Advice needed on 1" front level / lift

I have a stock 4Runner and just put 33's on it. I'd like an inch of height for the front.

Once the factory shocks start to go, I'll be replacing all shocks and springs with a proper 2-3" lift kit.

In the meantime, in order to help my front fender wells gain an additional 1" of height, is a strut spacer safe / recommended / advisable? If so, what brands are considered quality?

If not, would buying "half" of the lift kit I plan on buying in the future safe or advisable? I'd imagine not because the factory rear may conflict with the new front but I thought it worth asking. I have in mind the Dobinson IMS kit.

Any other advice welcome too, maybe I'm overlooking a glaring issue. Thanks.

 

I kinda went the same way as you, but I will likely never be lifting the rear (my parking spot is height limited).

I installed new Elka 2.0's on the front, with 650# coils. These are the adjustable height version, from 0" to 2" (I believe). So I had the shop set them at 1.5" so the truck is ever so slightly lower in the front, but the truck still looks pretty much level.

I don't find any weirdness between front and rear with the factory rear suspension. But I think that may be highly dependent on the attitude the new shock valving will have, as well as the stiffness of the front coils. Mine seem to work together well together.

 

It's funny you say that. I got off the phone with a 4x4 shop that installs suspensions and such. They said the same thing. The pain to install a spacer under the front spring or on top of the strut assembly is about the same as just replacing the coil overs, so why not do that if indeed it doesn't create unstable or erratic handling / responsiveness. I guess I'll get a half a Dobinson, ha.

 

It makes a lot of sense to me, also. I think you'd also be happier knowing its done once and done right; I would at least.