Spacers on a 2020 TRD Pro

[dehoopta]

I am getting a 2020 TRDP after selling my 2016 Taco TRDOR. My Taco had a 3 inch lift kit with 275/70/17 KO2s and had a great look. I would like to see my 4Runner look as aggressive. I don't necessarily want to replace the FOX suspension to get the lift, and the parts and accessories guy recommended adding a 2 inch lift with spacers. The ride will be a bit stiffer but otherwise should be good to go. I would love to hear your opinions.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Top plate spacers won't change the ride but as with all top plate spacers, you have the possibility of bottoming out and bending the coilovers. Less so with smaller spacers but it can still happen.

 

[Dillusion]

For damn sure it will change the ride.

 

[RusPro17]

Just my opinion. I had that all done to my 15 Tacoma years back. Leave it stock for a while and just put spacers on to give it a better stance with the tires out a little.

 

[Bruin1md]

Just my opinion. I had that all done to my 15 Tacoma years back. Leave it stock for a while and just put spacers on to give it a better stance with the tires out a little.

I'm glad the OP started this thread, b/c I'm debating what to do.
New '20 TRD Pro, and wanting a better stance/look with stock wheels/tires, and have been reading a ton about spacers.
I have zero plans to fool with my stock suspension, but I've contemplating putting

My concerns:
1. Rub, even with the stock 265/60/17 Nitto's.
2. Vibrations at higher speeds, which I read on another thread that happened to someone with TRD pro wheels (wonder if the narrower Pro wheels contribute to this?)
3. Premature wearing of the the wheel bearings.........not as concerned about this, as this seems minimal, at best.

Ideally, I would love to do 1.25" spidertrax with 285/70/17's. HOWEVER, I like the performance of the Nitto's more than I thought I would (much better than my prior KO2's), and I would have to sell the set of 5 and spring for a new set of 285's, which I'm not sure about. Second, I'm not sure I have many options for 285's with 7" Pro wheels. I think the one option I did see was the Falken AT3's LT tire (not their P rated tire, which needed a bigger wheel), which allowed for 7" wheels. I have no desire to swap out my stock Pro wheels for aftermarket wider rims.
Therefore, if I do anything now, it would be to keep the stock tires and add the 1.25" spacers, although I'm a bit reluctant based on a couple of reviews in PRO's that c/o of vibration.

 

[dehoopta]

Just my opinion. I had that all done to my 15 Tacoma years back. Leave it stock for a while and just put spacers on to give it a better stance with the tires out a little.

Did you mean “when the tires wear out a little”. If not , what did you mean to do once you waited
a while?

 

[The_Green_Wang]

I'm glad the OP started this thread, b/c I'm debating what to do.
New '20 TRD Pro, and wanting a better stance/look with stock wheels/tires, and have been reading a ton about spacers.
I have zero plans to fool with my stock suspension, but I've contemplating putting

My concerns:
1. Rub, even with the stock 265/60/17 Nitto's.
2. Vibrations at higher speeds, which I read on another thread that happened to someone with TRD pro wheels (wonder if the narrower Pro wheels contribute to this?)
3. Premature wearing of the the wheel bearings.........not as concerned about this, as this seems minimal, at best.

Ideally, I would love to do 1.25" spidertrax with 285/70/17's. HOWEVER, I like the performance of the Nitto's more than I thought I would (much better than my prior KO2's), and I would have to sell the set of 5 and spring for a new set of 285's, which I'm not sure about. Second, I'm not sure I have many options for 285's with 7" Pro wheels. I think the one option I did see was the Falken AT3's LT tire (not their P rated tire, which needed a bigger wheel), which allowed for 7" wheels. I have no desire to swap out my stock Pro wheels for aftermarket wider rims.
Therefore, if I do anything now, it would be to keep the stock tires and add the 1.25" spacers, although I'm a bit reluctant based on a couple of reviews in PRO's that c/o of vibration.

Lifting your 4runner will bring your wheels closer to the body. To solve this, running spacers can help but may even widen your stance making your wheels turn further out and hitting your bumper. This is solved by the fender mod so lift it and put wheel spacers on. You wont regret it

Running spidetrax spacers and a 2.5ish lift.

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[The_Green_Wang]

I am getting a 2020 TRDP after selling my 2016 Taco TRDOR. My Taco had a 3 inch lift kit with 275/70/17 KO2s and had a great look. I would like to see my 4Runner look as aggressive. I don't necessarily want to replace the FOX suspension to get the lift, and the parts and accessories guy recommended adding a 2 inch lift with spacers. The ride will be a bit stiffer but otherwise should be good to go. I would love to hear your opinions.

