Advice on suspension lift

Hey everybody, this is my first post. My 97 4Runner has 288k on it and the springs are shot. I have a wooden drawer in the rear that weights approx 200 pounds loaded. I have a light weight brush guard on the front. I'm running 265/75r16 BFG KO2's. I'm thinking 2" lift will still look good with my tire size. I do some trail riding most is fairly mild. What I want is a better ride and strong enough rear springs to handle the drawers. If possible I would like to be able to add a lift without needing to upgrade upper control arms. Any advice is much appreciated.

 

I seem to be answering this question often where the OP never returns so I'll just copy my last 2 responses -

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

So if I understand this correctly. Even at 2" I will still need to replace the UCAs?

 

That's a question only you can answer.

Not all trucks are the same; you can get 5 4Runners with the same setup/lift and 1 might need aftermarket arms for proper alignment.

I didn't need any even though I had bought some and had them new in box for over a year.

 

Toytec finally emailed me back and they recommend the OME. It may be a month of so before I get it done. I will post my results.

 

I finally got around to lifting my 4runner today. Used OME 881's in the front and 890's in the rear with OME 60073 shocks from Wheeler Offroad. The lift looks and drives great. I'm gonna try to get an alignment tomorrow.

 

here is before and after

 

Hey where at in TN?

 

Northeast. Near Bristol

 

Dang you're way up there. I'm in Memphis

Windrock is an awesome park to visit if you're interested in wheeling some after your lift.

Truck looks good!

 

Okay. Thanks

 

I’ve noticed that a lot of threads get started and never finished. So to wind this one up I thought I’d share my experience.

I bought this as a kit from Wheelers Off-road. Great price and great service. OME 881 on the front, 890s on the rear. I chose 890s because of my tool box in the back. OME 60073 shocks.
The install was very straight forward. The hardest part was removing the top nut on the old rear shocks. I was just under 3 hours from start to finish. I haven’t been able to get in to an alignment shop yet. Going next week. The ride is excellent. I went up in the mountains today and I heard the front swaybar pop twice. I’m going to put 2nd gen rear end links on the front and move my front links to the back. Other than that everything is good to go and I couldn’t be happier with my decision and I was able to keep it under 1,000.00 dollars.

 

LOL yep. That's the way to know someone did the work themselves, that part I think I got a sawzall up in there! That, and the upper ball joint on the front spindles.....

 

Easy way to remove the top nut on the old shocks is by man handling the shock itself, and turning it.

The bushings will act as a "stop" on the nut and hold it in place as you unscrew the shock body itself.

 

Put a socket on the top nut, turn the shock body until the ratchet is snug against the car body. Then use a chain wrench to spin that shock body easy peasy.

(https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/hand-tools/wrenches/21610)

 

Depicted by my dirty hands, the removal of said shocks -



Since you're now lifted, I hope you took the chance to replace your bumpstops and either weld a panhard bar correction kit (recommended) or run an adjustable panhard bar for the time being -

 

Not trying to be nitpicky but did you change your exhaust pipe up from before to after, nice ride, I have a 99 Limited, same colors

 

Didn’t anything to the panhard bar. The folks at wheeler off-road said it wasn’t necessary with this 2” lift. Going tomorrow for an alignment. We’ll see what happens.

 

It's simple physics and basic geometry; your axle will always have some sort of tension on it with your panhard bar at an angle.

Having someone ignore those simple principals shows poor judgment.

You can get away not installing what I suggested, but when it counts, your rear axle can become slightly unpredictable.

 

Fuck those rear shocks, I had to take a pipe wrench to them to get them out.

 

Yeah, shocks can be a real pita to get off.
You think shocks are bad, though, try to break loose a steering stabilizer sometime. Those are worse by a few levels...
Pat☺

 

Just use your hands

 

I bet you're the guy that breaks peoples hands when you shake with them, aren't you.

Semper Fi, brother!
Pat☺

 

It'll surprise you that I'm a little guy

@tour991 knows me and we've met before

 

Did you break his hand when you shook?

JK. If you have the hand strength to remove a shock, or steering stabilizer, more power to ya. I ustacould, up until I started getting into motorcycle accidents. I did good up until the 90s, and then Karma caught up to me I guess. You are forced to sit on your tail to heal, it destroys the strength one once had, y'know?
It just never came back. I was NOT going to go through boot camp again in my 40s, I'll tell you that! Yeah, I worked out, but with a 12 hour a day job, and 5 kids to raise, I couldn't work out as much as I wanted.

Anywho, have fun! GRAB them shocks
Pat☺

 

@Kwikvette has some grip for a "little guy". He's a good guy to know.