Why do so many people jack up the front?

[chiplee]

I've been meaning to ask this but haven't gotten around to it. Why do so many people raise the front of their 4Runner more than the back so that the space is equal in the wheel well?

The truck looks perfectly proportioned from the factory because the bottom is parallel to the ground. It's all a matter of opinion obviously but I think the high front end looks silly. No one notices the space between the well and the tire like they notice the fact that the nose is up in the air. I measured my '04 and the distance between the bottom of the running board and the ground is exactly 1/4" higher in the back than in the front, or effectively "level" To even out the space in the wheelwells you would have to raise the front to the point that the distance from the running board to the ground was like 2 full inches more in the front than it was in the back. that's ugly to me, but are people doing to for function over form or am I the only one who thinks it looks dumb like that. When I raise my truck it'll go up the same amount on all 4 corners keeping the bottom level with the ground unless someone can convince me that's going to be bad for some reason.

 

[Casper]

people do it because most trucks and off road machines dont have the nose low stance that the 4runner has.

Also by raising the front you gain some approach angle which for alot of guys that use their rig offroad is important.

 

[gizmopt2002]

Actually, the frame isn't level to the ground. Go out with a tape measure and check yourself.

 

[chiplee]

people do it because most trucks and off road machines dont have the nose low stance that the 4runner has.

Also by raising the front you gain some approach angle which for alot of guys that use their rig offroad is important.

well, I talked about measuring what I thought was aestheticly important, which is the "apparent" bottom of the vehicle. That is basically level with the ground. Making the frame level might be key for off roading and that's kinda' why I'm asking. But for the vehicle's appearance, what I'm talking about is what looks best, to me.

 

[Northof49]

I agree fully fully level isn't my prefered stance either....I like a slight rake to the front like the stock 4R has.

Plus when you put any load on them, those "leveled" trucks instantly look like their squatting down to take a dump, lights pointing up in the air, etc. Not my style.

 

[blindside]

The height looks perfect to me, this is the only vehicle that i didn't mess with the suspension, most people raise up the front or the whole vehicle for offroad purposes for more ground clearance

 

[Even Steven]

I hated the nose down stance of my 4Runner when it was stock. I also had no interest in lifting it at all four corners. I just wanted an extra inch of ground clearance and a more level look, so I raised it exactly one inch in the front only. And guess what? After the front end lift, my running boards are STILL higher in the rear than they are in the front.

The way my 4Runner sits right now is the way they should come from the factory in my opinion. If you don\'t agree, then you can leave your stock. Personally, I think it was the best mod I have ever done, both for looks and functionality. I am not exactly a hardcore offroader, but I still have managed to scrape my front skid plate a few times when I was off the road.

BTW, the 3rd generation 4Runner sits about 1 inch higher in the front end than the 4th generation 4Runner. Raising a 4th generation a bit is no big deal. It puts it back on par with the 3rd generation 4Runners, thats all.

 

[Falls]

You will still have a rake to the front with the 1" spacer. The back will still sit 1"-1.5" higher.

I think visually the front inch lift which is called a "leveling lit" just brings the nose up an inch to eliminate about half the rake.

I think that little bit makes the truck a little more tough looking weather your on road or off. It seem like if you do a 2" front and a 1" rear , or a 3" front and a 2" rear you get a lot more of a level stance. I like the rake , but not to the extreme that it comes stock.`

I just ordered a 1" front lift from CF.

I good way to tell it to take a floor jack and put in on the drivers side under the center front part of the frame and do a before and after pic and measure from floor to top of wheel when you jacking it up once you get to 1" you can have a clear view if what it would look like. It give a much nicer stance , semi level , looks a little more off road tough even for street driving , not to mention a 1/2" from using larger tires 265/70/17.

 

[chiplee]

The height looks perfect to me, this is the only vehicle that i didn't mess with the suspension, most people raise up the front or the whole vehicle for offroad purposes for more ground clearance

yeah, well too each his own of course, but the absolute "only" thing I EVER noticed about the 3rd Gen 4Runners was that the rear looked like it was squatted down. When I first started noticing them I thought the ones I was seeing were just old and had sagging rear suspension. Then I figured out it was all of them.

 

[Even Steven]

I just ordered a 1\" front lift from CF.

I could have saved you some money with my spacers! They are made to the same exact dimensions as the Cornfed spacers, but they are made out of a more expensive aluminum with a higher resistance to corrosion.

 

[Falls]

I could have saved you some money with my spacers! They are made to the same exact dimensions as the Cornfed spacers, but they are made out of a more expensive aluminum with a higher resistance to corrosion.

