Taking Delivery on '05 Sport V8

[Dexter Morgan]

Greetings all!

I am taking delivery of an '05 Black Sport V8 in the next week. It has 85k miles on it with the JBL synthesis system. As I've poured over countless threads, including the "lifted" thread of ~145 pages (twice), I have almost come to a decision on the lift, and just need confirmation that either of these WILL work with XREAS (don't want to ditch this yet):

Daystar 2.5/1.5 with FJ coils (longer coils ok with stock XREAS shocks?) OR
Cornfed 3/2 with stock coils

From what I've read, both of these will work but is it worth it to do coils with the DS when I can get the same lift by simply doing the Cornfed? Would ideally want a ~3" front ~1.5" rear (don't want any rake)

Will post pics as soon as she gets here!!! Thank you all!

 

[Mytoy4]

Welcome! Look forward to seeing pics

 

[Alex T4R]

Welcome. Don't wanna change your mind, but i got DS kit and at first i loved how it looked, but i have it for month and half and i already lost an inch in front and now i want a real lift, although i have stock coils and it might be a reason. Anyway it is your decision and i'm sure whatever you choose you will enjoy. Good Luck.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

Welcome. Don't wanna change your mind, but i got DS kit and at first i loved how it looked, but i have it for month and half and i already lost an inch in front and now i want a real lift, although i have stock coils and it might be a reason. Anyway it is your decision and i'm sure whatever you choose you will enjoy. Good Luck.

Ok so are you suggesting I go with OME or Bilstein's? In that case I would have to remove XREAS.

Haven't really heard of people losing lift with the DS kit, most seem to like it, short and long term.

Anyone else want to add to this before I make a final decision on lift direction?

 

[Alex T4R]

Ok so are you suggesting I go with OME or Bilstein's? In that case I would have to remove XREAS.

Haven't really heard of people losing lift with the DS kit, most seem to like it, short and long term.

Anyone else want to add to this before I make a final decision on lift direction?

I don't think it is my DS, it is probably more my stock shocks. But DS is made out of special plastic and with time it will settle, i heard alumini is best to have. One of the guy i wheeled, had 3' toytec alumini spacer. Talk to superman3403, cause he has been through DS and now he installed shocks and coils. Momo.75 also had DS and then switched, his car had Xreas. From looking at different posts and seeing other rides, i think switching shocks and coils is the best bet, so OME or bilstein, which ever you like more and like i mentioned before to each is own. You might like DS and enjoy it for long, i liked initially and after one wheeling trip i want a real lift now.

 

[2StepsAhead]

Ok so are you suggesting I go with OME or Bilstein's? In that case I would have to remove XREAS.

Haven't really heard of people losing lift with the DS kit, most seem to like it, short and long term.

Anyone else want to add to this before I make a final decision on lift direction?

Im going with the fj coils/5100's personally, I only found a few reviews of spacer lift where people didnt like them but that combined with a lot of people eventually going with a suspension lift pushed me over...not to mention I have 98k on my truck and I feel the suspension is probably near the end of its life span and Id like a fresh start.

If you shop around you can find fj springs dirt cheap used and the 5100's are roughly 320 shipped give or take. Throw in a rear spacer if you want a little more lift than the fj coils will provide for $40-50 and youre not extremely far off from a daystar lift and have nice fresh suspension components. Just my .02

 

[CXS]

Opinions are cheap so here's mine - if you plan to off-road it go with the full OME setup. If it'll be a pavement queen anything will be fine. Ditching the Xreas is not a big deal, the odds are good your shocks are worn already.

Oh yeah, welcome to the '05 V8 club, you'll be very happy with it!

 

[Dexter Morgan]

Opinions are cheap so here's mine - if you plan to off-road it go with the full OME setup. If it'll be a pavement queen anything will be fine. Ditching the Xreas is not a big deal, the odds are good your shocks are worn already.

Oh yeah, welcome to the '05 V8 club, you'll be very happy with it!

