Media 200 series picture thread (34 Viewers)

[Evanike]

^^ correct mostly minus the wheel spacers.

Westcott front spacer on a 275/70 vs 285/65 OEM. Not a massive change. Sits about 3/4" taller in the rear.

I read that the Westcott front spacer has two components to it, a lower preload collar and top spacer plate. Are you running both of these or just the lower preload collar? I have heard that if you want closer to 2 inches of lift, you only need to run the lower preload collar, as both options gives you closer to 3 inches?

Thank you!

 

[das100]

I read that the Westcott front spacer has two components to it, a lower preload collar and top spacer plate. Are you running both of these or just the lower preload collar? I have heard that if you want closer to 2 inches of lift, you only need to run the lower preload collar, as both options gives you closer to 3 inches?

Thank you!

That is correct re: 2 components. I don't have any info on not running it together since I sought out the 3" specifically. You may have noticed it mentioned above that HE's w/o a 3rd row are taller in the rear. It's apparently a differently P/N on the rear coil spring + you don't have the weight of the jump seats (more than you think)...in theory that sounds right though.

 

[Evanike]

That is correct re: 2 components. I don't have any info on not running it together since I sought out the 3" specifically. You may have noticed it mentioned above that HE's w/o a 3rd row are taller in the rear. It's apparently a differently P/N on the rear coil spring + you don't have the weight of the jump seats (more than you think)...in theory that sounds right though.

that is helpful context, especially since you don't have the 3rd row. I removed my 3rd row, so if I wanted to achieve a similar stance as yours, I guess I would only need the front and not Wescotts rear spacer.

Would you say that you are actually getting around the advertised 3 inches of lift in the front?

 

[das100]

Virginia loves salt. I kinda gambled we’d have a mild winter and didn’t do any fluid film. Hand pump pressure hose with warm soapy water

 

[dudemancool1904]

Virginia loves salt. I kinda gambled we’d have a mild winter and didn’t do any fluid film. Hand pump pressure hose with warm soapy water

View attachment 3811086

Oh no no no thank you

 

[TeCKis300]

I read that the Westcott front spacer has two components to it, a lower preload collar and top spacer plate. Are you running both of these or just the lower preload collar? I have heard that if you want closer to 2 inches of lift, you only need to run the lower preload collar, as both options gives you closer to 3 inches?

Thank you!

Regarding the two different spacer types, I would think that if you're only running one, I would prefer to use the upper top spacer plate. The top spacer is the only type that will provide lift, while also increasing suspension travel stroke.

That's the way the OEM front spacer lift works. It's a 10mm top plate spacer, that provides ~.8" of lift and .8" of added down travel. That added travel is a big deal for real off-roading. I get that if you're purely looking at ride height, that lower could spacer might get you closer.

I wonder how thick the Westcott top spacer is?

On the LX / AHC side, it's been proven that something up to a 20mm worth of top spacer (or ~1.6" lift on an LC) can work to provide significantly more travel. While staying within the bump stop and CV angle constraints. I wish this were an easily sourced component. Maybe @MTKID or @turbo8 ?

 

[Heckraiser]

Measurements posted by @MTKID indicate the Wescott top spacer is 13mm, which is about the max you can fit with stock top hat studs. I've asked Wescott if they would sell me just the top spacer and no dice If someone wanted to step in and make one, I would be first in line to buy. Looking for the "easy button" for AHC long travel, not necessarily max travel. I hate spring compressors!

 

[TeCKis300]

Measurements posted by @MTKID indicate the Wescott top spacer is 13mm, which is about the max you can fit with stock top hat studs. I've asked Wescott if they would sell me just the top spacer and no dice If someone wanted to step in and make one, I would be first in line to buy. Looking for the "easy button" for AHC long travel, not necessarily max travel. I hate spring compressors!

That's too bad. Missed opportunity for Westcott as they'd probably sell way more top hats to the larger pool of LX570 owners, than complete kits to the smaller LC pool that has a larger set of suspension options. If I were an LC owner, I'd choose a Bilstein shock replacement with adjustable perches way before I'd consider a Westcott spacer lift kit.

Even their in-coil spacer probably has more value to LX owners (I think?).