If you plan on upgrading suspension in the long run (whether performance, looks, both?), just do it now. Not a big fan of spacers but it will effect the ride. The TRD Pro fox suspension is nice... but Fox 2.5 with External res and DSC adjusters is nicer... and adjustable to the lift you want to offset the price there's always someone wanting to buy your suspension.

P.s. I believe since the TRD Pro shocks already give a lift and your adding 2in lift spacer possibly. May need to look into UCAs to return to the factory alignment specs

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[RusPro17]

Did you mean “when the tires wear out a little”. If not , what did you mean to do once you waited
a while?

Since the 4runner is new with the fox suspension I would leave it like it is now. Just go with spider trac spacers to push the tires out a little for a aggressive look. Then maybe when you get some miles on it then do something with the suspension. I think it is a waste of money messing with a new truck. That is the reason I chose to get a Pro because I did not want to go thru changing everything like I did my Tacoma. Hope this helps.

 

[Cranberry]

don't do it....

Been running my 4R now for a year and its hands down my fave vehicle I have ever owned. Literally I was just like you, upgraded to the 4R and wanted it lifted without going away from factory suspension... in the end, I spent well over $5000 experimenting with several different options and by the time I was finished I ended up just going with Bilstein 5100's with a 2.5 front and 1.5 rear.

I did run spacers in the beginning and it was the worst experience I had with suspension. It did not change the ride in any way on the highway, so if someone is arguing that, I would argue they don't actually have experience with spacers. The main issue was noise and durability when in aggressive articulation and off roading.

A spacer set up will only do on the 4Runner if you intend on keeping it parked in a mall. The second you start going on the grass and gravel, your going to notice the clunking and movement they hinder or create.

hear is a write up from me about a year ago on the daystar spacer kit. HERE

Long and short, your not going to find a spacer kit that provides off road quality lift. if your actually going off road, stay with the factory lift on the factory suspension or go full new suspension all around... if your not off roading then you should be ok with the spacers.

 

[brtnstrns]

My concerns:
1. Rub, even with the stock 265/60/17 Nitto's.
2. Vibrations at higher speeds, which I read on another thread that happened to someone with TRD pro wheels (wonder if the narrower Pro wheels contribute to this?)

You're likely to rub with spacers on the mud flap even with stock wheels/tires. I just drilled two holes in my mud flap and ran a black zip-tie through them and around the frame rail behind it to hold it back. Got rid of my rubbing. Since you have a TRD Pro, the fender liner should already be pushed forward since they do that at the port when it gets off the ship for Pros.

I get a little shimmy between 55 and 65 mph even with the TRDOR wheels. It's not just a skinny wheel thing. Small balancing issues definitely get more pronounced with wheel spacers.


edit: whoops, just realized this thread is about suspension spacers, not wheel spacers.

 

[Bruin1md]

Since the 4runner is new with the fox suspension I would leave it like it is now. Just go with spider trac spacers to push the tires out a little for a aggressive look. Then maybe when you get some miles on it then do something with the suspension. I think it is a waste of money messing with a new truck. That is the reason I chose to get a Pro because I did not want to go thru changing everything like I did my Tacoma. Hope this helps.

Totally with you-- and it's the main reason I got the Pro. I have no desire to fool with the stock suspension in any way, at least not for the forseeable future.
I'm just wanting bigger tires/wider stance, but the problem is that the 7" wheels on our Pros limit our ability to go bigger than 275's, and the ride on the 265 Nitto's is pretty nice.
It seems as though you kept your stock Nitto's and just put in 1.25" spacers. Did you have to mess with your mud flaps or fender liner (b/c of rub) or were you good?

 

[Bruin1md]

You're likely to rub with spacers on the mud flap even with stock wheels/tires. I just drilled two holes in my mud flap and ran a black zip-tie through them and around the frame rail behind it to hold it back. Got rid of my rubbing. Since you have a TRD Pro, the fender liner should already be pushed forward since they do that at the port when it gets off the ship for Pros.

I get a little shimmy between 55 and 65 mph even with the TRDOR wheels. It's not just a skinny wheel thing. Small balancing issues definitely get more pronounced with wheel spacers.


edit: whoops, just realized this thread is about suspension spacers, not wheel spacers.

lol-- yeah I thought the same. It wasn't until your edited response that I realized he was talking about suspension spacers.

