1987 4runner 22re Automatic
31" tires at the moment, supposed stock gears
sagging rear end

The plan...
Rear: 2" lift shackles + hardware grade 8(duh), and 5" lift springs from trail gear.

Front: IFS ball joint spacers 2.5" and diff+ skid drop kit

Will this give me to much lift in the rear? Is there any other parts I would need, or anything I need to know.

Which Bilstein shocks would/should I run? I know they need to be extended for the lift, but I want to have all parts ready before I go installing anything, so measuring flex, travel etc isn't my first option/choice.

Will be used for camping, mudding, hill climbs, and a "shop truck" mostly. However I still want it road legal and reasonable to drive in town.

Future plans include: SAS obviously, re-gear front and rear to 4.56? maybe 4.88? Never plan to run larger than 33" tires, and the truck wont see the freeway.

The shop I work at specializes in 22r/e rebuilds so I am pretty engine savvy, but I am new to the offroad scene and still learning.

I have been researching on everything listed above, but haven't come up with enough info to make my own decision...

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

I don't see what I am doing wrong that none of the 80+ viewers have anything to say? I posted in the newbie section because I am a newbie.... not because I don't know how to use the search button.

Not really feeling the love here...

 

Takes a little more than a day to get responses sometimes, be patient. You will have waaay to much lift in the rear. Even with just a 4" lift rear spring I feel like you're gonna have a rake to it.

 

if your gonna lift the front 2", why don't you get a 3" lift rear springs to level it out? with stock shackles.
keep in mind most rear springs will settle. you have torsion bar adjustment too.

 

If he gets equal lift springs for front and rear, it should be level. Seems as though the rear is sagging because the springs are fatigued. The new lift springs wouldn't be fatigued. I agree with the settling issue though, and take into consideration any future loads you may carry and how often. For example, camping, hunting, firewooding, etc...

So determine what size tire/lift you want to run and go for it.

 

The main reason for the 5" lift springs for the rear is I have a source locally who has brand new TG with poly bushings for $300 OBO... A new set of any other lift springs would be more than that shipped.

@ rokblok equal lift springs? I do not have leafs in the front...yet and don't plan on replacing the coil springs at all.

And on the shackles I already have a set of 2" shackles so I plan to use them. I have heard and so I assume that I will only get 1" actual lift from the shackles.

SO
If I go 2.5" spacers in the front and 2" shackles in the rear with 2-3" inch lift springs I should be fine? I am going to run my 31s for a while then up to 33's after the re-gear.

On the load carrying, ya I will be carrying occasional loads around 600-700lbs max, with an average of 150lbs of tools and extra stuff that will be carried at all times.

 

YOu realize the trail gear springs are 57" long vs. the stock 48" springs and you need to add new front and rear mounts?

You have torsion springs up front, not coils

 

No I did not realize that they were longer...especially by that much..

I just installed skyjackers on a customers rig last week and they fit right in place of the flat stock springs... this was also an 87 runner and the skyjackers were supposedly 2" lift but it looked pretty even after install..

I guess skyjacker is the way to go then for me.. with the same springs, but I am still going to use my shackles also.

I did not know i had torsion springs up front.. and in all honesty I do not know the difference.. so I am going to go read up on that now.

Suspension is not my strong suit obviously, but I appreciate the help from all.

 

I have the 5" T-G rear springs and I had to weld a new mount 6" forward and a new rear mount 3" to the rear of the stock locations. If i had to do it over i would have ordered the 4"...at some point I am going to pull a leaf or two out of the spring pack to lower it...

Sky Jackers are stock length replacement.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-New-Skyjacker-Leaf-Spring-Truck-4-Runner-Toyota-Pickup-88-87-86-84-TR40S-/370783214606?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3A4Runner%7CYear%3A1987&hash=item565466dc0e&vxp=mtr
these say 3-4" lift, so with the shackles is that too much?

 

For each 1" of additional shack length over stock you gain 1/2" of lift.

keep in mind if you go too much your u joint angle may change and cause a vibration...

 

Ya I have considered the u joint vibrations in the drive line..

Guess my best bet is to just leave the front as is for now, get some 0-2" leafs from skyjacker and use the new shackles...

 

My apologies, I'm a solid axle guy and I forgot you are IFS.

Torsion bars are essentially straight coil springs, not coiled up though... If that even makes sense...

 

17 years old, new to yotatech and I have a 1989 4runner that sags and has very little travel on the suspension in the back. I'm thinking of replacing the leaf springs but am also planning on getting a suspension lift soon. Should I do both or will the lift will take care of the sag by itself?

 

Welcome to yotatech. The 4runners are famous for that sag. You can look at a Zuk mod to get you buy till you do your suspension lift. Fairly simple and very cost effective.
Just google search what your looking for and throw in yotatech in the search box as well and you should find anything you want on here. Tons of info on the Zuk mode on here. Think it's even a sticky in the 86-95 trucks section. That should get you started. A lot of people go bj spacers and diff drop up front and then coil spacers of sorts in the rear and get a small lift that's not hard on your rig and looks nice also. If money is an issue then that's always a solid way to start out.

 

Thanks!

 

Where can I buy the springs for the zuk mod online?

 

Brand-new Black Magic springs from Ebay but they're for Zuk mods that require cutting and/or welding of upper bump stops, or
find used Springs from later model 4Runners (See what were used on write-ups)