My Lift Build - Opinions? Comments?

[IsaiahC]

Hello, this is my piece-it-together build. I wanted something that would be suitable for my daily driver but also be nice off-road. I don't mind rake so I plan on running the front bilsteins on the lowest perch. The only added weight I have now is a tool box and box of fluids behind my rear seat and I am debating getting rock sliders. I do plan on running 265/75s or 285/75s but I will be stuck with my 265/65s for awhile

Front:
Bilstein 5100 Adjustable Tundra 99-06 struts
Toytech/Eibach 3" lift springs
Wheeler's Offroad rubber coil isolator set
Toytech front diff drop kit (added)
Back:
Bilstein 33-187174 5100 Rear Shock Set (recommended by Toytech and used in SS 1.2)
Toytech Superflex rear springs (3.75+ lift)
Toytech Panhard drop kit (will gusset)
Toytech signature series 3" bumpstop drop spacers (kind that mount to frame?)
Brakes:
Wheeler's Offroad extended back brake line
Wheeler's Offroad front brake line

 

[4-Ripcord]

I would add a diff drop kit and remove the rear bump stop spacers. You can get new extended bump stops for less than those spacer brackets.

 

[IsaiahC]

I would add a diff drop kit and remove the rear bump stop spacers. You can get new extended bump stops for less than those spacer brackets.

Thanks for your response. I had a toytech diff drop kit in there but I must have removed it at some point. Where can I get an extended bump stop for less? I've heard good things about Sonoran steel bump stops but don't want to spend $160 on something I'll use very rarely.

 

[absalom]

You'll use them every time your wheel stuffs past the point that the stock axle location would allow it. If you do any sort of crawling, you'll want them.

You can make them for about $5 and a case of beer. Find some 4" long tubing (square or round) cut in half, and befriend someone with a welder to weld them on for you.

My automatic response when someone talks about getting a TRD/LC lift or any variation of that is to say DON'T. After riding in another 3rd gen 4runner with 2.5" shocks front and rear, I've seen the light. My truck, with the exact same setup as your proposed kit, rides like crap comparatively. I'm counting down the days until I can make the swap myself. Until then, I'm going to try and spread the word as much as possible. A full Icon setup runs about $2,400, Kings $1,800-$2,000, Fox $2,200, ADS $2,300, and FOA $980. All you'll need then is rear springs, and the Superflex's reportedly fill this role nicely.

Also, you can make your own panhard adjustable bar for $90. The drop bracket is said to increase your CoG, and make the truck less stable. Tundra 5100's can be had for $85/ each with a little shopping. And having had both the Eibach springs and the TRD Tundra springs, I hugely prefer the TRD springs and they are also much cheaper at ~$90 shipped/pair.

I didn't need extended brake lines with 8 wrap LC coils, but if you are removing your rear swaybar (another poor choice in my book), then you'll most likely need them.

Fox and King 2.5" Coilovers/Shocks - Click here.

Icon 2.5" Coilovers/Shocks - Click here.

ADS 2.5" Coilovers/Shocks - Contact them for complete pricing.

FOA 2.5" Coilovers/Shocks - Contact them for complete pricing.

 

[IsaiahC]

I guess I should have asked if it was going to work. Would that bump stop spacer be enough? Will there be any clunks or bottom outs or breaks? I'm not too keen on bigger shocks but I don't rock crawl and think just about anything would be better than the worn out stock shocks. I was originally looking at the SS 1.2 kit but I was hoping to save some money to put towards some duratracs. I am also just about 50/50 on TRD vs Toytechs with the determining factor being price and availability. If I could get TRDs for around the same price, relatively easily, I would probably do that.

 

[absalom]

Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market will help with sourcing the TRD/LC stuff.

What's your goal? Do you really want to own a lifted truck? Are you aware of all that goes along with lifting it properly? If money is tight, which I get, I recommend getting OEM '99 tall springs with OEM shocks. She'll ride like an absolute dream and be a complete beast off road.

 

[IsaiahC]

I want a comfortable ride and to be able to hit some light trails without worrying about scraping things. I would also like to cure the saggy ass. I have been a longtime lurker on here and have read tons of threads on lifting vehicles. Money isn't that tight; I just can't justify spending $500 more for "offroad powess" when I'm far too busy to off-road every weekend. I am also confident enough with wrenches to fix anything that might go wrong with lifting. That being said, I refuse to have a mall princess (right phrase?) but I also don't want my CVs/LBJs to blow up.

edit: After some further digging, I have found a couple happy people with the same lift (- some extras)

 

[absalom]

I want a comfortable ride and to be able to hit some light trails without worrying about scraping things. I would also like to cure saggy ass. I have been a longtime lurker on here and have read tons of threads on lifting vehicles. Money isn't that tight; I just can't justify spending $500 more for "offroad powess" when I'm far too busy to off-road every weekend. I am also confident enough with wrenches to fix anything that might go wrong with lifting. That being said, I refuse to have a mall princess (right phrase?) but I also don't want my cvs to blow up.

You sound like the perfect candidate for 99 tall springs with new OEM shocks/struts. Then use the rest of your money to do LBJ's, tie rods, steering bushings, etc. Throw some 265/75/16 all-terrains on there and call it a day. She'll handle anything you can throw at her.

 

[dlegolpolp]

You can get new extended bump stops for less than those spacer brackets.

