Westcott Designs Preload Collar Lift (spacer lift)

[cheddar bob]

I'm curious if anyone has any experience with the Westcott Designs preload collar/spacer lifts? They seem to popular in the Tacoma/4runner crowd. The kit specific to the 200 series land cruiser has only been out for a few months.

I've got a Bilstein lift on order, but it's taking forever to get here. These Westcott kits are readily available and I like the plush ride of the stock suspension and wouldn't mind running the spacer lift until the stock struts wear out. It's a bargain compared to other full suspension replacement lifts @ $425.

Spacers achieve a 3" front lift, 1.25" rear.

Anyway, thoughts or experience appreciated. Wanted to get some feedback before I purchased.

Westcott Designs: Lift Your Land Cruiser 200 Series

Upgrade your 200 Series Land Cruiser with Westcott Designs' durable preload collar lift kit. Easy install, superior off-road performance.

westcottdesigns.net

 

[racer02]

I'd love to know as well. I really don't want to be the first to try this, but am on the fence. I have been watching their R&D pics in instagram, etc. and looks like a great product. Just finally saw it officially released on their website last week and really thinking about giving it a try now that my 21' HE is a full year old it is due for some mods! I have a TRD Pro Tundra as well and their front lift using factory Fox shocks is really well designed and of course has been out way longer and with a much broader base so lots of reviews.
Video of the lift in question here.

 

[bloc]

My advice is to wait for the actually well engineered lift. This is the very definition of a band-aid product, slapped on to save money and not using the stock suspension as it was designed.

Their claim that a 3" lift "does NOT require new UCA's" is disingenuous at best. Yes, you may possibly get into the green on an alignment, but your camber/caster adjusters will be maxed out, and likely not able to get into the actual middle of the range. 2" is about as far as I'd go on stock UCA's.. and for an ideal alignment with plenty of room for adjustment even then you'd probably want UCA's.

Also as a matter of course I consider it a disqualifier when a company posts pictures of their product installed incorrectly. The picture of the installed front strut has the brake line bracket dangling off the knuckle. This shows poor attention to detail both on the install, and whoever was posting pictures of their products online.

If you absolutely must have a lift while you wait, get the 10mm OE strut spacers. ~1" lift up front which addresses rake, works beautifully with the rest of the system, retains factory ride, and is very cheap.

 

[TeCKis300]

I'm going to take a different angle on this.

Little do they know, this kit may just very well be the thing LX owners have been looking for when adding aggressive sensor lifts, or significant armor, or both. It's 75% the kit I've put together with OEM LC front shock spacer, and rear 30mm coil spacer. For an additional 1" suspension travel on the front end via more droop, and pre-loading the stock AHC coils for additional payload beyond 1800lbs. The additional 25% this solves is that the LX front coil didn't have a solution to adding spring pre-load, and this provides that.

I do think there's a population of LC owners that can benefit from this. Those looking for a cosmetic lift while keeping the excellent stock ride. Not everyone's looking for race worthy suspension.

 

[Killacaviar]

I think there may be a need for a product like this. However, with that being said there were multiple comments made in the video that seem like empty promises made to the consumer. It lifts your truck…that’s about it. Which is totally fine and would be perfect for someone looking to do just that.

I would feel way more comfortable installing the Toyota front spacer, some 34in tires and calling it a day. Reduced nose dive and body roll will not be corrected by simply spacing the suspension. The benefits he mentioned in regarded to driving characteristics were probably caused by the tire upgrade not the spacers.

 

[lx200inAR]

I'm going to take a different angle on this.

Little do they know, this kit may just very well be the thing LX owners have been looking for when adding aggressive sensor lifts, or significant armor, or both. It's 75% the kit I've put together with OEM LC front shock spacer, and rear 30mm coil spacer. For an additional 1" suspension travel on the front end via more droop, and pre-loading the stock AHC coils for additional payload beyond 1800lbs. The additional 25% this solves is that the LX front coil didn't have a solution to adding spring pre-load, and this provides that.

