Diff Kraken
SILVER Star
This tutorial gives a step by step for installing a 1/2" Cornfed (or other brand) front spacer (aka leveling kit) on a KDSS equipped 5th Gen 4Runner. A 1/2" front spacer will yield a 1" lift due to the geometry of the front suspension.
Rationale:
I consider this 1/2" spacer, 32-33” A/T tires, and a proper skid plate to be essential mods on any 5th Gen 4Runner other than the TRD Pro. The TRD Pro sits 1" higher from the showroom floor, has Nitto Terra A/T tires, and has the more proper OEM TRD skid plate (will not fit a 4R w/KDSS).
Toyota makes a 10mm (0.4") front spacer for the 200 series Land Cruiser (Toyota Part No. 43136-60020), so this type of modification is Toyota approved.
In addition to the front spacer, A/T tires, and proper skid, I also recommend a proper rock slider attached to the frame before heading off the beaten path. Luckily, Toyota offers OEM rock sliders for ~$500 that provide good protection (Toyota Part No. PT228-89191 (left-side), PT228-89190 (right-side)).
So, for around $2,500 you can get a proper setup for trail use (1/2" front spacers ~$50-100, 5 x A/T tires ~$1,000-1,500, front skid plate ~$200-400, rock sliders ~$500-1,000). At that point it might make sense to get a TRD Pro, but you can't get KDSS on the TRD Pro. KDSS acts like an auto disconnect sway bar front and rear. KDSS provides excellent cornering and eliminates nosedive on road, and provides significantly greater articulation off road. For that reason I opted for the 2024 TRD Off Road Premium with KDSS over the TRD Pro. The TRD Pro also costs about $8,000 over what I paid for the TRD Off Road Premium (this may be more or less depending on market conditions).
If you have any questions or comments about the tutorial, feel free to post up.
Spacer for Install:
www.cornfedsuspension.com
Tools Required:
- Sockets: 10MM, 12MM, 14MM, 17MM, 19MM, 22MM
- Wrenches: 14MM, 19MM, 22MM (or a high quality adjustable wrench)
- Torque Wrench/es: 47 ft/lbs, 55 ft/lbs, 70 ft/lbs, 118 ft/lbs, 129 ft/lbs
- Breaker bar
- Philips screwdriver - the shorter the better (for aligning KDSS bracket holes)
- Sharpie (to mark alignment cam positions)
- Large zip ties or ratchet strap (to bring the KDSS bracket back to the LCA)
- Jack
- Jack stands
- Wheel chocks
- 21MM tire iron/socket
Instructions (written steps provided by Cornfed and combined with a KDSS lift tutorial from another 4Runner forum- I also added the photos, the zip tie trick, bolt sizes and torque specs):
Rationale:
I consider this 1/2" spacer, 32-33” A/T tires, and a proper skid plate to be essential mods on any 5th Gen 4Runner other than the TRD Pro. The TRD Pro sits 1" higher from the showroom floor, has Nitto Terra A/T tires, and has the more proper OEM TRD skid plate (will not fit a 4R w/KDSS).
Toyota makes a 10mm (0.4") front spacer for the 200 series Land Cruiser (Toyota Part No. 43136-60020), so this type of modification is Toyota approved.
In addition to the front spacer, A/T tires, and proper skid, I also recommend a proper rock slider attached to the frame before heading off the beaten path. Luckily, Toyota offers OEM rock sliders for ~$500 that provide good protection (Toyota Part No. PT228-89191 (left-side), PT228-89190 (right-side)).
So, for around $2,500 you can get a proper setup for trail use (1/2" front spacers ~$50-100, 5 x A/T tires ~$1,000-1,500, front skid plate ~$200-400, rock sliders ~$500-1,000). At that point it might make sense to get a TRD Pro, but you can't get KDSS on the TRD Pro. KDSS acts like an auto disconnect sway bar front and rear. KDSS provides excellent cornering and eliminates nosedive on road, and provides significantly greater articulation off road. For that reason I opted for the 2024 TRD Off Road Premium with KDSS over the TRD Pro. The TRD Pro also costs about $8,000 over what I paid for the TRD Off Road Premium (this may be more or less depending on market conditions).
If you have any questions or comments about the tutorial, feel free to post up.
Spacer for Install:
Cornfed Suspension 5th Gen 4Runner kits
5th generation toyota 4runner lift kit leveling spacer spacers spring bump stop ride

Tools Required:
- Sockets: 10MM, 12MM, 14MM, 17MM, 19MM, 22MM
- Wrenches: 14MM, 19MM, 22MM (or a high quality adjustable wrench)
- Torque Wrench/es: 47 ft/lbs, 55 ft/lbs, 70 ft/lbs, 118 ft/lbs, 129 ft/lbs
- Breaker bar
- Philips screwdriver - the shorter the better (for aligning KDSS bracket holes)
- Sharpie (to mark alignment cam positions)
- Large zip ties or ratchet strap (to bring the KDSS bracket back to the LCA)
- Jack
- Jack stands
- Wheel chocks
- 21MM tire iron/socket
Instructions (written steps provided by Cornfed and combined with a KDSS lift tutorial from another 4Runner forum- I also added the photos, the zip tie trick, bolt sizes and torque specs):
- Jack up the front end of the truck and securely fasten it with jack stands and chock the rear wheels. I recommend lifting the whole front end, both sides of the truck off the ground, otherwise the sway bar may make parts of the installation more difficult.
- Once safely on the jack stands, remove front wheels.
- Remove the front skid plate and mark the alignment cams factory location with a sharpie on both the frame and the alignment cam.
- Remove the two 19MM bolts holding the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle.
- Loosen the 22MM lower control arm alignment cam bolts, front and rear of LCA, to allow the lower control arm to drop down freely.
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