Lift Questions...

Looking for a lift to lever the 4R. I don't want rake but I also don't want the rear to squat. What would you recommend to achieve this?

I was looking at a 2.5 inch front lift and 1.5 rear, or 2.5 front and 1 rear. Does anyone have these setups and can comment? (Pictures of your rigs on level ground would be super helpful.)

Also, with a 2.5 inch front lift, would I need UCA to properly balance rig?
What about a diff drop kit? I know there are pros and cons of these diff drops.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

Kings shocks/coilovers (front)
2.5 in the front
2" in the rear
KDSS rear spacers
SPC UCAs
I have about a 1.5" rake for rear load purposes

You will need UCA if you're looking for a specific spec during alignment. UCAs will also give you better travel. You don't need it, but it is highly recommended.

 

Having inch higher the in the front will result in a flat stance. I would however recommend a slight ass end elevation. Otherwise any extra weight in the back will lead to the Cali lean.

 

Yes.

 

I just installed my lift last week. Here are the specs:

2020 TRD ORP Non-KDSS
Bilstein 6112 Coilovers set at the highest clip position which gives about 2.6/2.7 inches.
Bilstein 5160 and Bilstein 1.5/2 inch springs
SPC UCA
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T 285-70-17.
I kept a very slight rake, so that when loaded it will be more or less level.

 

When I was talking about leveling kits my shop told me its not a good idea to level 4runners with Toyota Safety sense. Recommended to keep a rake in front when lifting.
But i remember one member got the Safety sense recalibrate by a Toyota dealer.

 

i was in the same boat as you, ultimately I went with a 3in full suspension kit from Ironman and couldn’t be happier! I got one based on my needs and what I wanted out of it, and I’ll say it doesn’t look much taller than 4Runners I know that opted for “bigger shock” route. I say just go for the lift imo it’ll ride better!

 

Beautiful!!!

 

Also liked stated below you will need uca! I rode in a buddies who didn’t and you don’t want that! By the time I ordered the setup similar to yours and added the uca it was the same as a complete lift, actually maybe less as they had a 20 percent off sale. Their customer service chat is great I told them o wanted a Stock like ride mainly a road driver with maybe once a month driving on a trail or beach. They suggested the nitro cell instead of foam and I truely believe it rides the same as stock with less nose dive and roll and fhe steering feels sportier

 

Don’t forget to consider what your purpose for the truck is. That is; Why do I want (or need) a lift? Is it to fit larger tires? Improve off road performance? Improve the looks?

The answers to these questions will steer you to a solution(s) that address all these issues. It’s quite possible to get inexpensive lifts/tire/wheel combinations that would look great at Starbucks, but won’t meet your expectations if pushed off-road.

Likewise, we’ll modified rigs require a commitment to maintenance and may not be a great daily driver.

Let you vision and pocket book guide your build. The 5th Gen is so fun and there are so many options. Enjoy the ride!

Cheers
Mike

 

Love the look of the Baja Boss tires.

They are on my short list for my 2021 OR so would really like to hear your opinion of them.

What can you share?

Cheers,
Bob

 

this is my wife’s.

King 2.5 front and back with 600lb springs. icon 52700 springs in the rear. Front is leveled to the rear. So roughly 2-2.5” in the front. She has camburg Ucas. No diff drop. 285/70/17 tires with rims with a -38 offset.

Definitely recommend ucas with any lift imo.

 

So far they ride very well on the road. I'm in Arizona, so I have not had them in the rain that much yet. I went from 265 to 285, and so I have slightly more noise than I had with my Toyos, but it is not bad at all. They look awesome, and I am hoping to try them out in the bush very soon.

 

Do you notice a big difference going from 265-285? Appearance, performed, ground clearance, noticeable raise the car anymore?

I am trying to decide to replace my 265s that are like new since I just lifted the runner.

 

Appearance, absolutely! Regarding performance, they do make the truck feel more stable, and they also add a tiny bit of "lift" ( maybe 1 inch) because of the larger diameter. 265's are about 31.6, and the 285's about 32.7 inches. I am hoping to get out this weekend to see how they do off-road. I ended up selling my 265's locally, and it eased the pain of the purchase of larger tires. I hope this helps. Make sure to post pics when you make your decision!

 

285’s do look good on 5th gen’s.

 

Thanks for the info. I have been convinced to get some UCA’s for my lift. Would anyone recommend UCAs that would accommodate a 2.5 front lift, at a decent price, that don’t need maintenance (greasing them every year or so), like the stock ones?

 

I decided on the SPC #25480, because I liked that they are fully adjustable, and the price wasn't too bad. I think I paid around 639 plus tax.

 

I don’t claim to be a suspension expert, but awhile back when I was exploring my options to replace the spacer lift with a proper lift, I was looking at UCA options. What I discovered was that most aftermarket UCA’s use polyurethane bushings as opposed to OEM which uses rubber. From what I’ve read, polyurethane bushings can cause squeaks if they are not properly lubricated on a regular basis. Ironman UCA’s use rubber bushings like OEM which would be more of a maintenance free type. This was one of many reasons that led me to throw in the towel on a lift and just put it back stock.

Having to chase down squeaks with a grease gun on a regular basis is not on my life plan.

 

Curious, I’m dumb btw. What’s makes your tires come out the wheel well side ways? You have same sizes tires and wheels and mine don’t?

QUOTE="Antman, post: 379510, member: 12698"]this is my wife’s.

King 2.5 front and back with 600lb springs. icon 52700 springs in the rear. Front is leveled to the rear. So roughly 2-2.5” in the front. She has camburg Ucas. No diff drop. 285/70/17 tires with rims with a -38 offset.

Definitely recommend ucas with any lift imo.
[/QUOTE]

 

This is my 2013 with lift utilizing 2-1/2 OME up from and 1” lift Bilstein rear springs. It sets fairly level. I also installed JBA upper control arms. Handles the trails quite nicely. Heading down to Canyonlands tomorrow for a weekend of wheeling.

 

Think about if a UCA is needed. At 2.5 inches, you may be fine. Now if you’re planning on over sized coil overs, then yes. You’ll need the aftermarket UCA to clear the springs.

i think the OME and Bilstein lifts may not need it, so you could save a bit.

 

I had a 3” lift in the front with stock UCA’s. Not sure how the dealership pulled it off, but it drove good.

 

[/QUOTE]


It's the wheel offset. The OEM wheels have a positive offset. +15mm for the off-road, I believe. A -38mm offset pushes the wheels out 53mm from stock, or about 2". You can accomplish this with wheel spacers, as well.

 

I went with Dobinsons IMS 3" front 1.5" rear, SPC UCA I got off CR for $300

at 2.5 " you don't need UCA but recommended same with Diff drop kit. 2" lift no UCA and No diff drop

 

That early 5th gen of your is pure class. The perfect expression of 4runner. Wow.


What size tires? Any more pics?

Anybody know if those wheels are the same offset as the current off-road trim wheels?