Ultimate Lift Thread Information Portal

[kregg]

Guys - It's time we get a sticky put on lift information for 3rd Gen 4Runners.

If you have any information to add to this thread please add it in a well structured, informative post to this thread; or send it in a PM.

This is NOT the Ultimate Lift Thread!!! This is merely a staging area for tech and info.

I'm thinking we will need pictures of the various lifts that everyone is running, as well as detailed installation advice/issues, and any hang-ups you've encountered while operating your truck with the lift installed.

Let's not clutter this thread with off topic chatter and irrelevant posts, please.

If you would like to help out, shoot me a PM and we'll get you on board.

If you see something that I have forgotten please let me know!

--Chris

 

[kregg]

To lift or not to lift...

Will you wheel it? There are a lot of things to consider before doing it...

Not only will larger tires affect your gas mileage, but your acceleration, braking, cornering, and the overall "feel" of the truck will change when you start messing with the suspension.

Can you daily drive a lifted 4Runner? Heck yea.
Is it economical? No. Big tires don't make your truck get better gas mileage.

If you lift it - expect a "stiffer" ride. There are too many personal variables to define wether this ride is better or worse than stock. In terms of ride comfort, the general consensus is this ---- Spacers (Daystar/Revtek) --> Rear Coils / Front Spacer combo (OME/Spacer kit from Toytec) --> Full Coil lifts (Toytec/Sonoran Steel/OME) ---- Adding new, longer shocks to any of these kits will greatly improve the comfort and ability of each of these kits. Again, there are a thousand varieties of shocks to choose from. I think my truck rides pretty good for what I've done to it. I'd like to have a little softer feel up front, but for a lifted SUV the ride isn't unbearable. When I had my 285's I think I lost 2-3 MPG's per tank, but I wheeled it at least once a week or so, running in 4WD doesn't help the MPG's either.

 

[kregg]

In regards to tire choices...

Tires are another animal also. M/T's are going to howl on the pavement - just the nature of the beast. They are heavier and it takes more power to turn a larger diameter, heavier tire. A/T's are a step down from M/T's. Not quite as heavy or aggressive, but still not as efficient as a LT/P rated tire. There are a ton of options in the A/T tire category - I run the Duratracs from Goodyear and I love them. Aggressive but not too loud on the street. They are on the heavier end of the A/T category, and therefore not as efficient as say the Nitto TerraGrappler, another popular A/T choice. and lifting a truck to fit a larger LT tire would be foolish IMO, unless you plan on hoppin curbs in the 'burbs...

 

[steezemcqueen]

edit: created the main thread. keep submitting here or PM me or post anything you want to add our change

 

[auxiliary]

I also feel like everyone should do this also for everyone wondering.

Year: 1997
Drive: 4WD
Model: SR5
Struts: OME
Springs: Front OME 883 Rear OME 891
Installed: Did it myself
Purchased: Home - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits
Front lift increase floor to fender arch: ??
Rear Lift increase floor to fender arch: ??
Wheels: TRD FJC Wheels 16 inch
Tires: 285/75

Picture:

Just copy and paste and fill in your information!

 

[quicksilvr]

Year: 1999
Drive: 4WD
Model: SR5 "Highlander"
Struts: Bilstein
Springs: Toyota OEM [Red/Yellow Rear_____???? Front]
Spacers: 1.5" Daystar poly rear spacers
Installed: Did it myself
Purchased: Amazon.com
Front lift increase floor to fender arch: ??
Rear Lift increase floor to fender arch: ??
Wheels: OEM 5-Star alloy
Tires: 265/75 Bridgestone Revo



Something useful to add:

Center of wheel hub-to-fender measurement! Gets rid of the tire factor when talking height numbers.




Also. I will edit this when I can look at my springs and get the color codes from the fronts, as well as the Bilstein shock PN's and my hub to fender measurement.

 

[xskydivingdudex]

aux thats a good idea but i think that would clutter the lift info really quickly and we should just tell the newbies to PM us... if we leave a note in bold at the very top of the info im sure thatll help alot.

 

[brian2sun]

Body Lifts

Body lifts come in .5", 1", 1.5" 2", 2.5", and 3" (or anything in-between if you make it custom). Most of us (myself included) think BLs are best used in addition to a suspension lift primarily to clear bigger tires easier. Although you can do a BL alone, you only get clearance for bigger tires - unlike a suspension lift which still gives you more clearance for tires, but you also get more ground clearance for the chassis and more travel/articulation in the suspension too. I run a 3" OME suspension lift along with a 1" BL to clear my 33.5"+ tires. W/O the BL, my tires would rub.

If you are doing it strictly for looks, leave now. :jk: Really, though a BL is THE CHEAPEST WAY TO LIFT. So if you are a mall queen, this might be best for you.

1-1.5" BLs on '97-02s don't require anything special except removing the lower radiator shroud (which takes seconds). If you have a stock bumper, you'll want to get a bumper bracket lift so you won't have a gap between the body and the bumper (since the body goes up but the bumper is connected to the frame which stays put). '96s have 2 less body mounts than the other 3rd gens so those must be added to do a BL (safely at least) as well as a steering rag joint extension. All of these extras can be purchased from:
Toyota 4Runner/Hilux Surf Body Lift Kit Pricing/Ordering Page

If you're doing a more than a 1" BL, there are modifications you need to make like dropping the radiator and extending shifter linkage. For more info:
3rd Gen 4Runner Body Lift Installation

Installing a BL (especially a 1" on a '97-02) is pretty easy even if you have limited mechanical knowledge. If you're the DIY type (which you better learn to be fast in this hobby), refer to the link directly above for important info.

 

[Elton H]

how about stock 98 coils vs 891s and 94 lc 80 8wrap coils vs 891s

 

[Tchalla]

I would like to know what's the best up to date build for daily driving a 3rd gen 4runner. I plan on doing a full refresh. I've read the maverick build in absalom's cookie cutter thread, and I'm leaning towards going that route, but doing my research before I decide to spend the $ and weighing out other options. Anything I get will be better than what I have now, I'm just needing the info and insight. Would appreciate any help, Peace!