2.5-3" Lift for front

Good morning, first time are, hoping for quick fix advice. Purchased my son a 2007 V8 SR5, 2wd. He wanted 33 inch tires, so he bought some Icon rear springs and some front Bilstein 5100's (used) with coils already on. Thought he could do it with a friend, and the backs came out great, but the fronts didn't achieve any lift at all, and tires are rubbing, and alignment is out of whack.

So he agreed with me we should just grab a decent, not necessarily top end, just a decent pair of struts/springs for now. Don't know if I should just buy the new coils and utilize the used 5100s, or buy new both. It's all new to me, as I had a 2004 4runner that I loved and got to 375k, but left it all stock.

Anyway, looking for suggestions to solve the lift in the front. Appreciate any replies!

 

Hey OP,
Welcome here.
Glad to help,
I have 5100's on all 4 corners. I also have ICON rear coils. In the front I would keep the used Bilsteins until it's confirmed if they have any problems.
Sounds like maybe there's OE springs, no lift springs? And the front Bilsteins are ride height adjustable.
You need to either add front lift springs (longer than stock), and leave the spring perch on the lowest groove.
That's what I did, I have Old Man Emu 2884 stock load weight springs. Only slightly higher spring rate.
Or
Adjust the spring perch to higher up ring grooves, this will give you lift but also compresses the spring more and more stiff (from what I gather)

 

Thanks, now I have a dumb follow up question. As I said, I left mine stock, so I have zero to little knowledge of lifting components. He put on the 5100 at the highest setting, yet the springs didn't look as beefy as the ones we took off, and the result was no lift. First, how do we know it's not an issue with the 5100s, and second, assuming they're fine, I would like to simply grab a new set of springs that are for sure beefy enough to hold the V8 at abiut 2.5". The shop where I am going to have them installed said OME 2885 is what their computer shows. Would hate to pay to install them and have them be insufficient, so wanting to make sure before slapping them on.

 

So this is what came off, Monroe quikstrut with these springs. They seem really beefy, 9 coils and measure 14" long. Then these are the bilsteins we put on the car, looks like only 6 coils, but you can see the setting is at 2.5 lift, yet no lift.

I am wondering what the old springs are. The only markings are tags that say 152t and 153t which I think are left and right designator. I wonder if the old springs on the 5100s would work. Have to make a decision soon for my appt, to see if I should order new springs.

 

@CaBurghfan appreciate the information and photos, this helps.
So ya it looks likes the springs that came with the struts are a combination of a few things, all leading to no lift:
Could be under a lot of preload on the highest settings (from what I gather),
Springs compressing under 4R weight due to sprint rate lower than stock 590lbs,
and also perhaps aftermarket / insufficient strength/length. They look very short, where they sit, yes.

By all means yes, install the OE springs with the Bilstein’s, that’s what the majority of folks do with 5100’s. I’ve found there’s lot many people who add lift springs and run lowest perch setting like I do.
2885’s are amazing and will hold your lift and some armour, prolly a winch. I wish I did them.
I plan to raise my front 5100’s to .85” and add center winch bumper, finished with a 1” body lift.

 

These are my ome coil spec notes:
*check out 2885 free height and bar diameter

Coil specifications:

OME 2881: 96-02 4runner - Heavy load: 1.25"

OME 2883: 96-02 4Runner - Heavy load: 2.5"-3"

OME 2884: 10-23 4runner - Stock load: 3" / 03-09 4Runner - Stock load: 1"

OME 2885: 05-15 Tacoma - Stock load (0-110lbs): 2" / 10-23 4runner - Medium load (70-180lbs): 3" / 03-09 4Runner - Medium load (70-180lbs): 2"

OME 2886: 05-23 Tacoma - Heavy load (110-220lbs or with bumper and winch): 2" / 03-09 4Runner - Heavy load (230lbs+): 2.5"

OME 2887: 10-23 4runner - Heavy load (230lbs+), 3", 16-23 Tacoma - Stock load: 2"

OME 2888: 16-23 Tacoma - Medium load (with bumper): 2"


2884 Technical Specs
Free Height: 390mm
Bar Diameter: 16.5mm
Spring Rate: 590Lbs
Lift Height

4RUNNER 2003+:
2003-2009 4Runner 4WD (stock with no bull-bar or winch) - Approximately 1.5"-1.7" Lift
2010+ 4Runner 4WD (stock with no bull-bar or winch) - Approximately


2885 Technical Specs
Free Height: 395mm
Bar Diameter: 17mm
Spring Rate: 590Lbs
Lift Height

4RUNNER 2003+:
2003-2009 4Runner 4WD (stock with 70-180lbs bull-bar and winch) - Approximately 2" Lift
2010+ 4Runner 4WD (stock with 70-180lbs bull-bar and winch) - Approximately 3" Lift


2887 Technical Specs
Free Height: 400mm
Bar Diameter: 17mm
Spring Rate: 590Lbs
Lift Height

4RUNNER 2003+:
2003-2009 4Runner (with bull bar or winch) - Approximately 2"-2.25" Lift
2010+ 4Runner (with 230Lbs+ of bull bar and winch ) - Approximately 2.5"-3" Lifts

 

Ok, thanks. So I just measured the coils in the first photo, they are 14". The coils currently on the bilsteins are 12". I'm going to switch out springs and see what haplens.

 

Are we talking about springs being 12" length under vehicle sprung weight tho?
Or, are they two inches shorter when removed from vehicle?

fyi the OME springs I recommended are 15-1/2" length