King shocks suspension build, give me your .02

[Bad1975]

The springs are what set the height on the GS shocks, no adjustability unless you get another spring. I would do the diff drop just because it's cheap. easy to install and will extend the CV axle life with the lift. The 2" springs should set you up, it will lift it 2" and then settle some overtime and land you somewhere between 1.5-2".

 

[amzazai]

The springs are what set the height on the GS shocks, no adjustability unless you get another spring. I would do the diff drop just because it's cheap. easy to install and will extend the CV axle life with the lift. The 2" springs should set you up, it will lift it 2" and then settle some overtime and land you somewhere between 1.5-2".

With the diff drop, between 1.5 to 2 inches, how low will be my clearance. I do not want to make it lower than my factory setup.

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to understand what is needed.

 

[RideWithYanu]

With the diff drop, between 1.5 to 2 inches, how low will be my clearance. I do not want to make it lower than my factory setup.

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to understand what is needed.

A diff drop on the J250 doesn’t reduce your ground clearance below stock. The front diff on this truck is mounted to the subframe, so lifting it doesn’t raise the diff much at all, it mostly increases control-arm and CV angles. The diff-drop kits just correct those angles. The actual physical drop on the LC250 kits is tiny: ICON drops it about 10–12 mm, Dobinsons around 12–15 mm, and even the biggest cradle-style setups only get to roughly 20–25 mm. None of these put the diff lower than it sits from the factory, even with a 1.5–2 inch lift.

These are smart questions.

Edited to make more technically correct.

 

[Bad1975]

Just for clarity the diff drops will not place the diff into contact with the factory skid plate, skid plates remain lowest point up front.

 

[amzazai]

A diff drop on the J250 doesn’t reduce your ground clearance below stock. The front diff on this truck is mounted to the subframe, so lifting it doesn’t raise the diff much at all, it mostly increases control-arm and CV angles. The diff-drop kits just correct those angles. The actual physical drop on the LC250 kits is tiny: ICON drops it about 10–12 mm, Dobinsons around 12–15 mm, and even the biggest cradle-style setups only get to roughly 20–25 mm. None of these put the diff lower than it sits from the factory, even with a 1.5–2 inch lift.

These are smart questions.

Edited to make more technically correct.

Thank you!!!

 

[amzazai]

Just for clarity the diff drops will not place the diff into contact with the factory skid plate, skid plates remain lowest point up front.

Thank you so much!

 

[amzazai]

With the droop spacer you risk the shock bottoming out, I'm surprised they suggested that! I'd contact via DM CrikeyMike on IH8MUD forum, he is from exit offroad looks like they are no longer listing the extended travel shocks.

I did a little digging the extended travel shocks Mike suggested I get and used to be listed for the 250 are now listed as 300 series.

If I were you I'd do the the extended travel GS shocks unless they Mike says there is an issue with them on the 250?? I haven't had an problems with them though.

C59-882 Front Springs
GS59-440 Front Strut (Extended travel) Confirm these are still ok, those are what I'm running and they used to list them for 1-3" extended travel
GS59-441 Rear Strut (Extended travel) Same as above
C59-885V 1/2" rear spring (I'd rather have a correct length spring than a spacer sitting on top of it if the spacer can be avoided, that said I ran a spacer with a new spring to maintain some rake for loading and towing since they don't offer a 2.5" option for the rear.

I'd also do the UCAs (Not cheap but it allow for more alignment and prevent the coils from contacting the UCAs at full droop) and Diff drop (diff drop is cheap insurance for your CVs). You probably can get away with not needing the rear adjustable links and panhard since only a 1/2" lift in the rear.

I contacted Mike… I wrote to him and this is what he responded for droop spacer.

“Thank you, Mike.

I’m afraid that the droop spacer will negatively affect the up travel and that’s why I opted for GS59-440. What’s your take on using the droop spacer and if I still install the GS59-440, can I get away with a 2 inch lift and spend a little more money to get the upgraded UCAs and diff drop?”

Mike’s Reply, “
Hi Ahmad

The droop spacer won't affect up travel, it's only about 5mm thick.

Yes you can use the GS59-440 struts but you have to run the UCA's and diff drop kit in combination with those.

Thanks,
Mike Tomczyk
Exit Offroad
904-580-7510
Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm Eastern Time”

 

[Bad1975]

With that dimension I'd agree. My only concern then would be what is the loss of droop travel at 2" of lift on OEM shock travel lengths? If there is none which I would find hard to believe I'd just run springs if they could provide the droop spacer to be added to the OEM shocks?

Maybe you could start with that route and measure droop pre and post configuration change and if all is well then you got a nice setup for minimal cost. If not you have to decide if you want the extended travel shocks and other bits or not?

I'd don't know what the ratio is on this IFS setup but the 5mm droop spacer will translate to more than 5mm in the end, but no way does it translate to 2".

Just know if you stay at OEM shock lengths you will more than likely lose some amount droop for lift up front, the question is how much and is it acceptable for your use case? Same goes for the rear but the motion ratio is 1:1 on the rear so a 15mm spacer or 1/2' longer spring will take that from the available droop.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Kings for me. I had them on my Tundra and loved 'em. Love 'em on the LC.

 

[GTV]

I don’t want to bum you out but, with a Toyota you don’t need to do anything to them. Toyota builds the best box stock Offroad capable rehicles on the market. Why do think terrorist all over the world prefer Toyota’s.

Just like almost everything I buy... I dont NEED it... but I want it

 

[GTV]

Kings for me. I had them on my Tundra and loved 'em. Love 'em on the LC.

Likewise! Loved them on my Tundra!

 

[amzazai]

Just came across a video on YouTube talking about replacing the factory coils for “All Dogs Off-Road “Spacer Eraser” coil lift kit.”
It gives a total of 2 inches of lift in the back and front.
They say that it won’t affect the factory ride.
I’ve looked everywhere, but haven’t been able to find a shock that would make the factory articulation the same or better in terms of droop and uptravel.
@Bad1975 recommended the Dobinsons GS59-440, but they seem to be out of stock or discontinued.
I’d like to know your thoughts on All Dogs coil lift kit if it’s any good.

Wishing everyone a Happy Merry Christmas and be safe.

 

[KWLC250]

This may be off topic, but since @amzazai you mentioned that Exit Offroad recommended 2" front and .5" rear. Is anyone concerned with rake and the factory sunroof? I ask because I had major issues with the sunroof leaking on my LR4. I'm curious if the factory rake aids in the drainage of the sunroof and if that should be considered when lifting the vehicle.

 

[LCOceans]

This may be off topic, but since @amzazai you mentioned that Exit Offroad recommended 2" front and .5" rear. Is anyone concerned with rake and the factory sunroof? I ask because I had major issues with the sunroof leaking on my LR4. I'm curious if the factory rake aids in the drainage of the sunroof and if that should be considered when lifting the vehicle

This is an interesting point and one I had never considered. Hopefully someone will come along that has the answer.

 

[KWLC250]

This is an interesting point and one I had never considered. Hopefully someone will come along that has the answer.

I asked CrikeyMike over on ih8mud and his response was "I haven't heard about sunroof issues, but I feel like I would have since 4th and 5th Gen 4runners came with them too pretty often and people have been leveling those for years."

 

[LCOceans]

I certainly hope this sunroof thing is not an issue because I am sitting dead level.