Topic: Lowering the Runner

[ohioyota]

I've been thinking of lowering my 4runner for a while now. As it sits it has Trail gear 4" HD spings in the front and Marlin 5" springs in the rear with 5 inch shackles all the way around. I wanna do this cheap as possible. I'm trying to avoid purchasing springs twice. So far I have come up with three options to lower it.

1) drill a hole 1" up from center on the shackles, thus making them 4" inch shackles.
2) remove 1 or 2 leafs from each pack
3) Find some one with 3" springs who wants to trade for 4" fronts and 5" rears (unlikely)

What do you guys think is the best option?

[TacoRunner]

Id go with 1 and 2. But only 1 spring.

[Nimyad]

I'd just do 2, a shorter shackle will limit droop and if you make it a 4 inch shackle it'll only drop you .5 inches.

[BoG-ToY]

what kind of shackle angles are you running?  I wanna lower mine, and was thinking about drilling them, but then thought  that if I increase my shackle angle, I will lower my spring rate throughout the full range of travel, it will lower the truck both by the height I lose by angling the shackle, but also the extra leverage will flatten out the spring a little more, and will allow it to flatten more as I flex, and droop more too. OMG ive said too much I hate posting when I am tired.

[ohioyota [OP]]

My shackle angle is about 30 - 35 degrees. A combination of 1 and 2 seem like the best option to get the height I want. Though if I removed a leaf' which one should I remove and what will it do to the overall ride of the truck?

[Nimyad]

Usually, short springs give the lift and longer springs give a good ride.

[H8PVMNT]

I'd just do 2, a shorter shackle will limit droop and if you make it a 4 inch shackle it'll only drop you .5 inches.

I don't know I thought the same thing on mine and I went from 5.5" and 6.5" shackles to about 4.5" and 3.5" and I didn't loose a bit of flex.  In fact I think I may have even better flex now I guess because the bump stops are forcing things around harder with leverage over the bump stops at full stuff. The truck handles way the heck better too.

I general it is true, longer shackles do make more flex but if you have good springs anyway what I'm finding on my set up is that it doesn't matter. It's an easy place to play with and you can put it right back if you don't like it.

I swaped leaves as well.  I actually added leaves in the front and the back but I used leaves from packs with less arch. I probably lost an inch of ride height in the springs while at the same time adding spring rate.

[Phazertwo]

I would try option 2, and if it doesn't give you enough, do option 1.

PZ

[Nation]

I know this post is oooold.  Im in the same boat. my 5" all pro lift is much too tall.  is the all pro 5" really a 10" because of the 5" shackles? Im only curious because I have read that you cant go below a 4" lift with hi steer....

[Nimyad]

For every inch of shackle its .5 inches of lift, so no a 5 inch shackle and a 5 inch spring doesn't make 10 inches of lift, it makes 7.5. 3 inches is the rule of thumb for high steer, you can go lower but you have to work the frame.

[Nation]

Awesome thank you. I pulled the 2 bottom leafs today.

[Nation]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using shorter shackles? Thanks in advance. I have been reading on the topic but havent found much.

[Nimyad]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using shorter shackles? Thanks in advance. I have been reading on the topic but havent found much.

Shorter shackles will make your vehicle feel more stable, but you will also lose some articulation. Shackles are really free articulation and you have to find a middle point for articulation and stability. I think my shackles are 5 up front and 7 rear.

[Nation]

Awesome. Thanks again!  My truxk is def too tall. I raises the gas tank 2" and put my sliders a little hi. Gonna lower the gas tank 1" and knottch the cab to fit down over the slider..just enough room for the door to clear. Gonna look cool. And perform better.