Going Bigger? 4″ – 4.5″ Lift on 5th Gen 4Runner (Strut Shims & Springs)

5th Gen 4Runner Front 4″ – 4.5″ Lift with Adjustable Coilovers, Strut Shims & 3″ Rear Springs

There are many ways to achieve different heights on your suspension lift. This is not the only way to achieve a 4″ – 4.5″ on your 5th Gen 4R, this is just how we did it. If you are looking for a suspension kit that is higher than the average 3″ – 3.5″ suspension kits out there, you have a few options. You can always look at a full lift kit, not a suspension kit or go the route we are going.

Fab-Tech makes a full 6″ kit and ProComp makes a 6″ kit for the 5th Gen, which are always an option if you want to go that route. You can also go with the example in this post (4″ – 4.5″) and then do a 1″ body lift. This would put you at 5.5″ of lift.

Although a body lift is not technically part of your suspension, it will still give you a “lifted” appearance. A body lift is lifting your 4Runner body off and away from the frame. This is a pretty touchy subject among many truck and SUV owners in any automotive circle.

For now, we are staying away from the body lift and from overkill kits, like the Fab-Tech 6″ kit along with the ProComp 6″ kit. If we ever decide to go another direction with the 5th Gen, we will likely go with a rear metal tech long travel set-up and a front Total Chaos long travel set-up. As for going up any higher with the Stage 2 Icon Suspension that we have installed, I think we are done. Long travel is a topic for another post but it is likely that we will get there eventually.

In short, here is what we are doing: 

• Starting with a Stage 2 Icon Suspension (adjustable coilovers)
• Adding Ekstrom Design Strut Shims on top of the Coilovers
• Keeping the same upper control arms
• Replacing our Icon 2″ rear spring with an Icon 3″ overland rear spring
• Keeping the same rear shocks

In short

• Icon Stage 2 Coilovers
• Icon Tubular UCAs
• Ekstrom Designs ¼” shims (4) – 2 on each coil.
• 3” rear overland springs
• Icon 1-3″ rear shocks

Optional:

• Upper/Lower Links
• Adjustable track bar/pan hard bar (Icon)
• Extended brake lines

Icon Stages:

• Icon Stage 1: Check Price
• Icon Stage 2: Check Price
• Icon Stage 3: Check Price
• Icon Stage 4: Check Price
• Icon Stage 5: Check Price

This set-up will take us from 3″ – 3.5″ in the front to 4″ – 4.5″ and from 2″ in the back to 3″ in the back. The goal here is to increase our ground clearance more than what we already have. By adding the rear 3″ Icon overland spring, we can also start adding additional weight without pulling the rear down too much.

Icon Rear Overland 3″ Springs Vs. 2″ Springs

The 3″ Icon overland spring is designed for expedition-style builds that load down their ride with excessive weight. The overland spring is designed to accommodate rear bumpers, fridge, drawer systems, winches, rooftop tents, and more. An overland spring will set you at 3″ of lift with an unloaded vehicle and 2″ of lift with a typical overland style build; bumpers, drawer systems, load roof racks, etc.

It can add a better look to the 4Runner as it does sit a little higher when unloaded. It is important to keep in mind though, once you start adding additional weight, the spring will settle down to a 2″ spring. The 2″ spring is not designed to “settle” once you start adding weight. If you are running a 2″ spring, you can expect a similar ride height when loaded and unloaded.

If you are looking to add an excessive amount of accessories; rear bumpers, fridge and drawer systems, winches, rooftop tents, then go with a 3″ spring. If you are are looking for the occasional loaded 4Runner, then go with the 2″ spring.

What are strut shims (Ekstrom Design Strut Shims)?

Strut shims are designed to fine tune the stance and height without adding preload to your coilovers. The Ekstrom Design strut shims measure .250″ thick and are installed in the middle of the pivot, between the frame and where the tire makes contact to the ground.

You can stack 1 strut shim on top of your coilover or 2 (stacking up to 2 is recommended). This gives you the ability to adjust your front suspension without maxing out the preload on your coil, which is not typically recommended.

As most of you already know, a 1.5″ spacer would give you 3″ of lift. So, a .250″ thick shim will produce .500″ of additional lift. In our application, we stacked 2 shims on top of our coilovers and produced 1″ of additional lift. If needed from here, we can adjust the preload on the coilover and achieve a slightly higher or lower ride height. Strut shims are great. You can add 1-2 shims per side and safely add .50″-1″ of additional lift without changing ride quality.

Installing the Ekstrom Design Strut Shims

NOTE: Your bolts will need to mount through the top of the coil bucket, through the shims, and thread into your coilovers. This is just an image to give you an idea of the concept.