Thanks guys for the responses, I know you all have fielded tons of suspension questions, but I have done a lot of research so I hope I'm coming across as "fairly" edgeukated.

I wanted the '05 because believe it or not I like the old style fender arches and the nose, plus I get the VVti with the extra hp and better fuel mileage for less money than the face lifted runners.

It is going to be a pavement queen :moping: as this will be my winter vehicle/utility truck. Will be selling my '03 Tundra Limited 4x4 to help fund my purchase...GREAT truck, but I use the bed 10% of the time if that and it's a big truck to maneuver....Running billie's on it now @ 1.75 and they are a fantastic shock...

2steps - where will you set the 5100's, 1.75 + FJ coils? As I mentioned, I'd be thrilled with a 3/1.5 and preserving XREAS since a lot of people like this system. Is there such a setup as I describe? the 3/2 still leaves a rake, a bit too much for my liking.

 

[2StepsAhead]

Thanks guys for the responses, I know you all have fielded tons of suspension questions, but I have done a lot of research so I hope I'm coming across as "fairly" edgeukated.

I wanted the '05 because believe it or not I like the old style fender arches and the nose, plus I get the VVti with the extra hp and better fuel mileage for less money than the face lifted runners.

It is going to be a pavement queen :moping: as this will be my winter vehicle/utility truck. Will be selling my '03 Tundra Limited 4x4 to help fund my purchase...GREAT truck, but I use the bed 10% of the time if that and it's a big truck to maneuver....Running billie's on it now @ 1.75 and they are a fantastic shock...

2steps - where will you set the 5100's, 1.75 + FJ coils? As I mentioned, I'd be thrilled with a 3/1.5 and preserving XREAS since a lot of people like this system. Is there such a setup as I describe? the 3/2 still leaves a rake, a bit too much for my liking.

I battled with going 06+ or going 05 and I settled on the 05 because for some reason I like the fenders and fogs better too...just need led tails though imo.

Originally I wanted to go .85 as that seems to be popular but I also went for the 1.5in daystar rear lift so I think Im going to go a little higher up front to keep my rake since the rear should go up 2in total + the v8 is heavier up front.

I know daystar has the 1.5in rear lift in the rear and itll preserve the xreas.

 

[beeftube]

Some have reported problems with the Daystar lift AND FJ springs due to height of the resulting assembly -- but that may have been with the "older" 6-pc. Daystar spacer kit that included a preload spacer.

If I were you and I was looking at spacers, I'd just put the lift on the stock springs -- I did that on my first 4Runner and it was just fine since I didn't go offroad a whole lot. The stance looked great. Mine never lost any height, or none that was easily measured.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

Some have reported problems with the Daystar lift AND FJ springs due to height of the resulting assembly -- but that may have been with the "older" 6-pc. Daystar spacer kit that included a preload spacer.

If I were you and I was looking at spacers, I'd just put the lift on the stock springs -- I did that on my first 4Runner and it was just fine since I didn't go offroad a whole lot. The stance looked great. Mine never lost any height, or none that was easily measured.

Cool...thanks for the info, I tend to agree with you - the most straitforward install might be a good idea. Preference on DS vs Cornfed? Cornfed's 1/2" higher + aluminum in front but other than that? Will run stock tires for a while + spidertraxx, may eventually go to 265 70 but that's it. Trying to preserve MPG while getting a more rugged stance.

I've linked to rockwall's 4runner, thinking this setup looks really good!! http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/51742-lift-tire-central-pics-post-em-up-43.html

 

[beeftube]

Cool...thanks for the info, I tend to agree with you - the most straitforward install might be a good idea. Preference on DS vs Cornfed? Cornfed's 1/2" higher + aluminum in front but other than that? Will run stock tires for a while + spidertraxx, may eventually go to 265 70 but that's it. Trying to preserve MPG while getting a more rugged stance.

