Papadop88's Underground 2025 4Runner TRD Pro 6th Gen Build

[papadop88]

Quick update, since a few of you have PM'd me on the status of the WC lift. She's going to 626 Customs end of next week to get the lift installed. At the very moment, I am thinking of only installing the preload collar in the front, along with the 1" pucks in the rear (giving me a 0.75" lift in rear).

I don't think I will be adding the 1" billet top hats as I believe the lift will be too high for the Pro when combined with the preload collar. Maybe I will change my mind by then and only install the top hats and not the collar. Both have their benefits and their cons, but I believe the collar provides more benefits vs a top hat (spacer lift). My only concern with the collar is whether it makes the ride too stiff because of the added preload on the springs.

If anyone has installed it and can state otherwise, please post it here. Cheers.

Sponsored

 

[BillyG4Runner6G]

Thanks for keeping in the loop. I can’t find anyone on the web with the WD kit installed on a 6G 4Runner Pro. Can’t wait to see and hear your thoughts about the outcome.

 

[papadop88]

Update regarding my discussion with WD on the Pro lift measurements with full transparency. Kinda talking in circles, didn't really get any confirmed measurements, but we'll see after next week when it goes under the knife.

Currently, I have a 1" front rake as it sits today.

Looks like both (top hat and collar) combined will get me around 2". I think that's too much and will give it a reverse rake (at least optically) as it will level it out completely. And if you load it up, you're sagging mathematically. I definitely don't want that.

The top hat, installed alone, gets you .5" only so that's not enough if I'm also lifting the back 1". The collar, installed alone, will get me 1.2-1.5" lift in the front. With my existing 1" front rake, installing the collar only should still leave me with a .5" front rake.

Net net, I am going to install just the collar and hope it gets me the lift I want, roughly around 1.2-1.5" in the front...with 0.75" lift in the rear with their 1" puck.

Clear as mud, right??


@MotoPapa88
4 days ago
Thanks for addressing the weak points of the OEM top hats, guys. I received your lift kit for my 6th Gen TRD Pro that includes your 1" top hat. The top hat is 1" thick, but Jeff mentioned only a 1/2" lift in the video? Does the 1" top hat only add 1/2" lift or did he just misspeak? It's important so I know the exact lift I (and others) would be getting with the 1' top hat, coupled with preload collar on the TRD Pros. Thanks!

@westcottdesigns
4 days ago
This is Jeff and we offer 2 different billet top hats. We do one with no lift and we also offer one that has a 1/2” built into the height. Now with added preload on the spring with our preload collar as well you will see between .5-.7 inches of lift.

@MotoPapa88
4 days ago
@westcottdesigns I appreciate the quick reply, Jeff. Just so I'm clear on the numbers...for the TRD Pro 4Runners, the 1" top hat along with the preload collar in the kit you provided will give me 1" of lift when both installed (0.5" from the top hat and 0.5-0.7" from the collar)? Maybe I'm being dense, but I'd rather measure twice and cut once. My TRD Pro currently has a 1" front rake which is a perfect stance for me. I'm just looking for an additional 1" lift in the front and the rear. For the rear, I'm installing your rear pucks which should give me around a 1" lift. For the front, if both the hats and collars in combination give me 1", than that's perfect. If not, then I'd rather install only the top hat or the collar.

@westcottdesigns
3 days ago
@MotoPapa88 with the collar and the 1/2” top hat we just gained 1.9” of lift on a brand new 6th Gen Trail hunter. The video will going live in the next couple of weeks with the alignment specs that we set for it. It drove amazing and looked great with the 35’s on the factory wheels. I would just run the top hat to play it safe if you are not going to run our rear lift. The lower collar by itself is going to give it just over 1”.

@MotoPapa88
3 days ago
@westcottdesigns Got it, that makes sense. The only confusing part is that you keep saying it's a 1/2" top hat. The one you provided measures 1" though. And on your website, the only option given is OEM height or 1". There is no 1/2" option...

@westcottdesigns
3 days ago
@MotoPapa88 it’s because the factory one has a total height of a 1/2”. When we add a 1/2” it then becomes a total of 1” so total gain is 1/2” and when the preload is added depend on total amount of preload it will gain between .5 and .7 of a inch. Hope this helps.

