--It's been a while since I've posted. I've been busy with work, buying a commuter car so I can beat up the 4runner more, and buying a new house. However I have found time to fix some of the issues I was having with the 4runner after the SAS. To start I was lifted higher than I originally aniticipated. I have created a hybrid front spring pack that gives the exact same travel, but lowered the front about 3". The rear I had to put 2.5" blocks in to level it out so it was easy to lower the rear. I now have about 6" of suspension lift with SOA.

With the lower height I couldn't get shocks to manage the full travel and I didn't like the ride that much with the angled shocks. I decided to run 14" travel shocks strait up into the cab to get the best performance. I have my cargo box built into the back so the shocks aren't visible from the inside of the vehicle. I was able to use the existing spring housing as support for the new shocks.
My other main issue was the steering. I rebuilt my stock pump twice in less than a year. Every time on the trail and the tires would get bound the pump would blow a seal. I decided to go to Hydro Assist.. I went with PSC's high performance pump and a 1.75" Ram.. I just finished it so I haven't tried it on the trail yet but so far it drives almost no different on the road, and with the High output pump I haven't been able to outsteer the ram.

 

looks awesome jeff. looks a lot better now than before in terms of the height. i've always liked your 4Runner, and i'm looking forward to the progress and wheeling footage.

 

Thanks, I like it a lot better. Here is a pic that shows the before and after, you can see how much the draglink angle has changed. It shows how much I've lowered it.I was having some bumpsteer issues before and after lowering they are gone.

 

Absolutely beautiful

I realllllly like the height of it, perfect. Still looks a lot bigger than mine, and I have about 8" of lift..

 

Thanks. Have you decided to do the 63's? The tires are bigger on mine making it look bigger, and I still have the body lift on that I can't take off without a lot of work. I made all of the bumpers and bars after I did the body lift. I never imagined I would be taking it off.

 

Looks really good Jeff.

How was the PSC pump to install on the 3.4? We put one on a 22RE and it works SWEET with 44's and full hydro. More than enough with assist or what?

Height based on steering change seems spot on. I want to see it again in person thought before I truly am impressed.

 

Yes, very nice...look forward to seeing it again.

 

It was easy with one major exception. I was missing 7 parts when I first got it. PSC sent the new parts, but the 2 90 elbows were the wrong size, got the right size and after getting it together the pump was whining. I talked with the tech over there and I couldn't get it to stop. They sent a new pump and it was the wrong one. They sent me the right one in two days and now it seems to be working great. It took me almost three months from start to finish. It seemed like whoever was packaging was smoking crack, they were good about getting packages to me and were cool about it.

One other good point to lowering it is that I will be able to fit the 4runner in a regular garage now, which I should have in two weeks.

 

Imagine that, 6 inches of lift on a SOA 3rd Gen. Somebody said it couldn't be done, way to prove SS wrong