My Daystar Lift Height Increases and Alignment Specs

[jahmes143]

Just thought I'd share these results. Just installed the newer version of the Daystar (KT09115BK) lift (the newer version doesn't require a spring compressor). Also changed from stock tires to slightly larger Bridgestone Dueller A/Ts (265/70R17)

Overall, I gained about 3.5" in the front and 2" in the rear (this takes into account both the lift and the larger tires). In terms of the lift only, I gained about 2.75" in the front and 1.5" in the rear. Final height from floor to fender was as follows:

Driver Front 36 9/16 (+3 7/16)
Passenger Front 36 13/16 (+3 3/8)
Driver Rear 37 1/16 (+2 1/8)
Passenger Rear 37 (+2)

Once I installed the lift/tires, I got an alignment, with specs as follows:


Caster
Driver: 2.6
Passenger: 2.7

Camber
Driver: +.1
Passenger: +.4

Toe
Driver: +.04
Passenger: +.05

SAI
Driver: 11.9
Passenger: 11.7

Included Angle
Driver: 12.0
Passenger: 12.1


Hope this helps someone.

 

[luke87gt]

Thanks for sharing.

When I did my newer Daystar, I measured 3 3/16" lift in front and exactly 1.5" in the rear. it makes absolutely zero sense how you gained 2.0" in the rear with a 1.5" spacer on a solid axle rear suspension.

When did you make your after measurements? Keep in mind that if you measure directly after dropping the car on the ground, it will read higher than it will be after the initial drive.

I took my measurements after a few miles.

Also, I'm surprised to see you were able to get that much caster. Most guys can't seem to get much more than 2.0* with this kit. many report that 3.5-4.0* or so results in the best feel on the highway, but that requires adjustable upper control arms with the lift.

 

[jahmes143]

Yea, I was pretty happy about the caster. I told them to get as much as possible.

Agreed about driving a bit before measuring. I rode about 25 miles before measuring.

 

[RonJR]

Did you test whether your CV axles will rotate at full droop? In other words, can you rotate the front wheels with a jack under the center and both wheels off the ground? With the Daystar spacers as they came, mine were locked up at full droop. I wound up taking the spacers to the band saw and thinning them down by 3/8" so everything would run freely. I got 2.5" of lift instead of over 3", which was what I wanted in the first place. I don't know why Daystar advertises a 2.5" lift spacer but ships one that gives you well over 3". More is not always better.

I had about 2.5 deg of caster after the lift as well. I've since put on SPC adjustable UCA's to get the caster to about 4.5 deg. I much prefer the highway stability with the higher caster.

 

[jahmes143]

Did you test whether your CV axles will rotate at full droop? In other words, can you rotate the front wheels with a jack under the center and both wheels off the ground? With the Daystar spacers as they came, mine were locked up at full droop. I wound up taking the spacers to the band saw and thinning them down by 3/8" so everything would run freely. I got 2.5" of lift instead of over 3", which was what I wanted in the first place. I don't know why Daystar advertises a 2.5" lift spacer but ships one that gives you well over 3". More is not always better.

I have not tested at full droop...thanks for the tip. Better to learn now rather than on the trail.

The Daystar lift alone accounted for 2 3/4" of front lift. The increased tire size accounted for the rest. I think I remember reading that the older Daystar lifts yielded closer to 3", whereas the new ones are closer to 2.5" (but maybe that's just a rumor?)

 

[luke87gt]

I have not tested at full droop...thanks for the tip. Better to learn now rather than on the trail.

The Daystar lift alone accounted for 2 3/4" of front lift. The increased tire size accounted for the rest. I think I remember reading that the older Daystar lifts yielded closer to 3", whereas the new ones are closer to 2.5" (but maybe that's just a rumor?)

Ooooooh, you mentioned above that you got new tires! I now see why you got more lift than I did as my before/after measurements were with the same wheels/tires. Might be a good idea to also mention your before/after tire height (or at least before/after tire size - I see the new size is 265/70/17).

And like I said, my new design Dayster got 3 3/16" lift in the front, measured after a few miles of driving.

 

[jahmes143]

Good idea...edit made. You got that much lift?! I haven't heard of anyone else getting that much. I would have probably trimmed it too like you did.

 

[matt922]

Don't forget that by measuring from the ground you need to account for that larger tire you have. By going up 1 tire size it will add about .5" to that ride height.

 

[randomtask16]

Adding my Daystar numbers as well for comparison

2008 SR5 V8 4x4
265/65/R17 Bridgestone Dueler H/T 840
Complete 2016 TRD Pro 4Runner suspension swap (matched the clips but this resulted in Divers side lean)
Daystar KT09115BK 2.5/1.5
SPC UCA's (Unaligned)

Front:
Driver - 23.5" Hub to Fender
Driver - 37.75" Ground to Fender

Pass. - 24" Hub to Fender
Pass. - 38" Ground to Fender


Rear:
Driver - 23.5" Hub to Fender
Driver - 37.5" Ground to Fender

Pass - 24" Hub to Fender
Pass. - 38" Ground to Fender

 

[Jeremy_A]

3.5 issues

Did you check to see if you had binding at full droop?