@MotoPapa88
3 days ago
@westcottdesigns Ahhh, there it is. I didn't know the OEM top hat was already 1/2". Now it all makes sense. (It might help to clear that up on your site so it alleviates confusion because several of us were debating it on the forums). Given the measurements you just gave above, I will do your 1" rear puck and the preload collar + top hat in the front. With my already 1" front rake (which is what I want to keep), it looks like with the entire kit installed, I will still be a bit less than an inch of front rake...which IMO would be perfect so I don't get the optical reverse rake. I like the softness of the current Fox QS3 shocks so you don't think the preload collar will stiffen it up too much, right? Appreciate you taking the time as I want to be very clear and give folks options when installing your kit on a Pro. Cheers!


@MotoPapa88
7 hours ago
@westcottdesigns I just noticed you said 1.9" lift on a TH with your kit? How did you guys get a 1.9" lift if the other measurements you quoted me say .5" top hat lift and .5-.7" collar lift for a total of 1-1.2" of lift? Is there something different with the OME struts on the TH vs the Fox ones on the Pros?

@westcottdesigns
5 hours ago (edited)

@MotoPapa88 the top hat by itself give it .5. If I add a collar to it the top hat causes it increase and creates more preload and will add another .2 which is a total of .7. This may very by .1 depending on application. The collar by its self depending on what vehicle they are for are different for every model. Some collars have 1” of lift up to 1.5” with the preload it creates on the spring. The billet top hats come with stock height and that one is a total of a 1/2” thick and the one that is 1” thick is the one that creates the .5 to .7 depending how it is used. Most of the PRO models models get 2” of lift so the my still ride good and align properly. We have since the shorter struts in the 22 model tundras we have tried to put less lift in so people can have a better ride.

@MotoPapa88
58 minutes ago (edited)
@westcottdesigns Ok, so I have the Pro, so that's what I'm only concerned about. I think 2" will be too much on the 4Runner Pro and make it have a reverse rake/sag. I currently have a 1" rake which I want to keep, so can I swap the collars you sent in my Pro kit with a collar with less preload? I only want 1" of lift up front. Anymore lift and it will have a reverse rake based on simple math.

@westcottdesigns
54 minutes ago
@MotoPapa88 the whole kit for the pro is designed perfectly as long as you’re using the kit with nothing else you’ll be fine

@MotoPapa88
2 minutes ago
@westcottdesigns Yep, I only plan on using your kit with my stock Fox shocks, so I'll take your word for it. Install is next week by Longo's 626 Customs and I'll have the video up on my channel soon after that. Looking forward to it.

 

[Scrappopatamus]

I had the WD lift installed on my Pro today. Looks very good and drives very well. I'll post photos tomorrow

 

[papadop88]

I had the WD lift installed on my Pro today. Looks very good and drives very well. I'll post photos tomorrow

That’s great. Please do and please share the measurements too and if you did the full kit.

 

[Scrappopatamus]

That’s great. Please do and please share the measurements too and if you did the full kit.

Will do. Off to work but should be able to do so later this afternoon

 

[BillyG4Runner6G]

Update regarding my discussion with WD on the Pro lift measurements with full transparency. Kinda talking in circles, didn't really get any confirmed measurements, but we'll see after next week when it goes under the knife.

Currently, I have a 1" front rake as it sits today.

Looks like both (top hat and collar) combined will get me 2". I think that's too much and will give it a reverse rake (at least optically) as it will level it out completely. And if you load it up, you're sagging mathematically. I definitely don't want that.

The top hat, installed alone, gets you .5" only so that's not enough if I'm also lifting the back 1". The collar, installed alone, will get me 1.4-1.5" lift in the front. With my existing 1" front rake, installing the collar only should still leave me with a .5" front rake.

Net net, I am going to install just the collar and hope it gets me the lift I want, roughly around 1.4-1.5" in the front...with .75-1" lift in the rear with their 1" puck.

Clear as mud, right??


@MotoPapa88
4 days ago
Thanks for addressing the weak points of the OEM top hats, guys. I received your lift kit for my 6th Gen TRD Pro that includes your 1" top hat. The top hat is 1" thick, but Jeff mentioned only a 1/2" lift in the video? Does the 1" top hat only add 1/2" lift or did he just misspeak? It's important so I know the exact lift I (and others) would be getting with the 1' top hat, coupled with preload collar on the TRD Pros. Thanks!

