What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

Finally got around to installing the Ironman UCA’s I bought during the Black Friday sale. When I got an alignment after installing my lift, the shop was only able to get my caster to 2.6°, and it required more steering input on the highway than I liked.

I have the lifetime alignment from Firestone, so I decided to go back again for this alignment. I don’t have a lot of confidence in their abilities after today, at least at my local shop. When they called to say the alignment was done they told me they got camber and toe in spec but couldn’t get caster below 4.2°. I asked if that meant they adjusted the LCA cam bolts for least caster and they said the only way they would be able to get less would be to rotate the UCA ball joint which would be an extra $100 as it’s not part of their lifetime alignment. I don’t have SPC’s so I’m not sure what they were thinking they would be able to rotate. I also looked and saw they didn’t adjust the cam bolts. At least I the steering feels better and I know I now have good caster and body Mount clearance for when I upsize tires.

 

I wouldn't count on those UCA's giving you more body mount clearance.

This video explains why starting at 6:08

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huMztKaHsUE&t=382s

 

My comment about body mount clearance wasn’t relating to the UCA’s themselves. I was just referring to the LCA cam bolts being in the position where the tires are about as far forward as possible. I meant this as opposed to the alternative of being at around 4° caster with the LCA’s adjust to position the wheel further back due to the UCA’s having too much additional caster built in.

 

@Ripmo Interesting. You're a little more knowledgeable than I. But see below just for comparison sake. Last week achieved these alignment measurements at local offroad shop w/ SPC UCA's (3" lift, 285/70R17). Gotta BMC done recently too for clearance. Good luck

 

those specs look good imo

 

I LIKE THAT! Very solid set up! The all black look is stellar without it being completed murdered out!

 

Thanks!

 

Gave her some TLC today, wash, wax and vacuum.

 

Congratulations @MusashiSushi . as dgrenier15 mentioned absolutely love the setup. Love that it cleared everything without having to cut and chop. I'm a huge fan of keeping the mud flap. Can't wait to hear what you think after you take it may be on Rampart range or some rough road.

 

looks amazing

 

I'll get some measurements today to double check. I don't have the knowledge, patience, tools, or space (Boston) to install myself so I had a local vet owned one-man-shop install.

It was quite a process...he originally had the front an inch or so higher to account for settling. With the front sitting higher the tech that was doing my alignment said the machine couldn't get a read so we had to lower the front to match the back (had never heard of this happening before). Fast forward a week and the front ended up settling a good 1.5" so we then cranked it back up to make it level.

I never went back and measured...just took his word on it so I guess that one is on me. I'll be interested to see what the actual ride height is compared to yours. How many inches are you from the ground to the bottom of your fender/wheel well?

 

I'll have to get a measure on it tonight and report back. I was under the assumption it was (did not install myself) but @djwantke pointed out the same...

 

thank you!

 

if you raised it back up your alignment will be off.

 

Had it realigned after it was raised back up. The alignment was so off after the lift install that I had to have it towed from the guys house to the local tire shop. After it was raised back up it was aligned again when I put the new tires on.

 

Guy at work wants to trade me a set of these for my stockers. I am in a 19 trd orp. Did you have any rubbing issues?

 

Need to order engine splash guards. Notice the left front one somehow ripped a week or so ago. I have no interest in the baller ones though.

 

@SLVRFOX4R thanks for the details, great to know. I will measure my ride height from ground to fender tonight! I feel like ima little low and desire more height lol. I wonder if my suspension settled? Can someone explain. And how would I "crank" it up as you say?
My only adjustment is 5100 spring seat grooves and the only increment I'd be willing to try is the first click up 0.75" (I hear any higher on top of 3" OME lift springs doing the lifting will result in harsh ride)

 

I checked on the measurements and the seat height of the front is right at 2.5”. When I say crank it up I just mean adjust the seat height on the Dobinsons adjustable IMS system.

 

New cargo mat.

 

@SLVRFOX4R I see I see, so is 2.5 max for those, that is max for my Bilstein's. I feel like your guy went sky high with all the components

 

I designed a front bumper. Here are a few CAD images:




Then I built a prototype from 3/16" thick foam board and a lot of hot melt glue.



Installed on the 4Runner:



Building the prototype was worth while, as I found a few things I want to change in the design. Mostly tweak some angles so the bumper better lines up with what's left of the stock bumper. Pretty happy with the overall look of the bumper though. I'll update the design in CAD, and start building the real thing soon.

 

Nice bro you're over an inch higher. Maybe you're 4" or I'm closer to 2.5 now?

 

Well that is some bad ass shit right there!!!

 

so Im running 285/70/17 at 2” lift with 600 lb springs and my front is at 36 3/4” in the front. Stock height was right around 34 1/4 - 34 1/2” ground to lip.

how are you getting to 38”+ with only a 2 1/2” lift? Its early so maybe my brain isnt working

 

It looks like on mine the seat height is 2.5" above where the threading starts. Some other threads I've read say it's supposed to be 8.38" from the strut eye... I haven't measured this yet. There's a chance if these are not the same I might be sitting higher. I pm'd @Crikeymike so hopefully we'll have an answer soon enough.

 

I had to do some very mild heat gun "melt mod" to my front fender liner but I think that has more to do with me having the OG front bumper. Your 19 has a different bumper so it probably won't be an issue. I've put almost 5k on them and they are still my all time favorite tire. Had them offroad several times and they just work. The most impressive thing is how comfortable they are on road. I've had several people comment on how smooth they ride and how quiet they are. My only con with them is they are heavy at 60lbs per but they are very well constructed plus everything I've mentioned above makes them totally worth it for me.

 

Finishing up the drawers/storage/sleep platform.
Basically it (currently) has 3 configurations: 2nd rod seats up with drawers and flat top. 2nd row seats up with drawers and then another open top box on top. 2nd row seats down, top box slide forward to support platform and then front platform slide forward on top of that.
I can basically get to any of those within 5 minutes as most of it is locked down just using wing nuts and lock washers on carriage bolts.

I will probably constantly tweak it (thinking of adding some eye bolts in the corners for extra tie down points, stuff like that. May turn one of two panels into hinged open top options)

 

Thanks for that height info!
I'm not even sure what my actual final lift height is, so this is narrowing it down. I didn't measure b4 n after. I'm very interested to know fo sho. And how much my setup may have settled