Monstroso

She's a 98 Limited w/the locker (took quite a bit of shopping before I bought her last Oct)
Even came with brand new BFG AT KO 265/70/16

<img src="http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=201772">


Now I want to give her some more height and travel.

I've been shopping around and doing some research, and I'm leaning towards an OME kit
http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products..._suspension.htm

with a bit of temptation for the Sonoran Steel setups.
http://www.sonoransteel.com/

but i'm not entirely sure which setup I would go for. As I said, my truck is stock right now and the #1 from SS says it's for an already modded truck.

I would like to make sure that I have some room to grow.... Unfortunately my 265 BFGs are brand new, and it'll be a while before I can replace them with the 285s that I want.

With either kit, it seems like I'd need some spacers to avoid rubbing? Should I throw the spacers on with the initial suspension install? Or just wait until I actually need them?

I'd also like to make sure the kit I end up with doesn't mind a bit of armor added on later.

How important is a diff drop?

And just what makes sonoran's kit worth the extra $$$?

Thanks!

JETSI

I'am geting ready to order tne #7 Sonoran Steel lift in a couple of weeks. Already installed a 1" 4Crawler body lift last week to be ready for some 285 tires after the lift.

paddlenbike

iTrader: (1)

I went with SS#7 and have no complaints. This kit has everything you need to do it right. Take a few shortcuts like not using the front diff drop and you'll find yourself with undesireable CV angles; go without the panhard bar and your rear axle will be shifted 0.75" to the passenger side and it won't drive the same.

Even my slightly larger 265/75R16 tires look just a little bit small with this lift, so any of the other SS lifts (besides #7) will really look goofy. You should also consider the Performance Products 1.5" lift coils.

Here is my lift thread.

hopper

If you want to save a few bucks on OME over Slee's price look at http://www.rocky-road.com/4runner.html

Speedy

I've been looking into a "mild" lift for project SportRunner. I don't off road at all, other than getting to the occasional camp site, so I don't really need to worry about droop and all that.

I am worried about on road driveability. I had a 6" lift on my 1997 Tacoma and it road like crap. I never want to deal with that again.

I am looking for a nice ride, better than stock if possible, and a little more agressive stance, but nothing too major. I was thinking 1.5- 2" would be plenty and I want to run the 265/75R16 size tires.

I've been looking at the SS #3 or the #7 lift. I was originally just going to get the PP Bilstein coils and Bilstein shocks as that's what used to be the "thing" back when I had my 99TRD Taco, but things seem to have changed according to the messages I've seen on this board.

Is there any big benefit to upgrading to the Blue TRD Shocks over the Tokicos?

Should I be looking at any other lifts for my purposes?

Glenn1025

I just had my PP springs and Tokico Trekmasters installed Thursday, and the ride is awesome. It's much better than the stock setup. I didn't measure before and after, but it looks like I got about a 2 inch lift out of it. I am taking some pics later today, and I will post so that you can see the difference. I am running 265/75/16 Nittos. I am very impressed with the looks and ride.

Speedy

I'd had some members say the Bilstein coils gave a somewhat harsh ride. Is that not the case in your opinion?

Can you measure from the ground to the center of of the bottom edge of your wheel well? I can then measure mine and determine how much lift you did get.

Were you able to run the 265/75/16s on stock suspension without rubbing?

20005spd

well when i recieve my money from income taxes in a few weeks i will be ordering the sonoransteel #1.51. i am running 265/75 tires now and will be with that lift untill i save for 33". im lookin for max performance so i will not be wasting my time with the lesser kits for that reason.

i would go with a sonoran steel setup. you dont havta go all out but. i have been doing lots of reading and have wheeled my truck 2 times a week for a month. so i know where i am at now and where i want to be. sonoransteel seems to have done their homework with everything they sell which is why i will be ordering the 1.51.

diff drop is needed with any lift imo. do you really want to spend a ton of money replacing cv axles? i sure dont, so put the cheap ass diff drop on.

as for spacers, if your gonna run the tires you have now with a lift, you obviously wont need spacers. with the 33" your talkn of you might need them depending on which lift you get. i would go the more expensive route using diff rims w/ diff backspacing if your lift dosent allow you to run 33"

my truck is also stock but if your read carefully, they say if you run a stock bumper with a trailer hitch then you are ok. i have that so there wont be problems. the only reason they say this is because if you dont have any weight in the back of the 4runner then your ass end is gonna be sky high. i figure with all my gear in the back and stock hitch ill be fine.

good luck choosing i know its hard.

