Suspension Lift for 02 SR5 Auto?

[02T4RVA]

Hi there,

I purchased an 02 4Runner SR5 for my son for this 16th birthday (end of September). I had posted earlier and some people offered some great advice on letting my son pick out the tires and wheels so he has the majority of the say on what he wants.

My son has picked out Nitto Trail Grappler Tires (LT265/70R17 E121Q). 32x11 and we are still looking at 17" wheels.

I have no mechanical experience so a garage will be doing all the install work. I need to figure out the suspension lift and I am in "reading overload". Unfortunately, I do not understand all the in's and out's of lifts.

This will be a daily driver for him. Very little off-roading, if at all.

My total budget for him for his birthday is < than $3000.00. This amount will have to cover Lift, Tires, Wheels, and Install.

What does everyone recommend? I saw things like Rough Country for a few hundred dollars up to toytec ultimate for over a $1000. I dont know that I want to go that extreme one way or the other. I would greatly appreciate it if you were specific so I understand what is needed / required.

Thanks again and I have really enjoyed joining this forum!

 

[cdrewferd]

For a 265/70/17 tire, no lift should be needed.

 

[Millerad1651]

If you're sticking with 32"s, then you don't have to lift at all. They will roll on a stock setup with minimal rubbing. However, being an '02 and Limited, there is more to rub.

I suggest going with a set of OME 906s in the rear. You can run those with stock shocks, so no need to change them out. That will net just over 2" of lift.

Old Man Emu 2906 Rear Coil Set

OME 906 coils

If you wanted to upgrade shocks, choices are abundant...two decent choices are

Rough Country
Rough Country N2.0 Rear Shock Set

or Bilstein HDs

Bilstein shocks and struts for cars and trucks - Shockwarehouse.com

Again, you could go Monroe, OME, Tokico...it just depends on price and durability.

The same goes for the front. There are many options for +- 2" of lift. One of the most popular is the 5100 Tundra lift.

These shocks
Bilstein 5100 Height Adjustable Front Strut Set for 99-06 Tundra

You can pair them with TRD Tundra coils (buy new or find a used set), use them with your factory coils, or get some Eibachs from Toytec.

Toytec/Eibach front coil lift springs

You can also buy the preassembled coilover from them...

ToyTec coilover kit with Bilstein 5100 shocks


You can also buy the complete kits from Toytec or Sonoran Steel

Complete Lift Kits

Toyota Lift Kits: Lift Kits, toyota, 4 Runner, 4 Runner Lift Kits

As I said, there are tons of choices out there. Expect $500 ish for install labor. If you can find a place to work though, it's not very hard at all. I've done a few lifts with a buddy or two and it only takes a couple hours...there are plenty of write ups on line. Good luck.

 

[YotaDan]

Bang for the buck. Some Bilstein 5100s up front, Rough Country N2.0s out back, and some 1.5" lift spacers for the rear.

 

[Hepar]

My total budget for him for his birthday is < than $3000.00.

Dang. Where were you when I was 16?!?!

I'd say go with one of the Toytec options. Complete and nice. That should leave plenty over for wheels and tires.

 

[02T4RVA]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the recommendations. What are your thoughts on this?

Toyteclifts.com website:
Complete OME suspension for 96-02 4Runner
P/N: OME-96024R
Your Price: $835.24

Any other "complete kits" that you recommend? I see Boss and Ultimate, but they are over a $1000.

Thanks again!

 

[Hepar]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the recommendations. What are your thoughts on this?

Toyteclifts.com website:
Complete OME suspension for 96-02 4Runner
P/N: OME-96024R
Your Price: $835.24

Any other "complete kits" that you recommend? I see Boss and Ultimate, but they are over a $1000.

Thanks again!

Honestly, I'd spend a little extra and get the ultimate kit with the 5100 bilsteins for the rear. Going to be the best on and off road combo for the money. Not to mention it will save you having to get the fronts put together. True, it's over $1,000, but not by much and with the 5% discount, that will knock a little over $50 off of it.

 

[02T4RVA]

Hi Hepar,

Thanks for the suggestion! Quick follow up:

Ultimate Lift Kit for '96-'02 4Runner
Front coil options: 600 Red coils
Front diff drop kit : 4x4 Included
Rear coil options: OME 890 coils Normal load 3" lift or 891 coils Medium load 3" lift?
Rear shocks: Bilstein 5125 shocks - $60.00
Do I need this? Other options: NO
How about this? Upper control arms: NO

Also, how do I get the 5% discount?