@westcottdesigns
4 days ago
This is Jeff and we offer 2 different billet top hats. We do one with no lift and we also offer one that has a 1/2” built into the height. Now with added preload on the spring with our preload collar as well you will see between .5-.7 inches of lift.

@MotoPapa88
4 days ago
@westcottdesigns I appreciate the quick reply, Jeff. Just so I'm clear on the numbers...for the TRD Pro 4Runners, the 1" top hat along with the preload collar in the kit you provided will give me 1" of lift when both installed (0.5" from the top hat and 0.5-0.7" from the collar)? Maybe I'm being dense, but I'd rather measure twice and cut once. My TRD Pro currently has a 1" front rake which is a perfect stance for me. I'm just looking for an additional 1" lift in the front and the rear. For the rear, I'm installing your rear pucks which should give me around a 1" lift. For the front, if both the hats and collars in combination give me 1", than that's perfect. If not, then I'd rather install only the top hat or the collar.

@westcottdesigns
3 days ago
@MotoPapa88 with the collar and the 1/2” top hat we just gained 1.9” of lift on a brand new 6th Gen Trail hunter. The video will going live in the next couple of weeks with the alignment specs that we set for it. It drove amazing and looked great with the 35’s on the factory wheels. I would just run the top hat to play it safe if you are not going to run our rear lift. The lower collar by itself is going to give it just over 1”.

@MotoPapa88
3 days ago
@westcottdesigns Got it, that makes sense. The only confusing part is that you keep saying it's a 1/2" top hat. The one you provided measures 1" though. And on your website, the only option given is OEM height or 1". There is no 1/2" option...

@westcottdesigns
3 days ago
@MotoPapa88 it’s because the factory one has a total height of a 1/2”. When we add a 1/2” it then becomes a total of 1” so total gain is 1/2” and when the preload is added depend on total amount of preload it will gain between .5 and .7 of a inch. Hope this helps.

@MotoPapa88
3 days ago
@westcottdesigns Ahhh, there it is. I didn't know the OEM top hat was already 1/2". Now it all makes sense. (It might help to clear that up on your site so it alleviates confusion because several of us were debating it on the forums). Given the measurements you just gave above, I will do your 1" rear puck and the preload collar + top hat in the front. With my already 1" front rake (which is what I want to keep), it looks like with the entire kit installed, I will still be a bit less than an inch of front rake...which IMO would be perfect so I don't get the optical reverse rake. I like the softness of the current Fox QS3 shocks so you don't think the preload collar will stiffen it up too much, right? Appreciate you taking the time as I want to be very clear and give folks options when installing your kit on a Pro. Cheers!


@MotoPapa88
7 hours ago
@westcottdesigns I just noticed you said 1.9" lift on a TH with your kit? How did you guys get a 1.9" lift if the other measurements you quoted me say .5" top hat lift and .5-.7" collar lift for a total of 1-1.2" of lift? Is there something different with the OME struts on the TH vs the Fox ones on the Pros?

@westcottdesigns
5 hours ago (edited)

@MotoPapa88 the top hat by itself give it .5. If I add a collar to it the top hat causes it increase and creates more preload and will add another .2 which is a total of .7. This may very by .1 depending on application. The collar by its self depending on what vehicle they are for are different for every model. Some collars have 1” of lift up to 1.5” with the preload it creates on the spring. The billet top hats come with stock height and that one is a total of a 1/2” thick and the one that is 1” thick is the one that creates the .5 to .7 depending how it is used. Most of the PRO models models get 2” of lift so the my still ride good and align properly. We have since the shorter struts in the 22 model tundras we have tried to put less lift in so people can have a better ride.

@MotoPapa88
58 minutes ago (edited)
@westcottdesigns Ok, so I have the Pro, so that's what I'm only concerned about. I think 2" will be too much on the 4Runner Pro and make it have a reverse rake/sag. I currently have a 1" rake which I want to keep, so can I swap the collars you sent in my Pro kit with a collar with less preload? I only want 1" of lift up front. Anymore lift and it will have a reverse rake based on simple math.

