Please help! Lift Recommendations 1998 Limited 4WD

[jsf180]

First of all- thanks for the contributors to these forums- they are very helpful. I am new to the lift experience and appreciate any help in advance as I consider which lift to go with. Any help/comments would be so welcomed!
My set-up:
1998 Limited 4WD with everything stock and a 115K miles. To my knowledge the shocks and springs are all original and the rear springs appear to sag (the rear of the vehicle sags a bit).
Goals:
This is my daily car, I commute down a canyon at highway speeds to get to work. Because it is my daily driving car, I really want a nice ride- not too harsh. I rarely pull anything (a few times a year) and don’t carry any heavy loads. I am lifting for some off-roading, but not a lot. I live in Utah and will take it on fishing, backpacking, biking, trips where I will go off-road. I also may do some trails at Moab and Canyonlands, but don’t plan right now to do serious off-roading. I have no plans to add heavy bumpers or wenches. I am looking at spending around 6-800 (excluding tires), and if I can do it for less (shopping around, hitting junkyards) that would be great. I want 2.5-3 inches of lift (probably prefer 3) and plan on running BFG T/As at 285/75/16.
Options:
1) Complete OME kit from Toytec: good price, too rough?-this concerns me a bit- but maybe it’s just a reality of having a lifted vehicle.
2) Toytec 3 inch OME front and rear coil kit- which shocks would be recommended for a smooth ride?
3) TRD Tundra spring- for the front- this sounds like it could be a soft and comfortable ride, how often/does this settle and make the ride harsh? Affordable option? What for the rear- new coil and shock?
4) FJ80 Landcruiser spring- for the rear- I’m assuming you would need a new shock? What for the front? Can you use this option in the rear and option 3 in the front? Is it bad to mix and match these? How would this affect the ride?
5) Coilover front and FJ80 Landcruiser spring in rear- how much would this be? I’m assuming I would need a new shock for the rear with this? Would I need a new spring in front?

So which option do you think would work well for me? Any comments/thoughts please! Finally- do I need a diff drop?

 

[fightman80]

I've done the following:

3) TRD Tundra spring- for the front-
4) FJ80 Landcruiser spring- for the rear-


However, I've also used the complete Strut assemblies from wrecked Tundra. I've also got a Toytec Top plate spacer to give me an extra .5" of lift in the front, and a Toytec diff Drop to lower my front Differential and reduce the CV angles.

For the rear, I've got 8 wrap LC coils, and am running Skyjacker 2.5" lift shocks. I would recommend you go online or to your Toyota Dealer and get some stock replacement rear Landcruiser shocks to matte up with with the coils.

This setup should run you about $500.00, maybe less, if you purchase the Tundra struts used off a wrecking yard. I found mine on E-bay.......

You will have some rake with this setup, but I personally wanted some.

 

[jsf180]

Thanks Fightman!

Thanks for the recommendations. It seems others are also recommending the Tundrea TRD set-up up front. What is the make up the front Tundra shock (with the spring)? Is it Toyota or Bilstein? How do you like the ride quality? I am looking at 3 inches total to fit 285s on, would I need a half inch spacer or adjustable Bilsteins up front? I would like it to sit level, so would the 7 wrap LC coils be best? Sounds like you would recommend matching the LC coils with LC shocks for the best ride? Do you run 285s? Thanks a million for your input. I like your Runner!

 

[Nelsonmd]

The tundra front guys are just passionate about their choice (especially fightman). That's fine, it's probably a great choice.

There are lots of choices in the 2.5-3" range. I think you might want to rethink what you want based on the usage you have described. For what you want to spend, yeah you are limited to piecing something together, but I wouldn't turn away from and affordable 2" lift either since you are going to be mostly on-road.

I am mostly on road as well, but I decided to keep the height reigned in a little (I am lifting 2" w/ a diff drop) to keep the CV and DS angles low as I don't want to increase the wear and tear on anything. Also, lifting further raises the center of gravity and hurts MPG's.

I have also been burned before on used parts, so I just felt more comfortable getting new parts, and was able to do a new 2" lift for about $550 out the door (going on this weekend). Anyway, not trying to discourage you from anything, just give another perspective.

I was worried too about the stiffness of the OME stuff, but a ton of guys here run them and love them. I ended up getting OME 906's for my rears, so we'll see how stiff they are.

 

[jsf180]

Thanks for the perspective

I want perspective, so thanks. That is a good point on used parts. I am thinking 3 inches because from what I've read, that is what I'll need to put 285s (33s) on my 4runner - to avoid rub. Is that true? It sounds like I'll need a diff drop- any recommendations on where to purchase this?