If you are not familiar with a 4Runner suspension install, you should check out that post first. This should get you up to speed with the basics of your suspension. The process is relatively the same. Depending on if you have KDSS or not, it might be a little different. For a quick rundown on this process:

1. Unbolt coilovers
2. Unbolt lower spindle to lower control arm
3. Drop your coilovers down to make room for the shims
4. Slide in the strut shims and line the holes up
5. Realign your coilovers and bolt everything down

You don’t need to remove your upper control arms for this. You need to unbolt your strut and allow yourself enough room to slide in the strut shims. This will also require unbolting your lower spindle bolts. These are the bolts that connect to your lower control arm. Once your spindle is free and your strut is free, you can pull your strut down a few inches and then slide in your strut shims.

If you have KDSS, the passenger side might be a little tighter than the driver. We were aware of the KDSS open valve trick to release pressure of the anti-roll bars but it didn’t work on the passenger side. The driver side seemed to have dropped quite a bit, but the passenger side was tight. We loosened the KDSS valves exactly 2.5 turns and it didn’t seem like much of anything happened for the passenger side. We had to remove the KDSS once again on the passenger side to get the strut back up into place.

Find the KDSS accumulator assembly and shutter valve information at the bottom of this page for reference.

Installing the Ekstrom Design Strut Shims

Depending on how many shims you have will determine the ease of installing these. I would image one single strut shim would be easier as aligning 2 shims with the Icon threads and the coil bucket holes took a bit of patience. You do not need to remove your strut completely. By dropping your lower control arms, you can drop your strut down, and feed the shims into place.

Once you place your shims into the correct alignment, start working your magic with the bolts down the coil bucket holes, through both shims, and into the threads on your coilover.

We found it helpful the second time around to thread a set of matching thread bolts from the bottom up through the shims, just reaching “flush” in order for us to align the coilover into place. We threaded two bolts on the outside and left the hole inside the coil bucket open. You really only need two bolts to align the shims and we wouldn’t be able to reach the rear bolt in the bucket after the coilover was in place.

Once we had the bolts through the bottom, we aligned the strut/ coilover and threw it up into place. It was much easier getting the bolts in from the top down, with a set of bolts already threaded from the bottom up.

You don’t”need” a second set of same thread bolts, though. You can just use your patience young padawan and then drive off into the sunset.

Installing Rear Overland 3″ Springs on your 4Runner

If you have installed a rear 2″ spring, you know it was tighter than the stock 4Runner spring. The 3″ spring is a pretty big difference, again. The best method we found for getting these springs in was by using coil spring compressors. Once you get the springs in, you should be all set.

Best Location for Spring Compressors

Before you pick a spot on your springs, take a look at where they are going to sit once they are mounted. To get an idea of where the spring will sit, align the pigtail of the spring in its correct location and then choose spots on the spring where you can access with an impact drill and large socket. Once you find your desired location, you can pull the spring out and then start compressing your springs.

Compressing Springs

Compress your springs until you feel comfortable. You can compress your springs anywhere from 1-2″ comfortably to allow a much easier install. You want your spring compressors to be directly across from one another in order for the long screws to stay straight. After your springs are compressed and installed, pull your compressors off.

Releasing Compressor Springs

Once your spring is properly aligned, you can remove your spring compressors from the spring and bolt everything back up.

KDSS NOTES: If you have KDSS, you might need to remove the anti-roll bar in the back. We removed ours. We also removed a few brake line nuts to free up some droop, but we did not remove the track bar.

The KDSS Valve Trick (Does it work?)

We followed the directions from Iron Man 4×4 exactly and still had to remove the anti-roll bar in the back.

• Those instructions: Download them here

We did have luck with the front driver. We did not remove the KDSS on the driver’s side, but we had to on the passenger side and in the rear.

The 5th Gen 4Runner KDSS accumulator assembly and shutter valves

These instructions are coming straight from Iron Man 4×4.

This special instruction must be followed exactly when the removal of any suspension component is performed.

The KDSS system is a Hydro-Mechanical Semi-Active anti-roll bar. Failure to adhere to the below steps will result in malfunction or damage to the KDSS System.

• 1) Hoist the vehicle, and allow wheels to hang freely.
• 2) Locate the KDSS accumulator assembly positioned under the vehicle, just beside the left chassis rail.
• 3) Remove the steel protective shield.
• 4) Locate shutter valve bolts on side of the accumulator.

Unscrew shutter valve bolts 1.5 – 2.5 turns MAXIMUM.

DO NOT REMOVE SHUTTER VALVE BOLTS OR UNSCREW ANY FURTHER THAN THAN ADVISED.

• 5) The KDSS shutter valves are now open, allowing full movement of front and rear anti-roll bars. It is now safe to remove and install suspension components.

DO NOT START OR OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH SHUTTER VALVES OPEN.

• 6) When suspension works are complete, lower vehicle onto level ground, then close BOTH shutter valve bolts fully by turning clockwise and tightening. Reinstall protective shield.