@westcottdesigns
54 minutes ago
@MotoPapa88 the whole kit for the pro is designed perfectly as long as you’re using the kit with nothing else you’ll be fine

@MotoPapa88
2 minutes ago
@westcottdesigns Yep, I only plan on using your kit with my stock Fox shocks, so I'll take your word for it. Install is next week by Longo's 626 Customs and I'll have the video up on my channel soon after that. Looking forward to it.

Clear as Mud! Can't wait to see what your final results are. Hard to believe more 4Runner TRD PRO owners haven't posted any videos or photos yet. You guys are pioneers!

 

[Badkarma8541]

Clear as Mud! Can't wait to see what your final results are. Hard to believe more 4Runner TRD PRO owners haven't posted any videos or photos yet. You guys are pioneers!

Lol that’s literally how I was going to respond but I was going to add a little analogy. Billy enters a tunnel at 55 miles an hour. The winds are blowing at 23 miles an hour from the northeast Sally’s coming from.etc

 

[Badkarma8541]

Thank you for taking your time and sharing the information that you learn It’s greatly appreciated.

 

[Scrappopatamus]

Measurements and photos after Westcott Designs lift installed on my TRD Pro today:

https://www.4runner6g.com/forum/threads/westcott-designs-suspension-installed-on-trd-pro.6756/

 

[Kazz]

I love that lower front bumper with the light bar incorporated and was going to look into it, HOWEVER I live in NY where front license plates exist and the plate will cover most of the light bar! GRRRR

 

[papadop88]

I love that lower front bumper with the light bar incorporated and was going to look into it, HOWEVER I live in NY where front license plates exist and the plate will cover most of the light bar! GRRRR

front plates are required here in CA as well. I’ve never run a front plate in my life and never will. Wrecks the design of the front end of every car. I’ve only received 2 or 3 fix it tix for no front plate. Not sure how much they enforce it over there but they don’t seek it out here in CA unless you’re driving like an ahole.

 

[papadop88]

***UPDATE ON WD LIFT***

Since I'm lifting it on Friday, I spoke to WD about the proper alignment specs for my Pro. Here are the numbers they provided me...

Camber | .2 to .4 positive
Toe | .1 out on each side
Caster | 1/5 degree split higher on the right side

I'm no alignment expert whatsover, so I don't know what that means or what other folks are getting when aligning their 4Rs when lifted on the WD kit, but just providing you what they sent me.

Cheers.

 

[papadop88]

Westcott Designs Lift Kit for the TRD Pro has officially been installed. Thanks to everyone on here who posted theirs up. And big shoutout to Jeff and his team at Westcott for spending the time to sit with me on measurements, etc. And of course, 626 Customs for the flawless install.

The truck drives like a dream and the preload collar all but completely eliminated the famous nose dive.

I did NOT install the 1" top hats. As I suspected, it would have been too high for my taste with it installed. As you'll see my EXACT measurements, you will see that if I installed the top hats, they would have effectively given me an exact level and maybe even a reverse rake. Optically, it would have given me a reverse rake no matter what. And if I loaded up the back, it would unequivocally sagged my truck.

Everyone's rigs vary so take it for what it is, but these are my numbers:
(Measured from bottom of wheel/rim to bottom of fender)

• Driver Front: 30.88" | 32.25" (1.37" lift)
• Driver Rear: 31.75" | 32.62" (0.87" lift)
• Pass Front: 30.88" | 32.62" (1.74" lift)
• Pass Rear: 32.00" | 32.80". (0.80" lift)

As you can see, it is almost perfectly level, however it has a slight front rake of about .5", which is exactly what I want. NO TOP HAT INSTALLED in the front...just the preload collar. Given these numbers, I'd be nose high if I added the top hats. No other way around that. I knew it.

Alignment Specs - From Westcott
Camber: .2 to .4 positive
Toe: .1 out on each side
Caster: 1/5 degree split higher on right side

My Alignment Specs

Video of everything, including my feedback on ride quality and alignment specs coming soon.

As for the 1" top hats, I put them up for sale for anyone interested in them. Brand new. Link below.
Westcott Designs 1" Top Hats For Sale

 

[papadop88]

...and here's the video explaining everything and why I did what I did by not installing the top hats. Math is math.

Sponsored