I have ordered FJ spring and 2.5 spacer for a v6 4x4...wondering if I will have issues

 

[luke87gt]

You got that much lift?! I haven't heard of anyone else getting that much.

Yes, as I mentioned, I took the measurements after a few miles of driving. It may have settled a bit over the last few hundred miles but I'm betting that I still have 3" or more of lift in the front.

I can't check now because I've since got new taller tires and it wouldn't be an apples to apples comparison.

In any case, as a general rule, users can expect about 3" of front lift with the 2.5/1.5 Daystar kit.

 

[OnTap]

Alignment

Since you guys have direct experience on this lift/leveling kit, I'd like to ask you a question about alignment;

I'm considering a Daystar 2.5"/1.5" lift for my 2006 4Runner Sport. Will that throw off the alignment? Sorry if that's a dumb question. I've done lift kits before, but never on a 4Runner.

Also, sounds like you're not able to get the necessary amount of adjustment for some of the alignment spec's after installing the Daystar lift? Is that right? If installing the Daystar kit makes the 4Runner unable to be properly aligned, that'd be a deal-breaker for me.

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[RonJR]

You will need an alignment. As you raise front ride height, caster decreases, at the rate of about .3 deg per inch of front lift and .5 deg per inch of rear lift. So, with 3 inches of front lift and 1.5 inches of rear lift, you lose about 1.7 deg of caster, which is a lot.

As shipped, the Daystar "2.5/1.5 inch" lift will provide a little over 3" of lift in the front and 1.5" in the rear. (Apparently the folks at Daystar are somewhat math and measurement challenged.) This has two concerns:
- It will probably not be possible to adjust caster above 2.5 deg or so without going to after market UCA's. If you elect to live with the 2.5 deg caster, you may experience vague or wandering steering at freeway speeds.
- At 3 inches of lift, your CV axles will likely lock up at full droop. This is not much of a problem if you never go offroad, but can be problematic in offroad situations where you max out the suspension, and can result in broken CV joints.

Camber and toe will be fully adjustable to spec regardless of lift amount. However, both will change as a result of the lift, so you'll definitely need that alignment. You'll wear your tires pretty quickly if the toe is off.

 

[pipo6007]

Since you guys have direct experience on this lift/leveling kit, I'd like to ask you a question about alignment;

I'm considering a Daystar 2.5"/1.5" lift for my 2006 4Runner Sport. Will that throw off the alignment? Sorry if that's a dumb question. I've done lift kits before, but never on a 4Runner.

Also, sounds like you're not able to get the necessary amount of adjustment for some of the alignment spec's after installing the Daystar lift? Is that right? If installing the Daystar kit makes the 4Runner unable to be properly aligned, that'd be a deal-breaker for me.

Thanks in advance for your input.

I installed the same daystar lift 4-5 years ago. I don't have after market UCA's and the shop was able to get the alignment within spec. I bought some Cooper At3's a year or so after. The front has worn a little more on the outsides which is pretty normal. I have at least 1-2 years of thread left.
You should be fine getting the alignment done at any decent alignment shop.
If you have a little more money to spend just buy the 4 Bilstein shocks and set them at 2.5" in the front and a DS 1.5" spacer for the rear. That's a good $400 budget lift which the ride and handling will improve.

 

[OnTap]

Thanks for the input on this.

I'm going to think about this some more. My 4Runner is stored for the winter right now anyway, so I have time to do some research to plan it as a spring project.

Thanks again!

 

[redbirds5]

Installed mine earlier this year without any issues. Not sure if the people speaking are speaking from experience or what they've heard. But I can tell you I've had no issue at all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bografan]

There seems to be quite a bit of variance on the lift provided by this kit (look up other folks' measurements on this site, it's true)-- it's not going to be the same for everyone, and I'll take a guess at why: Mileage, and the driving styles of every driver's whose ass has creased your seat since it was new.
A friend of mine has the same year/make/model (07 SR5, 4.0) and we used the same lift kits.. but he only got 2" lift in front, and we figured mine at 2.25" front lift. I have nearly 165K, he has 124K miles. He has OEM shocks, I have 5100's set at 0 lift. We both think the sag on our springs is contributing to the less-than-advertised lift amounts. He bought his truck from a dude in his 30's, mine came from a soccer mom in Louisiana.
I'm actually about to remove my kit and 5100's, and shove some new Toytec lift springs and better shocks under it for (I'm hoping) a true 3/2 lift. Hopefully won't need UCAs right off, but am willing to ride on it for a bit while the pennies get saved if need be. My buddy just had his parts arrive-- He's going with ICON coils, shocks, and SPC UCAs.

But I wouldn't worry about the daystar kit screwing anything up, have had mine installed for almost three years with no issues. It aligned just fine.