I agree.

 

haha me three

 

Someone mentioned Blazeland. It may be the option your looking for? I've had a dozen customers install Blazeland Long Arms in combination with 4" drop bracket kits. I have the combo kit on my 1986 4 Runner. I am very happy with the results. It sits with about 6" of lift. The drop bracket provides lift to clear 35" tires and the long arms provide travel. Because the track width is 6" wider the vehicle feels stable even without sway bars. Here are a few links to some build threads.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...-sweet-249549/

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...thread-223750/

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...l#post51632049

 

Would you advice re-enforcing the drop bracket at all?

 

Any bracket lift should be reinforced if you're serious about it.
Really.

Does it make sense to push the whole lower suspension down 4", thus increasing the leverage those parts put on the frame, extension on a breaker-bar style? You should have the rear lower a-arm crossmember (helps keep the subframe squared up, and preferably welded) and struts back up to the frame so the a-arm bushings take the bumps, not bend the tires under the cab. Otherwise it is mostly a mall crawler.

Okay, maybe I was a little extreme, but you get the picture.

 

Abecedarian, good points!

I have not reinforced a thing on the drop bracket kit on my 4 Runner. But.... it does have the Pro Comp "Stage II" kit that has a few built in features that does strengthen the design. Like the "lateral compression diagonal braces" that triangulating the rear cross member back up to the transfer cases cross member like you mentioned. And the bump stops also have a more evolved design. Other kits use a square or round tube design on the bump stop spacers. But the stage II bump stop spacers are integrated so the down side is you can't remove them and reconfigure to get more compression. Typical to all Drop Bracket kits is the "spindle spacer" with a stronger steering arm configuration.

I believe all the drop bracket kits do add a "rear cross member" where the factory set up has none.

Over the years I have owned and wrenched on Pro-Comp, Trail Master, and SuperLift Drop Bracket Kits. I believe they are over-all a solid design in terms of function and strength. They are a great way to add lift, but that is all they do, add lift. The pro's to added lift are many. You increase ground clearance by 4" in all areas accept at the front cross members and rear differential; which is true to SAS as well. Lift allows you to fit bigger tires to increase clearance at the rear diff and front cross member.

The drop bracket doesn't increase wheel travel/articulation but adding long arms does.

Can /should the drop bracket kit be reinforced for added strength? I can see adding some tack welds attaching the front and rear cross members to the frame. I can see reinforcing the bump stop brackets. These are easy modifications that may or may not be needed for your application. Its kind of like when you performed a SAS- do you need to add a weld on axle truss, do you need to upgrade the birfs, do you need to install 30 spline longfield axles, do you need a high pinion third member, do you need a...... get my drift!

 

I have 35's and 4" of lift. My geometry is off in the rear. The axle is forward and pushed out to the passenger side. My 35's have torn sheet metal at the rear fender well. The front also hits the pinch welds.

I also have 3" of body lift. Hope you don't mind trimming sheet metal or the new rubber will do it for you.

Don't forget your new 5.29 gears!