Front Suspension Research

[tgibbo]

sorry to bring up old post but i have 35mm snake lift spacers and run 31s on sr5 rims my mate has the same and runs 265/75/16 on +30 16x7 no rubbing even under full articulation. i wonder if its worth going 4" snake plus tako upper controle arms to run 295's or just put up with my shit cv and ball joint angles and save my self $4000 and any problems down the road. could anyone recomend the snake or other 4" kits for running 33/ 12.5s and having good wishbone and cv angles. i really want to run 33's. ( mayby 4" snake plus my 1.5" spacers and have 5.5")

[Hilux Max]

Mate, if you want to run 33's it is achievable without the snake racing kit. 12.5 inch wide tyres in my personal opinion are not really necessary althou they do look good. funny me saying that, Im considering going 305's next time round....LOL

You'll get 33's with a 2.5 to 3 inch lift with a good offset wheel and trimming.....be prepared to hack into your guards.

285's will fit with minor to a little bit more, trimming.

If you want 305's to fit, you'll be cutting into the bottom corner of the quarter panel and trimming the bodymount at the rear fo the front guard.

You can always go a narrow 33 with only a 2 inch lift, with 33/10.5x15 tyre on the sr5 rims, save the 4 grand and put it towards a rear locker and/or some body protection.

dont forget, a 33/12.5 tyre is a very heavy tyre, not only that but your gearing will be out.....not everybody is prepeared to pay the price of running big tyres....fuel economy will be sacrificed too.

weigh up the options, do your research and get as many opinions as you can get, before you bite the bullet and go the hack!

[tgibbo]

thanks mmaaxx. i no there is a guy in tarralgon that runs 33/ 12.5 with just a 2.5/3" lift so it can be done.

but the main reason i want to go the snake or 3rds 4" kit is i dont like the ball joint angle at 1.5" lift and id hate to see it with double that and even worse if it cracked or snaped. and my understanding is the 4" kits on the market make the wishbones go back to normal buy dropping the mounts.

what are your thoughts on this do you thing the suspension joints and cv's would be ok with 3" of lift? or is it pushing it.

if i where to go 3" lift id buy either a wizard 3" kit or adjustable hight shocks and use my standard spings and spacers and just run 285's or do more trimming and run 305's.
either way i could probly come out a couple of grand ahead buy doing it this way rather than a full 4' kit

i have some 15x8 0 offset rims of my old lux with 33/12.5 on them i might put them on to see if im game enough to cut shit out of my gaurds

[Hilux Max]

From what I know, the 15x8's you speak off will not fit.....they will foul on the brake calipers. Nastie off this forum was running 15x8's at one stage but he had a really big offset.....something like a -25 to 30 just to clear the rim off the brakes.

As far as I know nobody makes a 15x8 rim in a normal offset to run 33/12.5x15, if Im mistaken then please someone correct me as Id love to run this setup myself.....cheaper than the 16 inch option.

in regards to the 3 inch of lift and how it performs......the hilux setup is the same as the Tacoma setup and they run 3 inches of lift and wheel their machines pretty hard.

They even cut every extra bit of metal and plastic off the guards and run 35's........awesome.

if you could get some more info frbout this bloke from Taralgon, Id be very keen to learn more. i.e. what size rims and offset, whaty else he has done.

Heres the link to the mud tyre reviews....... http://www.offroaders.com/tech/AT-MT-Ti ... rrains.htm

just click on the tyre on the left of the screen and read the writeup.

P.S one more thing, yes you can probably run the 305's like that bloke you ention but does he wheel his rig or is it just a pavement pounder? Does it clear properly at full compression? that what you need to look at aswell.

[tgibbo]

thanks again max, with regards to the guy in tgon i havent seen his ute i just got told about buy the guy in the 4x4 shop when i asked him the questions im asking you.
i think i will go with a three inch lift and some 285's on 17s or 33 10.5 on my sr5 rims. i have actuly fited the rims im talking about before and drivin aroud the quarry with them on when they only had 31's on them so the might be big - offset rather than my quoted 0. will take some pics when i put them on the look pretty cool but stick out the flairs about 20mm so wouldent be much good as id allways be ripping of flairs.

