DeGOAT!

Hey,
I'm kinda new on here, and I did do a search but came up with nothing....

I have an 88 4runner that I just put 2" BJ spacers and 2" AALs on, and after I took it for a drive, i took a look at the front and the wheels look like this,

\\---//

Is this normal? Did I install the lift incorrectly? Does it change after a while?

Thank you for all the help.

abecedarian

that is normal. the bj spacers have pushed your lower arms down and in doing so, the arc the lower arms / lower balljoints travel in causes the bottom edge of the wheels to be pulled in. there may be enough adjustment in the lower arm eccentric bolts to correct it.

DeGOAT!

oh cool.

Will I need to adjust those eccentric bolts?

Thanks for the quick help

abecedarian

yes, you need to get everything straightened out. best way is to have an alignment done at a shop that can work on modified suspension.
in the mean time, if you have a 18" level, you can lay that vertically across your rim/tire, and adjust the front and rear bolts equally out until the bubble on the level is centered, and do that for both wheels. that'll get you close enough that you can wait a few days for the alignment if necessary.
if you don't have a level, you can tape a weighted string to the top of the rim, and adjust the bolts until the weight touches the bottom edge of the rim.

abecedarian

I should add that if you use the level, take into account the bulge in the tire where it meets the ground so that you're not overcompensating.

Jay351

Go get an alignment....

a4runnerfreak

Abe, am I going to have the same problem when I put 1.5" ball joint spacers on my 4runner? I'm not going to be running any kind of lift, other than what lil the spacers are going to give me.......

abecedarian

yep.
it's a function of geometry.
if you think of the front suspension as a quadralateral (four sided figure) with each corner being: 1) the upper arm to frame mount, 2) the upper ball joint, 3) the lower ball joint, 4) the lower arm to frame mount (if you play connect the dots with the pivot points 1 through 4 then back to 1, you end up with a parallelogram); installing BJ spacers will increase the distance between the upper ball joint (#2) and lower balljoint (#3). Since the distance from #3 to #4 is not changing, #3 is going to get pulled closer to the frame since the included angle of #3 is decreasing and the included angle of #4 is increasing.

lost you yet?

try it with a piece of string and some nails in a board.

adjusting the bolts on the lower arm mounts moving the pivot point of #4 (lower arm mount) away from the frame, thus pushing #3 (the lower ball joint) away as well, thus moving the wheel closer to vertical.

jimbos_4runner

anyone know any good places, EG shops, that sell good looking steering wheels, i dont like my original one on my 91 4runner 3.0L, but i still want my cruise control to work!!!!!

any ideas

a4runnerfreak

Thanks Abe. And no, you didn't lose me with your tech explaination. I'm going to order the spacers soon, and had never thought or pictured in my head the \\---// results. Thanks

abecedarian

whew!!!

a4runnerfreak

<----is NOT just a 22re!
<----is mechancally inclined
<----has a very good visual imagination....just needs a lil help from time to time
<----is not perfect, but a close 2nd.....lol

a4runnerfreak

<-----also doesn't have a problem with asking questions 'bout things I don't understand and/or have lil knowledge 'bout.....lol!

abecedarian

glad to be of service.