Questions about lift - help needed

[Freak]

Following the 3rd Gen Lift Information FAQ page, I am currently planning a lift kit for my '97 Limited. Budget is limited (just like the car!) so items bought are mostly used.

At the moment, I have secured a pair of front 80 series coils to lift the rear. I have the 19" Double Pink Light Blue White 7.5 wraps and 19.5" Purple Green White 8 wraps color codes. I am also ordering a 2" Toytec front spacer lift from eBay.

What shocks should I purchase to pair with the rear lift? I'm thinking Ranchos or KYB Gas-A-Justs or possibly Monroe. If somebody could suggest part numbers. Also, I am not sure if I need to purchase shocks meant for an 80 series, 4Runner, or a longer set of shocks that is specifically made for the 4Runner. What about OEM take off Bilstein/Toyota shocks from a later model FJ/Tundra/Tacoma? These can be had for cheap on Craigslist.

With these particular parts mentioned above, do I need to buy the additional stuff such as a diff drop, extended panhard bar, extended brake lines and the likes? Or am I good?

This car is a DD and will not see much offroad, although it should be able to perform fairly well when it needs to. At the moment, I can see that my 4Runner's rear is slightly sagging and this makes me rather uncomfortable due to my OCD. Negative rake is unacceptable!

Lastly, can somebody give me a rough guesstimate of how much it would cost to have these installed? Installing it myself isn't an option unless somebody offers to help me install them since I don't know how to.

Thanks!

 

[hrt4me]

I would get the longer or adjustable PHB, extended brake lines and don't forget bump stops and either sway bar relocation brackets or longer end links...

 

[J. B.]

Easy tiger.... dude said he was on a budget...

technically you don't need anything else if you're only driving on the street.

Will the other things make it better? yes.

I ran the stock shocks on the rear after I put those LC springs on for a little while (didn't wheel it at all). But I put the stock 80 series land cruiser tokico black shocks on. Can get them from the dealer for about $42-45 online.

I don't run the rear sway bar at all. Some use stock links for the front for the 3rd gen or 2nd gen since they're longer.

There's a lot of info on this site regarding the panhard bar and lots of people's opinions. longer length, adjustable, drop bracket, which side to put the bracket on, etc...
I'll let you read up on that one and leave my opinion out.

Same goes with front diff drop...

good luck.

If I was in socal I'd help you with the install.

 

[Freak]

Easy tiger.... dude said he was on a budget...

technically you don't need anything else if you're only driving on the street.

Will the other things make it better? yes.

I ran the stock shocks on the rear after I put those LC springs on for a little while (didn't wheel it at all). But I put the stock 80 series land cruiser tokico black shocks on. Can get them from the dealer for about $42-45 online.

I don't run the rear sway bar at all. Some use stock links for the front for the 3rd gen or 2nd gen since they're longer.

There's a lot of info on this site regarding the panhard bar and lots of people's opinions. longer length, adjustable, drop bracket, which side to put the bracket on, etc...
I'll let you read up on that one and leave my opinion out.

Same goes with front diff drop...

good luck.

If I was in socal I'd help you with the install.

My current shocks are Bilsteins (stock height) but they seem pretty worn and I'd much rather do everything in one shot, than to have to install things little by little down the road. I did read somewhere about those Tokico TrekMaster GE4095 80 series shocks, but it appears that they have stopped making those. I'll stop by the dealership soon to check.

Thanks for the offer! It's the thought that counts. Hahah. Also, if you don't mind me asking, what's your current setup? (and have you wheeled it?).

 

[downpour11]

Most shops won't install LC coils on a 4runner, you'd have to find a small private shop or something of the like. Just a heads up.

 

[Freak]

Most shops won't install LC coils on a 4runner, you'd have to find a small private shop or something of the like. Just a heads up.

Thanks, I also realized that. I wonder why? In case some sh*t goes down and I won't sue them for "installing coils that weren't meant for my vehicle", I'm guessing?

I did ask a shop here (an FJ Cruiser specialist) about installing LC coils, and he gave me this dirty look and told me to look up Icon lifts and a few others. He was also against Toytec. Told me his shop wouldn't sell or even install Toytec stuff.

 

[J. B.]

sounds like you need to find a new shop.

Don't know why someone would not like toytec.

I have LC coils (can't remember the coil codes) but they're similar to yours. Stock LC shocks (black tokico) for a '95 land cruiser. Stock panhard bar. Yes the axle is slightly shifted. Yes the driveshaft hits the gas tank (need to clearance the gas tank skid)

Front is King coilovers for the 1st gen 6 lug tacoma. 600lb/in springs I believe. No diff drop. (Yes my CV boots separated from the axle. Need to repack them and put better boots on with better clamps.

285 75 16 duratracs on 16" LC 80 series wheels (16x8 0 offset)

I have wheeled it. Of course tires rub. Need to continue to clearance.
Took care of the pinch weld and it doesn't rub at all when driving on the street.
Rear only rubs when stuffing the tires all the way. Not bad.

