Do I "Need" a 3" Lift?

2021 TRD Pro. I want to fit 9x17 -38 ET and 285/70/17 tires. Stock weight. Is a 3"/2" lift required or can I go lower? I'd rather not lift it that high unless I absolutely need to. Either way I'm doing BMC, UCA, etc., and any other cutting to front bumper/liners to fit. Local shop suggested a 3" lift in the front and 2" in the rear. I've read a few accounts of people saying 285s fit fine with a 2" lift. But with the crazy offset I'm gonna run, I didn't know if that affects things at all?

 

No...

A suspension lift doesn't clear tires with IFS. Alignment and trimming do. With 285's and-38 offset, you're almost certainly going to need some trimming, and possibly a body mount chop, which it sounds like you're prepared to do.

Also, if you stick to a more modest lift, you might not need UCA's.

 

Great, thanks. So going with 1" (or even 1/2") springs in the rear and coilovers in front should be fine. Then adjust lift in the front to maintain stock stance/rake should be good? Coilovers are adjustable up to 3" and it should be easy enough to swap rear springs if I need to go higher/lower. But I want to try to get this done in one go without trial and error. There are plenty of rear 2" springs available, but not a lot of 1/2" or 1" options.

Seems like my stock vehicle is lifted 1" front already. So I have no problem staying there (1"/0") or lifting one inch more (2"/1").

 

Yes, that should be fine.

My personal (biased) preference is a 1 - 1.5" rear lift and 2-2.5" front.

I think Bilstein might make a 1" rear spring. Otherwise, some manufacturers have multiple options for length and spring rates, so it might be possible to get the exact lift you're after.

If you have a PRO, they sit around an inch higher in front from the factory.

 

Yeah I'm gonna shoot for 1-1.5" in rear. Eibach has a couple 1" rear springs. One is for the TRD Pro Fox shocks. Not sure if I can use that if I use a different shock. I don't see why that'd be a problem. The other is a non-specific 1" rear spring for the 4R, but they say it "Must be used with Eibach Pro-Truck Sport Rear Shocks." Not sure why. Maybe so they can sell more shocks lol. Or their damper is specifically tuned for their spring rate. Looks like Dobinsons also makes a few spring options it seems. I see the Bilstein option as well.

 

Before you do any of this, ask yourself: Do you really need any of this?

What I'm asking is, are you going to utilize the lift and tires so you can be more capable when off roading (Yes, I know that's subjective)? Or do you just want to flex really hard when driving down the road and parking next to lesser 4Runners or SUV's at the local grocery store?

It's totally okay to admit you want a pavement princess that looks badass. Most 4Runners don't need a lift or bigger tires. They are highly capable, agile and reliable vehicles off road. Driver skill plays a huge part in it.

 

No, I don't off-road. Just want it to look cool and not rub. I already have the wheels, but I could theoretically exchange them for the -10 offset version. But I'm doing new wheels/tires either way. This all started a few weeks ago when I got a flat repaired. I need new rubber anyway, so I was like you know... I've been meaning to get new wheels too. And then that started me down the rabbit hole. My stock shocks are about ready for a rebuild as well. So I would need to send them to Fox and turnaround is a few weeks. So it makes more sense to just replace with new ones. So... new tires, new wheels, new shocks. Might as well go aftermarket and fit bigger rubber.

I could source OEM Fox replacements but they're equally as expensive as aftermarkets and lack adjustability.

I don't want to lift it per se. I want bigger wheels/tires and I'll lift it only as much as I need to to.

 

Thanks for admitting that. It's the first step in recovery! I'm Michael, co-president of the Mall Crawlers club. Welcome aboard

You do not need 285's to flex really hard. I stuck with stock size tires and went with Falken's. They rub juuuuuuuuuuust a little, but only in reverse at full lock. Other than that, I didn't have to lift, cut, trim or chop anything. Maybe consider that option? Save ya' some money!

Picture of my ride on Wildpeaks (stock 265/70/17 size):

 

Looks good. I'm gonna run SCS Blaze 10 wheels though. Already have 'em and they're 9" with -38 offset, so 285s is happening lol.

 

I have the westcott lift and I don’t off road. All for show. Also have 285’s But looks bad ass!! Especially in deep snow in the winter.

 

If you’re doing 285’s and some SCS wheels, just do the lift….

