So, I've been looking at the Fabtech k7017 kit, but am unsure about the quality of the shocks. $747 seems a little cheap for a good lift kit. Besides the more expensive pro-comp kits (that are all in backorder for 30-60 days, grr), it seems that this is the ONLY complete front and rear lift kit for my truck. For some reason, the only other kits I'm finding are only rear lift kits.

Here's the budget-$2500 total. 4WD parts has nothing in stock for my truck, that's not on backorder. I've had a quote from a local shop, $340 to install whatever kit I choose, and $120 for the alignment..seems like a great deal to me. This leaves $2040 to choose a good kit.

Someone had mentioned on another forum that all I need to do is maybe buy some Bilstein shocks for the front and rear, 2" Fabtech shackles for the rear, and crank up the torsion bars in the front..but I've heard this can be unsafe for the vehicle...

I would really appreciate some guidance form someone who has purchased a full suspension lift kit for their comparable year 2wd Toyota. I pretty much have absolutely no idea what I'm looking for. All I know is I'd like to lift the suspension 3-4".

 

Anyone at all?

 

My truck went through a few different setups and the best way to go about this is if you can find lift spindles. They are rare but out there. Fabtec made them and a small fabrication shop in Southern California called custom tube worx used to also but not sure if they are still around.
The big problem with lifting a 2wd with cranking the torsion bars all the way up is it will cause the truck to ride like it's an empty dump truck and you will hate it. I know I did.
The main question here is, what size tire do you want to run? That will determine alot of other things.

I was able to fit a 235/75-15 tire with cranked up torsions and a lift shackle in the back but they rubbed. Hammering the pinchwled flat helped some. I eventually went with a upper ball joint spacer that let me relax the torsion some and made the alignment better but it still wasn't great. Then adding a 2" body lift fixed the rubbing in the front wheel well that I was getting and let me relax the torsions even more for a better ride. Then I found a set of fabtec upper arms and a pair of thicker torsion bars and i was able to remove the ball joint spacers and those helped even more. I have also had 2 different long travel setups on the front but they are a whole different ballgame.

My point is, the kit you are looking at will work but because it works off cranking the torsion bars, it's going to ride harder then it does now, no matter what shock you run. But, if it's what you want to do, I say go for it.
Also be prepared for the enviable question of "why would you lift a 2wd?"

 

Thanks for the input. I'm going for a slightly more aggressive look, also would maybe like to get slightly larger tires for a little more ground clearance..for light trail driving.

I currently have 235/75/R15 AT's on the truck, at stock height, and they're rubbing when I get to hard left or right, near the rear side of the wheel well. The suspension lift should get the tires clear of it then.

 

The only thing the suspension lift will do is increase ride hight. The tires will still rub with the suspension lift around corners when the suspension compresses on a big enough bump in the road or if you take it into the dirt. Only two ways around that is with a body lift or lift spindles.

 

Ball joint spacers and a small body lift.