The money pit.....(Lift question)

[Sup41]

Hi ya'll..

First off..here's some honesty. If I could go back in time and explain to the younger Cole how much $$$ I'd be spending to "complete" (does it ever end?) my truck...I'm not sure I would have bought it.

Alright! Now that thats out of the way...

So I paid 250 for a cheap rough country front end spacer + new rear coils and shocks.

Then I realized spacers are dumb / bad and just spent some coin for new UCA's (SPC) and 3" Toytec / Eibach front shocks.

Now my truck isn't level anymore :crybaby: the front sits about 1 to 1 1/2" higher than the back.

Now to my question: If I want to level the back with the front, do I need new coils, shocks, or both?

 

[NWFL4Runner]

Keep that cali lean! And from a practical standpoint - do both.

 

[Road Bull]

I would say get LC rear shocks and so the LC 7 or 8 wraps, you should buy the shocks new, springs, up to you, I prefer new or low miles.

What size tires are you running? Do just want to do this and be done, or do you see adding a rear bumper. If you are done building, I would say some 7 wraps LC springs. If you are running something bigger than 265/75/16s, and, maybe want to be able to support more weight, perhaps go 861s, (ARB 2861).

It depends on what you want to do.

 

[Sup41]

I would say get LC rear shocks and so the LC 7 or 8 wraps, you should buy the shocks new, springs, up to you, I prefer new or low miles.

What size tires are you running? Do just want to do this and be done, or do you see adding a rear bumper. If you are done building, I would say some 7 wraps LC springs. If you are running something bigger than 265/75/16s, and, maybe want to be able to support more weight, perhaps go 861s, (ARB 2861).

It depends on what you want to do.

Right.....

I guess what i'm wondering is like..does the lift come from the coils, the shocks, or both? OR if you do one and not the other..do you have an imbalance thats gonna come back and bite you in the ass later?

Running 33's

 

[NWFL4Runner]

Springs are for holding weight and give lift
Shocks control the movement

If you want lift get new springs, but your shocks will be limiting your movement due to the new height. That can cause problems. Do both.

Edit - it's late and I can't type but point is do both if you can but cool springs will give you lift

 

[cashman]

Did you get the adjustable toytec coil-overs up front? If so, just lower the front to match the rear. If you want to keep the 3" up front, you'll need to get taller springs for the rear (or a spacer) to level it. You don't say what type/length of shock you purchased for the rear but, if it's stock length, you'd also want to get a longer shock to matched the increased travel from the longer spring. Otherwise, you risk destroying the shock at full droop.

 

[Sup41]

Did you get the adjustable toytec coil-overs up front? If so, just lower the front to match the rear. If you want to keep the 3" up front, you'll need to get taller springs for the rear (or a spacer) to level it. You don't say what type/length of shock you purchased for the rear but, if it's stock length, you'd also want to get a longer shock to matched the increased travel from the longer spring. Otherwise, you risk destroying the shock at full droop.

Sorry - the rough country was a 3" lift. I suppose not all 3" lifts are created equal. Seems like Toytech overshoots that mark a bit?

I suppose my question now is...Apparently the rear rough country shocks are 3". Could I get away with just upgrading the rough country 3" coils to toy tech without also upgrading to some toy tech 3" shocks? hmmmmm

 

[Road Bull]

There is a lot of good info here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/66976-3rd-gen-4runner-lift-information-faqs.html

&

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/197591-absaloms-cookie-cutter-4runner-builds.html

This is where everyone should start. Springs/coils provide lift. Shocks dampen and gives control to the springs. They have to be a good match because if your spring is too big/tall, then it could easily outstrip the allowable stroke of the shock leading to damage. There are gobs and gobs of different combinations out there. You will find patterns and combinations that work for a lot of us at different budgets. I think, if you are happy with the front suspension, then get a good set of coils and shocks in the rear to match, or, ideally, give you some positive rake. Genuine Toyota LC shocks are fantastic, and not expensive at all, possible the cheapest quality shock available. Then you have several spring options that will work with those.

Good luck.

 

[Nate_GB]

Did the toytec lift in the front come with new springs? If so, I would wait for it to settle down for several hundred miles before doing anything in the rear. The front may end up settling a half inch or so and you may not even want to hassle with it.

And to be honest, 1" higher or lower on either end isn't very much. You can lose a half inch of lift on the driver's rear just by filling up the tank.

 

[Sup41]

There is a lot of good info here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/66976-3rd-gen-4runner-lift-information-faqs.html

&

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/197591-absaloms-cookie-cutter-4runner-builds.html

This is where everyone should start. Springs/coils provide lift. Shocks dampen and gives control to the springs. They have to be a good match because if your spring is too big/tall, then it could easily outstrip the allowable stroke of the shock leading to damage. There are gobs and gobs of different combinations out there. You will find patterns and combinations that work for a lot of us at different budgets. I think, if you are happy with the front suspension, then get a good set of coils and shocks in the rear to match, or, ideally, give you some positive rake. Genuine Toyota LC shocks are fantastic, and not expensive at all, possible the cheapest quality shock available. Then you have several spring options that will work with those.

Good luck.

Great info. Thank you!

 

[cashman]

Sorry - the rough country was a 3" lift.

If the rear is already lifted 3" on the rough country shocks/springs, and the front is sitting higher, you may want to double-check to make sure it is correctly installed. Assuming it is, maybe you're not getting the full 3" you expected in the rear. But rather than buy new shocks and springs, why not throw some spacers on the rear to level it out?