 

Exactly. Look... it's just a truck. I come from the track world (Porsche). I'm always amazed how much animosity and anger there is in the 4x4 world. At the race track everybody is friendly. I don't understand all the "pavement princess" and "mall runner" stuff. I knew a guy with a 4Runner and a few overland rigs (Land Cruiser, Syncro, etc.) and he always talked so much trash when he saw a 4Runner decked out with lights and lifts and bigger wheels. As if someone else's truck affected him in some way. I never understood it. Yet, when he "overlanded" all he did was drive around on trails someone else put in, slept in a tent, and posted IG photos with philosophical ramblings about finding his truth in nature. Give me a break!

Anyway... yeah, I want a cool looking truck. I've had my 4Runner for almost 4 years now and I'm a bit bored with it. So I either sell it/trade it for something else or start to mess with it for fun.

 

I'm thinking 2" / 1" instead of 3/2.

 

I agree with you. I’m in the same boat. Mine is all for show. I like my westcott lift and my 285’s on my Pro. I was back and forth doing the Eibach springs or westcott. I did not want to wait so I chose the westcott this time around. I probably would have gone the Eibach springs if they would have been the same as my 20 AG Pro. But No Eibach had to make the front nose high. Not into my liking.

Everyone has their own purpose on which way to go and what they use the 4runner for. That’s why I recommend you go with the Eibach springs on your stock Pro shocks for now. Because if you are not happy how it rides just buy a new Fox set and you put the Eibach springs on them. But knowing you are going with the SCS wheels 17x9 I think it’s going to be touch for clearance knowing I’m running the 17x8.5 and know what I’m dealing with.

 

Keep it stock and save your money for gas.

 

I would totally go with those Eibach springs on the stock Fox setup if I didn't need new shocks. My stock ones need to be rebuilt. OR... I buy a new set of the stock shocks, which have been more difficult to find and for the same price and hassle, I can just get aftermarkets.

The other option is return the wheels and get the -10 offset version so there's less hassle. Then I for sure run no lift or a modest 1-2"

 

See above. I have to buy replacement shocks either way. Removing and sending to Fox for a rebuild is gonna cost money all the same. And then I don't have a vehicle for 3-4 weeks.

 

Sorry, I missed where you said the stock Fox shocks were worn out and needed replacement.
That’s crazy that they wore out so quickly.

 

Service life is 50,000 miles. I have 55,000 miles currently. So no surprises there.

 

Gotcha

 

As stated prior, the lift doesn't clear the tires because where they rub is based on the tire diameter in the horizontal plane, not vertical. You rub on the front bumper and rear fender/mud flap/body mount. Lift just moves the tire to a different place in the up/down position.

Moving the tire "out" also causes it to rub in that horizontal plane, it puts the tire edges closer to the bumper/fender.

If you don't want to rub, use a wheel that pulls the tire "in", not out. Pushing the tire out causes rubbing and looks like a stink beetle.

 

No the entire point of me doing this is so I can run a bigger tire and push the wheel out for looks. I'm bored and this is a fun project and ultimately I want a cooler looking truck. But y'all have answered the question of how much lift haha, so thanks. Also, I'm gonna be doing a BMC and any cutting required either way. So that's not the issue.

I might exchange the wheels for the -10 offset version, though.

 

Not no, yes. You have said at least three times you might exchange the wheels. Do that, yes, not no. You're agreeing with me, so use the word yes. Don't be one of the 4x4-haters.

 

You just said I should run a wheel that pulls the tire IN. That's a positive offset. Not negative. My wheel options are -10 or -38. I'm not buying new wheels with an even MORE positive offset than the stock +4. Exchange the -38 for the -10? Sure. That's a viable option.

 

You gave two options, one wheel pushes the tire out more than the other. Use the one that pushes it out less. Or not, I don't really care.

"Do I need a 3" Lift?" No.

A 3" lift doesn't help clear the tires, so 285/70/17 fit fine with a 2" lift, if you do the requisite trimming.

 

The perfect stance 285 -10 offset. SCS wheels.

 

That's an eye-popper, for sure!

 

Yeah that looks good! I do want more poke, so that's why I went with the -38. But if it's gonna be a nightmare to get 'em to fit, then I'll exchange 'em for the -10. I figured if I'm gonna do a BMC and cut the bumper and all that anyway, might as well.

 

2.5” lift all the way around on 17x9 -38 with 35x12.50’s. Body mount relocation is mandatory along with lots of trimming.

 

Yeah but you're running 35s. Seems like with 33s a relocation isn't needed, just a chop?