Lift and Tires for 08 4Runner w/ XREAS

[H2O_Doc]

Hello All,

I recently picked up a new 08 4Runner V8 with XREAS. Much to my amazement, my wife (with no prompting from me) said she'd like the truck to sit higher (which I wanted to do anyway). So, with her blessing, I want to strike soon before she decides she spends the money on the house (shack) in Peru.

What I want to consider is doing a lift and tires now, but planned out so whatever I might do in the future (e.g. suspension to accommodate weight of bumper, winch, gear etc.) MIGHT be accommodated. I won't be rock crawling or mudding in this vehicle, but will be using for wildlife photography that will take me off-train a bit and also general off-road use.

I'm looking to run a taller tire on the stock 18in wheels. I'm not interested in a particularly wide tire (beyond what comes along with the added height of a taller tire). I want as tall a tire as I can reasonably run. Nothing outrageous, but something that gives me significantly more clearance.

I'm looking to lift the vehicle, but only within the limits of what I can do without significantly increasing wear on parts; my tire selection would/could be constrained by this and thats fine. As far as tires go, I don't mind up to moderate noise at freeway speeds and I don't drive my 4Runner like an Indy car.

Do you have thoughts on a lift kit and tire combination that would meet my needs for now and is adaptable to possible future changes?

For those in Northern Virginia, is there a good shop to have the work done?

THANKS MUCH!

 

[Redline]

For more specific/detailed info about the Xreas suspension/shocks you might look over at Toyota120.com, a 4th Generation 4Runner forum. The atmosphere is very different over there, but there is lots of platform specific info for your vehicle over there.

I would suggest the very functional and economical Old Man Emu (OME) springs/shocks and Light Racing upper A-arms to bring the steering geometry back to stock.

The springs you need for a V8 & winch bumper (OME 886) will not be ‘right’ without the bumper (few weeks, okay, a few months/years, I wouldn't suggest it). If you're getting the bumper very soon get the firm springs up front, otherwise get a spring/strut combo made for how the car is currently set-up (OME 885 front springs).

In the rear I would strongly suggest OME 895. This spring will allow you to carry more weight that stock but with a nice, controlled ride. I had these for a couple years with LOTS of weight on the rear axle before pulling my overload air-springs and the 895 and replacing them with OME 896.

I know very little about 18-inch tires/wheels, but I bet you can find a slightly taller and not too wide tire to complement the car. Maybe a 265/65R18.

 

[java]

well i have a v6 runner with the 886 fronts and dont have the bumper or winch yet and havent had any issues. but the front does sit a little higher than the rear, i have the 895s in the rear also.
great suspension package and honestly handles very well. i was able to get aligned without the need for new UCA's.

removing the XREAS was easy also, just jack up the truck so that a 4 wheels are hanging off the ground and you can remove the shocks with out spilling any fluid. there are small vavles, like valve stems almost, that keep the fluid in the accumulators. i took all the lines off too which you dont have to do if you think you will want to put it back to stock to sell at some point. the lines get a little bent taking them off. you will need a 19 and 21 mm box wreches for the hydroulic lines.

 

[java]

before



after





the tires are 265/70/17's if that helps any. i will prob go to a 285 when i get new tires.

 

[cbradley]

In addition to Toyota120.com, you should also check out Toyota-4runner.org and UltimateYota.com.

Besides the OME system, take a look at the Icon setup as well. There are a lot of us that are running Icons on the 4th gen 4Runners and most people are very happy with them. I absolutely love them. They have done well on everything from severe washboard at 50 mph to modest rock crawling. The front coils are also from a 0" to 3.5" of lift. One thing to note with the Icons is that the rear springs, in my experience, are a little soft and tend to drop the back end a little more than I would like when the back is loaded up with gear.

Toyota did not leave a lot of room in the wheel wells, so make sure you do your research when you are looking at upsizing the tires. I am currently running 285/70/17s KM2s on stock sport wheels. I had to cut out the plastic air dams under the bumper and do a fair amount of trimming of the fender liner in front of the wheel. Even with after market upper control arms, I still rub on the arms at full lock as well as one spot on the frame. There is definitely not room for snow chains between the UCA and the back of the sidewall. Wheel spacers or after market wheels with more backspacing will likely solve the issue of rubbing issues, but I am not sure about clearing the top of the wheel wells in the back yet, that may require a body lift. I also had to trim the front mud flaps and completely remove the rear ones.

UltimateYota has a pretty good FAQ on both lifts and wheels/tires, which would be a good place to start your research.

Lift: http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_openwiki&Itemid=60&id=wiki:holy_grail_lift_faq

Wheels and Tires: http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_openwiki&Itemid=60&id=wiki:wheel_and_tire_faq

 

[H2O_Doc]

Many thanks for the useful info. I think I'll go OME and worry about tires a bit later.

Paul

 

[X_Trippin]

this is what we did to my buddies 03 runner. we tore the Xreas out(literally) and put the medium duty(not sure of the spring rate) OME lift on it and called it a day. Took about 4 hours total. Most of that time was getting the spring put on the front struts.

 

[H2O_Doc]

If anyone can suggest a good shop in the DC area, please advise. I have a couple of crescent wrenches, a multi-tipped screw driver, and hammer at home. Seems like this wont get the job done.

I am a biologist, however; and if anyone has a job that requires snake tongs, waders, live traps, or a fish electro-shocker...well, we're in business.

Again, thanks for the help,

Paul

 

[java]

it really isnt hard if you are at all mechanical.
cant help with any shops.