Glenn1025

No, I don't think the ride is harsh at all. It's stiffer, but there is no aftershock when going over large bumps. It rebounds quickly. Maybe the Trekmasters helped with the harshness, I am sure they are not as stiff as the Bilstein HD shocks. No rubbing with the stock suspension. The link shows the before and afters, I will measure later this week.

http://www.justblogme.com/manager/up...task=viewalbum

MTL_4runner

If you're going to stay with 265/75's then get the OME setup.
If you eventually want to move up to 285's, then get the SS #7 setup.

Speedy

I'm getting prompted for a user/pass for the pics???

Measurements would be good. Mine's a 2002 SR5 4x4 V6 with stock suspension and TRD wheels. I'll measure front and rear from the center of the tire on the ground to the center of the bottom edge of the wheel well.

If you could PM me where you got your springs and Tokicos and what you paid that'd be appreciated. I'm pretty sure I have to get the springs from PP, but haven't found a bead on the Tokicos yet.

Joshs98Runner

Same here on the user/pass for the pics, I am anxious to see them. If you want to email them to me I could post them for ya. joshs96gt@yahoo.com

Glenn1025

Let's try this one more time. I got the Trekmasters off of ebay ($214), but ajusa.com has them for $192 shipped. The 01Runner folder has the before and afters. The top four are after, and the bottom three are before.

http://www.justblogme.com/albums/dgfaircloth/

Speedy

Excellent, thanks. That looks like just what I'm looking for. Any chance you took those measurements? I'd guess you got 1.75 - 2" on that.

Did you have to do any diff drop or anything? Any chance you can take a pic of the spring/shocks installed as well as a shot of the CVs?

I think you've helped me make my decision. If you say it rides nice, then I think this is for me.

Glenn1025

The measurements are 36 1/4 for the front and 36 3/4 for the rear. I wish I had remembered to measure before, but it completely slipped my mind. There were no other modifications, but I will probably extend the brake line before I do any off-roading.

Speedy

Double check both sides to make sure they're equal?

I'll measure my stock 02 tonight and post up the measurements for you to compare.

Speedy

On my totally stock 2002 SR5 4x4 with Ivan Stewart TRD Wheels I measured:

34 front and 34.5 rear

Looks like you got a little over 2" of lift on the PP springs.

tacoma728

I would have to say the Revtek 3" kit if they make one for the four runner. I do moderate wheeling and always try for the bumps and dried dirt in plowed fields to do a suspension test. I have to say it has stood up to the test. I would recommend it.

shiftMX

If your Ivan Stewart wheels are 16x8, that may make a little difference in the overall height of the tire. Glenn's measurement are with stock wheels. I think it is a great setup thought which is why I just ordered the pp springs and trekmaster shocks. You can get the shocks at http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/

They will match prices too...I got them for $187 shipped because they beat ajusa.com. Good luck with your choices

Glenn1025

OK, I just did another measurement on both sides. The first time I measured was in the dark, so it was not exact.

DS Front - 36 1/16
PS Front - 36 3/8 (6/16)

DS Rear - 36 1/2 (8/16)
PS Rear - 36 7/8 (14/16)

I am not happy about the passenger side being taller, but at least it's only s little more than a 1/4 of an inch. My gas tank is 3/4 full, so maybe that has an effect? It's definitely not noticable to the naked eye. Would ya'll be concerned?