Yes , but you have the ones I want on your truck..lol
I only want the 1/2" to bring it up a little , still want some front rake to it. I though you had 5/8 and 3/4 left buy your other post. Thats would be to high for me , then I would be level or a little nose high and I hate that look.

 

[Even Steven]

Yes , but you have the ones I want on your truck..lol
I only want the 1/2\" to bring it up a little , still want some front rake to it. I though you had 5/8 and 3/4 left buy your other post. Thats would be to high for me , then I would be level or a little nose high and I hate that look.

No, I had a total of three sets of the 1/2 spacers. I used one set, so now I have two sets left. My buddy made sets of extras for for all three sizes. He said that it\'s easy to pop out multiple sets after he sets up his lathe, so he made a few sets of each!

Here is a pic of exactly what I have left:

2 sets of 1/2 in spacers
2 sets of 5/8 in spacers
2 sets of 3/4 in spacers

 

[Falls]

yeah, well too each his own of course, but the absolute "only" thing I EVER noticed about the 3rd Gen 4Runners was that the rear looked like it was squatted down. When I first started noticing them I thought the ones I was seeing were just old and had sagging rear suspension. Then I figured out it was all of them.

I agree about the squat in the rear of the 3rd gens. This 1/2" lift wont give that look. I dont care for that either. Some of them lift the rear to make them level as some 4th gens do the front.... to each their own I guess. It kind of weird , I see some 4th gens that look pretty level on the streets and some that really look squashed.

Yours look relatively level in your photo.

I'll install it and see how it looks , but if it looks to nose high when pulling a trailer I will pull it off and resell it , but I just have to try it .

 

[Falls]

No, I had a total of three sets of the 1/2 spacers. I used one set, so now I have two sets left. My buddy made sets of extras for for all three sizes. He said that it\'s easy to pop out multiple sets after he sets up his lathe, so he made a few sets of each!

Here is a pic of exactly what I have left:

2 sets of 1/2 in spacers
2 sets of 5/8 in spacers
2 sets of 3/4 in spacers

Sorry I miss read your post.

 

[Even Steven]

Sorry I miss read your post.

Hey, no problem. I will sell them one way or another. I plan on putting them on ebay, but I figured I would give forum members a chance to buy them at a good price here first!

 

[2k3T4R]

I have a 1/2" Toytec spacer providing a 1" front lift installed on my 4Runner and front of the frame still sits 1/2 inch lower than the rear. The nose down rake is still there when you view the truck from the side but its not as bad as before the lift. I've also noticed with the lift installed I don't hit the bump stops as often on big impacts. I'd say it has improved the ride and also the twitchiness on the highway has been resolved with the lift installed and that's before I had it aligned. Not only did the lift get rid of the minivan rake it also improved the ride/handling. Hey each to his own, after all its your truck.. btw this was the cheapest mod so far at $59.

 

[Northof49]

I think you're imagining a bunch of stuff that's not there....

 

[Falls]

I agree fully fully level isn't my prefered stance either....I like a slight rake to the front like the stock 4R has.

Plus when you put any load on them, those "leveled" trucks instantly look like their squatting down to take a dump, lights pointing up in the air, etc. Not my style.

This is true to an extent I guess , this morn. I lifted the front at the center cross member 1" according to the top of the wheel lip. Then I measure the back because the back seems to be lower ( visually) than before ....duh !! it was only about a 1/2 " maybe at most , but lower. This does bother me a little since I do pull a tractor with my 4R and don't like how the back looks with the front up.

I will call Jason on tuesday and talk to him. I'll have to decide on this one .

Its kind of a hard decision really , on my Tahoe which had torsion bars adjustments on the front you could just tweek to a happy medium ( with a loaded trailer since that really hung low in the front end to where you could get rid of some of the rake but still have NOT have the nose high look. Personally I HATE the nose high look or even level look , I too like a slight rake and don't want it perfectly level.

According to the wheel wheel measurements the back will still sit 1" higher higher with the lift , but put a load in it or trailer and its a different story.

These are just my findings by playing around. I might try hooking up the trailer with the tractor on it and see what it looks like . will report back shortly.

 

[Even Steven]

Why are you so worried about the look when towing? Think about it----you probably tow less less than 2 percent of the time you are driving your 4Runner, right? Towing a heavy trailer will always make the back sag down to some extent. Would you prefer to live with the jacked up look so that it will look level for the few times you are towing? That seems a funny way to think about it!

 

[gizmopt2002]

I think Falls is thinking of it this way. When he tows that heavy tractor trailer, it'll look even. So that when people go by they see this huge tractor trailer and this not-so-huge 4Runner and they think wow, that thing is a beast. Or it could be because he's just anal about.