I’m looking into installing a 3.5-4” lift kit on my ‘94 Land Cruiser, and doing it on my own. What are some things I need to be aware of when installing a lift that size?
Installing a lift kit 80 series Land Cruiser
- Thread starter GarthBrooks
- Start date
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It’s a lot of work and money. In the end very rewarding.
Casters....
may need to upgrade front drive shaft (vibration)
Longer Brake lines
Rear Panhard correction
Bump stops
Land tank drop brackets
A$ mentioned, deep pocket$
may need to upgrade front drive shaft (vibration)
Longer Brake lines
Rear Panhard correction
Bump stops
Land tank drop brackets
A$ mentioned, deep pocket$
YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT, KID!!!
cartercd
SILVER Star
Do a search and you'll find lots of threads on the subject. Do you need 3"-4", or do you just want it?. Once you go above 2.5" things get complicated and expensive.
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- Thread starter
- #6
I’m not going to lie, the reason I want the 3.5-4” kit is because those are the ones I can find on Facebook marketplace.
There's about a zero percent chance your car will drive worth a s*** if that's how you're sourcing a 4" lift. Can you weld?
Ome 850, 860 (863 if junk in tha trunk), dobinson twin tube gas shocks from @crikeymike and @eimkeith radius arm brackets are a decent way to fly if you want to spend less than a lot. It's not 4" but much less sketchy.
Progressive / dual rate coils would be better than those OMEs but they'll be about twice as much just for the springs. That's still plenty high enough for 33s and 35s with a slight rub.
Another great budget option would be just sticking a pair of OME 861/862 coils under there, then upgrading your shocks, adding more lift via spacers, and adding caster to support that lift as time goes on.
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Buy once cry once.
Do it right the the first time
Do it right the the first time
Good Land Cruiser and member owns this company. They have great support. I’m running 35” tires on the 2.5” lift, I believe I could run 37” if I wanted to.
I wouldn't worry about what is currently available on FB marketplace, decide what you want/need and then go from there. IMO you need to answer these basic questions (to yourself).
1. What is your expected use for the truck (e.g., mall cruiser, overland. off-road. rock crawling, etc.)? This will determine what you need. You can then decide if that is what you want.
2. What are your skills? For the skill gaps, what are you willing and able to pay someone else to do?
3. Do you have a dedicated place to do the work? No maintenance or repair ever goes as fast as you think it will.
4. Overall budget (take into consideration the cost to update other systems that will be effected by a lift)
5. Does the vehicle require other maintenance and/or repairs (seeing your other post it seems to need some things) - hint do that first
This response may not be what you where looking for but a little reality check now and again is somewhat helpful.
ppc
M Go Blue
You have to ask yourself why are these "kits" are for sale on FB. The seller isn't selling because they want a bigger lift its because they are not satisfied with what they purchased or the cost to complete the lift beyond what the kit provides is beyond their budget.
If you plan on long distance travel as part of the truck’s duties you will be well advised to pay attention to caster and Ackerman angles.
Nothing is worse that a long drive in a vehicle that has to be constantly monitored going straight.
Nothing is worse that a long drive in a vehicle that has to be constantly monitored going straight.
In my mind, the better way to approach this is asking what size tire you want to run and what you plan on doing with the rig. If it's a mall crawler, that has a different set of priorities than a wheeling rig. Either way, @Nad Aitch outlines a pretty solid plan, though there are other options in a similar lift range. The eimkeith radius arm brackets are a really smart way to go IMHO. You fix the caster problems without using crappy offset poly bushings and for a wheeler, moving the axle forward a hair is just a bonus.
Big lifts tend to cost a lot of money to do, then they cost again when you flop your rig on its side... Just my opinion.
You got a ton of good advice.
I hope you use it.
I hope you use it.
Strongly advise against more lift than is necessary for clearing your tire size. These things don't need much to clear 35s, for example. Don't do it just do it. You'll end up regretting it if you do it cheap/inadequately in the beginning, and probably spend more $$ in the end + headache.
You didn't mention anything else about your truck, but it is also highly advised to take care of the vehicles functional/reliability needs before getting into making it look cool, as much as looking cool feels cool.
You didn't mention anything else about your truck, but it is also highly advised to take care of the vehicles functional/reliability needs before getting into making it look cool, as much as looking cool feels cool.
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