Any updates on OEM 2.5" TRD Suspension Lift?

[CO/ZA]

Bonus feature, you don't have to jack up the car in order to do an oil service.

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[DangItsDen]

Some more photos. Also noticed today that the brakes feel slightly spongey. Could be because its 1000% humidity in Austin right now, or maybe it's psychological or because of minor nose dive from the lift. Going to keep an eye on it and climb under the truck and see if the brake line got pulled anywhere...

 

[Mr. Wolfe]

Looks great!

 

[Mr. Wolfe]

Picked up mine this afternoon.

Local dealer did the labor for $1275+tax.

They matched the alignment specs to a TRD PRO, per the work sheet.

Tracks straight and true, but also the suspension is a good bit better than stock OR in my opinion.
Much more forgiving on potholes and expansion joints, probably overall a 30%+ improvement from stock.

I'm going into the mountains this weekend, so will put it through it's paces.

Trailhunter wheels + 275/70-18 (33.4") tires.

My build will be very close to this. My car it traveling to port and once at the dealership, it will be getting the TRD 2.5" lift, TrailHunter wheels and 285/70 R18 Open Countrys. Mine will be Everest. Your truck looks fantastic!

Mr. Wolfe

 

[Joestac]

@DangItsDen Careful in that park, in case you don't know, break-ins are really bad there. Folks warning in both the MTB and disc golf Facebook groups. Also, my brakes have been feeling weaker too. I thought it could be the from the TSB to fix squeal, but maybe it is the terrible humidity we've been having.

 

[DangItsDen]

@MikeD Thanks for the kind words.
Here are the parts for the two lift kits for the T4R6G.

For fitmet and labor questions and compatibility, please refer to the chart on my Trail Teams website here: https://edmartintrailteams.com/trail-teams-lift-kits/

Yep! Exactly my tohughts, weight correction is the only real difference.

Hi there - I've had my kit on for a few days. It was installed by an off-road shop. I am noticing my brakes feel a little spongey. I cannot find anywhere in the manual that mentions extending the brake lines or anything. Could you guys let me know if anything needed to be done with brakes during install other than the usual, being careful to not damage them? Thanks!

 

[DangItsDen]

@DangItsDen Careful in that park, in case you don't know, break-ins are really bad there. Folks warning in both the MTB and disc golf Facebook groups. Also, my brakes have been feeling weaker too. I thought it could be the from the TSB to fix squeal, but maybe it is the terrible humidity we've been having.

Oh damn, I've been going here for like 15 years and never had any trouble. Was most of it recent? You're talking about Circle C park right? Interesting Re: your brakes... do they feel spongey at all?

 

[Joestac]

Oh damn, I've been going here for like 15 years and never had any trouble. Was most of it recent? You're talking about Circle C park right? Interesting Re: your brakes... do they feel spongey at all?

Yep, Circle C. It has been happening for the past year. I think it is mostly when parked on the weekdays. People wait in their cars and when folks park and leave they smash and grab.

They do feel a bit soft, yeah. I'll see how they feel today since we got this rain the humidity calmed down a touch, for now.

 

[CO/ZA]

I haven't really noticed anything with my brakes after the lift.

Have you checked your tire pressure recently? It's the most common underlying cause.

 

[DangItsDen]

I haven't really noticed anything with my brakes after the lift.

Have you checked your tire pressure recently? It's the most common underlying cause.

Its always at about 36 psi and is right now also.

 

[mfoga]

Did you ask the shop if they had to disconnect any brake lines? There was not mention of anything involving the brakes short of disconnecting brackets that I remember but that would not effect them.

Did you change tire size or just put the lift on it?

 

[Yoli]

Some more photos. Also noticed today that the brakes feel slightly spongey. Could be because its 1000% humidity in Austin right now, or maybe it's psychological or because of minor nose dive from the lift. Going to keep an eye on it and climb under the truck and see if the brake line got pulled anywhere...

We have almost identical trims (and colors) and I really want to know what you think about the ride comfort/quality coming from stock. I'm on the fence about pulling the trigger because I haven't heard any really "night and day" differences. I think the stock ride is just way to bumpy and feels every single pot hole or crack in the road. Often I forget about it and then bam, hit a rut, and I keep wondering if the upgrade is actually going to make that much of a difference. Or if I should look at other non-oem options. I think your wife's comment about wanting to keep driving it makes me think it's much much better.

 

[DangItsDen]

Did you ask the shop if they had to disconnect any brake lines? There was not mention of anything involving the brakes short of disconnecting brackets that I remember but that would not effect them.

Did you change tire size or just put the lift on it?

