Lifting my 4th gen

[kevin.kaps]

Hey guys, I'm new to the thread. I have a fourth GEN 4.7L v8 4x4. It is a silver 2003 with grey cladding. I'm going to be honest, it looks like he Street princess right now. I am looking to lift it about three or 4 inches. I want to spend around $300-$400 on the lift alone and then I will figure out the rest of the rig from there. I would appreciate any other advice you guys have for making my 4R better than it is now. Thanks

 

[Xetabur]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/102272-4th-gen-suspension-options-faq.html

 

[MONTYMTB]

Hey guys, I'm new to the thread. I have a fourth GEN 4.7L v8 4x4. It is a silver 2003 with grey cladding. I'm going to be honest, it looks like he Street princess right now. I am looking to lift it about three or 4 inches. I want to spend around $300-$400 on the lift alone and then I will figure out the rest of the rig from there. I would appreciate any other advice you guys have for making my 4R better than it is now. Thanks

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/102272-4th-gen-suspension-options-faq.html

 

[Xetabur]

^Posted the exact same link at the exact same time. lol

 

[robaroni]

I installed Bilstein 5100's and new Moog springs all around plus a daystar 1.5 rear spacer and it cost about $585 for the parts. Really like how it turned out.

 

[ebg18t]

I am looking to lift it about three or 4 inches. I want to spend around $300-$400 on the lift alone and then I will figure out the rest of the rig from there.

You have a 12 year old vehicle with worn stock suspension. To lift it properly you need more than $3-400. You really should do more than just slap some spacers on there.

 

[afalex1]

I just did my 03 sport. I installed fj springs, 5100 adjustables, 1.5" spacer in the rear, light racing UCA, and firestone airbags.

During this install I replaced all the sway bar bushings, endlinks, inner and outer tire rods, lca bushings, strut top hats, cv axles, etc. Basically all new suspension except the rear control arms.

 

[kevin.kaps]

I appreciate all of the responses. Glad to be a part of this forum

 

[mavrick1903]

I just did my 03 sport. I installed fj springs, 5100 adjustables, 1.5" spacer in the rear, light racing UCA, and firestone airbags.

During this install I replaced all the sway bar bushings, endlinks, inner and outer tire rods, lca bushings, strut top hats, cv axles, etc. Basically all new suspension except the rear control arms.

Curious where you sourced all the sway bar bushings, end links, and such.

 

[preacher35]

You have a 12 year old vehicle with worn stock suspension. To lift it properly you need more than $3-400. You really should do more than just slap some spacers on there.

THIS! With $300.00 - $400.00, you are not going to be able to sufficiently lift your rig, due to your worn STOCK SUSPENSION. Before you go blowing money on a spacer kit (and I am assuming that you are going to do the labor yourself, right?), you need to, at the VERY LEAST, replace your front and rear sway bar links, bushings, as well as your front coils (which will dramatically limit the "lift" that you will get with spacers since they are sagging). Once you have replaced these items, then you can start talking about doing a "lift". To be honest, you really should scrap the spacer idea all together and save your money to purchase coil overs and new rear shocks and coils. Most T4R.org 4th gen veterans have gone the spacer route, only to scrap it within a year for a true suspension lift. All of that labor that I did installing my spacer kit, could have been directed at a true suspension lift instead. What a waist on my part. Remember that not only is the labor almost equal between spacers vs. suspension lift, you also have to pay for an alignment after either type. Take your time to read the suspension link that the others have posted. Then check out the 4th gen picture gallery http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/1469-4th-gen-toyota-4runner-picture-gallery.html and the 4th gen LIFT AND TIRE CENTREAL pic thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/51742-lift-tire-central-pics-post-em-up.html.
Then come back here and hit us with your unanswered questions, before you make your final decision.

Preacher

 

[mjosco]

For a workable budget lift, just find a low mileage stock suspension takeoff from a newer 4runner and then add a spacer lift to it. I see these takeoffs on Craigslist for $50-$100 every day with less than 25K miles on them. Tacoma and FJ fronts work as well. Tiny bit of grinding on lower shock mount and good to go.

