For the front................
I'm looking for the 1.5 ball joint spacers for the front lift. Do I get the diff spacers as well? If so, what size?
For CV joint longivity you ideally need an equal sized diff drop down spacer kit (& sway bar spacers if you want to continue running the swaybar). The Diff drop down spacers ensure the operating angle of the CV operates within the joints limitations so that during articulation the failure of a joint is less likely. Worse case if you can only source 1" diff dropdown kit at minimum install that. Also be savy when ordering the BJ spacer kit - BJ spacers can be quoted in two ways - One is the actual spacer height, the other is how much lift it will give. When ordering see what they are quoting - A 1.5" tall ball joint spacer will translate to in excess of 2" at the wheel due to the leverage action.
Now for the rear.....................
I would like to do the LC springs (I need new springs anyway) but I'm kind of confused on which ones I need to order. Do I need the front or rear LC's? From what year LC? Do the color codes mean anything? Do I need to get the same side LC's to make sure that they are the same length?
You want the front coil springs from a landcruiser 80 series.
Toyota Land Cruiser - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Re the dot colors on the springs, I saw a post years ago intrepreting these but am unsure where it was. From what I recall the dots indicated different springs used in different year models of the same series. Toyota changed the springs slightly in some years even though they were the same series.
The standard sized front coils that these models came out with are a simple upgrade substitution for the rear in the 4runner being the right coil diameter, giving a slightly firmer ride and 3+" of lift. Most find these at the recyclers 2nd hand for give away prices making them well priced against new coils. Alternately order a set of standard height comfort springs for the front of an 80 series and that will gve you 3+ inches of lift. Don't order 80 series springs with lift or uprated load capacity - these lift figures will apply to if you were installing them into a Landcruiser, but you are not. You need to get the coils that aftermarket suppliers quote to nearest replace the OEM coils for the landcruiser front, as they are a good match for the rear of the 4 Runner.
Dont forget you will need a panhard dropdown kit or a longer panhard rod when you add these coils, otherwise the rear axle will be pulled to one side with the taller height. Other thinks like a rear brake proportioning valve dropdown kit & extended brake line hose should also be on your investment list.
do I need longer shocks for this set up or can I stay with stock ones? If so, how long?
Amazed you have still got stock shocks ! You will need longer shocks, but you can install all this lift & temporarily run the standard until you sort the shocks out ( don't go hard however). Best after installing the lift to take measurements of your shock mounting points from full compression to full extension and search for shocks knowing these lengths.
Alternately you could safely buy shocks for the 4runner. Uo front look for shocks that are quoted as for 2" lift. As the BJ spacer kit is like a torsion lift and not a lift kit as such that changes suspension mounting points, the shock mounting positions dont change. But as you effectively get more wheel travel a longer shock is required to take full advantage of it.
In the rear with the taller springs you are looking to buy a shock with at least 25" of extension. My procomp lift has 26.5" extended rear shocks to deal with a 4" lift. You could even safely install 26.5" shocks as many run that shock with the landcruiser coils.
Hope that gives you the heads up.
Cheers, Darrie
