Thinking I may have made a mistake. Rancho

[Terratrooper]

I purchased my new 2015 SR5 Premium with 3rd row about 10 days ago. I love the truck but really hate the amount of rake it has. My truck has 2" of rake on the passenger side and 1.625" on the drivers side. Thanks to the great members on this forum, I saw I had quiet a few options to correct this. I considered front spacers, Rancho quicklift, Bilstein 5100s, and Fox 2.0s. For some reason I went ahead and ordered the Rancho Quicklift front struts and rear shocks(even though my gut was screaming:buy the Foxs!) From what I can find here and elsewhere, no one has documented and photographed actual measurements and stances before and after the Rancho Quicklift install on a 5th Gen. I also ordered 3 OME Rear Trim Packers from Wheelers. My thoughts are: one on the driver's side to correct the "lean" and the other two can be used on each side in case I end up with a slight nose up stance. I'm really not looking forward to being the guinnea pig but what the heck. Rancho has a 90 Free Ride Policy. I won't be offroading really, just drive on beaches in NC and forest roads in CO, both of which I have done in my 2014 Subaru Forester XT Touring with street tires. Let me know your thoughts/experiences with the Rancho setup. I should be installing everything this weekend. I will share all of my pics and measurements.

 

[Terratrooper]

Here's what I'm starting with.

 

[revox92]

Welcome to the board buddy. I have no experience with Rancho with but a few buddies here does and never heard complains. Looks in good stance to me.

 

[LandCruiser]

I really don't see a problem...

 

[NoLight]

Looks good. Welcome!!

 

[Terratrooper]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I decided to return the Rancho stuff and save my money for an adjustable high quality setup like Toytecs or Fox 2.0s. I'm keeping the trim Packers to fix the lean. For now just to level the rake I ordered some $50 top hat spacers that are suppose to lift the front 1.5". Theoretically that'll leave me with .5" of rake, which seems just right to me. Unfortunately the spacers won't arrive until next week. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Colo15T4R]

Welcome to the forum. Good choice on returning the Rancho. Save and get quality coilovers.

 

[Terratrooper]

My trim packers and front top hat spacers arrived ahead of schedule on Friday. I was able to get them put on Saturday night. My 4runner sat as follows from the factory: PF 20.0" PR 22.0" DF 20.0" DR 21.75". The top mounting studs on the struts were too long, so I had to trim them so they wouldn't hit the strut tower. Other than that everything went pretty well. To remove the struts I removed the two bolts for the bottom ball joint, completely disconnected the sway bar ends and unmounted the sway bar from the frame, removed the bottom strut bolt and the three nuts on top of the strut. I was the able to lift the upper control arm while pushing down on the lower control arm. Fortunately my dad arrived just in time to help finagle the sway bar out of the way and pull the strut down and out. Unfortunately he couldn't stick around so I did the other side by myself. It was pretty tough but I was able to manage. After I got everything put back together and measured the truck it was at PF 22.0" PR 22.0" DF 22.0" DR 21.75".

I wanted .5" of rake and no drivers side lean. That's where the OME trim packers came into play. I purchased 3, 2 for the drivers side and one for the passenger side. The rears were much easier. After jacking the truck up and putting stands under the frame just in front of the wheel wells I disconnected the verticle bolt mounts for the pan hard bar. I then put a jack under the rear axle and disconnected each lower shock mount. To install the drivers side packers I slightly jacked up on the passenger side of the axle while pulling down on the driver's side of the axle. The spring pulled right out, I slapped two trim packers on it and put it back in place. I then jacked up the drivers side of the axle, pulled down on the passenger side and yanked the spring out. I put one trim packer on that spring and pushed the spring back into place. Put the shocks back on, reattached the pan hard bar and I was done. It now sits at PF 22.0" PR 22.5" DF 22.0" DR 22.5". I think it looks nice and I'm pleased with the ride. I will post some pics tomorrow if I get home from work before dark.

 

[hearno]

Wow, you're more anal about it than I am and that's saying a lot. I'll ask you this, what are you gonna do when the fuel level changes? Did you do all this full, half, empty??? Oh god it's gonna be so far off once you drive a little or fuel up.

 

[Terratrooper]

I will probably go with a fully automatic hydraulic leveling setup. It will compliment the 26" wire wheels I have ordered rather well! The hydraulics will help compensate the rear ride height as my kids grow and gain weight too. :biggrin2:

 

[Terratrooper]

Here are some after pics. It's very subtle but it makes me happy! I am content....for now...

 

[MN4RNR]

Great looking ride. I think it looks good before and after but the little extra height in the front afterwards helps out. Like you said subtle. Great color choice.

 

[Terratrooper]

Thanks! As for the color, we let the kids choose. Fortunately it was the only Premium with 3rd row seating the dealer had. We think the 3rd row may come in handy when our kids bratty little friends wanna tag along. On second thought maybe the 3rd row was a bad idea...

Oddly enough a song by Pepper just came on my radio that started "SR5, lift it, lift it, big shocks yeah" weird...

 

[WEAK_E90]

what are "packers"?

 

[codyHTX]

what are "packers"?

your profile says location WI, so you should damn well know they're the best team in the NFC! GO PACK!!!

but i believe you are referring to "trim packers", which are small rear spring spacers (10mm increments?) used to level the side to side lean or variance in height, typically due to the driver side gas tank location

 

[WEAK_E90]

your profile says location WI, so you should damn well know they're the best team in the NFC! GO PACK!!!

but i believe you are referring to "trim packers", which are small rear spring spacers (10mm increments?) used to level the side to side lean or variance in height, typically due to the driver side gas tank location

haha I totally set myself up for that one... :lol: DAMMIT! :frusty:

but... YOU DAM RIGHT THEY ARE!!!! hahahahaha

Ah ok. Is this an aftermarket item?

 

[GarrettDeeds]

'05 SR5 4Runner before and after Rancho quicklift strut install front only

Before image with stock struts sagging a bit after 195K miles. Standard tire size in both images. Before measured 33 inches from ground to fender front and rear was 36 after lift sitting level mostly 1/4 inch lower front than back with Rancho Quicklift struts on the softest setting. Front only Rear has stock shocks.
Old struts were sagging about an inch in the before photo 1- Photo 2 has the new struts after 2 days of settling

 

[Trail Blazer]

Nice, I'll be installing mine next week. I went with the Quicklift Loaded Struts in the front with Rancho 5000s in the rear with the 1 inch spacers.

 

[Yota_4Runner]

Welcome, that's a sweet ride to start with.....love it!

 

[TJ4RNNR]

Nice truck!! Looked great in the before pics, but I see the subtle difference....congrats!