[rodw]

Hi guys,

Seeing I started this thread, I thought, I better tell you that I finally put a lift under my Rig. Unfortunately the fall in the AUD meant I could not justify the Wizard kit which I wanted. Brent from Wizard has now organised some maching leaf springs from King Springs. All up, complete he quoted $4,660 front and rear fitted based on the USD being at 70 cents. Bit annoyed as the financial meltdown ocurred while I was blissfully unaware on account of a 3 week tour of New Zealand's South Island with the missus and I had no clue as to the exchange rate damage until I came home. Brent did not have stock before I left.

So anyway, I went with Tough Dog adjustable kit which I had fitted by Opposite Lock Springwood today. Took some eyebrow heights this morning with an empty fuel tank and again after fitting with a full tank. Now I know my rig was low with a dual battery, winch and bull bar hanging up front, but I was ecstatic to measure a 75mm lift in the front after a 20 km drive home!

The rear only went up 30mm, but the truck looks nice and level now. Personally, I think that lift will be heaps in the rear, and might make it easier to sort out brakes etc which I have not looked at yet. Will post some pice on my "Rod's New Rig" thread eventually.

Cheers

Rod

[axeten]

Hey guys,
I didnt want to start a new thread so it would be great if someone in here could help me?

I just bought a 2006 SR 4wd dual cab and wanted to lift the front only. I will only be running apprx 31 tyres which i'm told i can do standard but i figure a little clearance at the bull bar will come in handy.

Is there a cheap way i can lift the front about 2 inch's?
I have seen these that go above the spring: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TOYOTA-HILUX-CUR ... 563f917599
Or these that go above the strut: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TOYOTA-HILUX-04- ... 45f51ab75a

But then i read in another thread that these can be dangerous and cause huge problems....
Can i just buy longer springs to lift the front?

Any help would be great
Thanks

[9W6VX]

Would recommend you just get a pair of coil springs.

You can use King, Dobinsons, OME etc .......... They are about the same price as a pair of spacers and will easily give you the lift you require.

Some members have had bad experience with the strut spacers but then again some others did not but on the whole, the coils would be a better choice.

If you choose to go the coil springs, you have to choose if you want the heavy duty version which is for steel bar + winch.

Try this link and thank you for using the search function and continuing from a existing thread.

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=3994
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=4473

[2010Blulux]

Hi guys
This thread has been really helpful but I'm still unsure of a few things hopefully someone can clear up.
I have a 2009 diesel sr5 duel cab. I had planned to run the billo's in the front however my suspension guy said they'll be on back order till january (this is since early september) so in the mean time I have lobbed in a set of Ironman heavy duty coils which have lifted the front just under 3" (after sag time) the ride height is now perfect and looks great with the 31" cooper stt's underneath but now I have the old lack of down travel issue which gets a bit rough on some of the bigger bumps. My suspension guy is under the impression that the billo's he sells for the lux's (with adjustable lower collar) are a standard length. Does anyone know if this is the case or if they are doing different length units.
I noticed a few posts from guys who are happy with the billo's so I guess they have sorted out this issue.

Also whats the general thoughts on the change to the balljoint angle, at full drop, when fitting a longer strut.

Thanks

Mick

[Monster Rides]

We can help...

PM Sent.

Cheers
Matt

[Elrico]

Hey all,

I been lurking for a short while and have a few questions!

I purchased a 07 SR5 D/cab D4D for about 28k. Had a few kms on it 200k+ but came with alot of goodies like Loneranger 125ltr tank, rear OME lift, Bull bar, spotties, hardcover etc. Anyway, the question is, i would like to bring the front up 2" with a set of OME yet i have heard things, from different people about what the problems assosiated with this is.

So far ive been told;
1) It put more pressure on the 'chicken wings' on your IFS. This is what a friend of mine calls the hinges within the IFS (he likes solid front ends )
2) It can cause brake lines to be stretched under articulation and should be upgraded.
3) It puts your driveline on an angle as it raises the front diff and thus you need a "diff drop kit".

