Lifts and Rubbing options

[Wheeler]

Wanting to get a lift, and after reading about all the different setups guys are running and the stickies, im trying to find out which cause rubbing issues more than others. Im not opposed to getting wheel spacers, i just want to figure out what setups are going to make me run into that problem. Im looking at:

3/2 Cornfed Spacer
Toytec 3" Ultimate
2.5/1.5 Daystar

Im trying to get a setup and not have to mod body mounts or fenders or anything. ANy help with what you guys have run into?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Wanting to get a lift, and after reading about all the different setups guys are running and the stickies, im trying to find out which cause rubbing issues more than others. Im not opposed to getting wheel spacers, i just want to figure out what setups are going to make me run into that problem. Im looking at:

3/2 Cornfed Spacer
Toytec 3" Ultimate
2.5/1.5 Daystar

Im trying to get a setup and not have to mod body mounts or fenders or anything. ANy help with what you guys have run into?

This will all depend on tire size. Check the faq sticky in the 4th gen section, it should clear things up.

 

[Gerdo]

Here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/94229-fyi-tire-size-lift-fit.html is a thread that I did. True it is based on 3rd gens but the concept is the same (tire size may vary).

 

[Wheeler]

This will all depend on tire size. Check the faq sticky in the 4th gen section, it should clear things up.

I was checking your build thread.. i love that stance. Did you have any rubbing or need to cut anything off?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Thanks! I removed the front mud flaps, moved the fender liner forward, and did some very minor trimming on the front bumper. Took probably 30 minutes. I already had done everything except the bumper trimmingto fit my old tires.

 

[Wheeler]

Thanks! I removed the front mud flaps, moved the fender liner forward, and did some very minor trimming on the front bumper. Took probably 30 minutes. I already had done everything except the bumper trimmingto fit my old tires.

I was reading the lift sticky/faq this morning (caused me to miss class i got so sucked in) and was reading through some of the questions others had asked and some certain combinations. Im not really offroad heavy, so i dont need anything too agressive with regards to tire choice or suspension. Im thinking daystar 2.5/1.5 to get some lift and level and upgrading to FJ shocks and springs. It was my understanding that the fj setup doesnt really yield too much lift, just a little bit of an upgrade from stock. Is this correct?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I was reading the lift sticky/faq this morning (caused me to miss class i got so sucked in) and was reading through some of the questions others had asked and some certain combinations. Im not really offroad heavy, so i dont need anything too agressive with regards to tire choice or suspension. Im thinking daystar 2.5/1.5 to get some lift and level and upgrading to FJ shocks and springs. It was my understanding that the fj setup doesnt really yield too much lift, just a little bit of an upgrade from stock. Is this correct?

Yea, the fj stuff would add approx .5", so a 3/2 lift. Great setup for on road and minor off road use. Do you have xreas?

 

[Wheeler]

Yea, the fj stuff would add approx .5", so a 3/2 lift. Great setup for on road and minor off road use. Do you have xreas?

Nope, no xreas. Unless they hid the line at the top of the shock on mine ha

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Nope, no xreas. Unless they hid the line at the top of the shock on mine ha

The fj setup should really make a difference then. I'd try to find a set with the bilstein shocks, much better than the base model tokicos.

Also, don't rule out bilstein 5100s. They can be purchased for around $300, and you can get a daystar 1.5" rear spacer for about $40. Only thing you would need to finish it off is the fj coils. I guess what I'm saying is don't pay too much for the stock fj stuff. Some folks are asking ridiculous prices for their used parts.

 

[Wheeler]

The fj setup should really make a difference then. I'd try to find a set with the bilstein shocks, much better than the base model tokicos.

Also, don't rule out bilstein 5100s. They can be purchased for around $300, and you can get a daystar 1.5" rear spacer for about $40. Only thing you would need to finish it off is the fj coils. I guess what I'm saying is don't pay too much for the stock fj stuff. Some folks are asking ridiculous prices for their used parts.

with the 5100's, youd have those on all 4 corners with spacers on just the rear? and coils all around as well?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

with the 5100's, youd have those on all 4 corners with spacers on just the rear? and coils all around as well?

5100s and coils for front and rear. Spacer would only beer needed for the rear. The front 5100s are adjustable for up to 2.5" of lift, so no need for a front spacer.

