Hey Guys, was on Downey Off Road website and saw this in their suspension page:


"WARNING –– 1996-02 4 RUNNER LIFTING LIMITATIONS
Toyota sold you a 4 Runner with Automatic Differential Disconnect (ADD) - shame on them! These vehicles are limited to approximately 2” of suspension lift. These vehicles do not have manual unlocking hubs, consequently the front axles and CV joints spin 100% of the time the vehicle is in motion. Beyond 2” of lift would put the CV joints on sufficient angle to buzz you out of the cab at highway speeds (not a problem in off road terrain where the speeds are very slow and/or the CV joints are constantly changing angle). Unfortunately, your only remedy is Downeys new manual hub conversion kit. None of this is an issue for 1996-02 4 Runners with manual locking hubs, they can be cranked-up to 3 of lift because they free wheel at highway speeds. This also does not apply to 2003-07 4 Runners, they can be cranked up to 3 even with ADD. "


Is this accurate??

 

seems right to me.
Thats why i was thinking i needed a diff drop if i was going to get a suspension lift that would put my cvs at a harsh angle.
But i have a 4 banger with manual hubs so i dont have to worry about that

 

Manual hub conversion is the "only remedy"?! Psshh. It's called a 30 dollar diff. drop kit. Hit up toyteclifts.com to get one. I have like 3.5" lift in the front with the diff drop and everything is great.

 

Read this FAQ at the bottom of page...http://www.sonoransteel.com/store_co..._liftkits.html
MANY have lifted their front 2.5"~ without any issues. Just keep an eye on the CV boots!

 

shame on anyone for saying shame on toyota

my 99 4runner rocks the house in stock config

 

I've had mine lifted 2"+ for over two years now and haven't had a single issue. I even wheel it pretty hard from time to time. About 3 months ago, I went with OME 882 coils up front and got ~3" up front. I did the diff drop at the same time and have wheeled several times without issue.

With that said, I do check my cv's regularly for leaking.

 

Sweeet, so is the issue the cv angle itself, or the boots? Do the All Pro cv boots help the situation?

 

Both the angle can cause the bearings inside to pre-maturely wear, and the angle can cause the boots to leak grease and fling it all over your LCA. Which can cause the bearings to overheat.

 

it boils down to the angle. just do a diff drop if you go over 2.5" and you'll be set.

 

Does anyone with a 3rd gen that has been lifted 3" or more without a diff drop or manual hubs notice a decrease in power? I have an '02 4Runner that I have lifted 3" over stock. Immediatly after installing the lift I noticed that the vehicle feels as if its under "drag" or load. This is especially noticable at slow speeds when turning the wheels in a parking lot. The vehicle doesn't coast at all it will come to a complete stop without power. There is no buzzing or vibration however. This is not the way it used to drive. The stock suspenstion front axles were level with the ground 0 deg slope, since the lift the front axles appear to be at ~20-25 deg slope. The axle boots are touching on 3 rings. So long story short. I have purchased a set of ABS manual hub knuckles and axles. I was going to sell them and go with the Downey solution, but the used parts were so much cheaper and all I have to do is swap them in.

 

Since the trasmission is different on an '01-02. Does the ADD on those years have more rolling resistance than an earlier models with out the center diff?

 

Sounds like you have something in a sort of bind.


Add is electrically activated, unlike the earlier vacum activated, no more rolling resistance.

 

2wd?

 

anniesball what you are describing sounds like your brakes are dragging. I am wondering if the rear lift has not pulled too tightly on the emergency brake cable. just my guess I am not mechanical.

Buhundred-lifting your vehicle-which has no front diff for engaging the front wheels will not affect you as far as this CV angle is concerned.

tcmglx -yes it sounds like you just need a diff drop.

 

Diff drop.

I had my '99 4WD lifted 2.5" in the front and 2.75" in the rear.

I had a spacer lift on it at first, with 3" spacers and that totally murdered my CV's.

Just read on here - there will not be a single question unanswered.

Fink

 

Out of curiouslty, do the FJ's suffer the same ill effects as our 3rd gens?

 

o jus to let yall know the downey kit is not as cheap as it seems bc they want u to press out ur old hubs and put in theres while using ur old bearings but what they dont tell u is that it is impossible to press out the hubs without destrowing the bearings i have 4" of suspension lift on my '01 with conversion to taco manual hubs and it works great i actually get better gas mileage now since i put the manual hubs in

 

Ditto, it takes a crap load of pressure to press out the bearings, trust me.

It cost about 100 bucks for new bearings, and another 100 bucks for them being pressed in, well thats what it cost me.