Thanks for all your help

 

[YotaDan]

The 891 Coils would really only be if you have a heavy constant load in the back.
Upper control arms are not required, but as you get into the 2.5+ range, the caster does get pretty low, which can cause some wandering issues on the highway.

 

[Millerad1651]

One thing to note...you're looking at options with 3" of lift. He is staying with a 32" tire. There are some times that these tires can look "small" with a 3" lift...which is why I suggested 2" earlier. There are plenty of threads you can Google where people have asked about this. There are also plenty of pics for you to look at.
I would agree with YotaDan on his suggestion, although I'd do 906s before spacers...that leaves a little bit more money to spend on the truck. He could add cosmetic things like visors, lights, scoop hood. The $3000 you have alotted can do a lot to change the truck besides a lift and tires/wheels. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Hepar]

Hi Hepar,

Thanks for the suggestion! Quick follow up:

Ultimate Lift Kit for '96-'02 4Runner
Front coil options: 600 Red coils
Front diff drop kit : 4x4 Included
Rear coil options: OME 890 coils Normal load 3" lift or 891 coils Medium load 3" lift?
Rear shocks: Bilstein 5125 shocks - $60.00
Do I need this? Other options: NO
How about this? Upper control arms: NO

Also, how do I get the 5% discount?

Thanks for all your help

I personally went with silver because I have a silver runner and didn't want them standing out so much.

Like [MENTION=87036]YotaDan[/MENTION] said, only get the 891's if you plan on loading the rear. Meaning with a heavier rear bumper or perhaps a heavier rear cargo box.

You won't need the body lift option, so "no" on the other options section.

Again, like yotadan said, you shouldn't need to get upper arms. I've been running stock upper arms for years now with no issues.

As for the discount, check out this thread or you can PM Toytec.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/www-toyteclifts-com/77882-toytec-toyota-4runner-org-discount-code.html

 

[02T4RVA]

Thanks everyone! Your feedback's and comments are helpful and appreciated!

I found a garage in my area that will doing all the install work.

They were the one's who suggested the Nitto Trail Grappler LT265/70R17 E121Q 31.97" x 11.02.

My son picked out 17" Level 8 MK6 -12 offset wheels (shipped already).

Should I be worried that this tire and wheel will look "small" with the toytec ultimate 3" lift?

Thanks again!

 

[snivilous]

I would supercharge it with your $3k, you can do a nice 3" suspension lift for under $700 and a lot of the other mods will be around or under that range. A kid can easily save up that much, $3k is harder and everyone wants a supercharger

 

[Hepar]

Should I be worried that this tire and wheel will look "small" with the toytec ultimate 3" lift?

Opinions will vary, but I don't think they will look small. The Nitto's have a good aggressive tread that will help them look larger. I'm rocking 265/75-16's on a 3" lift and I feel they are just fine.

<a href="http://s1131.photobucket.com/user/jusui/media/DSC_1384.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/jusui/DSC_1384.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC_1384.jpg"/></a>

 

[02T4RVA]

Thanks Hepar for the picture! Agreed Very nice 4Runner...

 

[Millerad1651]

Thanks everyone! Your feedback's and comments are helpful and appreciated!

I found a garage in my area that will doing all the install work.

They were the one's who suggested the Nitto Trail Grappler LT265/70R17 E121Q 31.97" x 11.02.

My son picked out 17" Level 8 MK6 -12 offset wheels (shipped already).

Should I be worried that this tire and wheel will look "small" with the toytec ultimate 3" lift?

Thanks again!

Nah, those should look fine. Being a mud terrain tire helps the look, as will being 17". Most of the time when a tire looks small with 3" lift, its a street tire, or a plain looking all terrain.

 

[02T4RVA]

Thanks again everyone! I pulled the trigger and purchased the lift from Toytec:

Ultimate Lift Kit for '96-'02 4Runner
Front coil options: 600LB Silver coils
Front diff drop kit : 4x4 Included
Rear coil options: OME 890 coils Normal load 3" lift
Rear shocks: Bilstein 5125 shocks - $60.00
Other options: NO
Upper control arms: NO

I really appreciate all the advice, .02, and suggestions!