Upgrade Suspension / Minimal Lift

[Jabberjaw]

I'm just curious if anyone else has tried this.

I've learned the hard way that you get what you pay for. I'm not a fan of "puck" lifts. That said, I'm not really looking for much lift, just improved overall suspension capability. Right off I'd love a 1.5" max lift.

She'll always be a DD, but I love offloading and she's going to be my first expedition vehicle. For the near future I want to avoid the geometry issues caused by larger lifts and the added costs of control arms/track bars/etc.

I'm thinking about (on a 2015 SR5 Premium):

-Front adjustable Toytec BOSS coilovers
-Toytec rear spacers
-Toytec rear shocks (if needed)


Thoughts/opinions welcome. TIA ...

Eric

 

[1engineer]

A guy did this awhile back. I can't post links right now but I think the name of the thread was low/no lift by canazes9. If I remember correctly it had a ton of good information.

 

[A.Wilson013]

One thing a lot of people don't think about, myself included, is what the end goal of the build is.

When you say, "expedition vehicle" my first thought is a bunch of extra fuel, water, gear, recovery equipment, etc. Extra weight. If that's not the case and an "expedition vehicle" is heading on some forest service roads for an afternoon, it's not as big a deal.

So basically... A rear spacer on top of the stock springs will look cool, but once you start loading up with weight, will perform quite poorly.

If I were you, I'd think a bit about what your end-state consists of, and perhaps contact Toytec. They know their stuff...

Alex

Also-- Feel free to share what your intended outcome is... with a bit more detail. Would help others in assisting you. =)

 

[Jabberjaw]

^^^Thanks 1e! Exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Jabberjaw]

One thing a lot of people don't think about, myself included, is what the end goal of the build is.

When you say, "expedition vehicle" my first thought is a bunch of extra fuel, water, gear, recovery equipment, etc. Extra weight. If that's not the case and an "expedition vehicle" is heading on some forest service roads for an afternoon, it's not as big a deal.

So basically... A rear spacer on top of the stock springs will look cool, but once you start loading up with weight, will perform quite poorly.

If I were you, I'd think a bit about what your end-state consists of, and perhaps contact Toytec. They know their stuff...

Alex

Also-- Feel free to share what your intended outcome is... with a bit more detail. Would help others in assisting you. =)

I agree with your spacer assessment 100%. In a perfect world, this vehicle fulfills a few of my bucket list 1+ week American history excursions along with the normal camping, fishing, etc.

 

[oljedi11950]

What it sounds like is you don't want to do much BUT.... 51s all around & better set of tires out the door ! Not saying the toytec boss isn't but once you do that might as well just do set of springs . But def upgrade rear shocks not just spacers !

 

[3wbdriver]

I always thought it would be easier to offload a lower vehicle? :behindsofa:

I kill myself sometimes....... :madgrin:

 

[Jhalko]

Do you have third row? Check out the Sway a way rear coils for folks with third row they are only about 1.5", closer to two if no third row some report, they mate perfectly with Boss coil overs. I'm quite happy with ride and its a "low" lift.

 

[Jabberjaw]

I was just reading about SAW coils. I'm now starting to sway toward 5100s all around with OME coils in the front and SAW coils in the rear.

Or

5100 all around with the lowest setting in the front/OME coils.

Maybe just leveling out the front is all I need.



Bare with me coming from being deep into the Jeep world. When you lift a Jeep, even just over an inch, you begin to deal with geometry, caster, etc. issues. It quickly explodes into adjustable CAs and track bars ...driveshaft decisions ...etc. You expect it to drive "like a lifted vehicle" ...but you're also building/or end up building a boulder crawler that is an unfriendly DD/family vehicle. That's not where I want to go with this. I want this 4Runner to get me out to Colorado and traverse gold mine trails, take my kids to see Mt. Rushmore, yellowstone, etc., go camping/fishing ...and still get me to work (which includes monthly drives from MD to North Carolina).

 

[1engineer]

I was just reading about SAW coils. I'm now starting to sway toward 5100s all around with OME coils in the front and SAW coils in the rear.

Or

5100 all around with the lowest setting in the front/OME coils.

Maybe just leveling out the front is all I need.



Bare with me coming from being deep into the Jeep world. When you lift a Jeep, even just over an inch, you begin to deal with geometry, caster, etc. issues. It quickly explodes into adjustable CAs and track bars ...driveshaft decisions ...etc. You expect it to drive "like a lifted vehicle" ...but you're also building/or end up building a boulder crawler that is an unfriendly DD/family vehicle. That's not where I want to go with this. I want this 4Runner to get me out to Colorado and traverse gold mine trails, take my kids to see Mt. Rushmore, yellowstone, etc., go camping/fishing ...and still get me to work (which includes monthly drives from MD to North Carolina).

