99 4 Runner lift - what do you recommend

[dms1]

Hi All, I have a 99 4Runner with the "Tall" springs and 265\75R16 tires and want to put a lift on it. I am thinking of getting the Toytech Ultimate lift kit for the 96-02 4Runner with Bilstein rear shocks and OME 890 coils which I hope will give me 1 to 1.5 inches of lift in the rear. The only downside I see to this lift is that the front coilover shocks arent rebuildable and I am not sure if I can purchase them seperately if one were to fail. Does anyone have any experience with this lift or recomend a better lift in the same price range?

I will be installing an ARB bull bar, Rock Sliders and a budbuilt skidplate to the 4Runner at the same time I install the lift.

Thanks in advace

Picture of lift

 

[BLKNBLU]

I would suggest also looking at the Sonoran Steel System 7.2
http://www.sonoransteel.com/store_complete_liftkits.html#System_7.2

It's a couple hundred bucks more, but you also get additional parts to make the rear end "right". I must also admit that I am friends with the owner, so I am certainly biased, but it is an excellent product from someone that will provide excellent customer service after the fact as well.

Regarding the shocks, they should come with a part # on them and you should be able to track some down, or go back to the vendor for help. Keep in mind, re-buildables mean a certain amount of downtime for your truck on a scheduled basis.

 

[deadbeat son]

I believe if you have an issue with the Toytec coil-over, you can return it where they can replace the shock within the system. Although they're not technically rebuildable, they do carry a lifetime warranty.

 

[Westy]

I would suggest also looking at the Sonoran Steel System 7.2
http://www.sonoransteel.com/store_complete_liftkits.html#System_7.2

It's a couple hundred bucks more, but you also get additional parts to make the rear end "right". I must also admit that I am friends with the owner, so I am certainly biased, but it is an excellent product from someone that will provide excellent customer service after the fact as well.

Regarding the shocks, they should come with a part # on them and you should be able to track some down, or go back to the vendor for help. Keep in mind, re-buildables mean a certain amount of downtime for your truck on a scheduled basis.

I would also highly recommend calling Sonoran Steel. They offer many options for the 4runner and the quality and customer service is second to none. Even better, all the systems that Sonoran Steel has put together have been thoroughly tested and proven.

 

[OldSven]

Kind of out of the price range but might work, I'm running ICON's up front and got some used FJ80 coils for out back from a guy for $80 shipped. Then a set of OME N86 shocks from wheelers and just going to cut and sleeve the trac bar to make it longer. I'm also going to have a swingout rear bumper that's why I went with the FJ80 coils so they could carry the weight and not sag like other springs.

 

[Vermejo]

Another for Sonoran Steel. Lift 1.2 or 7.2 depending on what you plan to do with the rear bumper. The quality, performance and ride are second to none. I've been on a Sonoran Steel lift for over 2 years and over 5000 miles of dirt travel; never a single problem.

 

[dms1]

Hey guys, thanks for all the advice, the reason I like the Toytec lift better than the Sonaran Steell lift is because the Toytec front struts are adjustable from 0 to 3 inches wheras the Sonaran Steel struts only have 5 adjustable settings.

Unfortunately the ICONS are out of my price range.

Anyone else have any recomedations?

 

[Vermejo]

If none of the above helped...

Try searching UY, Yotatech and TTORA and read until you are sick.

These sites provide the bulk of 3rd Gen & Tacoma tech info.

 

[BLKNBLU]

Hey guys, thanks for all the advice, the reason I like the Toytec lift better than the Sonaran Steell lift is because the Toytec front struts are adjustable from 0 to 3 inches wheras the Sonaran Steel struts only have 5 adjustable settings.

Unfortunately the ICONS are out of my price range.

Anyone else have any recomedations?

I was not aware that there were 5 settings. ( I thought 3 ) Regardless, how many do you need? 5 settings over a 1 inch range strikes me as adequate. I have an 18 speed blender that I use 2 speeds on. :sombrero: Keep in mind that Sonoran does not recommend going above 2 inches so the 2.5 to 3 inch aspects of those lifts seem moot. OTOH the ability to adjust between 0 and 1.5 inches seems to be a worthwhile aspect of the Toytec if that is important to you. Good luck.

 

[bigwapitijohnny]

Hey guys, thanks for all the advice, the reason I like the Toytec lift better than the Sonaran Steell lift is because the Toytec front struts are adjustable from 0 to 3 inches wheras the Sonaran Steel struts only have 5 adjustable settings...
Anyone else have any recomedations?

dms1,

Adjustability should be considered very carefully because the magic number for lifting the front with minimal strain on the CV joints is 2". Anything higher than this will cause unnecessary strain on your CV's joints...The length of the strut to achieve 2" is different from year to year, as well as dependent upon how much weight you will carry on the front of your 4runner (Winch, bumper, sliders, etc...). I have a '98 4runner with a custom Armorology bumper, Warn 9.5 ti, as well as all the other goodies required, and Steve set up the length of the front struts PERFECTLY...

Take a look at the following CV angle...

I would highly recommend that you talk to Steve regarding the System 1.2 lift. It is bulletproof and his knowledge is second to none.

Ask him, you will be enlightened and not confused...

Regards,

BWJ

 

[TRDPARTS4U]

I'm running the Toytec adjustables on the front of my 98 4runner. Great ride quality. Whatever springs and shocks you go with, I recomend the Sonoran Steel lower links and adjustable panhard.

Jacque

 

[Ric]

I had the Toytec adj. coil-overs on my 99, LOVED it, both on and off road, the customer service, the price, at toytec are VERY hard to beat, I loved it so much, Ive got the same thing on my 2004 :victory:

dms1,

Adjustability should be considered very carefully because the magic number for lifting the front with minimal strain on the CV joints is 2". Anything higher than this will cause unnecessary strain on your CV's joints...

mine was set at a 3" lift, NEVER had any issues with mine, and I wheeled it hard every weekend :victory: but I did have a Diff. drop after about 3 years of wheeling it, lol

 

[dms1]

Thanks for all of the replies, I have decided to get the Toytec kit with rear OME 890 coils (same as the Sonoran lift) with Bilstein rear shocks and will be getting the Sonoran Steel Panhard Rod and lower links. I am only looking for a 1 to 1.5 inch lift right now and I think this combo will deliver what I am looking for. I will try to do a writeup when I do the install in a month or so.

Thanks

 

[Ric]

Thanks for all of the replies, I have decided to get the Toytec kit with rear OME 890 coils (same as the Sonoran lift) with Bilstein rear shocks and will be getting the Sonoran Steel Panhard Rod and lower links. I am only looking for a 1 to 1.5 inch lift right now and I think this combo will deliver what I am looking for. I will try to do a writeup when I do the install in a month or so.

Thanks

have you seen this:
http://www.toyteclifts.com/test/ind...ategory_id=80&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=72

Make sure ya post up some pix when done..

 

[dms1]

Update

Well, it looks like I am going to have to re evaluate my lift options, Toytec is out of the front coilovers and they arent sure if Bilstein is going to make any more of those shocks. They are working on a replacement shock but it sounded like they were still in development stages.

I did order the bud built skid plates today, so that is good.