YotaTech Forums - View Single Post - Explain this lift - 4Runner with 6" susp, 3" body
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Old 02-04-2006, 11:08 AM   #7 (permalink)
SC4Runner
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: 5th Gen San Diegan, California
Posts: 5,885
Hey Slick, I'll inform you on this lift since I've done it myself to my truck

These lifts are called "drop bracket" type lifts. They are what all the Chevy's, Ford's and other non straight-axle trucks use to lift up the IFS.

They drop the front differentail down to keep the CV angles at a stock position, as well as the rack and pinion and other suspension parts.

I personally really like my trailmaster lift. I've heard bad things about it, but, its worked awesome for me. I feel you get the best of both worlds:

The geometry o fthe suspension is at stock position, so I am getting the most uptravel and downtravel that is possible for the Toyota IFS. I don't have any CV angle issues, and the ride is smooth. People say its useless...but, I really dont agree. Traveling through baja were I would much rather have a higher rig than a stock height one. Plus I can run coilovers with this setup.

One thing that I am going to do is take off my body lift as it is pointless and my truck is too high anyways.

In retrospect I dont regret putting my Trailmaster on at all. I got it for $300 used. It was cut off a Tacoma that had gone SAS. With the upgraded struts and OME shocks I feel like its really great and flexy. I also installed the topplates of the struts upsidown to gain another inch of downtravel and I think it worked well..

The problem with these lifts on 4runners is the rear. They give the Tacomas blocks and an add a leaf. But, the 4runners use coils so you have to figure something else out. The rear isin't made for much more than 4" of lift so now Im battling with that.

Since I love working on my truck though, its just another learning experience and another chance to try something new.

I have to post up some articulation pictures. With all 4 wheels on the ground I get 11" between top of tire to fender. If I flex out the front I get 16" from top of tire to fender. So that's 5" of downtravel which I didn't know was possible. I'll post some pictures.
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1996 4x4 3.4L 4Runner on 35's - 6" of lift, MTR's, E-locked, ARB Tacoma Bumper, Sliders and a cut off tail pipe.

1966 FJ40 - SOA with stock springs, stock 1F motor, and a smelly tailpipe.

Last edited by SC4Runner; 02-04-2006 at 11:09 AM.
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