 

[RusPro17]

Totally with you-- and it's the main reason I got the Pro. I have no desire to fool with the stock suspension in any way, at least not for the forseeable future.
I'm just wanting bigger tires/wider stance, but the problem is that the 7" wheels on our Pros limit our ability to go bigger than 275's, and the ride on the 265 Nitto's is pretty nice.
It seems as though you kept your stock Nitto's and just put in 1.25" spacers. Did you have to mess with your mud flaps or fender liner (b/c of rub) or were you good?

I did not doing anything to my 17 Pro. When I get my 202 AG coming in shortly I might just do spacers to put the tires out a little. I would rather not do that an get another set of 17x8.5 SCS wheels that are nicer than the TRD wheels. But cannot Justie the money to spend on new wheels when my Pro wheels will be new. So to get that look cheaper would be to buy the spider trac spacers.

 

[Bruin1md]

I did not doing anything to my 17 Pro. When I get my 202 AG coming in shortly I might just do spacers to put the tires out a little. I would rather not do that an get another set of 17x8.5 SCS wheels that are nicer than the TRD wheels. But cannot Justie the money to spend on new wheels when my Pro wheels will be new. So to get that look cheaper would be to buy the spider trac spacers.

That's exactly what I was debating: getting wider wheels with 285 tires and a negative offset. But won't that put the same strain on the wheel bearings as putting spacers would do? Plus, like you, it's hard to justify doing that on a brand new truck.
I love the TRD pro wheels and don't want to get rid of them unless I could get the same wheels in an 8" diameter. I don't know why they made them 7" for us.

P.S: you will love the AG Pro

 

[ax2021]

That's exactly what I was debating: getting wider wheels with 285 tires and a negative offset. But won't that put the same strain on the wheel bearings as putting spacers would do? Plus, like you, it's hard to justify doing that on a brand new truck.
I love the TRD pro wheels and don't want to get rid of them unless I could get the same wheels in an 8" diameter. I don't know why they made them 7" for us.

P.S: you will love the AG Pro

Well that is my problem was too,that make me not to buy TRDP back in 2018. I mean you paying all those $$$ just for better suspension as dealer was saying. I just went the other way. I got 2018 TRD ORP, suspensions cost nothing, installed some Kings 2.5 , 285/70 Falkens M/T ,got ~3” front lift, installed 1” taller spring on rear and got ~ 6k in my wallet,in case if I bought TRDP . Well about the spacers they will make your rubbing even worth. I had those for 3 months and took them off . One thing for sure you will have to lift front at least 2”-2” in order to fit 285/ 70 on TRD PRO rims. But it is possible, I did on mine

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[MGordo]

Not an answer thats 100% complete since nothing is installed (and truck only arrived at the dealer today) but what I ordered is the Eibach 1" lift rear coil and 2" front cornfed spacer. I plan on going to the front Eibach lift coils when they are released for a simple lift that still works with the stock Fox.

Main reason I did this was to fit my upgraded wheels & tires a bit better. (18x9, 0 offset) and 285/65/18 tires.

 

[ax2021]

Not an answer thats 100% complete since nothing is installed (and truck only arrived at the dealer today) but what I ordered is the Eibach 1" lift rear coil and 2" front cornfed spacer. I plan on going to the front Eibach lift coils when they are released for a simple lift that still works with the stock Fox.

I hope it will work for you. I am just don’t like spacers at all. But it is me . Good luck with your modes!!!


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[dehoopta]

Spacers for lift and not for width

I wasn't very clear in the OP. It was recommended to place a 2 inch spacer for lift, not a wheel spacer kit. My fault for the confusion. Carry on and thanks for the feedback. It is invaluable.

It was mainly for looks and not function. I wouldn't want to lose function for looks.

 

[RusPro17]

That's exactly what I was debating: getting wider wheels with 285 tires and a negative offset. But won't that put the same strain on the wheel bearings as putting spacers would do? Plus, like you, it's hard to justify doing that on a brand new truck.
I love the TRD pro wheels and don't want to get rid of them unless I could get the same wheels in an 8" diameter. I don't know why they made them 7" for us.

P.S: you will love the AG Pro

Yeah I cannot wait. Not sure about that. But I would think running the bigger tires put more a strain on the truck and your gas. I know when when I had SCS wheels on my Tacoma with 265-70-17 same size as the 4runner with that 8.5 inch wheel my truck looked much better with the wheels making the tires fit at better stance. It’s a tough call.