 

[Wheeler]

5100s and coils for front and rear. Spacer would only beer needed for the rear. The front 5100s are adjustable for up to 2.5" of lift, so no need for a front spacer.

If you can adj. the shocks to 2.5 lift, wouldnt you adj. lift on the rears 1.5ish and eliminate the need for the spacer? Or am i missing something?

Thus bringing the front to 3" (5100's at 2.5 plus lift added from fj springs)

And the rear to 2" (again 5100's set lower than the front and the added height from the springs)

Correct me if im wrong, whats the need for the daystar spacer?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

If you can adj. the shocks to 2.5 lift, wouldnt you adj. lift on the rears 1.5ish and eliminate the need for the spacer? Or am i missing something?

Thus bringing the front to 3" (5100's at 2.5 plus lift added from fj springs)

And the rear to 2" (again 5100's set lower than the front and the added height from the springs)

Correct me if im wrong, whats the need for the daystar spacer?

Only the fronts are adjustable, the rears are not.

 

[Wheeler]

Only the fronts are adjustable, the rears are not.

Gotcha, misread that on toytecs site. Besides the 5100's which im pretty set on, you think the fj springs are a good choice? I was looking at the ome springs also as well as the rear toytec flex setup.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Gotcha, misread that on toytecs site. Besides the 5100's which im pretty set on, you think the fj springs are a good choice? I was looking at the ome springs also as well as the rear toytec flex setup.

Ajusa.com has the best prices I've seen on the 5100s. They also typically have a coupon listed on their homepage.

Coil choice is totally up to you. FJ coils are popular because they ride better than stock, provide a small amount of lift, and are pretty cheap (typically less than $100 a set used (that's what I would pay for them anyway). Coils such as ome are stiffer to support extra weight. I like the omes because I have less body roll with them, but I would like to swap for something less stiff because bumps can be a little rough. Unless you are adding weight such as a bumper, I probably wouldn't recommend ome. I had fj coils prior to the ome coils. I really liked them, they were very smooth, but there was still a little more body roll than I liked.

Something that has caught my eye is the ironman suspension. Their front coils are roughly 20% stiffer than stock coils. Omes are roughly 40% stiffer than stock. The fj coils I think are approx 15% stiffer, haven't found exact specs in these though. The ironman front coils would be perfect imo. There's a good chance I'll be trying these in the future. This is all for the front. I've not looked at the rear numbers. I know the Toytec superflex coils are excellent, approx 10% stiffer than stock.

If I were buying a suspension setup today, excluding coilovers, I'd most likely do 5100s all around, ironman front coils with a Toytec 1" lift spacer for a full 3" lift, and the Toytec rear coils. A lot of folks don't like mixing setups like this, but I think it'd be an excellent combo.

I've not been able to find any reviews here of the ironman suspension on the 4th gen 4runner. A full ironman kit with their shocks and coils could be great, I just haven't seen any feedback on it so can't really recommend it over the more proven options.

You'll quickly notice you can spend as much as you want. A spacer lift is fine for light off road use. Don't feel like you have to have a full setup just to hit light trails. I do recommend doing your research and getting the right setup the first time, many people including myself went the cheap route only to upgrade later, spending more money.

If you're interested in the ironman kit or components, metaltech4x4.com carries them.

 

[Wheeler]

Ajusa.com has the best prices I've seen on the 5100s. They also typically have a coupon listed on their homepage.

Coil choice is totally up to you. FJ coils are popular because they ride better than stock, provide a small amount of lift, and are pretty cheap (typically less than $100 a set used (that's what I would pay for them anyway). Coils such as ome are stiffer to support extra weight. I like the omes because I have less body roll with them, but I would like to swap for something less stiff because bumps can be a little rough. Unless you are adding weight such as a bumper, I probably wouldn't recommend ome. I had fj coils prior to the ome coils. I really liked them, they were very smooth, but there was still a little more body roll than I liked.

Something that has caught my eye is the ironman suspension. Their front coils are roughly 20% stiffer than stock coils. Omes are roughly 40% stiffer than stock. The fj coils I think are approx 15% stiffer, haven't found exact specs in these though. The ironman front coils would be perfect imo. There's a good chance I'll be trying these in the future. This is all for the front. I've not looked at the rear numbers. I know the Toytec superflex coils are excellent, approx 10% stiffer than stock.