So just put some good tire on it and call it a day. What you just described is pretty easy for a stock 4runner.

 

[Jabberjaw]

So just put some good tire on it and call it a day. What you just described is pretty easy for a stock 4runner.

I just replaced the stock Dunlops with Nitto Exo Grapplers (same size). I'm not opposed to leaving the suspension stock and adding some armor. I have a set of Shrock sliders on the way (full well knowing the standard wait time, ;0) )) and I'm looking to pick up a TRD front skid plate and Gobi Stealth rack.

I just want to make the best decisions for what I want to do. Same thing I wanted to do with my last 2 Jeeps, but once I started down the rabbit hole ...

 

[camerontopa]

How do you like the Exo Grapplers if you don't mind me asking

 

[Jabberjaw]

How do you like the Exo Grapplers if you don't mind me asking

Keep in mind they've only been on for a week, and it's all been onroad, but I've run Nitto Trail and Mud Grapplers on other vehicles. I really like these. They have great road manners. They're not a quiet as Terrains, but much quieter than Trails. Like Trails and Muds, I have no doubt they'll perform well offroad. I like that they're snow rated and have the option for studs. AND ...they look awesome! LOL!

 

[camerontopa]

Sweet thanks! I was really dead set on these until I looked at the ST Maxx. They are a nice looking tire though but not as aggressive looking as I would like.

 

[Jhalko]

I was just reading about SAW coils.
Bare with me coming from being deep into the Jeep world. When you lift a Jeep, even just over an inch, you begin to deal with geometry, caster, etc. issues. It quickly explodes into adjustable CAs and track bars ...driveshaft decisions ...etc. You expect it to drive "like a lifted vehicle" ...but you're also building/or end up building a boulder crawler that is an unfriendly DD/family vehicle. That's not where I want to go with this.

The toytec boss is quite good for a daily driver, I find my set up to be great around town, on the highway, and off-road here in CO. I don't do anything crazy and it's perfect for me. You could probably just do height adjustable with stock springs in front at second setting. At that height UCA's are not required, than SAW and 5100's in rear? Just a thought.

 

[Jabberjaw]

Sweet thanks! I was really dead set on these until I looked at the ST Maxx. They are a nice looking tire though but not as aggressive looking as I would like.

No worries. Those are good tires as well. To me, it experience. No matter what tires I've tried, I always go back to Nitto. The only tires I'll never deal with again are Goodyear Kevlars. 4 sets, 1 in 35" and 3 in 37" and getting/keeping them balanced was all but impossible.

The toytec boss is quite good for a daily driver, I find my set up to be great around town, on the highway, and off-road here in CO. I don't do anything crazy and it's perfect for me. You could probably just do height adjustable with stock springs in front at second setting. At that height UCA's are not required, than SAW and 5100's in rear? Just a thought.

Hi rabbit hole ...it's me again.

 

[1engineer]

I just replaced the stock Dunlops with Nitto Exo Grapplers (same size). I'm not opposed to leaving the suspension stock and adding some armor. I have a set of Shrock sliders on the way (full well knowing the standard wait time, ;0) )) and I'm looking to pick up a TRD front skid plate and Gobi Stealth rack.

I just want to make the best decisions for what I want to do. Same thing I wanted to do with my last 2 Jeeps, but once I started down the rabbit hole ...

So do what I do lol. A bit of a secret about myself:
I am at a point where I find it a challenge to do more with less. When others use a winch I would use a come along. Where others can only accomplish a task with heavy mods I try to accomplish them with minimal or no mods.

 

[Jabberjaw]

So do what I do lol. A bit of a secret about myself:
I am at a point where I find it a challenge to do more with less. When others use a winch I would use a come along. Where others can only accomplish a task with heavy mods I try to accomplish them with minimal or no mods.

I like your way of thinking. I think, for the time being, I'm going to hold off on a lift (though I am leaning toward Bilstein shocks, even at stock height ...same train of thought as my Nitto experience mentioned above).

 

[oljedi11950]

So already have tires , IMO all you need is 51s with adj fronts to either level or a bit less rake & I think your good for the time being ......then when you get a cpl yrs down the road BOOM mod out !!!

 

[Jhalko]

So do what I do lol. A bit of a secret about myself:
I am at a point where I find it a challenge to do more with less. When others use a winch I would use a come along. Where others can only accomplish a task with heavy mods I try to accomplish them with minimal or no mods.

For a guy that knows how to use that google machine so well you sure are old school. Yeah yeah, we know back when you were a kid they didnt have 4runners and you had to walk to work uphill both ways in the snow with shoes you made yourself.

:guitar2: