Leveling a 2016

I have searched, so......Do not want to lift truck, keeping stock 265/70 17 tires. Do not want tires to look too small for the height of the truck. Will a 2" spacer lift on the front be too much. Do not want the front to sit higher than rear. Going with a spacer due to ease of installation and happy with stock shocks, for now.

If a small lift is needed to keep it looking right, will a 1.5 spacer lift in the rear make the tires look too small??

Thanks for any advice.

 

Many 5th gen owners run Bilstein 5100 shocks and set at .85" and front will not sit higher than the rear.
As far as the tires looking small, I run 5100 with front at zero with Toytec 112620 1.6" with rear spacer and stock tires look ok.
Good luck.

 

I run Bilstein 5100s set to .85" and it's just about as level as you're gonna get. I've never run spacers in the front because I've read it can make the ride a little rougher and the cost is similar. You can see how level my front is with the rear in the below picture

 

If cost was similar I would definetly do the Bilsteins. Spacers about $60, a set of Bilsteins about $200. Install on Bilsteins around here is about $100 more because they have to disassemble the coil. As far as ride goes, I have used spacers before and really never noticed a difference in ride quality. Used on my Silverado and 2 Grand Cherokees.

Just measured center of hub to fender. Front is 19.25 inches, rear is 21.75 inches. So, a 2.5 inch difference. Seems a 2 inch spacer may be fine???

 

I hear ya. I would keep searching the forums for advice on the front spacer, I'm sure there's plenty of info on here and the other 4Runner forums - I don't wanna say for sure the 2" would work just because I don't have any experience, it sounds like it would though. Good luck!

 

I'm thinking a 2wd with 5100 set at .85 will raise it just a tad more then on a 4wd due to weight from what I heard. Not sure if that is correct. If someone can chime in. I'm looking to go 5100 set at .85. There is also a 1/2inch top plate spacer that will lift the front 3/4.

 

You are driving a darn near $40,000 vehicle and you are worried about the difference of maybe $200 for a much better front end lift?

Don't do a 2" spacer, you will have revers rake which looks STUPID. You only need Bilsteins set at .85 for a perfect level. If you go 1.75 your fenders may look level but you will have rear end rake if you go under the truck and measure. God forbid you put some groceries in the back or friends/kids, then your fenders will show reverse rake. You are measuring fenders, there is more to leveling your truck than fender height.

Everyone who goes 1.75" level with their Bilsteins add a 1" rear spacer so they don't have reverse rake. You are considering a 2" spacer, stop considering it and save for Bilsteins.

Just look at Paul's perfect stance, that is what you want.

 

I have 700 miles on the truck. More of taking off a perfectly good part that works fine than the money. And alot easier switch per my original post.
And i can achieve the same perfect rake with a cornfed 1" spacer for $50. And do it in my garage without a spring compressor.
Paul's ride is the look i am looking for. Just dont want too much lift for stock tires.

The point of my post was not to debate Bilsteins for leveling or spacers. It was to ask the advice of those who had leveled their truck if a 2" lift/level in the front and whatever is needed in the rear going to be too much of a lift with stock tires. Want to keep it looking "normal" with out huge gaps between the tires and fender wells.

 

I think 5100 set at .85 is the way to go.

 

I am brand new to this forum and am also thinking of installing the Bilstein 5100s on my new 2016 SR5 4x4. I really like the way NYStateofmind85's 4Runner looks. That is exactly the look that I would like to have on my 4Runner. I have a couple of questions. Is there any noticeable difference in ride quality when doing a mod with the 5100s? i.e. Bumpier ride or pulling? Also, is there a need or is it recommended to replace the upper control arms with new adjustable ones when doing this? Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

I didn't notice any ride difference - 4Runner rode like a truck pre-Bilsteins and still rides like a truck with them. Swallows potholes pretty well. The biggest noticeable difference in ride quality was when I switched from the stock tires to the KO2s. I didn't need to replace my upper control arms and after doing my research, I never read otherwise so I don't think it's necessary. Good luck!

 

Thanks for your input, NYStateofMind85. I appreciate it. One more quick question, if you don't mind. Do your tires rub at all?

 

My KO2s do not rub at all. I have 275s/70/17s, perfect size in my opinion!

 

Installed K02's on the TRDP, 275/70/17 and they dont rub at all. Fantastic tires, just came back form Breck and they performed beautifully on the snow and ice. No road noise and handled potholes great.

 

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Pro suspension come stock with a spacer in the front?? There is a new Sr5 Premium at a dealer near me that has a full factory installed Pro suspension on it, and it has an unmistakeable spacer under the front red coils...

 

I'm fairly certain the TRDP suspension does not add any extra height over the other 4Runners models. Toyota website shows the ground clearance at 9.6 inches which is the same for the other models. It's possible the dealership added a front spacer to level out the front of the truck with the rear since there is a slight rake with stock suspension

 

I think the front sits an inch higher but lowest point under the ride is still 9.6" not positive though

 

TRD pro has entirely different suspension. No spacers from the factory. The ground clearance shouldn't be much different from most other models (depending on tires), but the body sits about 1" taller.

 

Cool. So where's that inch coming from? Gotta be a spacer or a spring.

 

https://www.trdshop.com/oem-parts/t...AIBxhWI1pvV8lmx3EOHEVvW2e5whzalovKBoCeG_w_wcB

Bilstein suspension. Here's a link.

 

Top mount spacers typically "double" their lift. i.e. 1" spacer = 2" raise.
edit: if you run a spacer, run a 1"

 

Ok, so the inch must be the spring. I'll be going the 6112/5160 route myself a which is basically the same thing with height adjustment.

 

I'm new to the forum and 4Runner ownership. Do any of these mods affect the warranty?

 

Generally, as long as it's not a "permanent" modification, and you keep everything well documented, I'm pretty sure you're fine. I'd look specifically into your warranty though.

 

If you eat the cost of the dealer installing it, they will honor the warranty.

 

I just bought a 2017 4Runner yesterday and will be leveling mine as well. Your rig looks perfect. I'll be getting the same tires and struts set at .85. One question, did you use the factory springs with your bilstiens? If so is the ride stiffer? If not what coils did you go with and how do they ride?

 

I am running the stock springs up front with the Bilsteins. I didn't notice much of a difference in ride quality at all. I guess my expectation was ride quality of a "truck" and there is nothing to complain about in ride quality that I can discern. I love it!

 

I'm trying to find greater weight bearing springs for the rear but in stock height. Seems I am being forced to lift in order to gain greater load capacity...

 

I just purchased a 17 TRDP and was shocked at how bad the rear end squatted when I put my trailer on it...looks like a elephant sat on the rear end and the tongue weight is bit heavy but would have thought it handled the weight better than it did. Now researching for some kind of airbag assist to level it out.

 

I think that air bags are the perfect fix. I am using them on my Tundra. You get to keep your soft suspension for off road, and fix your ride height for the 5% of the time you tow. You can adjust your ride height with a wireless remote.