If I were buying a suspension setup today, excluding coilovers, I'd most likely do 5100s all around, ironman front coils with a Toytec 1" lift spacer for a full 3" lift, and the Toytec rear coils. A lot of folks don't like mixing setups like this, but I think it'd be an excellent combo.

I've not been able to find any reviews here of the ironman suspension on the 4th gen 4runner. A full ironman kit with their shocks and coils could be great, I just haven't seen any feedback on it so can't really recommend it over the more proven options.

You'll quickly notice you can spend as much as you want. A spacer lift is fine for light off road use. Don't feel like you have to have a full setup just to hit light trails. I do recommend doing your research and getting the right setup the first time, many people including myself went the cheap route only to upgrade later, spending more money.

If you're interested in the ironman kit or components, metaltech4x4.com carries them.

Wow lots of good info. Yeha I have been doing research on suspension vs spacers and i really feel i want to go suspension. My runner is almost to 70k, so i figure replacing the shocks and springs cant hurt as theyre getting pretty old. Im sold on the 5100's, and I think im going with FJ springs (the Trail editions or 4x4) if i can find some. Set the front to 2.5 and get a 1.5 spacer for the rear. Will I need wheel spacers or where do those come into play?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Wow lots of good info. Yeha I have been doing research on suspension vs spacers and i really feel i want to go suspension. My runner is almost to 70k, so i figure replacing the shocks and springs cant hurt as theyre getting pretty old. Im sold on the 5100's, and I think im going with FJ springs (the Trail editions or 4x4) if i can find some. Set the front to 2.5 and get a 1.5 spacer for the rear. Will I need wheel spacers or where do those come into play?

It doesn't matter which model fj the coils come from, as long as they are from a 4wd. The coils are the same for all 4x4 models (shocks are different though).

Wheel spacers complete the stance imo, but aren't necessary unless you go with a 285 or wider tire. With 285s, the tire rubs the upper control, so the spacers are needed to gain clearance.

 

[Wheeler]

It doesn't matter which model fj the coils come from, as long as they are from a 4wd. The coils are the same for all 4x4 models (shocks are different though).

Wheel spacers complete the stance imo, but aren't necessary unless you go with a 285 or wider tire. With 285s, the tire rubs the upper control, so the spacers are needed to gain clearance.

I was reading in one of the fj threads in the susp area that 07-09 work but 10+ need modification so ive been looking for older ones. How much you think new ones run from toyota dealers? Im trying to get away with not having to trim anything, or minimal. So with 285s and spacers i should clear with the bilstein/fj/rear spacer setup?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I was reading in one of the fj threads in the susp area that 07-09 work but 10+ need modification so ive been looking for older ones. How much you think new ones run from toyota dealers? Im trying to get away with not having to trim anything, or minimal. So with 285s and spacers i should clear with the bilstein/fj/rear spacer setup?

This only applies to the shocks. The coils from any FJ 2007 and newer will work. It's not worth buying new. I priced them from an online dealer that has discounted pricing. Total was $341.75 shipped. No way are they worth that. The aftermarket options are a much better choice. The primary benefit of the FJ coils is the cost. I got mine for free (this was before they were popular). I'd look for a set with 50k miles or less and pay $100 at most for the coils. Any more than that, I'd prefer to buy new parts.

Edit: 285/70s will fit with a 3" front 2" rear lift and wheel spacers. Some trimming will be required and alsoyou'll need to remove the front mud flaps.

 

[Wheeler]

This only applies to the shocks. The coils from any FJ 2007 and newer will work. It's not worth buying new. I priced them from an online dealer that has discounted pricing. Total was $341.75 shipped. No way are they worth that. The aftermarket options are a much better choice. The primary benefit of the FJ coils is the cost. I got mine for free (this was before they were popular). I'd look for a set with 50k miles or less and pay $100 at most for the coils. Any more than that, I'd prefer to buy new parts.

Edit: 285/70s will fit with a 3" front 2" rear lift and wheel spacers. Some trimming will be required and alsoyou'll need to remove the front mud flaps.

If i cant find any Fj springs, i guess ill have to go a different route similar to those. im trying to get away from trimming, maybe ill stick with 275 or something seeing as offroad traction isnt a huge concern.