I've linked to rockwall's 4runner, thinking this setup looks really good!! http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/51742-lift-tire-central-pics-post-em-up-43.html

I can't say -- I used the Daystar spacers with no ill effects. I liked that they were polyurethane instead of billet to add a little more "cush" to the ride, and you couldn't see them shining in the wheel well like the billet spacers.

The Daystar kit plus 265/70/17 tires is a perfect combo in terms of spacer lifts.

 

[Flyer]

I'd second the Old Man Emu route...excellent ride. I have a FJ Cruiser TRD suspension on mine (no lift though) and I like how it handles on and off-road. If I took it off-road to harder trails, I'd lift it with a OME setup- mainly for the clearance but OME rides nice. The TRD setup I have now is about as stiff as I like my 4R to be. However, I just take my Rubicon if going to tough/narrow trails, and so there is no need to lift the 4R. It will stay on the FJ TRD suspension, which is great.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

Update!

I'd second the Old Man Emu route...excellent ride. I have a FJ Cruiser TRD suspension on mine (no lift though) and I like how it handles on and off-road. If I took it off-road to harder trails, I'd lift it with a OME setup- mainly for the clearance but OME rides nice. The TRD setup I have now is about as stiff as I like my 4R to be. However, I just take my Rubicon if going to tough/narrow trails, and so there is no need to lift the 4R. It will stay on the FJ TRD suspension, which is great.

'05 Sport is out, found a nice '06 Limited V8 which of course has all the updates like projector headlights, restyled exterior, etc. Also has the factory Navigation system. So...

This one does not have XREAS or RAS (according to the build sheet), so I'm "free" to pursue other lift options. Since it has 109k miles, I think this is a great time to upgrade full suspension. I am looking for a 3/2 so I was going to do OME 884's up front with top plate spacer, Superflex rears and Billie 5100's all around. Anyone have objections to this setup? Is there another way I can get a full 3" in front without using spacers? Can I pair the Toytec CO's with Superflex rears? Thanks!!

With apologies to Crayc, I want my truck to look just like his with the exception of the tires, I actually like the look of his lift with stock tires (and will help with MPG):

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/115729-jaybird93000-crayc-build-thread.html Post #2, pics 8-10.

 

[Flyer]

All good, but I personally have a significant preference for the Old Man Emus. I find the 5100s too stiff...even stiffer than the TRD setup. I prefer compliance and articulation. An overly stiff suspension is pretty useless to me...especially off-road.

 

[CXS]

I agree with Flyer and still recommend the OME suspension. I've put 50,000 miles on mine and it still feels new.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

I agree with Flyer and still recommend the OME suspension. I've put 50,000 miles on mine and it still feels new.

So full OME front and rear with their Nitrocharged shocks? Is there any way to get a full 3" in front with OME without a top plate spacer? I do not normally tow and will not have a winch or anything like that.

And no disrespect to Crayc on his tires, I love the look but I'm trying to justify moving out of my '03 Tundra LTD (13.5 mpg) in part for better fuel economy. If you read this, what type of hit did you take to MPG's?

See when you have such bad MPG's, even the 16/19 for the 4runner looks great!

 

[CXS]

So full OME front and rear with their Nitrocharged shocks? Is there any way to get a full 3" in front with OME without a top plate spacer? I do not normally tow and will not have a winch or anything like that.

Yes, OME does a good job testing and matching their springs & shocks, I don't recommend mix & match. I never measured mine but it looks level to me and adding the bumpers didn't change that.

There are a few different OME setups with softer vs stiffer specs. If you never plan to go with aftermarker bumpers, etc the softer is probably what you want.

I highly recommend talking to Kurt at cruiseroutfitters.com, hes a helluva guy and very much a Yota guy. I just looked and heres the link to the setup: Cruiser Outfitters

 

[Dexter Morgan]

Have heard that OME rear springs are a tad too stiff so people pair the OME fronts with Superflex rears??

 

[CXS]

On that I have no opinion, I like the ride but I came from a built Land Cruiser and find the ride very comfortable. I might feel differently if I came from a Lexus or street car.