2010 SR5 - Suspension Leveling and Mild Lift Questions...

Hi All,

Just got a new to me 2010 SR5!

Looking for pictures and experiences with these two set ups I'm considering... and other thoughts as well. Did a search, lots of results with a mixture of the following parts. Also going for budget at this stage.

1) Level out the front with the rear:

• Bilstein 5100 24-328258 front shock set at middle perch 1.75"
• Stock rear leave as is

2) Mild ~2.5" Lift:

• Bilstein B8 5100 24-328258 front shock set at top perch 2.5"
  
• Bilstein B8 5100 33-313146 rear shock
  
• Bilstein B12 36-281817 rear coil 1" Lift

Will both of these get me level or close to it? (I'm in the not a fan of rake, camp.)

Won't be adding heavy steel bumpers, RTT (any time soon at least). Just kids and camp gear.

This will be 90% grocery getter, 10% car camper/overlander.

Thanks!

 

In retrospect, I wish I had done a level lift instead of 2.5” just to keep things simpler.

 

I could be completely wrong but I was under the impression that 5100’s at the lowest setting at just under an inch was a level but don’t quote me.

 

Tell me more.

 

'21 ORP is my wife's daily driver/grocery getter. We take it off road a couple times a year... "off-road" is defined as not asphalt (hint: it's not really "off road"). So modifications have been primarily for aesthetics. I tend to be very pragmatic with cars since I am the one turning wrenches on them.

At delivery, we had TRD wheels with 265/70 C-load BFG KO2's installed. It looked good, but wife still wanted a lift. For Christmas a couple years ago, I got her the Eibach stage-1 lift (+2.75"). Lift looks good, and rides nice, but tires look small.

Now we need to upgrade to 285s. On 7" wide wheels (too narrow). Will it rub/how much trimming needed? How will it ride? Will the droning on the highway be annoying?

This is the can of worms you open with a 2"+ lift, when leveling it with some 255/75 trail terrains would have been perfectly sufficient and aesthetically pleasing.

My only gripe with the Eibach kit is the rear springs sag less than expected and the fronts sag more than expected giving a bit more rake than I'd like. That, and the 265s look small. Otherwise, ride quality is great for a lifted truck.

 

Leveling your vehicle is fine if you want to reduce your departure angle, and increase the likelihood of catching your rear bumper on something.

If you want to level and not hurt your departure angles, you’re going to need to lift the rear.

 

That's what I've read as well... first setting at 0.85" levels it out... but also read that the middle 1.75" is the setting to level.

 

Thanks, for this reminder.
I lost a rear bumper in Death Valley last year... I'm heading to the same spot in Feb., so don't want a repeat of that.

 

Bring an off-roading bumper and some tools.

That way, you don’t have to do the work of removing the bumper yourself!

 

Since you have camping in mind, I'd recommend keeping a little bit of rake.
You don't want to be nose high after you load up with camping gear.

From the factory, there is 2" of rake on your rig... I'd keep 1" minimum.

The TRD Pro 4Runners come with Fox suspension. If you can find some low mileage take-offs for a decent price I'd run that. You'll get roughly a one inch lift up front. They're still very comfortable and the front shocks actually have a slightly longer extended length, unlike a lot of aftermarket options.

The bilstein 5100 also have an extended length and they're at a great price point. So that would be my second choice if I couldn't find a good deal on some lightly used TRD pro suspension.

 

Closing the loop…

I ended up going:

• Bilstein B8 5100 24-328258 front shock set at 3rd perch 1.75”
• New
  $10 KYB SM5640 - Mount Kit
  KYB SM5640 - Mount Kit (a no brainer right now at $9 ea)
• Bilstein B8 5100 33-313146 rear shock
• Bilstein B12 36-281817 rear coil 1" Lift

Before:


After:


Kept the rake per 1SilverRunner‘s recco above. There is the 4runner lean in effect.

37” front driver
37” front passenger
38” rear driver
39” rear passenger

Mechanic did say after install, that if we did top perch at 2.5” I would’ve needed adjustable upper control arms.

 

Looks great!