I’m going to call them and ask but yeah they shouldn’t have…

same tires I had before the lift

 

[DangItsDen]

We have almost identical trims (and colors) and I really want to know what you think about the ride comfort/quality coming from stock. I'm on the fence about pulling the trigger because I haven't heard any really "night and day" differences. I think the stock ride is just way to bumpy and feels every single pot hole or crack in the road. Often I forget about it and then bam, hit a rut, and I keep wondering if the upgrade is actually going to make that much of a difference. Or if I should look at other non-oem options. I think your wife's comment about wanting to keep driving it makes me think it's much much better.

Yeah the pregnant lady’s endorsement is pretty huge lmao. If you’re looking to lift it also, this is a great route just knowing it’s OEM. It’s looking like more of a 3” lift in front tbh.

if you want more comfortable ride without the lift I would look at 3rd party options.

I personally love the way it drives now. You’re still gonna feel bumps in the road, but it’s not gonna be as jarring as the stock setup. It has more shock absorption and travel.

 

[MikeD]

...
Got a chance to drive it some more and I gotta say it is night and day over the stock setup. It takes bumps at speed like a champ and no extra body roll that I could detect yet.

I was a little worried that my wife wouldn't like it bc she's 5'2" and we have our first baby one the way, but she just took it to run errands and came back with a grin on her face and said "I thought about just driving around a bit more because it rides so nice now". I think I will swap the OEM rock rails for some that have a step to help with her challenged height.

Last point I will make for now is that it finally feels like a 4runner should in my opinion. Rugged but not like a wrangler. Just high enough. Commanding stance and driving position. I think I can now finally part with my 5th gen to get her a mom mobile.

Congrats @DangItsDen and @CO/ZA - your rides look great. And your comments (especially the wife quote above:>) combined with a bunch of other info I'm going to share below 'for the good of the order' helped make my decision. I'm scheduled for dealer install later this week.

This post is a classic MikeD TL/DR but for those considering the TRD Lift Kit and other after-market solutions it may be helpful.

I was considering the OME #2135 kit and decided (after reading the detailed Toyota TRD kit installation guide for similar steps) that the process and time was ... daunting. So I got some estimates on installations for both kits from a reputable 4x4 shop. They wanted $2167 plus tax and alignment for the TRD lift kit and $5450 for the OME kit installed.

(BTW - I had two different 4X4 shops critique ARB/OME negatively. One said they "stopped selling the OME MT64 early after its release due to manufacturing problems - too many warranty claims." The second said they don't recommend them because of poor customer service from ARB - gave an example of not getting responses to service requests for a failed new winch that they were installing. I still think the OME is a great kit and these points were not a significant factor in my decision to go with TRD kit. But I thought them notable enough to share.)

For dealer install of the TRD lift kit, it turns out that Toyota sets the price under "accessories". I've not been able to navigate to the site shown in printout below, but the service advisor printed this out for me - with total price for the installed accessory consistent with what was posted by someone earlier in this or a related thread: $4430:
View attachment 40196

FWIW, I could pick up the kit at a different local dealer for same discounts someone else posted above:
View attachment 40188

I was told last Friday that there was one of these kits available in a PA warehouse and two in a NY warehouse. I suspect that most of the dealers in the mid-Atlantic/Northeast who have Internet Parts sales were "selling" one of those three kits. And one of them is now at my VA dealer service department, waiting for my TRD ORP.

Some other notable points from the service manager: He said that the accessory prices are set based on dealer getting 10% on cost for the part and a defined number of hours for the installation. He said that they pay for 9 hours but it "takes 16". He also noted that some of the time uncertainty are associated with those last several steps in the installation guide: 54. Configure TSS; 55. Configure Panoramic View; 56. Configure Parking Assist; 57. Adjust Headlight Aim.

So after all my research I pulled the trigger for the following primary benefits of the TRD Lift Kit:
1. That axel upgrade which obviates the need for a diff drop which is clearly a workaround - CV is beefier and longer (I think) and does not need diff drop to achieve good angle control. (I'm guessing a little on this but the rep at the 4x4 shop implied that axel upgrade is better than the diff drop he would sell me)
2. Dealer install maintains warranty. (And since my bigger tires are in the table in the install guide I think the caveats that Toyota puts on the accessory cover are .... dubious).
3. Dealer handles all the TSS "tuning" for height.

I do not think I'm getting shocks as good as the OME MT64s. If I ever need to replace the shocks I guess I may upgrade then.

I'll show you all yet another Heritage Blue TRD OR with the lift in a week or two. I'm a little nervous about the height change - am doing this more for extended articulation than raw curbside height - but I know those things go together and I will learn to live with it. (And bumper upgrades for winch and swing out tire carrier might be in my future to push it down a bit).

I've got two days to go and could still pull out so advise still welcome

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