My 3 options i spose depend on what info i get back.

Option 1 - The front lift is simple, get a 2" OME IFS lift, whack her in, be happy.

Option 2 - The front lift is a little complicated, get a diff drop kit, upgrade brake lines, get a 2" OME IFS lift, whach her in, be happy.

Option 3 - Let it sit with the back raised for another 30 40 50,000 kms, go for an all round 3" OME lift, upgrade brake lines, be happy.

My big question is (and im new to fwding so please be patient ), with a 3" lift will this give me good clearance between the ground and my center diff considering i wont be trying to conqour Mt everests? Does your diff clearance even change when you lift your car or is it with size of the tires that make you ground clearance to the lowest part of your car?

I personally dont want to run any bigger then 265/75/r16 tyres. I think my coopers are fine width wise and would rather not put any more strain on my engine trying to turn them, be it fuel or mechnical (will be going Mickey thommy ATZ next i think as i use the road more often then the mud). However, if the tyres were the clearance factor, which by looking at my car, outside just then it seems that they are, i would even go 285's, in the hope that they would not foul on my guards.

Thanks in advance guys, ill remember to keep the flame suit on . Had a look in search and this seemed like the closest thread!

[helmut79]

Mate simple answer is the 2" lift in the front will be fine on your CV's and brake lines when articulated.

Allot of guy’s run a 3” lift up front and a 2” lift in the rear to level the vehicle out and there CV’s are fine.

You can smash CV’s on standard suspension if not treated correctly.

If you want more than 3” lift, search in Monster Rides section (forum sponsor) and he can sort you out with a rekon lift and a diff drop bracket.

[KTM525EXC]

Mate simple answer is the 2" lift in the front will be fine on your CV's and brake lines when articulated.

Allot of guy’s run a 3” lift up front and a 2” lift in the rear to level the vehicle out and there CV’s are fine.

You can smash CV’s on standard suspension if not treated correctly.

If you want more than 3” lift, search in Monster Rides section (forum sponsor) and he can sort you out with a rekon lift and a diff drop bracket.

Superior engineering and ultimate suspension also do a 3" plus kit.

[Elrico]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like id go a 2/3" OME kit in the front then and brake lines if need be. So it should all just slot in without anything else needed? No diff drop kits for normal 3" lifts?

Thanks,

Eric

[danmcccc]

personally i would use a diff drop with a 3 inch lift...

can i ask why your so set on OME?

cheers
Dan

[Elrico]

I was just told they were good gear, and i have them at the back of the car, so i was going to match it up at the front.

So if i use a diff drop kit, the clearance difference between stock suspension and after the 3" lift would only raise the chasis, leaving the diff clearance (or bash plate/kframe at the front) the same, correct?

Id get the work done at Coastal 4x4 in Perth, so im assuming they'd want to go blue max or whatever they sell. Just not sure what brands are good and what are not.

[Hilux Max]

I drove around 75,000km with 33" tyres since new at 3" of lift without any form of diff drop without any problems whatsoever with cv's......

now run 3" with Monster Rides diff brackets for extra safety sicne tyres now are wider and heavier and will only grow with the hilux's age

[Elrico]

Awesome, thanks mmaaxx. Ill be looking at a 3" Lift, but am unsure what to go brand wise. Was going to keep it OME all round but is that a wise choice? Good gear for a good price or is it a little more expensive? Am i better off going with some Billie shocks and other springs? Is it all just opinions and i should shutup and just buy something!?

[danmcccc]

all opinions mate...ive heard bad things about ome springs...do they even do a 3 inch lift???dnt think they do...if u want to keep it on the cheaper side i would go bilstein struts...i have dobinson coils and mmaaxx had them too...im happy with them...havent sagged at all yet

[Hilux Max]

yeah i had desert fox foam cell shocks and dobinson coils - was a very good performer offroad. i highly reccomend the previous setup i had.