TRD Pro spacer lift vs

[borfoo3]

I feel like I'm enabling lazy behavior to address questions that have already been asked and answered hundreds of times in multiple threads which I was able to find simply by typing "spacer lift" into the search bar, but ... it's Sunday and I have nothing better to do.

If you do any off-roading at all, any front spacer lift is a bad idea, and a spacer lift of over 2" is a really bad idea. Spacer lifts decrease the available suspension travel in the downward direction ("droop") and cause the shock to become the limiting factor. This can result in eventual catastrophic failure of the shock.

If you could afford $45K-plus for a TRD Pro, you can probably afford a few hundred more for a proper front suspension lift.

Any lift over 2.5" reduces front wheel caster to the point that aftermarket UCAs become a good idea. Reduced caster doesn't technically hurt anything, but it's up to you whether driving around in a vehicle that wants to wander all over the road is acceptable. I have about a 2.5" front lift and stock UCAs allowing me a max of about 2.5º of caster. It's not great -- I especially notice it in crosswinds or on tilted roads -- but I decided I can live with it.

3" is about the practical limit for any lift without doing other major modifications, and even at 3", the design of the IFS suspension is about maxed out.

If you read through the numerous existing spacer lift threads, I don't think you'll find many off-roading owners who are happy with the spacer lift in the long term -- most say they wish they had gotten a "real" suspension lift from the outset.

There, that just saved you precious seconds of search time!

^^^^This plus one comment from my side: This write-up fits perfect for any stock 4Runner, except the TRD pro I believe is already 'lifted' 1 inch or so up front.. so I'd keep that in mind when considering the available lift height before getting into UCA's/ CV binding angles...etc.

As others have mentioned in one form or another: spacers, at best, will not improve your ride. At worst, will detract the overall ride/ suspension performance.. but is the cheapest way to get the lifted 'look'

For function (i.e. best performance), lifting by a proper spring/ shock combo works best.

 

[DatYoda]

So out of all this I think I want to go with Icon extended travel coilover with dirtking or total chaos UCA. For the rear just keep the stock TRD Pro shocks but change the springs to a 2" Rear Spring kit ICON/TOYTEC.

Is there really any comparison between the 2" Icon Rear Spring Kit vs the Toytec 2" Superflex rear spring ? Both give 2" lift in the rear but is any one better than the other when it comes with ride quality ?

 

[r1verf3nix]

Can you post some photos? The photobucket images in your other post won't load

I just saw that as well. Updated the photos to flickr, that seems to work better. I need to add some photos from the front/back for how the wheel sit now with the spidertraxs.


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/208900-trd-pro-lift-question-24.html#post2895464

 

[transistor]

I just saw that as well. Updated the photos to flickr, that seems to work better. I need to add some photos from the front/back for how the wheel sit now with the spidertraxs.


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/208900-trd-pro-lift-question-24.html#post2895464

That looks great. I have a cement pro too, and that's the look I'm shooting for.

 

[DatYoda]

Bumping just for this question. So in the rear all I want is 2" lift. Just want to change the springs and keep the stock TRD Pro shocks. Between the 2" Icon Rear Spring kit and the Toytec 2" Superflex rear spring is there any difference in ride/quality ?

 

[r1verf3nix]

Bumping just for this question. So in the rear all I want is 2" lift. Just want to change the springs and keep the stock TRD Pro shocks. Between the 2" Icon Rear Spring kit and the Toytec 2" Superflex rear spring is there any difference in ride/quality ?

No real difference in the ride quality if you keep the Pro shocks. It does also depend on the alignment, I was noticing at first my steering wheel felt different while driving. I took it back in for the 50 mile bolt check and asked them to check the alignment again, it was perfect they adjusted and now I have zero complaints.

 

[4runner425]

If you opt only for the Toytec spring seat spacer that adds an additional inch to a stock TRD Pro, you are essentially exactly where someone with a Bilstein 6112 would be, even though changing the c-clip settings on that shock isn't considered a spacer lift.

Could you elaborate on how changing the c-clip is any different than adding a spring seat spacer? Seems to be doing the same thing physically in that it pre-loads the spring or am I missing something?