I have considered going with the complete OME setup from Toy-Tec, I'm just a little concerned about the stiffness. Please let me know what you think when you get it on. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[fightman80]

My struts are factory installed Bilsteins. I really like the ride quality, much better over my 3" Spacer setup I had with my stock coils and struts and the OME 890 coils. The spacer / 890 lift, was really stiff and rode really rough. If you want more lift in front, you would have to have the top plate spacer like I have, or adjustable Bilsteins, but the adjustable bilsteins will cost you more. They are a great alternative though! You could probably run the 8 wraps and the adjustable bilsteins to have it sit level. However, anymore than 3" lift in the front, the CV's will fail prematurely.

The 7 wraps might be a better alternative for you, as it will be lower than the 8's, and will most likely give you a level stance. I don't know this for sure though, as I went with the raked stance.

I am running 285's, and still had to do some trimming. All I trimmed was the lower front plastic bumper valance, and removed my mud flaps. No other rubbing issues since.

I hope this helps.......

 

[jsf180]

Thanks!

Thanks for the suggestions. Here is what I'm thinking- to keep it level and to go for around a 3 inch lift:

Front: Tundra TRD spring with adjustable Bilsteins (Any recommnedations on where to buy these? can you get this set-up new)

Rear: 7 coil LC spring with either Tokico trekkmaster or stock LC shock- which would be your preference of these two? Any recommnedations on where to buy these?

Thanks for the input

 

[jksmyers]

The tundra front guys are just passionate about their choice (especially fightman). That's fine, it's probably a great choice.

There are lots of choices in the 2.5-3" range. I think you might want to rethink what you want based on the usage you have described. For what you want to spend, yeah you are limited to piecing something together, but I wouldn't turn away from and affordable 2" lift either since you are going to be mostly on-road.

I am mostly on road as well, but I decided to keep the height reigned in a little (I am lifting 2" w/ a diff drop) to keep the CV and DS angles low as I don't want to increase the wear and tear on anything. Also, lifting further raises the center of gravity and hurts MPG's.

I have also been burned before on used parts, so I just felt more comfortable getting new parts, and was able to do a new 2" lift for about $550 out the door (going on this weekend). Anyway, not trying to discourage you from anything, just give another perspective.

I was worried too about the stiffness of the OME stuff, but a ton of guys here run them and love them. I ended up getting OME 906's for my rears, so we'll see how stiff they are.

Nelson - Sounds like I'm gonna be running the same tire/lift set-up as you. Just not as soon. I plan to put 880's or 881's on the front and 906's out back with 265 DuraTracs. I assume you'll be posting pics on your build thread after the install?????:snacker:

 

[MTDewX8]

I got my kit ordered today. ended up getting LOT OF help from Brian2sun and others I am drawing a blank right now (sorry guys)
but I also got the 906's for the rear cause I plan on changing them out once I get the rear bumper.

I would be curious on the ride (906's) since I will have a front bumper and 881's. and 906's in the back. front will have a big bumper and I just hope I choose right.

had lots of suggestions and I read lots.

got coils, shocks shipped to a local shop for $725 and I plan on doing the install if I get a weekend with good weather since it will be a drive way job.

 

[BrianSD_42]

also consider a SS 1.2

:zoom:

You might want to also consider getting a Sonoran Steel 1.2 Lift. This is a Tundra coil kit.

Steve sells them at this site.
System 1.2 : Sonoran Steel, Sonoran Steel Custom Metal Fabrication L.L.C. Custom Toyota Truck Parts

The price is reasonable if you are not a do it yourself'r when it comes to suspensions. I say this because if you put together the parts on your own, you may end up messing with the suspension many times to get it right. This actually costs $ or at the least a lot of time. I put the SS 1.2 together with a friend and IMO suspension work (in general) is a pain in a$$ & you need at least 1 other person. Alternatively you can take this to any mechanic or friend and have them install it since it comes with all needed parts.

I came across this kit on YotaTech and was impressed. I also really liked the idea of toyota parts (no OME).

When I was looking for at lift options (as a total newb) in 2008 I was quoted anywhere from $1000 to $3000 by local shops looking to sell to me. I bought the SS 1.2 for ~ $1200 back in 2008 but click the link for accurate pricing.
The worst part is that none of the shops could show me pics of what it would look like or know how it would ride. The SS is not the cheapest way but it is a great buy for many people.

With the SS 1.2 you get a well known setup that comes with instructions and is designed specifically for each year of the 3rd/4th gen.


My Experience

Purchased the 1.2 kit in 2008.

I have a 97 4Runner Limited 4x4 @ 195k with SS 1.2
It has ~ 3.0 in the front and 3.5 in the rear.

City driving: this lift drives great. It doesn't feel stiff to me at all and actually quite nice to drive around in town.



Pics of my truck


It flexes quite well as you can see!




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Brian

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