1986 runner lowering

skipnrocks · Jan 26, 2015

4 runner options. My buddy got a good deal on a 86 runner built witho duals built. It's not bad but sits way too tall. I want to drop it 6 inches. The rear is 3 linked so that's easy but the front is leafs. How can I drop it with leafs that much?

Stretch · Jan 26, 2015

Pictures of the front end to help us get started?

The 87 I have now was a sky scraper when the PO first solid axled it but some time spent mixing and matching leafs for a custom pack and different shackles and its sits just fine now.

TheViking · Jan 26, 2015

Re:

All my friends drive a low rider....

Is it within your project budget to go to coil overs?

brokeass4runner · Jan 26, 2015

Assuming you're running standard steering, move the axle forward by drilling the perches and/or RUFs, french your hangers, move the steering box up/forward and notch the frame for pitman arm/drag link clearance. With flat leaf springs that's pretty much on the bumps. Past that like he said its links and hydro.

al1tonyota · Jan 26, 2015

Just curious you say since the rear is linked you can just lower it with no worries? Most link setups are or should be designed around a set ride hight!
As far as the front what leaves are on it pictures would help a lot!

bluetoy · Jan 26, 2015

Mine's about as low as you can get with an IFS frame on leafs. I run modified stock front leafs with the center pin re-drilled 2" forward on the main and military wrap leafs. All lower leafs are not drilled, just slid up to the new hole. The spring perch is drilled 1 1/4". This puts the axle 3 1/4" forward from stock to get the tires away from the cab. I have a TG front hanger kit, but I shortened the shackles as much as I could. I run a home built "Y" arm for steering made out of stock arms instead of high steer in order to get a little more clearance on the frame for up travel. This will clear 39.5" TSLs without rubbing the cab corners on my 4runner.

This is a low buck, low tech setup. It looks like I'm just being cheap, but that's not the case . I've ran nearly every leaf setup you can think on a Toyota, and I like this better than anything I've ran. I've ran this setup on multiple rigs for at least six years now with zero issues. I've never had a single problem with the steering or spring setup. Back when I ran high steer the studs would come loose or break all the time. I've never even had a nut to be loose on the stock arm setup.

Nothing fancy, but it has worked well for me. :dblthumb:

skipnrocks · Jan 26, 2015

al1tonyota said:
Just curious you say since the rear is linked you can just lower it with no worries? Most link setups are or should be designed around a set ride hight!
As far as the front what leaves are on it pictures would help a lot!

I have done several 3 and 4 link set ups. It won't be hard to adjust that for the change and ride height. I will try to get some pictures up tonight or tomorrow. I really wasn't sure how much I could drop the front with the leaves.