1996 4runner suspension/body lift - Whatcha think?
 

Hi :think:

I just installed an entire Old Man Emu (2-2.5") suspension on my stock 96 lim 4runner. I am about to install the 4Crawler 3in Body lift. I prolly will be run Procomp Xtreme M/T 285/70r17's on Procomp 17x8 (4.5 backspaced) rims.

Q's :D

Any advice on the body lift installation??

Will the tires rub with my setup (should I use a 1.5 inch wheel spacer)??

You think I need a diff drop kit?

What do you recommend to level the front to the same height as the back?

How can I level my hitch after the body lift (to be same as stock)?

City/highway mpg's better or worse with this setup?

Anything else?

THANKS! :banger:

You should be able to run the 285/70's without the bodylift. I am not a huge fan of body lifts and would much rather start trimming than run them.

There isn't much you can do to level the front, since you will be going up into the danger zone for your cv's. I liked the rake look.

You can flip your hitch to make it closer to the normal way it looks.

Your mileage will go down.

Any advice on the body lift installation??
Search, there are plenty of write up and pictures. Use jacks and you'll be fine.

Will the tires rub with my setup (should I use a 1.5 inch wheel spacer)??
you will definitely be able to fit the 285's. I wouldn't do a wheel spacers.

You think I need a diff drop kit?
You could use one but it's not absolutely needed.

How can I level my hitch after the body lift (to be same as stock)?
x2 on flipping your hitch.

The body lift being 3in on top of the 2.5 suspension might be a little much. Why did you choose a 3in BL?

This is a little excerpt on body lifts from Steve Schaefer's site:
The 1" and 1.5" sizes are easy to install and will not cause you any grief. Over 1.5" and the job becomes much more involved. We do not recommend body lifts for 96-02 4Runners over 1.5". The reason you do not need to go over 1" or 1.5" is that to fit tires larger than 33" which can be fit with just the lift kit alone, you would need to move the front and back of the fender openings wider as well. A 2" or 3" body lift is just going to raise the arches of the wheel well higher without letting you add a larger tire, which would require the front and back of the fender openings to increase as well. The 1996-2002 4Runner is a heavy truck to begin with, the key to building a good off-road truck is to equalize lift with width. So when you go up 2.5" on a suspension lift lift and 1" on a body lit you need to widen the track with 3.5" backspaced wheels and 12.5" wide tires. There are no wheels wide enough to equalize the vehicle over this combo. So a smart build would be to stick with a Suspension lift for 33" tires or below and a 1" or 1.5" Body lift along with a good amount of metal cutting for 35" tires. Put a body lift on that is too high/more than you really need is just going to get you flopped on your side a lot faster.

I went with the 1.25" wheel spacers to fit some 305/65r17 Procomp Xtreme M/T's on black Procomp 7005's with a teflon coat... couldn't get them on yesterday cuz the bastards broke my tie rod... :pop: how easy is that to break guys??? they tried to charge me for it but i didn't budge one bit n they paid for the part

I'll post some pics before and after my body lift install... but as to why 3in.. offroadability and awesomelookingness :rockin:

A 3 inch gap between your body and frame is "awesomelookingness". Listen to those that have posted. Look their rigs and you will see that they know what they are talking about.

I've never really liked the body lifts either.

off-road ability depend on much more than 3" of BL. But it sounds like your set on doing 3" are you at least going to get gap guards?

Ya I was lookin at some on that lips site but they are 80 bucks. I'll goto Lowes n make some myself. I agree I hate that gap, but it'll definitely get covered up.

I'm stilling waiting on Roger Brown (4Crawler.com) to send me my body lift kit. I guess they're backordered on the UHMW material for the wide lift blocks. I'm getting anxious to do it :bang:

so I got the tires on... they look mean (I'll post pics soon!)... as expected I have a lil front wheel well rubbing (front n back, both sides) I'm going to take my front valence off until I do my body lift. I'm also shavin the rear of the front wheel wells n bangin them in a lil w a flat-head hammer.

Also, my a-arm is uncomfortably close to my tires. I'm thinkin about goin w the 2" spacers instead. I decided not to buy them @ the 4wheel center because they were charging me $200 for the 1.25" set, plus $80 for the little toyota lugs, and then $60 to install...$340!! :nono: ha!! so I'm prolly getting the 2" spacer set off of ebay for 145!! (ship incl)

Now what do you think about that stance :bigok: too wide?? will it affect mpgs??? offroadability?? looks?

Thanks guys!@

take pictures of everything as is now and it'll be easier to tell you...4crawler is usually good about shipping, they'll be there soon, don't worry about it, but i understand being anxious.

Finally some pics
 

My current setup with the front OME installed as of yet..

Front with fenders on..

Pulled fenders off until BL install..

I think that I have to go with either 1.5 or 2" wheel spacers since my tires are 12.2" wide.. :O Those a-arms are pretty damn close..

Guys.. with wheel spacers... will I get more fender rubbing due to the tire stickin out??

Any questions/comments/suggestions very welcome!

Yeah I ended up runnin the bigger tires, but in reality the 305's are .2" shorter vs. the 285's, but they are .7" wider :D I'll prolly end up flippin my hitch, is this a pretty easy procedure?? I'm going to end up with a rake look pretty soon after the rear susp install.. My gas mileage is currently about 18.5-19mpg, mostly at about 70mph

so what happened? what do all you guys think about my q's??

Yep, wider the tire sticks out the bigger the arc is sweeps while steering left and right.