LIFT KIT PRO'S and CON'S

Trying to decide on a 4"-5" lift kit or spacer blocks for the upper ball joints. Currently the vehicle has been raised in the rear by PO and now the front is lower than the rear. 1.5"-2" spacer would fix this but will it wear out the half shafts faster.?

Better to just do the lift kit?

I am rebuilding motor, rear driveshaft, front diff, and so on. I have the entire front end taken apart and motor out. Also it has 33" tires on it.

95' 4Runner
Automatic

 

With all of the work underway, I’d definitely give it a new front suspension. Mid 90s Runners are cool, and it sounds like a fun project. Perfect for these Covid days, and a good way to stay out of the mainstream. I’d avoid spacers on the front unless they’re absolutely necessary for some fine tuning.

 

That's kinda what I was thinking. Thank you for your help.

 

Upgrade your idler arm, drag link and pitman if your running 33's and leave the pavement often!
Ball joint spacers are not properly understood by most people in how they alter things. The lift is not the main point it is the increase in the suspension travel sweep that you want to be understanding from a ball joint spacer installation on the 2nd Gens. With a 1.50" ball joint spacer the lift would be perhaps 0.50-.75" if you set it up right. The only saving grace about this is that it is only at full droop for the suspensions travel range with OEM bump stops in place that the tie rod ends bind and the CV's get over extended without a diff drop installed. So take that for what it is worth as I am living with this at present.

 

Thanks again for your information. I purchased the complete lift kit and new steering components. I didn't like the thought of binding the new half shafts plus I wanted a bit more wheel well clearance.