Stock / Factory Rake?

[Troika]

Hey guys, I've been reading for a while and learned a ton from you. One thing I can't quite find empirically is "what is a normal amount of rake on stock SR5?" Mine is a 2013 if that matters.

I have no driver's side sag at all, which is good news, it's dead level side to side in the front and back.

Measuring form the ground my rear wheel wells seem to be 2.5" higher than the front ones. There's not a lot of level ground in my neighborhood, but I'm going to measure from the center of the hubs later when I'm at a parking lot that appears level to me.

Just curious. I've read and re-read the Bilstein threads and debate between .84 and 1.75. I feel like a .84 guy, but I'd feel better knowing that 2.5" stock difference is consistent with people who's advice I've been reading.

I guess I could sneak onto the Toyota lot and measure a bunch of used 4Runners. :dancin:

 

[sandcrawler]

Hey guys, I've been reading for a while and learned a ton from you. One thing I can't quite find empirically is "what is a normal amount of rake on stock SR5?" Mine is a 2013 if that matters.

I have no driver's side sag at all, which is good news, it's dead level side to side in the front and back.

Measuring form the ground my rear wheel wells seem to be 2.5" higher than the front ones. There's not a lot of level ground in my neighborhood, but I'm going to measure from the center of the hubs later when I'm at a parking lot that appears level to me.

Just curious. I've read and re-read the Bilstein threads and debate between .84 and 1.75. I feel like a .84 guy, but I'd feel better knowing that 2.5" stock difference is consistent with people who's advice I've been reading.

I guess I could sneak onto the Toyota lot and measure a bunch of used 4Runners. :dancin:

when stock, my rears were 2" higher when measured from the ground to the bottom of the wheel well.

 

[TEujunga]

Two important things to remember about rake and stance:

1) 5th Gen wheel wells are a bit taller in the rear than in the front, so if you lift the front so that the hub-to-wheel-well measurements are the same front and rear, your frame will actually slope downhill front to back.

2) "Level" is in the eye of the beholder, and not an exact science. Most people find that lifting the front between 1" - 2" more than the rear results in the most pleasing stance, but it's entirely up to you.

 

[Troika]

1) 5th Gen rear wheel wells are a bit taller than the front ones, so if you lift the front so that the hub-to-wheel-well measurements are the same front and rear, your frame will actually slope downhill front to back.

I had not read that before, thanks. It's helpful and interesting.

2) "Level" is in the eye of the beholder, and not an exact science. Most people find that lifting the front between 1" - 2" more than the rear results in the most pleasing stance, but it's entirely up to you.

Yep, I get this. I've poured through the previous discussions and documentation on this. I'm not chasing true "level", because I understand what's flawed in that logic. Hadn't considered the radius of the wheelwells, though.

I'm determined not to overthink this. I can see that this mod has been done 1,000,000 times already and have read 1st hand accounts and seen photos.

I was just curious if my rake is typical. Based on the 1st response, it's 1/2 inch taller than his. If I had a large enough sample size to suggest that I was working with an extra 1/2" I might be tempted to set my front Bilsteins at 1.75, but I don't expect to land there.

Just interested in firming up the ride, reducing some of the sway and nose dive and making a less noticeable back-front rake than where I'm starting from

 

[philsey]

I had not read that before, thanks. It's helpful and interesting.



Yep, I get this. I've poured through the previous discussions and documentation on this. I'm not chasing true "level", because I understand what's flawed in that logic. Hadn't considered the radius of the wheelwells, though.

I'm determined not to overthink this. I can see that this mod has been done 1,000,000 times already and have read 1st hand accounts and seen photos.

I was just curious if my rake is typical. Based on the 1st response, it's 1/2 inch taller than his. If I had a large enough sample size to suggest that I was working with an extra 1/2" I might be tempted to set my front Bilsteins at 1.75, but I don't expect to land there.

Just interested in firming up the ride, reducing some of the sway and nose dive and making an less noticeable back-front rake than where I'm starting from

I set my Bilsteins at .85 on my 2010 and I was quite happy with the results. It left a very slight rake, such that I concluded 1.75 would have been too much. Yes, you're overthinking it.

 

[Troika]

... Yes, you're overthinking it.

Of course I am. It's sort of my thing.

 

[philsey]

Of course I am. It's sort of my thing.

Understood, but I already did that for you, back in 2010, so you're GTG.

:eyebrows:

 

[Troika]

Understood, but I already did that for you, back in 2010, so you're GTG.

The fora have been a tremendous source of information for me so far. I really appreciate the knowledge that people have shared here. Purchased my shocks from a forum sponsor while I was at it.

Maybe someday I'll be able to contribute as well. Will at least post an adventure photo or two.

EDIT: I measured again today from a level looking parking garage, but this time did so from the "center" of the hub to the top of the wheel well. Still, dead nuts level size to side, which makes me really happy. The rake, measured this way today was only 2 1/8" vs the 2.5" that I got before, so that puts me in line what what I expected and supports my plan with the 5100s.

It occurred to me afterward that the center of the hub is not a precise measurement, since there is nothing really marking the center. It would have made more sense to measure from one of the edges of the cap or the rim or something objective. Anyway, it doesn't really matter. I'm going with that first setting on the Bilstein to get it leveled out, but maintain a bit of rake.