 

[IsaiahC]

You sound like the perfect candidate for 99 tall springs with new OEM shocks/struts. Then use the rest of your money to do LBJ's, tie rods, steering bushings, etc. Throw some 265/75/16 all-terrains on there and call it a day. She'll handle anything you can throw at her.

hmm. I'll consider this. Thanks for your opinion!

 

[LookAtThatDog]

My automatic response when someone talks about getting a TRD/LC lift or any variation of that is to say DON'T. After riding in another 3rd gen 4runner with 2.5" shocks front and rear, I've seen the light. My truck, with the exact same setup as your proposed kit, rides like crap comparatively. I'm counting down the days until I can make the swap myself. Until then, I'm going to try and spread the word as much as possible. A full Icon setup runs about $2,400, Kings $1,800-$2,000, Fox $2,200, ADS $2,300, and FOA $980. All you'll need then is rear springs, and the Superflex's reportedly fill this role nicely.

Well I'd hope that a $2000 vehicle-specific setup rides better than a ~$800 LC/TRD setup pieced together with parts made for other toyota trucks :bounce:

 

[IsaiahC]

I'm going to look into 99 tall fronts with Tundra bilstein 5100s for the front (maybe 3rd-4th perch). I'd like to get a perfect 2.5" of lift in the front so I can drop my cvs to 1.5", well below the 2" "threshold". Plus, I can pick up a pair of 99 talls at a local salvage yard for cheap

Change my mind on this one. lol

 

[absalom]

Well I'd hope that a $2000 vehicle-specific setup rides better than a ~$800 LC/TRD setup pieced together with parts made for other toyota trucks :bounce:

It rides so much better that I wouldn't even consider wasting the money on TRD/LC setup in the meantime. Not to mention all the $$ spent aligning and effort installing.

 

[SCRunner12]

I've had just about all the different lifts (5100/Eibachs, 5100/Tundra, Icon, Fox and SAW 2.0's), so I can shed some light on this topic. The 5100/Eibach is a good lift and allows you to reach a full 3" without having to further compress coils and reduce ride quality. It was "stiff", but not in a bad way for me. It felt planted and flexed well off road. It's a nice set it and forget it lift, which a lot of people prefer.

The Tundra/5100 was more plush, but I had a lot of body roll. I used the Tundra 5100's and didn't like that I needed to go up to the 3rd perch to get a full 3". I sold them before I did bump it up, but the 2nd perch road well, but was only about 2.5". I don't recommend this lift unless you really want to go cheap and get used coils. I was about $250 into this lift, so I didn't mind, but don't find it as appealing as others have stated in the past.

The Fox and Icon's are in a whole other class (and should be for the price tag). They are so much smoother on bumpy roads and make the ride a much more enjoyable experience. Being able to adjust them and swap spring rates is also a big plus to customize to your specific vehicle. They are expensive though and most people won't need them anyways.

 

[Dephcon]

That pretty close to to what I did and yep, I bought most of it from Wheelers are well. I used LC 8 wraps in the rear, actually got the part number from Sonaran Steel website and I got the Toytec coilover kit. Bilsteins all around. I still need to do something with the panhard, most likely get the Sonaran Steel adjustable panhard bar.

 

[IsaiahC]

I've had just about all the different lifts (5100/Eibachs, 5100/Tundra, Icon, Fox and SAW 2.0's), so I can shed some light on this topic. The 5100/Eibach is a good lift and allows you to reach a full 3" without having to further compress coils and reduce ride quality. It was "stiff", but not in a bad way for me. It felt planted and flexed well off road. It's a nice set it and forget it lift, which a lot of people prefer.

The Tundra/5100 was more plush, but I had a lot of body roll. I used the Tundra 5100's and didn't like that I needed to go up to the 3rd perch to get a full 3". I sold them before I did bump it up, but the 2nd perch road well, but was only about 2.5". I don't recommend this lift unless you really want to go cheap and get used coils. I was about $250 into this lift, so I didn't mind, but don't find it as appealing as others have stated in the past.

The Fox and Icon's are in a whole other class (and should be for the price tag). They are so much smoother on bumpy roads and make the ride a much more enjoyable experience. Being able to adjust them and swap spring rates is also a big plus to customize to your specific vehicle. They are expensive though and most people won't need them anyways.

Set it and forget it sounds exactly like what I want. I think I fall into that class of people who won't need the top of the line stuff. I mean, I like nice stuff but I'd also like to trade in my Les Schwab Chinese A/Ts for some Goodyear Duratracs.
Thanks for your response

That pretty close to to what I did and yep, I bought most of it from Wheelers are well. I used LC 8 wraps in the rear, actually got the part number from Sonaran Steel website and I got the Toytec coilover kit. Bilsteins all around. I still need to do something with the panhard, most likely get the Sonaran Steel adjustable panhard bar.

When people say the panhard/adjustable bars recenter the rear axle, this just means your steering wheel will be a tad off center, right?

 

[Dephcon]

When people say the panhard/adjustable bars recenter the rear axle, this just means your steering wheel will be a tad off center, right?

This is bar in the rear of the truck that goes from the frame to the axle and yes, keeps it centered. When the axle drops, it shifts slightly to the passenger side unless you have a longer than factory panhard bar or a panhard extention which will lower the mounting point of the panhard on the frame. Adjustable just allows you to run different lift heights and always be able to center the axle under the truck. Sonoran Steel and Toytec both offer replacement panhard bars for roughly the same price.