I do think there's a population of LC owners that can benefit from this. Those looking for a cosmetic lift while keeping the excellent stock ride. Not everyone's looking for race worthy suspension.

I was hoping you’d chime in here. I was thinking the same thing as soon as I saw this post, but assumed I was probably missing something.

 

[AnyMal]

I was about to say this is practically made for the LX crowd.

If I was in an LC though, forget about this unless you really are penny pinching. Get a proper lift kit for gods sake it couldn’t be any more of a must do on the LC.

 

[cheddar bob]

Mind elaborating why you think the full suspension replacement is a must do for the LC?

 

[AnyMal]

Mind elaborating why you think the full suspension replacement is a must do for the LC?

Just saying that a lift kit and some upgraded shocks unleash the beast that the LC really really is.
Serves a better purpose than a spacer kit would and is not possible on the LX without gutting the AHC.
So it just makes sense to do the whole suspension.

Theres certainly an audience for the spacer kit and I myself am strictly on road for the moment, but then again thats why I'm in an LX.
I have zero interest in being in a LC personally but If i had a LC id be lifted and on reservoir shocks and the entire thing day one no questions asked.

 

[Killacaviar]

Just saying that a lift kit and some upgraded shocks unleash the beast that the LC really really is.
Serves a better purpose than a spacer kit would and is not possible on the LX without gutting the AHC.
So it just makes sense to do the whole suspension.

Theres certainly an audience for the spacer kit and I myself am strictly on road for the moment, but then again thats why I'm in an LX.
I have zero interest in being in a LC personally but If i had a LC id be lifted and on reservoir shocks and the entire thing day one no questions asked.

Not sure I agree with this. To say a 3500 dollar suspension kit will unleash the beast would be incorrect. Adding race proven items to a vehicle comes with race proven problems, that most owners don’t want to deal with.

I think OEM suspension is fantastic. Individuals that come from sports car backgrounds may desire a stiffer ride. But for most that exclusively drives on the road you can’t replace the factory feel. I run high end suspension that suits my riding style and time spent off-road… however, when it comes to driving around town OEM suspension beats everything. OEM spacer and some 34in tires and these trucks will out perform most people’s needs.

I think someone that needs that much lift for the ground clearance benefit it provides is going to go for a proper suspension kit. Especially when owning a 40-100k dollar suv.

 

[AnyMal]

Not sure I agree with this. To say a 3500 dollar suspension kit will unleash the beast would be incorrect. Adding race proven items to a vehicle comes with race proven problems, that most owners don’t want to deal with.

I think OEM suspension is fantastic. Individuals that come from sports car backgrounds may desire a stiffer ride. But for most that exclusively drives on the road you can’t replace the factory feel. I run high end suspension that suits my riding style and time spent off-road… however, when it comes to driving around town OEM suspension beats everything. OEM spacer and some 34in tires and these trucks will out perform most people’s needs.

I think someone that needs that much lift for the ground clearance benefit it provides is going to go for a proper suspension kit. Especially when owning a 40-100k dollar suv.

Im with you and I think were saying similar things here but you kind of have walked yourself into some contradictory logic.
If the OE fit-out is golden, why the spacer kit? It would just induce problems and interfere with original design parameters by that reasoning.

IMO its fine stock, and with proper tires is more than most would ever need indeed.
But needs aside which we know aren't a singular basis for incentive, it would be like buying a Ferrari and driving the speed limit.
Thats my sentiment on it.

Where i kind of differ though is that you cant improve on eom on road dynamics. You can just get an LX for that .

 

[Killacaviar]

Im with you and I think were saying similar things here but you kind of have walked yourself into some contradictory logic.
If the OE fit-out is golden, why the spacer kit? It would just induce problems and interfere with original design parameters by that reasoning.

IMO its fine stock, and with proper tires is more than most would ever need indeed.
But needs aside which we know aren't a singular basis for incentive, it would be like buying a Ferrari and driving the speed limit.
Thats my sentiment on it.

