Simple Lift Questions

[itsthelaw]

I just want to get a minimal lift to simply change the stance of my new to me GX470. Without creating more possible problems, what is the easiest way to get a minimal lift? I am looking for 1-2" in front and 0-1" in the rear. I would like to refrain from tricking the airbags if possible. Mine have 19k miles on them. I also do not want to disconnect any other systems or mess stress the KDSS system that mine has on it. Planning to add 265/70/15 tires as soon as I get lift configured. I would like to make the ride a little less soft, and have gathered that changing springs and tires will do so.

Will adjustable Bilstiens work with stock springs?
Can I use a Toyota "puck" system as used in T4Rs for leveling?

 

[Nothinghead]

Will adjustable Bilstiens work with stock springs?

Yes. I did exactly that and it works fine. The nose dives a bit more under braking but that's all.

 

[itsthelaw]

Thank you! Do the Bilsteins provide any lift? Do you need to do anything with the bags or will they simply sense it and adjust?

 

[GXO]

shocks dont lift. coilovers, springs, etc do. If you install a spacer lift you usually will need a longer shock.

 

[bhesse]

I just want to get a minimal lift to simply change the stance of my new to me GX470. Without creating more possible problems, what is the easiest way to get a minimal lift? I am looking for 1-2" in front and 0-1" in the rear. I would like to refrain from tricking the airbags if possible. Mine have 19k miles on them. I also do not want to disconnect any other systems or mess stress the KDSS system that mine has on it. Planning to add 265/70/15 tires as soon as I get lift configured. I would like to make the ride a little less soft, and have gathered that changing springs and tires will do so.

Will adjustable Bilstiens work with stock springs?
Can I use a Toyota "puck" system as used in T4Rs for leveling?

Bilstein 5100 all around, front can adjust on 1st or second notch depending on how high, I used first notch adn got approx 7/8 " increase which is all I wanted, no lift in rear

 

[itsthelaw]

Thanks for the info! I was hoping the adjustable Bilsteins would work. Do mean second from the bottom when you say "first notch"? Is there anything else that has to be done other than installing the adjustable shocks at the right settings? I'm guessing that those shocks and new 265/70/17 tires will stiffen up the ride.

 

[Nothinghead]

I put the 5100s with OEM springs at the 3rd highest slot and that gave me about 1 1/2" lift. I put GY Duratrac 265/75 tires on FJC rims and had slight rubbing on the front fender liner at full lock in reverse. A little bit of a heat gun allowed me to move that out of the way. The 5100s don't feel like a very stiff shock but the heavier E rated tires do give a rougher ride.

 

[itsthelaw]

Are the front Bilsteins the only ones that are adjustable? Do I try to get same length as stock 5100 (non-adjustable) for the rear? Part numbers would be phenominal. The websites don't specify Lexus but have FJCs and T4R . Thanks for all the help.

 

[bhesse]

Are the front Bilsteins the only ones that are adjustable? Do I try to get same length as stock 5100 (non-adjustable) for the rear? Part numbers would be phenominal. The websites don't specify Lexus but have FJCs and T4R . Thanks for all the help.

Amazon

 

[Nothinghead]

Are the front Bilsteins the only ones that are adjustable? Do I try to get same length as stock 5100 (non-adjustable) for the rear? Part numbers would be phenominal. The websites don't specify Lexus but have FJCs and T4R . Thanks for all the help.

Yes, only the fronts adjust but keep in mind they can only be adjusted prior installation and if you need to change them, you have to remove them. These are the fronts and rears that I used but I did put OME lift springs on the rear. I'm sorry I don't have part numbers for the rear without lift.

 

[itsthelaw]

Excellent! Thank you for the details. Very helpful.

 

[itsthelaw]

Nothinghead - Can I get the exact parts you used in your GX? How much lift did the OME coils give you in the rear? What is the height difference from front to rear? Those tires and wheels you have look BA! The pics I found made it hard to see how much cant you have front to rear. Did you have to trick the airbags?

 

[JLee]

Nothinghead - Can I get the exact parts you used in your GX? How much lift did the OME coils give you in the rear? What is the height difference from front to rear? Those tires and wheels you have look BA! The pics I found made it hard to see how much cant you have front to rear. Did you have to trick the airbags?

If you run rear coils you'll eliminate the OEM airbag setup.

 

[itsthelaw]

Thanks, JLee. Dumb question.

 

[Nothinghead]

Nothinghead - Can I get the exact parts you used in your GX? How much lift did the OME coils give you in the rear? What is the height difference from front to rear? Those tires and wheels you have look BA! The pics I found made it hard to see how much cant you have front to rear. Did you have to trick the airbags?

Those bilstein 5100 shocks I linked above are what I ordered and here are the rear springs to use with the Metaltech rear coil spring conversion.
I don't recall the rear lift that I gained because my airbags were crummy.

 

[itsthelaw]

I'm thinking about bypassing the airbags now that I have your details. Might do front springs too with the adjustable Bilsteins. I used VIN decoder on Lexus website to find out if I had KDSS. After looking at the vehicle last night...no KDSS. VIN decoder = bad data. I'm not bummed about it too much, but know that the suspension will not be as good without it or a major build. I can now fit some rock sliders on it!