Yet Another LIFT Question Thread...

[CoMarc]

What Bilsteins did you get, the Tundra or the tacoma? I removed my shock assembly in my garage and drove to the local Midas. They removed the springs from my old shocks and installed the springs in my Bilsteins for 20 bucks. I would do that if you could.

I'm pretty sure the Tundras... I had Toytec assemble them using Tundra coils (and I'm pretty sure they knew what they were doing). I'm going to double check them anyways. I'm pretty sure the guy at the shop I took them to this morning was looking for a place to adjust them while still on the truck (which these Bilsteins don't have).

The way you mentioned above I think will probably be the way to do it. I was hoping not to have to pull these off and back on myself, to be honest, and let someone that had better tools do it for me.

 

[rjaudi]

I'm pretty sure the Tundras... I had Toytec assemble them using Tundra coils (and I'm pretty sure they knew what they were doing). I'm going to double check them anyways. I'm pretty sure the guy at the shop I took them to this morning was looking for a place to adjust them while still on the truck (which these Bilsteins don't have).

The way you mentioned above I think will probably be the way to do it. I was hoping not to have to pull these off and back on myself, to be honest, and let someone that had better tools do it for me.

Yeah, I wasn't thrilled to do it either. It went much quicker the second time since I knew how to do it. The Tacoma shock has 3 adjustment levels and the Tundra has 5. I am familiar with the Tundras. Sonoran Steel doesn't recommend going past the middle setting with those.

 

[CoMarc]

Yeah, I wasn't thrilled to do it either. It went much quicker the second time since I knew how to do it. The Tacoma shock has 3 adjustment levels and the Tundra has 5. I am familiar with the Tundras. Sonoran Steel doesn't recommend going past the middle setting with those.

Just checked the shocks.... They have 5 notches (currently on the lowest setting), so it is the adjustable Tundra 5100s. Guess I'll pull them off again this weekend and find a place to pull 'em apart. Just need to decide which notch to go to now to make the truck closer to being level... Any suggestions which I should use?

Sent from my Android

 

[rjaudi]

From what my instructions say for the Sonoran lift each setting you go up will add around .65 inches. So the choice is yours, but like I said they didn't recommend going past the middle setting.

 

[SCRunner12]

Bumping this to get some ideas about what perch setting to set the Tundra 5100's at. I just picked up a set of 5100's brand new for $100 and hoping to get them in within the next few weeks. I've heard not going above the middle, but what do people have them typically set at? I'm looking for 2.5-2.75" up front with the Tundra coils and Tundra 5100's.

 

[rickashay]

^ I am in the same setup above. I have new Tundra 5100's and TRD coils waiting to be assembled and want around 2.5" of front lift.

From what I have read the second notch should give you 2.5-2.75" of lift. Roughly 2" on the first notch and .65" inches added for every notch above. 2nd notch = ~2.65" but depends on your armour/bumpers/winch etc.

But, I would like to hear what people say who run this setup..... I think Im pretty close though...

 

[SCRunner12]

^^ That's what I was thinking as well. A definite yes would be awesome though.

 

[CoMarc]

Bumping this to get some ideas about what perch setting to set the Tundra 5100's at. I just picked up a set of 5100's brand new for $100 and hoping to get them in within the next few weeks. I've heard not going above the middle, but what do people have them typically set at? I'm looking for 2.5-2.75" up front with the Tundra coils and Tundra 5100's.

The picture above with the comparison between not lifted and lifted is with the 5100s on the FIRST notch. At that setting it gave me about 2 incheslift.

I then bumped it up to the SECOND notch and now have about 2.5 inches (perhaps a little more) of lift.

With the 3.5 inches of lift I have in the back due to the 8-wrap LC coils, I'm considering about going to the middle or THIRD notch setting next to help level it out. The only thing deciding against it is when I pull my pop-up trailer the 4runner levels out real nicely! But for the amount of time I actually pull it, it's probably not a big deal.

My suggestion is lok to see how much lift you're going for in the back and then choose which notch to use on the front:

2.0-2.5 inches: FIRST Notch
2.5-3.0 inches: SECOND Notch
3.0-3.5 inches: THIRD Notch

Past that amount it's not recommended because of the angles on the CVs and differential, but I've heard of a few people going to higher notches. I can't say I've had any experience with it so I can't say one way or another.

 

[SCRunner12]

Thanks CoMarc for the clarification. Yeah I'm not sure if I want to do the second or third notch, but I think the second will be perfect for me. Do you have a picture of you 4runner with the second notch setting?

 

[CoMarc]

Thanks CoMarc for the clarification. Yeah I'm not sure if I want to do the second or third notch, but I think the second will be perfect for me. Do you have a picture of you 4runner with the second notch setting?

