I am actually going to be doing spacers after the new year on my runner. I'm not going to be doing any wheeling as I have a 2wd sport edition as I see you won't either... I don't have much to add to your question other than if you go above 2" you will need a diff dropper for your front diff.
Option 1:
A 3inch lift (that you want) with new coils (required in the rear) will get you about $380ish + dollars from toytec.
3" Lift Kit with front and rear OME coils - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits
New shocks (rear are required) Cheapest I have found are 99 bucks so far:
Rear Gas Charged Shocks (90-02 4Runner) - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits
Extended rear brake line:
$40ish price range
Extended Rear Brake Line - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits
Front diff drop:
$30ish
Front Differential Drop Kit - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits
TOTAL
$550 without shipping, or tools. This seems doable, but if you add up shipping cost, and maybe if you don't have tools there may be other options for you.
NEXT:
Option 2 (cheaper more money for different mods)
My personal plans:
2.5" Spacers all around $160ish +
Daystar Comfort Ride Polyurethane Coil Spacer Lifts KT09106BK - SummitRacing.com
New rear shocks $41+ish a piece (I believe these are the same shocks as the ones above. But they are for lifted runners, so they should give me more slack for the joints)
Pro Comp ES9000 Shocks 921513 - SummitRacing.com
Extended rear brake line:
$40ish price range
Extended Rear Brake Line - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits
Total:
$282ish+
After all is said and done I will be getting:
Shocks up front $61ish (Yea Yea Yea cross branding, if KYB had rear shocks for my plans I would have gone that route)
2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER KYB MonoMax Gas Shocks and Struts 564002 - SummitRacing.com
Total $404+ish
ADD ON SINCE I HAVE 2WD You will need to add the Front DIFF drop:
$30ish+ so
Total:
$434+ish without cost of shipping.
Disclaimer with my set up, if you have rear sag, and do this you will still have rear sag unless you will be doing this with new rear coils or with airlift.
After all is said and done if you have the money to go a better route than spacers I say go for it. I am going the spacer route myself, I am sure I can go the first route, but I am spacing out my build. ( I am 17 also working on a classic vehicle so I can't just pay attention to my runner)
Depending on how much you know about cars or any help you have you may or may not need to have to pay someone else to do this. If you don't know how or are not willing to learn how, you make need a different hobby
