Bilstein 5100 with KDSS question

I'm new to the forum and have found some great info. But here is a question for y'all.

I have a 15 Trail with KDSS. It had 1" lift spacers front and rear. I just installed 5100s all around. I left the lift spacer in the rear and up front removed the lift spacer and installed the 5100's on the 3rd notch (1.75). The suspension height measured to center of fender above axle stayed the same (about 1 1/2 inch rake and seems like I only got about an inch lift up front...not the estimated 1 3/4".

I expected to be closer to level with still a slight rake. Any ideas where my math went wrong? You think the stock front coils are slightly compressed with the way the KDSS sway is linked directly to lower control arms? Could the lift spacer in the back be adding something to the mix?

Thanks.

 

Do you have any extra weight in front?

You might want to check if there are different settings for KDSS/non-KDSS 4Runners. The 6112's had different settings, so I imagine the 5100's might, as well

 

Good point. Thanks. No extra weight.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

So you set the Bilsein's at 1.75" lift, but took the 1' spacer out of the front... meaning you only raised it 3/4"??? Am I still drunk or am I not reading that right?

 

Exactly my thoughts...you're thinking soberly...

Whenever changing suspension height, the best course of action is good before and after hub-to-fender measurements at all four corners - if you want to know the actual lift results...

 

You guys had me thinking a minute. So before the Bilstein install with the lift block I had 36" floor to fender. After install initially it measured out about 36.5-which seemed about right. After I drove a few miles it settled back to 36. So I think I came up 3/4ish short according to the setting. Looking at the shocks it appears the snap ring stayed where I set it.

Does that make sense or am I still missing something in the math?

 

Okay...think I'm on to something.

Found a post that mention stock height on three different 4Runners were about 19.25 front and 21.5 rear (a little variation between rigs but ballpark). Just measured mine. Front is 21 and rear 22.5. So, looks like Bilsteins are doing what they're supposed to up front and rear accounts for the 1" spacer.

 

I sounds like you substituted the spacer lift for the Bilstien lift or only set it just above what the spacers were giving you in the first place...

So here is the ultimate question...
How high do you want to go in the front (over all)?
And how high in the back?
Are you just looking to get rid of the rack front to rear? If so, you need about 1.5 inches higher in the front than the read. This will leave the rear a little higher (about 1/4-3/8') so when you put stuff in the back, it will even out. Say about 75-100lbs worth of what ever...