Lifted Springs
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T4R_Finally
New member
There are spacer kits sold (Toyotec, DAYSTAR, etc.). Search either and you will get plenty of matches. The often recommended best way for a mild lift is a set of Bilstein 5100 shocks with adjustable height fronts and a pair of sway-a-way (SAW) coils in the rear. Or some do a combo of the shocks and spacers. Seems that many that do that end up ditching the spacers for the coils later.
You may not get much response on this topic because it comes up very often here. Hence, a search should yield tons of info.
You may not get much response on this topic because it comes up very often here. Hence, a search should yield tons of info.
STX4Runner
New member
^^^Yeah, I have Bilsteins at all four corners, with the front set at 2.5" and 2" Icon lift springs in the rear. This is a very economical setup and I really like it. But as the previous poster said, this has been discussed to death on here. Search around and look in the lifted thread (its stickied) for additonal info.
derekp
New member
I think this reply is one of the best ways I've seen to address an issue that has been covered a lot in the past. I know a lot of people who would have freaked out and flamed this user about using the search but you, good sir, kindly addressed his inquiry in a summarized fashion and suggest he conduct a search for more info. Good on ya!
I'd like to buy this man a beer!
T4R_Finally
New member
Damn I could use a beer right now. I have re-rocked my driveway, mowed the lawn, and scrubbed the entire north side of my house and shop from all the green goo that grew on it all winter. The 4Runner seemed jealous, so I gave it a new air filter when I got done with everything else. It's definitely shower and miller time with steaks on the grill.
Was but a few weeks ago I took some heat for posting in several threads with lift/level questions. So I won't be the first to flame someone. I try to take post count into consideration (which gave me no excuse). We all know it gets asked about all the time, but relative newbies do not.
Was but a few weeks ago I took some heat for posting in several threads with lift/level questions. So I won't be the first to flame someone. I try to take post count into consideration (which gave me no excuse). We all know it gets asked about all the time, but relative newbies do not.
Haha yeah it was a long shot. I've looked through the lifted post but I have no clue about lifts and what brands are good. Im coming from modifying cars with lowered coilover suspension. My plans are just a little lift and wheels with bigger than stock tires I assuming 285-70-18
T4R_Finally
New member
Stock rims? Then you mean 285/70R17. The bilsteins are like you are used to for the fronts except you can lift with them instead of lower. New springs are best for the rear (with the rear bilsteins), but you can use spacers.
You may have to modify the front fender liners regardless for 285's. Once my tire dealer showed me the 285's would rub, I decided to just do a level and stay with 265's.
You may have to modify the front fender liners regardless for 285's. Once my tire dealer showed me the 285's would rub, I decided to just do a level and stay with 265's.
derekp
New member
I'm digging this. I ran in the mini truck scene for a while and had a lowered touring car, lowered with springs. My past 2 Tacomas were basically stock with oversized tires, but I had a lot of room. I, too, would like a small lift but dont want to fight with UCAs. Was looking for low cost, easy alternative.
T4R_Finally
New member
Going by two things. First, a couple weeks ago, when I was considering a mild lift, that's what was recommended to me by a couple of more senior members here. Second, more recently a newer member posted a thread where he went with the exact parts I was going to use (bilsteins all around and set at 2.5" in front and DAYSTAR 1.5" in the back), posted a thread and stated that he would likely be replacing the spacers with SAW coils down the road. There's no doubt in my mind that it's the better way to go. However it's clearly not the only way to go and plenty use spacer kits and seem to be okay with it.
But even though I just went level with no lift, I can now speak from experience that the bilsteins improve the factory ride (which I was okay with) dramatically. I had gotten used to the infamously nosedive on braking but now it's gone. And the cornering on the backroads where I live is night and day difference. That supports the bilstein upgrade for sure. I have no first hand experience to back up the coils vs spacers in the rear.