 

[Freak]

sounds like you need to find a new shop.

Don't know why someone would not like toytec.

I have LC coils (can't remember the coil codes) but they're similar to yours. Stock LC shocks (black tokico) for a '95 land cruiser. Stock panhard bar. Yes the axle is slightly shifted. Yes the driveshaft hits the gas tank (need to clearance the gas tank skid)

Front is King coilovers for the 1st gen 6 lug tacoma. 600lb/in springs I believe. No diff drop. (Yes my CV boots separated from the axle. Need to repack them and put better boots on with better clamps.

285 75 16 duratracs on 16" LC 80 series wheels (16x8 0 offset)

I have wheeled it. Of course tires rub. Need to continue to clearance.
Took care of the pinch weld and it doesn't rub at all when driving on the street.
Rear only rubs when stuffing the tires all the way. Not bad.

Where'd you get the King coilovers from and how much?

I've not heard of the gas tank skid clearance before. Is that a huge issue?

And nice wheel setup. I've been looking for a good deal on LC80 wheels as well. Or FJ 5-spoke/phone dial wheels. I'm partial to OEM wheels.

Thanks for sharing your setup and the issues associated with it. This will definitely help me in making some important decisions.. hahah

 

[Freak]

I am thinking of ordering a Toytec Panhard Bar Drop Bracket and a 1" Diff Drop kit. Perhaps extended brake lines as well (?).

I will replace the rear shocks as well, Wheeler's Offroad is selling a pair of Bilstein 5100s for only $151 which seems like a great deal. I may go with that. Also, what front shocks will be good?

I can see that a lot of people are looking in this thread and I can only hope that some of you will share your opinions on my plans.

 

[J. B.]

I am thinking of ordering a Toytec Panhard Bar Drop Bracket and a 1" Diff Drop kit. Perhaps extended brake lines as well (?).

I will replace the rear shocks as well, Wheeler's Offroad is selling a pair of Bilstein 5100s for only $151 which seems like a great deal. I may go with that. Also, what front shocks will be good?

I can see that a lot of people are looking in this thread and I can only hope that some of you will share your opinions on my plans.

That sounds good. I also have extended brake lines.
If you're going to go with the 5100 in the rear, get them for the front as well and get the toytec/eibach coils for 3" lift in the front. That will work well.

The Kings were on the truck when I bought them. You may still be able to order them through King.
This is the part number:
25001-151 Tacoma 96-04 (6 Lug) Front Coil Overs
Probably about $1k.

I also will probably be selling a set of 4 5 spoke FJ wheels soon too.

 

[Freak]

That sounds good. I also have extended brake lines.
If you're going to go with the 5100 in the rear, get them for the front as well and get the toytec/eibach coils for 3" lift in the front. That will work well.

The Kings were on the truck when I bought them. You may still be able to order them through King.
This is the part number:
25001-151 Tacoma 96-04 (6 Lug) Front Coil Overs
Probably about $1k.

I also will probably be selling a set of 4 5 spoke FJ wheels soon too.

Alas, I have already bought a pair of Toytec 2" spacers on eBay. It's been two weeks, though, and this seller does have a couple of reviews stating him as being extremely slow on shipping and rude in communication. I may be shafted on this deal - I don't mind getting the items late, but he should be courteous enough to let me know it's been shipped or not. If I end up pulling out and filing a dispute, I'll look into a proper front lift option.

Also, are you reading my freaking mind.. I've been browsing CL every single day looking for FJ wheels. Either the 5-spokes or the 'phone dials' (Trail Edition?). I'm only looking for take-off wheels-and-tires combo, though, as I wanted to get a set of new rubbers and wheels on the cheap.

 

[UnderFire]

Your 4Runner is going to sit really wonky with the 2 inch front lift and 8 wraps in the rear, 8 wraps are usually around 3.5-4.5" of lift.

 

[jmildoc]

forget what everyone else said and do a 6'' lift and SAS THAT BEAST!!!!

 

[Freak]

Your 4Runner is going to sit really wonky with the 2 inch front lift and 8 wraps in the rear, 8 wraps are usually around 3.5-4.5" of lift.

Yikes. I would've thought that the numbers you gave me were the unsprung height, and would lower once it was actually on the truck and is under load. Nevertheless, you have made me look through Craigslist again to seek possible alternatives for the front lift... hahahaha

 

[Freak]

forget what everyone else said and do a 6'' lift and SAS THAT BEAST!!!!

You go first! I'm actually much more interested in doing that 3rd row rumble seat that you have. Would've been really useful, especially with visiting family members!

 

[UnderFire]

Yikes. I would've thought that the numbers you gave me were the unsprung height, and would lower once it was actually on the truck and is under load. Nevertheless, you have made me look through Craigslist again to seek possible alternatives for the front lift... hahahaha

Nope, just put mine on a week or so ago, I'm at around 4" of lift, that's with ~350lbs of extra weight in the back.