 

[deegaw11]

I installed Bilstein 5100's and new Moog springs all around plus a daystar 1.5 rear spacer and it cost about $585 for the parts. Really like how it turned out.

I just purchased moog v8 springs for my v6 and bilsteins 5100s. Can you tell me which setting do you have it at? It looks perfect.

 

[flyfisher4822]

THIS! With $300.00 - $400.00, you are not going to be able to sufficiently lift your rig, due to your worn STOCK SUSPENSION. Before you go blowing money on a spacer kit (and I am assuming that you are going to do the labor yourself, right?), you need to, at the VERY LEAST, replace your front and rear sway bar links, bushings, as well as your front coils (which will dramatically limit the "lift" that you will get with spacers since they are sagging). Once you have replaced these items, then you can start talking about doing a "lift". To be honest, you really should scrap the spacer idea all together and save your money to purchase coil overs and new rear shocks and coils. Most T4R.org 4th gen veterans have gone the spacer route, only to scrap it within a year for a true suspension lift. All of that labor that I did installing my spacer kit, could have been directed at a true suspension lift instead. What a waist on my part. Remember that not only is the labor almost equal between spacers vs. suspension lift, you also have to pay for an alignment after either type. Take your time to read the suspension link that the others have posted. Then check out the 4th gen picture gallery http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/1469-4th-gen-toyota-4runner-picture-gallery.html and the 4th gen LIFT AND TIRE CENTREAL pic thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/51742-lift-tire-central-pics-post-em-up.html.
Then come back here and hit us with your unanswered questions, before you make your final decision.

Preacher

This is right on! Wish I had read this and done it two-years ago. Learned the hard (and expensive) way.

 

[redkaz04]

This is right on! Wish I had read this and done it two-years ago. Learned the hard (and expensive) way.

I disagree. If your looking for a budget lift like I was two years ago, you can buy a spacer lift for the front and taller coils for the real. I was even using stock length shocks on all four corners that had 80k on them. It gave me the look I wanted AND it fit the bill since I was married with a kiddo on the way.

A spacer lift isn't the end of the world. Now two years later, I have saved some money and I'm buying aftermarket shocks and heavy duty springs for my winch that I plan to install. I always do my own work so there's no cost with redoing the suspension minus the parts of course,, I rather enjoy it. I don't regret going the spacer route the last two years at all, it fit my family budget and gave me a little more lift when I went to the beach and camping off-road in the mountains.

Not everyone has the money for a 2-3k lift. Just my humble opinion.

 

[preacher35]

Not everyone has the money for a 2-3k lift. Just my humble opinion.

Well, I did not spend that much on my lift: $1200.00 for the Toytec Ultimate and another $80.00 for an alignment and far, FAR superior to a spacer lift. It sounds like you are happy with your spacer lift due to "the look". I was not. I wanted a much better off road experience. Hey, if you want to do the same amount of work, twice, on your Runner, fine with me. I'm simply trying to convey to the OP, another perspective from those of us that have done both and wished we bypassed spacers altogether.

 

[truckhigh]

$400 would give you 5100's front and back with a daystar spacer. I started with spacers too and didn't mind it.. But, i had a new xreas and once it blew i tore it out. Yours are gonna be blown in the first place and so shocks would make the most impact vs sway bar end links and bushings. this is assuming you have no blown ball joints, steering or uca/lca bushing problems.

 

[robaroni]

I just purchased moog v8 springs for my v6 and bilsteins 5100s. Can you tell me which setting do you have it at? It looks perfect.

I have it set on the 2.5" setting. Started at the .85" setting and then 6 months later I maxed it out.

 

[brianhuntRVA]

I have it set on the 2.5" setting. Started at the .85" setting and then 6 months later I maxed it out.

Do you know how much total lift you got in the rear with that combo of the v8 spec Moogs and the spacer?

 

[robaroni]

Do you know how much total lift you got in the rear with that combo of the v8 spec Moogs and the spacer?

I never measured but my guess is about 2 inches. I got a half an inch from the shocks and springs without the spacer.

 

[deegaw11]

I have it set on the 2.5" setting. Started at the .85" setting and then 6 months later I maxed it out.

Is it on the .85 setting in the picture or the 2.5?? Are you still on stock uca?