Lift/Spacer/Leveling kit clarification

[hammersc]

I've been reading these lift threads trying to decide/make a purchase and I, being mechanically uninclined, am getting more confused the more threads I read.

There's leveling kits, spacer kits, lift kits, leveling spacers, spacer lifts, top spacers, underneath spacers, old style, new style...........head spinning.

I get that the 2/1 gives 2" up front and 1" in rear to level off, similar ratio with the 3/2, and I think the leveling kit by itself gives 1" only up front...but like I said, confusion has set in because it seems each manufacturer has different size spacers for similar lift goals. Plus, is the 2/1 language referring to the end result lift or the size of the spacers used (or both)?

I have a 2wd '05 (I know I know, probably the only 2wd on this site) and simply want the front level with the back without making my 265/65/17s look goofy. Maybe in a couple years get 265/70/17 shoes, but for now just wanting cosmetic stance leveling on my Mich. CTs. I assume a leveling kit is just what I'm looking for...

Do I get a leveling kit (on top) front only spacer set from burtman (cf), or an underneath leveling spacer kit from daystar? Or on top toytec spacers for much less coin? Some are 1/2", some are 1", some are 1.25" - and that gets confusing because the 1/2" spacer gives you 1" lift somehow supposedly.... etc etc.

FTR I do very minimal offroad driving - just the once a season camping trip down a dirt road/through a stream in western NC, but mostly highway driving (I bought the truck for reliability, space, and resale).

Please be very basic in your reply - assume I know nothing about lifts because I simply don't! Does everyone reaim their headlights afterwords as well? Will this change the original goal of reliability?

Thanks for taking a couple of minutes to point my dumba$$ in the right direction.

 

[Roadhouse_1]

Best I can do for ya

I'm new to all this too, but I've done serious research and it's helped. There's a member on here, J.A., that seems to know a butt load. Hit him up for some info. Other than that, best I can do for now is give you this link.
http://yotatech.com/f117/modifications-accessories-faq-4th-gen-4runner-95442/

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I've been reading these lift threads trying to decide/make a purchase and I, being mechanically uninclined, am getting more confused the more threads I read.

There's leveling kits, spacer kits, lift kits, leveling spacers, spacer lifts, top spacers, underneath spacers, old style, new style...........head spinning.

I get that the 2/1 gives 2" up front and 1" in rear to level off, similar ratio with the 3/2, and I think the leveling kit by itself gives 1" only up front...but like I said, confusion has set in because it seems each manufacturer has different size spacers for similar lift goals. Plus, is the 2/1 language referring to the end result lift or the size of the spacers used (or both)? 1

I have a 2wd '05 (I know I know, probably the only 2wd on this site) and simply want the front level with the back without making my 265/65/17s look goofy. Maybe in a couple years get 265/70/17 shoes, but for now just wanting cosmetic stance leveling on my Mich. CTs. I assume a leveling kit is just what I'm looking for... 2

Do I get a leveling kit (on top) front only spacer set from burtman (cf), or an underneath leveling spacer kit from daystar? Or on top toytec spacers for much less coin? Some are 1/2", some are 1", some are 1.25" - and that gets confusing because the 1/2" spacer gives you 1" lift somehow supposedly.... etc etc. 3

FTR I do very minimal offroad driving - just the once a season camping trip down a dirt road/through a stream in western NC, but mostly highway driving (I bought the truck for reliability, space, and resale).

Please be very basic in your reply - assume I know nothing about lifts because I simply don't! Does everyone reaim their headlights afterwords as well? 4 Will this change the original goal of reliability? 5

Thanks for taking a couple of minutes to point my dumba$$ in the right direction.

It is/can be a little :wtf:

1) A 1" level kit raises only the front. A 2/1 or a 3/2 is exactly as it sounds, 2" in the front and 1" in the back etc. All three raise the vehicle to the value as marketed. A three leave it with a slightly nose-down, raked look. The spacer thickness varies with the lift. On the rear spacers the thickness is pretty close to the result, ie 1" for 1". On the front spacers the thickness is roughly 50-60% of the result. Example: The front spacers to produce a 3" lift would total about 1.5" worth of material.

2) Based on your statement you probably/may want a 1.25" spacer lift. A 1" looks great and if you load the vehicle often you may prefer a 1" as it'll look level rather than butt low.

3) Which kit? I say just choose the dimension and price you want and do it. In the .5"-1.5" there's very little difference and it doesn't much matter whether it's a top or pre-load spacer. The kits begin differ when you go for a 2/1 and even more with a 3/2. Because of greater amounts of lift it becomes significant how the lift is achieved. Top spacer, pre-load spacer and how much of each becomes the issue. The other factor is the "engineering approach" used by the various kits to lift the rear.

4) My front is lifted about 1.5" now. I did it in 2 sessions. With 3/4" of lift the headlights were fine. With 1.5" they needed to be adjusted.

5) If you stay within the realm of .5"-1.5" it should make no difference in reliability and durability. A few days after install do a quick check of the 6 nuts. Other than that one time re-snugging of the nuts there should be zero maint.

Good luck :cheers:

 

[zimm]

Suspension FAQ

You're welcome

 

[hammersc]

'Preciate it gentlemen. CJ3, big southpark fan here - like the pic.