I'd skip the spacers entirely. If you lost a little clearance because of your sliders then let them do their job and slide over any obstacles. Better to have to repaint the bottoms of your sliders than replace damaged shocks and springs.

 

[Qjake]

Cornfed does make a 2' spacer that doesn't pre-load the springs but they aren't recommended for off-road use.

DL, Check with Brock as he was running spacers and using them off road for awhile before he switched them out for a suspension lift.

 

[2011T4RLE]

I have the Readlylift kit on my LE. It does not preload the springs. I've put 25,000 miles on them so far. No issues.

 

[DannyLlama]

I have the Readlylift kit on my LE. It does not preload the springs. I've put 25,000 miles on them so far. No issues.

More info please!

 

[2011T4RLE]

Its a pretty straight forward kit. It comes with a 3 inch spacer up front and a 2 inch spacer in the rear. The kit also includes a diff drop spacer. It could not be more simple to install. I rarely ever go off road, but I have taken it off a few times, and it doesnt seem to mind. I dont do anything gnarly with it since I paid a gazillion dollars for this Toyota, but it will hold its own out here in the back country.

 

[Qjake]

Readylift 2003-12 FJ-4Runner :wink2:

Says non-Xreas, unsure why it would matter :shrug:

 

[DannyLlama]

Readylift 2003-12 FJ-4Runner :wink2:

Says non-Xreas, unsure why it would matter :shrug:

Yea I saw that.... but I didn't want to keep poking. Plus, 3" sounds a little too much for the XREAS, might over extend the lines?

 

[Qjake]

Ya I don't think you'd have any issues with the lines as there are quite a few peeps here with 3" spacers and Xreas. What caught me was the price...$440.00. Pretty sure you could get Billy 5100's all around for close to that, heck you're almost half way to the ToyTech Ultimate kit.

Are you dead set on a spacer lift? Maybe save up a few more bucks and get a quality suspension lift. While my suspension is a bit stiffer than the oem Xreas, overall the ride post lift is far superior.

Food for thought.:

 

[2011T4RLE]

I didnt pay anywhere near $440 for my kit. I got it for around $300 at a local shop in town. The XREAS works fine and my ride quality was not affected. I put it on when the truck was only 3 months old or so. I didnt want to ditch the factory suspension so soon. When it comes time to replace the shocks I'll go with the ICON stage 1, but I am still very happy with it a year later.

 

[DannyLlama]

. I rarely ever go off road, but I have taken it off a few times, and it doesnt seem to mind. I dont do anything gnarly with it since I paid a gazillion dollars for this Toyota, but it will hold its own out here in the back country.

The ride didn't seem harsher or more bouncy off road after the install?
I hear that it bottoms out much harsher on the front with spacers.

I will probably go with an Icon full suspension upgrade as well, once the warranty expires.

 

[Ducmonsta]

The ride didn't seem harsher or more bouncy off road after the install?
I hear that it bottoms out much harsher on the front with spacers.

I will probably go with an Icon full suspension upgrade as well, once the warranty expires.

Good spacer kits install on top of the entire front strut. This does not overextend anything (lines for xreas or strut). Cornfed stuff is junk. Well, it used to be. They had systems that were installed in between the coil spring and top plate, thus preloading the coil spring. This still does not overextend anything.

The xreas lines are mounted to the shock/strut body. They really can't be overextended unless you're trying to walk away from the truck with the shock in your hands.

 

[DannyLlama]

Good spacer kits install on top of the entire front strut. This does not overextend anything (lines for xreas or strut). Cornfed stuff is junk. Well, it used to be. They had systems that were installed in between the coil spring and top plate, thus preloading the coil spring. This still does not overextend anything.

The xreas lines are mounted to the shock/strut body. They really can't be overextended unless you're trying to walk away from the truck with the shock in your hands.

Doing more research and I have heard the below from a few different people. Uh, I'm lost again.

I put 2 inch front Toytec spacers on my X-Reas suspension when I first bought my truck. I was told by Toytec that if I went to a 3/2 spacer lift, like I wanted,that the X-Reas shocks could over extend and blow out.

I would tend to believe them since they had nothing to gain by informing me of this. Call and talk to Toytec's tech. They specialize in Toyota's and are a sponsor here on the forum!

Any other feed back on ReadyLift? Or should I stick with ToyoTec?

 

[pimpsta]

Hey Danny, I had spacers installed with a 3/2 lift (forgot which brand, he ordered it for me). The ride is harsher going over speedbump. Didn't have a chance to take the rig offroad yet. If you want, I am planning to go up Azusa OHV this weekend and you can ride with me to see how it feels. Maybe we can also stop by the shop that did the install and you can ask them more about the spacers. I am going the cheap route for now until either i have more money or shocks need to be replaced.

During the install, the guy did call me up and asked about XRES and it's making the job a bit more difficult for him but it's do-able.

 

[DannyLlama]

I am planning to go up Azusa OHV this weekend and you can ride with me to see how it feels. Maybe we can also stop by the shop that did the install and you can ask them more about the spacers.

I would love to but I'm not sure that I can. We just had a baby a few weeks back. Let me get back to you?

What time are you going from to?

Hey Danny, I had spacers installed with a 3/2 lift (forgot which brand, he ordered it for me). The ride is harsher going over speedbump.

You did a 3" front and 2" rear?
You didn't feel the harsh-ness after the wheel upgrade?

 

[pimpsta]

Yup, 3" front/ 2" rear. General feel on road is not much difference. It's when going over speed bumps that's when you feel less "bounce", especially in the rear. So coming down from speed bumps is like hitting something hard.

The OHV is open from 8-4, and I plan to go around 10-ish and stay until whenever. I usually grab some food, take out a chair, and watch the show. However they just had a fire nearby and the OHV was closed last weekend due to that. I'm hoping they will open back up this weekend.