I have no doubt that the Bilstiens are a good upgrade. My question was more directed at the fact that aftermarket coils such as the SAW have a approximately ~ 10% higher spring rate than the stock coils, and it would seem you would want the fronts to have somewhat equal higher spring rate to retain balance in your suspension performance ( unless you always run loaded down) :noidea: I would think that with the prevailing feeling that the front suspension is already soft( excessive brake dive as the most often noticed symptom) that this would be at least mildly important. Or is it that by compressing the springs a bit for the shock lift that you have already effectively increased the spring rate? Would this sacrifice initial plushness ?
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To OP~
T4R is referring to my setup.
5100's Installation + Daystar 1.5" Spacers on a 2014
It is really a great lift. Two problems though now... Good luck finding the front Bilsteins and good luck finding the SAW coils. They are both on backorder from every dealer I had checked with.
I finally found the fronts at shock warehouse so was fortunate. A couple of days later I referred another member to them and they were again out of stock and on backorder at shock warehouse.
Just to reinforce what T4R said, the trucks drive a million times better with Bilsteins on all four. I am sure the same goes with OME. Just decide how much lift you want. If you want to run 285/70/17's you are going to have to slightly trim or shift anyway.
It is all preference. I am an old Rover guy (at 31, lol) so I actually don't prefer the look of overly wide tires on 4 Wheel Drives which is why I kept the stock size when I purchased my duratrax. When you go to a full 3" OME, then it might be time to run the 285's just for looks, but I might still opt for something narrower and taller.... Again, it's preference (and application).
To me, this is awesome:
and like this Series III:
thebwlife
Senior Member
See my lift recommendations in my signature...
I'm also working on this. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/165065-5th-gen-4runner-lift-buyers-guide.html
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T4R_Finally
New member
You may feel its plushness but to many it is out of place for the vehicle, especially with the significant nosedive. The bilsteins "tighten" up the ride in all the right ways and get rid of the nosedive. The ride is not harsh at all and the handling is much surer. Again, though, I do not have first hand experience to speak to the coils vs spacers in the rear. I bought spacers and never installed them. I can say that my vehicle still has a slight rake but a very leveled appearance. I can go up another .75" in the front and the spacers or coils in the rear would raise it another 1" to 1.5", so I would imagine that "kit" would end up with even more rake.
Check thebwlife's thread. I got much info from him and his thread was created to address these repeated lift questions.
Sounds good. Good info guys. If I go with the Bilstiens shocks is it only replacing the shocks or springs n shock. The nosedive is super annoying, just a mid lift would be nice and not trying to change gearing or upper control arms
T4R_Finally
New member
Up front, just replace the shocks and use the factory coils and you can lift the front .85, 1.75, or 2.5". You probably don't need UCA's if you just do that with no additional spacers in the front. If you find you need more options for adjustment, other things are available but more expensive. In the rear you can keep the factory coils and use inexpensive spacers along with the new shocks which are not adjustable but rated for up to 2" of lift in the back. But again the more preferred option for the rear is the shocks with extended coils rather than spacers. I can't say exactly why. Perhaps classic72 can add some thoughts on it now that he has had the spacer setup for a few days.
The truck rides great. I have about 400 miles on them now. The only reason I would add coils at this point might be load related. I havent weighed the truck down yet with a trailer and kids in the third row so just not sure. I just put my Gobi on yesterday as well (not that much weight should up there anyway... Just bulky lightweight things and recovery gear).
Regardless, rear coils are an easy swap if one wants to start with spacers.. I did 1.5" daystars in the rear. (See my sig)... My '14 is perfectly level with that setup.
Regardless, rear coils are an easy swap if one wants to start with spacers.. I did 1.5" daystars in the rear. (See my sig)... My '14 is perfectly level with that setup.
JMG73072
New member
I started with 1" Cornfed spacers and within a few months I switched to sway-A-way coils(mainly because when i had 4 people and a bag of groceries i had a reverse rake). I also had issues with back orders and just called saw direct and had them in 2 days. My front bilstiens are at 2.5 and I enjoy it.
Keemonrunnin
Member
First off. What model 4r do you have? Sr5 you can do the fronts with bilsteins or spacers. In the rear you can do coils or spacers. TE you do the same as sr5. LE you can only do a spacer lift or throw out the xreas system and do a full suspension lift.