 

[das100]

I have a set of kw v3’s on another car, so I’m not opposed to splurging on suspension. Suspension choice all comes down to needs, end goals and past experience. On this one, I just don’t think the aftermarket got it better than Toyota, and tend to think they don't really ever if comfort is your goal. I feel zero negative impact of the spacer lift, and if you’re not doing it to actually gain usable off-road travel…which most of us overbuild and don’t, I just think Toyota crushed the suspension on this and you’re not going to replicate that with a full swap. My intent was disrupt the least amount as possible over OEM. A lot of people are in a rush to rip stuff out and spend the rest of their time trying to perfect ride quality after. For me, the stance is perfect, the majority, or most amount of comfort while achieving the stance is retained, cost savings was just a bonus on this one. I looked at all the options, I just found plenty of people not stoked from all brands to stay away from full lifts.

 

[turbo8]

Regarding the two different spacer types, I would think that if you're only running one, I would prefer to use the upper top spacer plate. The top spacer is the only type that will provide lift, while also increasing suspension travel stroke.

That's the way the OEM front spacer lift works. It's a 10mm top plate spacer, that provides ~.8" of lift and .8" of added down travel. That added travel is a big deal for real off-roading. I get that if you're purely looking at ride height, that lower could spacer might get you closer.

I wonder how thick the Westcott top spacer is?

On the LX / AHC side, it's been proven that something up to a 20mm worth of top spacer (or ~1.6" lift on an LC) can work to provide significantly more travel. While staying within the bump stop and CV angle constraints. I wish this were an easily sourced component. Maybe @MTKID or @turbo8 ?

I'll make some 13mm thick ones. This is 15mm between the top hat and the nut. Does anyone know the thickness of the upper mount? I would measure mine, but my dad is borrowing it.

 

[MTKID]

My measurement shows 3.4mm but it’s tough to get a perfect measurement on it. The amount of the stud left exposed might also help…

If you made a pair of these, @turbo8, what would everyone think if it had a slot in the back so hopefully it might be possible to drop the shock down enough to slide the spacer in and not have to disconnect the AHC line?

 

[turbo8]

Alright, this is 16.4mm between the top hat and nut. If everyone is ok with that I'll make the 13mm spacers.

 

[turbo8]

My measurement shows 3.4mm but it’s tough to get a perfect measurement on it. The amount of the stud left exposed might also help…
View attachment 3811447View attachment 3811448

If you made a pair of these, @turbo8, what would everyone think if it had a slot in the back so hopefully it might be possible to drop the shock down enough to slide the spacer in and not have to disconnect the AHC line?

Is there enough room to drop the shock enough to allow that?

I guess aluminum would be easy enough for you to cut if you wanted to attempt that?

 

[TeCKis300]

Alright, this is 16.4mm between the top hat and nut. If everyone is ok with that I'll make the 13mm spacers.

View attachment 3811453

Awesome. I think there's an opportunity to eek out another 1-2mm ( 14.5mm spacer ) by using a standard nut in place of the flange nut. Or just flipping the flange nut in trade to engage the most threads given the limited length of the stud.

 

[TeCKis300]

My measurement shows 3.4mm but it’s tough to get a perfect measurement on it. The amount of the stud left exposed might also help…

If you made a pair of these, @turbo8, what would everyone think if it had a slot in the back so hopefully it might be possible to drop the shock down enough to slide the spacer in and not have to disconnect the AHC line?

I was thinking about that awhile back. This might help LC modders. For LXs, it'll require disconnecting the AHC line and grinding the AHC line retainer and bracket for side clearance anyways? At least I had to with a 17mm spacer.

 

[teejnut]

Alright, this is 16.4mm between the top hat and nut. If everyone is ok with that I'll make the 13mm spacers.

View attachment 3811453

What’s the max size spacer that will still work without modifying the ahc line bracket?

 

[Oakleyguy]

Alright, this is 16.4mm between the top hat and nut. If everyone is ok with that I'll make the 13mm spacers.

View attachment 3811453

How many threads of engagement are you getting in this photo?

 

[Heckraiser]

That looks like enough thread engagement for me. If it's good enough for the Wescott people, there are plenty of those out in the wild. @TeCKis300 IMO, running a 14-15mm spacer with a smaller nut, would that really help? Don't the threads on the stock flange nut go pretty much all the way down to the bottom? If so, you'd have the same amount of thread engagement regardless of nut type, right?

As for a slot to slide it in around the AHC line, someone else would have to comment on whether there is enough slack in the AHC line to actually do this, or whether you can wiggle the retainer through the hole at the top of the strut tower--I don't know.

 

[turbo8]

The flange nut is fully threaded. 10mm thick.

At 15mm total thickness, threads are fully engaged.

At 16.4mm total thickness there is 8.4mm of thread engagment.

 

[Heckraiser]

If you can get full thread engagement at 15mm, hen I see no reason not to go with a 15mm spacer, if I'm not missing something.