I didn't have one, so I took a break from work, ran outside and took a quick one with my new phone (Samsung Galaxy S2). Not the greatest pic, and truck is a bit dirty, but hopefully you'll get something from it:





Tires are 32", but quite worn. They're getting replaced next month.

OH, and don't mind the running boards... I hate them, but I keep them so the wife can get in and out. I'm looking at getting some sliders and modifying them with some lower steps instead. Just gotta get the money first!

 

[rickashay]

^Thats perfect

IMO, if you wheel or camp or anything with your truck other than pound pavement, you should have rake with your truck unloaded. Therefore 2.5" upfront and 3.5" in the back is perfect. The truck will squat to level when you wheel, and IMO rake looks better than no rake.

Im stoked: 2nd notch for me upfront and 8 wraps waiting in my garage!! Ill post a pic in this thread when I get it done.

*note: the front struts are supposed to ride best at the lower springs perches. The higher the notch, the harsher the ride.

 

[SCRunner12]

Thanks that helps. Yeah I'm going to have to think about which notch I will do. I know what you mean about the running boards. I might have to throw them back on till I can get some sliders on. Sucks because I had a buyer for my running boards, but had to back out because I may need them.

 

[CoMarc]

^Thats perfect...

Im stoked: 2nd notch for me upfront and 8 wraps waiting in my garage!! Ill post a pic in this thread when I get it done.

Good luck to you both! I love this setup still, and I'm sure you will too.

 

[1986Runner]

Good luck to you both! I love this setup still, and I'm sure you will too.

Hey CoMarc,

I am looking to do this exact lift on my 99. For comparison purposes, do you happen to know the measurement from hub center to the top of the fender well, front and back? I'm curious as to how much I will gain on my 99 with the tall springs already.

Thanks! Your rig looks great.

 

[CoMarc]

Hey CoMarc,

I am looking to do this exact lift on my 99. For comparison purposes, do you happen to know the measurement from hub center to the top of the fender well, front and back? I'm curious as to how much I will gain on my 99 with the tall springs already.

Thanks! Your rig looks great.

Assuming you have the highlander coils, I imagine you'll still sit at the same level as my truck after the lift. Basically the gain would be an inch less then mine, but your truck would stand as tall as mine. That's my assumption, at least. The chassis on our trucks don't really change between '96 - '02. Someone correct me if i'm wrong (I'm no mechanic or 4runner expert).

I had my measurements at one point... but lost them when I changed phones recently. I know the rear was sitting somewhere between 38 - 40 inches and roughly an inch less then that in the front (give or take half an inch depending on the side). That's ground to fender measurement, by the way.

 

[1986Runner]

Good info, thanks! Mine currently sits at 35.5" front and 36" rear - stock 99 tall springs, ground to fender, 265/70/16s, worn out stock shocks.

Sometime if you are able to measure from the hub center to the fender, that would be very helpful since it will eliminate the tire size difference variable for me.

 

[madbomber08]

Hey CoMarc, just wondering how this setup is still working out for you? No problems? How's the ride after several months?

 

[CoMarc]

Hey CoMarc, just wondering how this setup is still working out for you? No problems? How's the ride after several months?

Hey Madbomber, the lift is still working great! I just increased the front up to the next notch (third or middle notch) and love the new stance. The ride is a little more harsher than it was on the 2nd, but still not as bad as the stock setup was. I was thinking of updating this thread with new pictures too, so here goes!

The old "BEFORE" picture again:

(stock ride height with FJ Cruiser rims/tires)


The old "AFTER" picture again:

(this was with the front set on the lowest notch)


The new "CURRENT" pictures:

(stance with newer, more aggressive, and a little bigger tires added)

I also measured from hub to bottom of the fender and got the following:

Front Driver side: 24 inches
Front Passenger side: 24 inches
Rear Driver side: 25 inches
Rear Passenger side: 25.5 inches​

Overall, I'm very happy with the lift! It's sitting at about 3 inches from its original height in the front, and roughly 3.5-4 inhces in the back. Next, I want to get some spacers to push the front (and rear) tires out a bit. With the lift the front tires are about 1.5 inches narrower than the back. Also gotta work on getting those side steps off; only on for the wife currently so she can get into the truck.

 

[J. B.]

Did you get wheel spacers yet?

It'd be great if you could post up and front and back shot so I can see the stance with those wheels without spacers (and with if you put them on)

Thanks!

 

[CoMarc]

Did you get wheel spacers yet?

It'd be great if you could post up and front and back shot so I can see the stance with those wheels without spacers (and with if you put them on)

Thanks!

Hey JB,

I haven't gotten the wheel spacers yet. Actually, with all the great weather we've been having here I haven't driven the truck much except on a road trip to Montana and up in the mountains here in Colorado.

I'll see if I can get some pictures of the stance in the near future.