Suspension Lift for 1 Gen Sequoia

RandallA84

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Sep 22, 2021
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I have a 2003 Sequoia SR5 4x4 and am looking to swap out the stock suspension. Looking to got to a 2.5'' to 3'' lift for overland purposes. Any suggestions on best style suspension lift that isn't going to completely kill the bank account. I've looked a couple places so far but am trying to get some more options.
 
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MadSequoiariver

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Sep 18, 2021
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I have a 2003 Sequoia SR5 4x4 and am looking to swap out the stock suspension. Looking to got to a 2.5'' to 3'' lift for overland purposes. Any suggestions on best style suspension lift that isn't going to completely kill the bank account. I've looked a couple places so far but am trying to get some more options.
Just got my 07 limited looking to do the same.. interested in what people have to say.
 
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Jgrauman

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Feb 18, 2019
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I have a 2003 Sequoia SR5 4x4 and am looking to swap out the stock suspension. Looking to got to a 2.5'' to 3'' lift for overland purposes. Any suggestions on best style suspension lift that isn't going to completely kill the bank account. I've looked a couple places so far but am trying to get some more options.
Going to all depend on your wallet. $500 will get you 2 inches or $2000 will get you 2 inches. Bilstein 5100s in the front and a spacer in the rear will accomplish this. If you want to go all new with uca, dobinson or toytec makes a great option as well.
 
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RandallA84

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Sep 22, 2021
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Going to all depend on your wallet. $500 will get you 2 inches or $2000 will get you 2 inches. Bilstein 5100s in the front and a spacer in the rear will accomplish this. If you want to go all new with uca, dobinson or toytec makes a great option as well.
Yeah.....I may be slowly buying everything in stages. Definitely adds up quick. Want to do the UCA's for sure. Just assume do it all right the first time as opposed to half-assing it
 

RandallA84

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Sep 22, 2021
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Just got my 07 limited looking to do the same.. interested in what people have to say.
Sweet deal.....definitely look around. I've found that some of the kits do not include the UCA's. One site I'm looking at is www.rockroad.com they have a good deal for the deluxe lift kit. Unless you are trying to save and go the cheaper route with the lift.
 

2002SEQUOIA

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Apr 2, 2017
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Bilstein 5100 up front. Emu 2862 coils paired with Emu 60020L shocks in the rear. Don't forget to do a diff drop. You don't need a UCA upgrade with 2.5 lift.
 

BigNuge

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Jan 3, 2021
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I’m running a Toytec Boss Kit, 2 1/2” lift, great ride.

You definitely want to do UCA’s if you lift. I didn’t at first, regretted it. I went SPC’s, I’m happy with how it all came out.

My 02 Limited on 33’s, -10 offset wheels (no spacers, never spacers).

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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

RandallA84

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Sep 22, 2021
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Rig looks sweet man. I think I finally settled on a kit that comes with the UCA's included. Plan on running Dobinson with the SPC's for the UCA's Already have the wheels which are method racing 18x9 with a 12 offset. Just go to figure out the tire size I want to go with.
I’m running a Toytec Boss Kit, 2 1/2” lift, great ride.

You definitely want to do UCA’s if you lift. I didn’t at first, regretted it. I went SPC’s, I’m happy with how it all came out.

My 02 Limited on 33’s, -10 offset wheels (no spacers, never spacers).

af96f965884f5d2ffdb0cc67507d48d3.jpg

43f262a099f6f05d59bb45bfa253c1d3.jpg

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60377e5c4136fae4c3519ee15fcefa5c.jpg


0c49adbb16823debc2ef8d84205e1b36.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/QUOTE
 
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RandallA84

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Sep 22, 2021
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Had to go a different route with the Sequoia build for the time being. Doing a more budget friendly build. Decided to go with the Bilstein 5100 complete set and will end up running about a 1 inch spacer in the back to help level out the Sequoia and get a 1.75'' to 1.85'' lift to avoid having to do UAC's with a bigger lift. Given I live in FL not to much crazy stuff to warrant going all out anytime soon. However I do have 18x9 -12 offset method wheels. Any suggestions on best size tires to run on them and how much trimming would have to be done? OR will they even fit with only going 1.75'' to 1.85'' of lift?
 

Friedom

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Nov 24, 2022
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Hey guys, similar boat here. I'm leaning in the direction of an ironman 4x4 kit.

Regarding the diff drop, it's worth noting that a lift kit still keeps the suspension within the stock range of travel that the cv joints are designed for. A diff drop puts your diff lower and more vulnerable without necessarily any improvement unless you're changing other parts that allow things to droop beyond the limits of the cv. A lift strut doesn't do that.
 

Jgrauman

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Feb 18, 2019
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Hey guys, similar boat here. I'm leaning in the direction of an ironman 4x4 kit.

Regarding the diff drop, it's worth noting that a lift kit still keeps the suspension within the stock range of travel that the cv joints are designed for. A diff drop puts your diff lower and more vulnerable without necessarily any improvement unless you're changing other parts that allow things to droop beyond the limits of the cv. A lift strut doesn't do that.
Please elaborate on your statement here, not following what you're saying is the difference between a lift kit and a lift strut? When you are changing the height of the strut, you are pushing the cv to a steeper angle. The diff drop is just a spacer which brings that angle back to the stock geometry.
 

Friedom

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Nov 24, 2022
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The lift(spacer, strut, whatever) moves the resting stance lower into it's operating range so that you have more compression room left and less droop left. Thing is - the suspension geometry is designed for the cv axle to be within it's safe range of motion within the entire throw from full stuff to full droop. So if you put a lift kit on it, it's still comfortably within the intended operating range of the CV with no binding.
The only issue I could see is that boots that leak will leak more, but we're still within the designated operating range of the boots.

For what it's worth, I ran a 3" lift on my 4runner for 5ish years and 150k and no diff drop and never had an issue with the cvs. Sequoia isn't a 4runner, but it's still relevant.

Check this out.

 

Jgrauman

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Feb 18, 2019
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Agreed in the operating range, it was meant to be able to temporarily operate in that range, like going over a bump in the road. the heightened angle increases rub on the rib of the boots causing them to tear and sling grease and contaminating the joint causing premature wear. Hence the high angle boots and neoprene. I've lifted over 15 toyotas and have only had boots tear on one and that was the Sequoia with a diff drop. I have no correlation to which is best, I just always put on the diff drop of going over 2 inches for safe keeping