1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Leveling kits causing wear and tear?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by 401runner, Dec 29, 2018.

  1. Dec 29, 2018 at 10:59 PM
    #1
    401runner

    401runner [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2018
    Member:
    #8256
    Messages:
    1
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Owen
    Vehicle:
    ‘05 sr5
    Been looking to give my ‘05 sr5 a little face lift with a 2.5 inch leveling kit but I’ve heard mixed opinions. Just curious if anyone has experienced any problems with kits regarding premature wear and tear. Vehicles a little old, however it’s in great condition for its age with 150k. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated!
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  2. Dec 31, 2018 at 7:03 AM
    #2
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2018
    Member:
    #6172
    Messages:
    7,542
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Ramona Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2017 4-Runner SR-5 P. Kings, Built Right uca’s, Durabumps, RSG sliders
    Welcome, this is just my opinion, i think any good lift with proper installation should not cause premature wear. But taking it off road more after the mods may cause more wear and tear.
     
  3. Jan 6, 2019 at 6:57 AM
    #3
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2017
    Member:
    #3777
    Messages:
    4,451
    First Name:
    Jake
    California
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5P
    You mention leveling, which implies lifting the front roughly 1.75" or so. I think general consensus around here and the other site is that you won't cause premature wear by keeping the lift at 3" or under. Once you get over 3", then CV joint angles become a concern.

    Leveling is a very common mod. Even stock Pro's come with a 1" lift in the front without doing a diff drop. What's more likely to cause premature wear (as SlvrSlug said above) is the offroading that inherently follows lifting your rig ;)
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  4. Oct 15, 2019 at 12:30 PM
    #4
    4x Old Guy

    4x Old Guy New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2019
    Member:
    #10764
    Messages:
    280
    Gender:
    Male
    Riverside, CA
    Vehicle:
    2019 Silver TRD Off-road Premium
    Big-O Bigfoot A/T tires
    D1756598-2008-44EC-A12B-401FE4AF995E.jpg Why is being a little low in the front such a big deal? Used to be the norm back in the day.
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  5. Oct 15, 2019 at 12:51 PM
    #5
    guhner123

    guhner123 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2019
    Member:
    #10894
    Messages:
    90
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Guhner
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD OR T4R
    Stock...for now...
    Opposite spectrum people are doing this too.
    DEA5F0D7-523A-4B5F-844B-30DC086D9456.jpg
     
    mystylistryan and Thatbassguy like this.
  6. Oct 15, 2019 at 1:01 PM
    #6
    Backwoods

    Backwoods New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2019
    Member:
    #10814
    Messages:
    436
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 silver SR5 4x4

    That was done with a totally different purpose, mostly to help with weight transfer.... With high torque rear wheel drive muscle cars, sudden increase of power like when launching in a drag race would cause weight to shift to the rear springs and at the same time cause the front end to lift. Some people went after that same look even with lower torque cars just to resemble the cars that did it for performance reasons.... the same way people with 2wd mall crawlers make their trucks/suv look like an offroad vehicle.


    This would reduce approach angle and ground clearance in the most important area of the 4Runner. The front. Not a good thing. Im against squatting a truck/suv as well. It originated as a way to increase offroad approach angle, but was taken way too far and now its a symbol of ignorance on lots of young guys mall crawlers. A slight increase in lift on the front is actually beneficial off road, but i still think a lifted but level vehicle looks best.
     
  7. Oct 15, 2019 at 1:55 PM
    #7
    Oey12

    Oey12 New Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2018
    Member:
    #5959
    Messages:
    363
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joey`
    Vehicle:
    2017 SR5
    Eibach Pro Sport leveling shocks, Firestone airbags, and Baja Design fog lights...
    I lessened the rake on the last few Toyota’s I have owned. Not exactly leveled but with a 1/2 to 1 inch of front lift. Even though I have done this, I believe that the more you change factory geometry the more unreliable you make it. Toyota knows much better than anyone of us on how to design a truck. Additionally I believe age and mileage makes a vehicle wear a certain way and when you change that the potential exists for problems. For example I had a 89 4Runner with original rear leaf springs (350k on odometer). I swapped them for a newer set which were factory as well and I had all kinds of vibrations. I had to replace quite a few parts (on axle) to get it smooth again. I like to keep lift moderate to avoid as many issues I can...cause I once lifted a 03 Tacoma “the right way” with springs and shocks but had nothing but problems. Ultimately though do what makes you happy OP and researching usually helps you fixes most of the headaches that come with leveling or lifting.
     
  8. Oct 15, 2019 at 8:18 PM
    #8
    4x Old Guy

    4x Old Guy New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2019
    Member:
    #10764
    Messages:
    280
    Gender:
    Male
    Riverside, CA
    Vehicle:
    2019 Silver TRD Off-road Premium
    Big-O Bigfoot A/T tires
    I agree. I figure that the engineers at Toyota have been designing purpose built off road vehicles for decades (how many old National Geographic programs have you seen with a old 40 series Land Cruiser driving through a jungle and back somewhere in Borneo). Anything I could do to “improve” it would probably be counter productive. My guess is that the higher back end is purpose built to carry a load and still not be signaling Mars with the headlights. How far off level is it (and how much body ground clearance do you still have) after you load all your camping and recovery gear in the back? Then, on Monday, how comfy is your ride commuting back to work?
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2019

Products Discussed in

To Top