Where are you getting lifts under 3" installed?

4

4rumbler

New member
I live in Eastern Washington and I am having a damn near impossible time finding someone to install a leveling kit under 3 inches. 4wheel parts checked their computer and said they do not have a front and rear leveling kit only the front at 2.5 inches. Les Schwab told me none of their distributers sell anything less than a 3/2. I had wanted bilstein adjustable shocks up front and a 1-1.5 spacer in the rear. Where is everyone going to get these and who is installing them? The same answer I keep getting is if we don't sell it we wont install it? This is really starting to frustrate me.

Thank you for the help.
 
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4rumbler said:
I live in Eastern Washington and I am having a damn near impossible time finding someone to install a leveling kit under 3 inches. 4wheel parts checked their computer and said they do not have a front and rear leveling kit only the front at 2.5 inches. Les Schwab told me none of their distributers sell anything less than a 3/2. I had wanted bilstein adjustable shocks up front and a 1-1.5 spacer in the rear. Where is everyone going to get these and who is installing them? The same answer I keep getting is if we don't sell it we wont install it? This is really starting to frustrate me.

Thank you for the help.
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I can't remember who but I remember reading one guys post saying he actually machined something down himself, Probably won't help but that came to mind.
 
I installed an Old Man Emu lift on mine last week and ARB claims that it's a 3/3 lift and maintains the factory rake. I don't have the pre bar/winch measurements but before settling I netted 4 1/2 inches lift in the front.

I'd recommend if you can, doing the install your self.
 
Daystar makes a 1.5 rear spacer, lots on the forum have it installed with adjustable Bilstein's up front. I haven't come across a 1" in the lift research I've been doing. I can't recall for sure, but I thought 4WheelParts here in Salt Lake could order the Daystar spacers for me when I was looking at ordering a set of Bilstein 5100s from them (btw, they had te best price I found for a complete set of 4 shocks - ~$385 including tax as I recall).

Here's a link to the Daystar options from Wheeler's (first google search link)

Daystar Lift Kits for Toyota 4Runner -Wheeler's Off-Road, Inc-

FYI, I ended up deciding to go with a modified Toytec Ultimate kit (should be here Thursday) with the 1.5" Eibach rear springs instead of their 2" Superflex coils -- I'll crank down the front CO's to somewhere between 2"-2.5". I too didn't want to go quite as tall as a full 3/2 lift...
 
When I wear out my H/T's I'm going to do the 5100's @ 2.5" in the front, then do OME 895e's + 5100's for 1.75" in the rear. Then I'll add some BFG 285's
 
Ya the biggest obstacle I'm having right now is finding someone to install these products. How hard is the install and have most people just taken them to a private shop not like 4wheel parts for the install? My other obstacle is that I have brand new 275/70/17 bfg AT KO's and think that a 3/2 would make the tires look too small, any thoughts? Im thinkin a 2/1.5 would look just right, I like the 2.5/1.5 as well but do you think the tires would look too small with that lift height?

Thanks
 
4rumbler said:
Ya the biggest obstacle I'm having right now is finding someone to install these products. How hard is the install and have most people just taken them to a private shop not like 4wheel parts for the install? My other obstacle is that I have brand new 275/70/17 bfg AT KO's and think that a 3/2 would make the tires look too small, any thoughts? Im thinkin a 2/1.5 would look just right, I like the 2.5/1.5 as well but do you think the tires would look too small with that lift height?

Thanks
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HAHA!!! I'm running stock 265/70R17's on the 4Runner right now with the OME lift. It, to me looks decent.

What are you in right now? SR5/Trail/Limited? The install took me 8 1/2 hours and I did it all on my own including compressing the stock springs to get the top plates off to put onto the OME shocks and compressing the rear spring to get them out as well as compressing the OME's to get them in.

The install isn't to hard, you'll have to disconnect the upper control arms to get the front coilovers out and back in.
 
4rumbler said:
Ya the biggest obstacle I'm having right now is finding someone to install these products. How hard is the install and have most people just taken them to a private shop not like 4wheel parts for the install? My other obstacle is that I have brand new 275/70/17 bfg AT KO's and think that a 3/2 would make the tires look too small, any thoughts? Im thinkin a 2/1.5 would look just right, I like the 2.5/1.5 as well but do you think the tires would look too small with that lift height?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I would think any shop would be able to install a spacer lift. Will the shops you've talked to only install lifts that they sell? Anyway, I agree with you on the 275's looking too small....I've had the same worries myself. IMO, TE's look OK lifted with smaller tires, but SR5s and LEs look weird.
 
Ya 4wheel parts and Les Schwab will only install what they sell. I talked to Toyota and they wanted like 870 for everything but the only kit they had was a revtek 3/2. I think what I will do is buy a cornfed or toytec 2/1.5 or 2/1.0 and look around for a shop to install it. Seems like the best option.
 
