Advice on purpose oriented build (1 Viewer)

[GldMembrGx]

Hope I'm not beating any dead horse. New owner of an 07 120k gx470 with the left air bag already starting to sage when parked. Looking to replace and upgrade components. Experience with high whp fwd setups, new to the 4wd world. Purpose of vehicle is daily driving, fire roads and, camping (no rtt) , possible mild trails nothing crazy but prefer more than less capable. Also sturdy enough for weight of front and rear bumpers, drawer system. I live in northern California with having to evacuate last year, prefer to have capability for extra weight to move. Planning sso off road coil kit.
Is there any sweet spot for lift height with the gx470s for road handling and clearance between 2" to 2.5" lift? Would hope to replace uca later on. Preferred tires would be 265-275/70/17s om stock wheels. On a budget, seems dobinsons and bilstien 6112s seem capable. Prefered 2.5" diameter for shocks. Both front inner cvs leaking plan to replace with cvj extended boots. Am i missing anything?

 

[CarolinaGX]

It seems you have it pretty well sorted. Bilstein/Dobinsons work well (I like mine). Best advice is to add the weight first then do suspension. If you know what bumpers you want then you can plan on the weight and do suspension first according to the weight. To run the tires you stated, you won't need a lift at all or very mild at best. Running less lift gives you more droop.

 

[GldMembrGx]

It seems you have it pretty well sorted. Bilstein/Dobinsons work well (I like mine). Best advice is to add the weight first then do suspension. If you know what bumpers you want then you can plan on the weight and do suspension first according to the weight. To run the tires you stated, you won't need a lift at all or very mild at best. Running less lift gives you more droop.

No lift needed for 275/70/17s? Plan on running stock wheels. Which is more beneficial running smaller wider tires or tall and skinnier tires?

 

[Arailt]

I have 275/70r17s on stock suspension. Mild rubbing at full lock. 99% of the time, no rubbing.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

There’s a lot of videos on YouTube and forums on the pros and cons of skinny tall vs big fat tires.

For the stuff you describe, skinny talls
255/75R17s (32.1”x10”) on stock oem wheels will fit your wheel wells and spare location. Probably no mods needed.

Problem is most people like the look of big fat tires like 285/70R17 which require a few mods to fit

 

[GldMembrGx]

I feel like I'm leaning more towards 255/75 or 80/17s coopers or ko2s if available in that size. I feel that i would not gain much with wider as with taller gaining slight height if i was to go with tires first.

 

[GldMembrGx]

For rear coil conversion, which kit is adjustable to compensate for possible driver side lean?

 

[CarolinaGX]

SSO has adjustment but also adds a minimum of 3/4". It comes with 1/4" spacers that you can add for more lift, up to 1/2" more.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I got the MT conversion kit and need to add a trim packer to correct the drivers side lean. MT doesn’t add any lift whereas the Sso coil conversion kit has a built-in 3/4” lift.

• Rear driver 10mm trim packer = 0.394” OME150PR10

 

[GldMembrGx]

SSO has adjustment but also adds a minimum of 3/4". It comes with 1/4" spacers that you can add for more lift, up to 1/2" more.

Thats what I'm looking for. Want to stand apart from all the cali bro lean out here haha. Sso it is.

 

[GldMembrGx]

I got the MT conversion kit and need to add a trim packer to correct the drivers side lean. MT doesn’t add any lift whereas the Sso coil conversion kit has a built-in 3/4” lift.

• Rear driver 10mm trim packer = 0.394” OME150PR10

If you were to buy the kit again would you stick with the MT or go SSO? I'm looking to lift so probably sso for me until someone can convince me other wise. Are you still running bilstein 6112s up front? Hows the adjustment with your front suspension to compensate for the driver side lean? Unless adjusting the rear alone fixes it.

 

[GldMembrGx]

What tires are recommended for northern California type terrain? I was almost set on cooper max 255/80/17, seems they chunk bad on rocky terrain. Trying to buy once cry once

 

[ewillis]

What tires are recommended for northern California type terrain? I was almost set on cooper max 255/80/17, seems they chunk bad on rocky terrain. Trying to buy once cry once

I went with the Dobinsons conversion kit/2" lift and 275/70 BFG KO2s. Was looking hard at the 255/80 tires, but in the end I like the fatter tire look more. I can't comment on the performance yet since the shop will be fininshed installing tomorrow.

 

[CarolinaGX]

I had the MT's and just changed to the SSO's 2 weeks ago. I added weight, and even though I changed the rear springs, I needed more to get the slight rake back. I like the SSO mounts because of the 3/4" and the spacers to adjust as needed (i did 1 spacer to each side).

I will be wheeling this week in TN so I hope the new rear suspension works well.

 

[yeos]

If you were to buy the kit again would you stick with the MT or go SSO? I'm looking to lift so probably sso for me until someone can convince me other wise. Are you still running bilstein 6112s up front? Hows the adjustment with your front suspension to compensate for the driver side lean? Unless adjusting the rear alone fixes it.

My opinion is if you are going to be getting new rear springs get the ones that will give you the height you want and go with the MT conversion kit. If you want more height or to correct lean, add the OME top spacers. I believe they make two thicknesses (I have the 10mm spacers). This method utilizes the springs to give you the majority of the lift and not spacers.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I’m just going to fix the driver rear with the trim packer and that should be good enough to level all around.

For me, I don’t want extra lift from the coil conversion kit because I already got Dobinson LT variable rate rear coils, so I’m already at 23 5/8” hub to fender in rear

 

[subspd]

Go 255/80/17 its the perfect tire size for these trucks I run it with no lift and only had to do some plastic trimming. Gets you a true 33" tire.

 

[GldMembrGx]

Go 255/80/17 its the perfect tire size for these trucks I run it with no lift and only had to do some plastic trimming. Gets you a true 33" tire.

This is reassuring, unlike drag cars, I'm learning wider isn't always bettter for off road use. I dont mind removing running boards nor plastic adjustments. What tires are you running?

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Go 255/80/17 its the perfect tire size for these trucks I run it with no lift and only had to do some plastic trimming. Gets you a true 33" tire.

What spare tire you went with?

 

[subspd]

What spare tire you went with?

Deflated and no KDSS and a small hitch I got mine up there. But now I’m going to run a JWoffroad spare carrier for the rear door.