95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Installed new suspension including rear Gabriel Air shocks. Now I want 3" lift.

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Old Jan 9, 2018 | 01:34 PM
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Brian Dady's Avatar
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New stock-ish suspension - now want 3" lift. Just springs?

So having just installed new springs and shocks including Gabriel air shocks on the rear, what direction do I go for suspension lift? I am about to install a 2" body lift and I'd like to add another 3" or so of suspension so I can stuff some 33s in.

Besides the transfercase lowering hardware and things of that nature, do I just need taller springs and to ensure the shocks I put on can extend that much further? (the rear air shocks might or might not - the fronts are stock-ish so probably wont.)

I like air shocks because I load my dirtbike onto the hitch with my Ultimate MX Hauler and I like being able to lower it and then lift it to proper ride height.

Thanks,
Brian

Last edited by Brian Dady; Jan 9, 2018 at 02:34 PM.
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Old Jan 9, 2018 | 02:41 PM
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Too bad you didn't think of it before doing springs. .. always fun doing stuff twice
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Old Jan 9, 2018 | 02:50 PM
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So will just a set of OME springs front and rear and transfercase lowering hardware will do it? I was thinking the shock pistons would then be 3" further up which could cause damage maybe?

Brian
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Old Jan 9, 2018 | 11:13 PM
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Read first ask later, never heard of a t-case drop?, front diff drop is what your thinking. You really can't get a better option of systems then these tailored just for your truck, my suspension is 5 or 6 years old now sporting a full hydraulic plow all winter and winch all summer.
http://sonoransteel.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_2

Last edited by Malcolm99; Jan 10, 2018 at 05:53 AM.
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Old Jan 10, 2018 | 07:45 AM
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Do you want the looks of a 3" lift, or added off road performance?

A proper 3" lift will include shocks that have a longer travel, as well as taller springs. Using only taller springs or spacers and the original shocks will just make the suspension ride higher in its original travel range instead of changing the travel range. Which looks, at rest, the same, but is not as good when you're off roading and the suspension needs to go up AND down.
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Old Mar 22, 2018 | 06:59 PM
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I installed gabriel air shocks in my runner years ago.
First trail.......first full extension....they blew out sideways and wedged against my tire.
Airlift airbags......very smart!! Much better choice!!
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Old Mar 23, 2018 | 02:07 AM
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I’m a 1st gen 4rnr guy. 5 total inches of lift sounds like too much lift for 33s.

You need to sit down and plan out what you wanna do with your rig so you can streamline a build. Doing things twice gets expensive quick.

for a body lift you don’t need to lower anything on drive train. I have no idea what a t-case drop is. So before you start swapping things out. Better research lifts. Plenty of vendors will sale you things you don't need. Autozone even sales a flux-capacitor. Generally if your planning to Offroad using on-road items doesn’t translate well. And being the age of rig you’re working on if it was such a great idea it would be common place. Meaning these rigs are popular and capable and already been done. So research.
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Old Mar 25, 2018 | 06:05 PM
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My advice....after doing the air shock thing is to buy a set of airlift bags. There's a reason you never see airshock threads on this forum. If it were a strict highway driver.....ok.
But.....at full droop on a trail, those shocks will blow out.
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