4rumbler said:
This vehicle is actually shared by my wife and I and she would have a heart attack if she saw me out there tearing things off it, she would probably tear things off of me!! That being said, I need a pro to do it. We have a mazda 3 gas sipper and a 2011 SR5 Pearl Blizzard 3rd row on 275's, a yakima rack and roof rocket, 2 german shepherds in the back with the rear window down.
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You're not tearing things off of it other than the tires. Since it's a SR5 without the KDSS just jack up the front end, take the tires off, take a 19mm to the UCA nut and pull the bolt to drop the UCA, remove the 3 14mm nuts that hold the coilover to the cup and a 19mm to the nut that hold the lower portion in place and pull the coilover. Reverse the process to get the new coilovers into place and the front's done. Lift the back, remove tires, remove shocks (19mm open end and a 17mm ratcheting box end) then let the rear axle droop enough to pull the coil springs and replace with new ones and new shocks.

There are enough people here to walk you through it if necessary though.
 
This vehicle is actually shared by my wife and I and she would have a heart attack if she saw me out there tearing things off it, she would probably tear things off of me!! That being said, I need a pro to do it. We have a mazda 3 gas sipper and a 2011 SR5 Pearl Blizzard 3rd row on 275's, a yakima rack and roof rocket, 2 german shepherds in the back with the rear window down.

Wepps said:
HAHA!!! I'm running stock 265/70R17's on the 4Runner right now with the OME lift. It, to me looks decent.

What are you in right now? SR5/Trail/Limited? The install took me 8 1/2 hours and I did it all on my own including compressing the stock springs to get the top plates off to put onto the OME shocks and compressing the rear spring to get them out as well as compressing the OME's to get them in.

The install isn't to hard, you'll have to disconnect the upper control arms to get the front coilovers out and back in.
Click to expand...
 
Raising front end

Does anybody know if a 2011 Limited can be leveled by raising the front end 2.5"? I've heard there was a special shock setup that won't allow this.
 
Pearl Runner said:
Does anybody know if a 2011 Limited can be leveled by raising the front end 2.5"? I've heard there was a special shock setup that won't allow this.
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"Special shock setup" I take it means that it has XREAS shocks? You just can't disconnect the hydraulic line at the shocks.They will lose pressure and will be junk. There are check valves where they connect at the frame and can ONLY be disconnected there.

You can put spacers up front to level it out using existing CO's with the XREAS shocks.
Raising the front 2.5" would make it a tad higher in the front as there is about a 2 inch rake(higher in front then rear) from the factory . At least there was on my Limited 4X4 when I got it.

Daystar spacer kits are probably the easiest to install and I believe they give a 2 inch lift up front.They use stud extenders so you don't have to disconnect the shocks.
 
Thanks to all for the help. I ended up taking the advice and going with a 2/1 cornfed spacer lift. It is being installed on thursday. Btw cornfed shipped extremely fast and provided excellent communication to ensure I had the correct product for my year. The spacers look great and seem well made. Will post pics of the lift later this week.
 
As promised here is are a couple pics of how my small lift turned out. We use this vehicle to tow and for long trips so this lift is just right for us.
photo2.jpg~original

photo1.jpg~original
 
4rumbler said:
As promised here is are a couple pics of how my small lift turned out. We use this vehicle to tow and for long trips so this lift is just right for us.
photo2.jpg~original

photo1.jpg~original
Click to expand...



Are those 275/70/17 tires?


Also did the rear 1" spacer raise the rear 1" as advertised?

I read the Daystar 1.5" rear spacer only lifts 1", so I'm wondering if the Cornfed spacer also lifts .5" an inch lower than advertised
 
Ahhh this reply pains me greatly!! I sold my 4runner several months back it was my favorite car I've owned. Bought a pimped out, big heavy travel trailer and needed something to tow it so traded her in for a Ford truck. I really miss my runner but it had to be done. Anyhow, yes the tires are 275/70/17. I ended up getting the rear re-done and installed a 1.5 toytec spacer and rear firestone air helpers for towing our old "smaller" travel trailer. The cornfed 1 inch seemed just below advertised. I honestly like just a slight rake in the rear for passengers, gear, dogs etc. The 1.5 in the rear looked great in my opinion. If I had it to do all over again I would do a 3/2 with rear firestones and Duratracs.

Rysandro said:
Are those 275/70/17 tires?


Also did the rear 1" spacer raise the rear 1" as advertised?

I read the Daystar 1.5" rear spacer only lifts 1", so I'm wondering if the Cornfed spacer also lifts .5" an inch lower than advertised
Click to expand...
 
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