Where i kind of differ though is that you cant improve on eom on road dynamics. You can just get an LX for that .

Yea, certainly not contradicting, maybe unclear. I was referring to the Toyota engineered spacer produced for our vehicles. It’s mentioned and used all over the forum. The need for the spacer clearly being the reasoning for anyone to install a spacer. To level a vehicle for aesthetic purposes and add ground clearance.

 

[jefo13]

I personally think this is genius & like all other kits, not for everyone, but it does fill the gap in the market for an aesthetic lift that does not cost a ton. The market trend is heavy in “off-road” look lately vs off-road “capable” and this fits the bill. Retaining factory suspension may be of value to the many posters I have seen in this forum asking for a lift kit with “factory-like” ride… The reality is that most upgrades sacrifice a bit of on-road comfort for off-road performance, this may be right kit for those who care about that…
I also remember when purchasing my Bilstein kit talking to Bilstein about the difference between 5100 shocks and 6100 series shocks and the tech said they both ride the same, and the only difference is the endurance in harsh off-reading (fading) so, this creates a middle ground where you can get a “Bilstein” kit for less…

 

[jefo13]

I'd love to know as well. I really don't want to be the first to try this, but am on the fence. I have been watching their R&D pics in instagram, etc. and looks like a great product. Just finally saw it officially released on their website last week and really thinking about giving it a try now that my 21' HE is a full year old it is due for some mods! I have a TRD Pro Tundra as well and their front lift using factory Fox shocks is really well designed and of course has been out way longer and with a much broader base so lots of reviews.
Video of the lift in question here.

You may want to wait to save 20% on Black Friday

 

[HROD79]

Ordered my Kit, looks like good quality. Going to be installing within the month....hopefully . Decided on their Front Preload kit and a set of Icon Rear springs for added Spring rate when loaded. Rear will be 1.75" vs 1.25" spacer. will post Photos of the install when I get it on.

 

[tbutler]

Ordered my Kit, looks like good quality. Going to be installing within the month..hopefully . Decided on their Front Preload kit for and a set of Icon Rear springs for added Spring rate when load. Rear will be 1.75' vs 1.25" spacer. will post Photos of the install when I get it on.

Looking forward to seeing your results and reading about your impressions once installed.

 

[Omega3651]

I've had this kit for about a month and roughly 1000 miles.
Even with 295/70/18s the ride is extremely close to stock. There is a difference, but it's almost imperceptible.
It's just the right amount of lift and it's a good option if you want to use your stock suspension until its time to upgrade to a full coil over. I saw no need to not get my money's worth with the stock suspension, it rides well.
You do have to remove the front mud-flaps and do some trimming though.
I'm running 295/70/18 Nitto Ridge Recons.

 

[cheddar bob]

Has anyone measured actual lift over stock?

 

[bloc]

I've had this kit for about a month and roughly 1000 miles.
Even with 295/70/18s the ride is extremely close to stock. There is a difference, but it's almost imperceptible.
It's just the right amount of lift and it's a good option if you want to use your stock suspension until its time to upgrade to a full coil over. I saw no need to not get my money's worth with the stock suspension, it rides well.
You do have to remove the front mud-flaps and do some trimming though.
I'm running 295/70/18 Nitto Ridge Recons.

View attachment 2921222

View attachment 2921223

Stock UCAs?

What were your caster numbers after alignment?

 

[JcrewLC]

I've had this kit for about a month and roughly 1000 miles.
Even with 295/70/18s the ride is extremely close to stock. There is a difference, but it's almost imperceptible.
It's just the right amount of lift and it's a good option if you want to use your stock suspension until its time to upgrade to a full coil over. I saw no need to not get my money's worth with the stock suspension, it rides well.
You do have to remove the front mud-flaps and do some trimming though.
I'm running 295/70/18 Nitto Ridge Recons.

View attachment 2921222

View attachment 2921223

Any rubbing with the KDSS? I wanted this size but posters here say 285/70/18 is max and that anything bigger will rub the kdss