1995-2006 Toyota Suspension Kits - Four Wheeler Magazine

Late Model Toyota Suspension Superlift Kit

Superlift's basic late-model Toyota kit consists of front and rear spring spacers and necessary hardware to create 2 to 2.5 inches of lift, depending on vehicle. For the Tundra, the rear blocks are optional (to retain the factory rake), as are rear Superide shocks and the TruSpeed speedometer recalibrator.

Superlift's basic late-model Toyota kit consists of front and rear spring spacers and nece

Many late-model trucks and SUVs do dual purpose as weekday commuters and weekend fun machines. Enthusiast owners often want a little lift to make their trucks stick out from the crowd but without sacrificing daily driveability and fuel economy. Mild 3-inch-or-less lift kits are popular for people who want a more aggressive look and stance but don't want to deal with the domino effect that comes with moderate-to-tall lifts (axle regearing, potential wheelwell modifications, steering correction, brake upgrades, and so on).

For '95-'06 fullsize Toyota owners, Superlift is one aftermarket manufacturer that offers an affordable and fairly simple kit that accommodates up to about 32x11.50 tires. In the front, the stock coilovers are retained and spaced down from the body with CNC-machined aluminum coil preload rings. Polyurethane isolators fit between the spacers and the coil to absorb noise and vibration. Superlift also includes laser-cut steel indexing plates that match the factory coil tower pattern to ensure that the spacers fit and seat properly.

The Superlift Tundra kit retains daily-driveability by fitting 32x11.50 tires.

Rear lifting is also accomplished with spring spacers. In '95-'06 4Runners/Tacomas and Prerunner pickups, rear 1.5-inch tapered blocks combine with the front spacers to yield about 2.5 inches of lift. The same basic Superlift system raises '99-'06 Tundras and Sequoias about 2 inches: Sequoias are leveled with rear polyurethane coil spacers, and Tundra owners can opt for the 1.5-inch rear blocks if they want to retain the OE raked/rear-high look. Rear extended-length Superlift Superide hydro shocks are also offered as an option, as is the TruSpeed speedometer recalibrator to compensate for larger-than-stock tires.

Installation
Although the kit isn't complex, Superlift recommends that the front coil spacers be professionally installed on the factory struts. The reason is that coil springs store potentially lethal amounts of energy, and a suitable compressor tool is required to safely remove them from the front struts.

Superlift also addresses the details for the different Toyota models. For example, the included rear axle brackets retain OE calibration of the brake proportioning valve and e-brake cables.

Superlift rates the job a "3" on its 1-to-5 degree-of-difficulty scale. Estimated shop time for professional installation of the basic kit, minus any optional parts, is three hours.

1. With the vehicle raised and secured and tires/wheels removed, disconnect the sway bar from its links.
1. With the vehicle raised and secured and tires/wheels removed, disconnect the sway bar f
2. Unbolt the struts at the lower control arms. The factory struts are made by Bilstein, which also offers heavier-duty aftermarket units for most Toyota applications.
2. Unbolt the struts at the lower control arms. The factory struts are made by Bilstein, w
3. Remove the three nuts from the top of the strut tower.

4. The Superlift kit uses these spacers to change the preload on the front coilover struts.
4. The Superlift kit uses these spacers to change the preload on the front coilover struts
5. Professional disassembly of the front coilovers is recommended. First, the coils' position is marked on the top plate.
5. Professional disassembly of the front coilovers is recommended. First, the coils' posit
6. Randy's Tire used a pro compressor tool to tear down the strut assembly. With the assembly compressed, the strut's top nut can be safely removed.
6. Randy's Tire used a pro compressor tool to tear down the strut assembly. With the assem

7. After carefully unloading the spring, the top plate can be removed. The factory rubber spacer isn't reused. It is replaced by the Superlift poly spring isolator and coil spacer.
7. After carefully unloading the spring, the top plate can be removed. The factory rubber
8. The top plate's factory studs are pressed or hammered out. The kit's replacement bolts seat in the spring spacer's slots. Use the reference marks to align the top plate.
8. The top plate's factory studs are pressed or hammered out. The kit's replacement bolts
9. The top nut and washers are hand-threaded into place.

Results
This kit is an easy and affordable way to give Toyotas a boost. The Phantom Gray Pearl '03 Tundra 4x4 shown here at Pismo was one of thousands of similar-looking Toyotas running around Southern California. Now it stands about 10-percent taller than most and still functions as a daily driver.

Many Toyota owners find the factory ride a bit spongy. This kit stiffens the ride somewhat-particularly at speed-since the front coilovers are slightly compressed to a more progressive stage. Also, the larger tires make the speedo read slower than actual road speed. Superlift's optional TruSpeed unit recalibrates the factory speed-signal pulse to correct the speedometer reading and auto-trans shift points. The four-wire installation gets power from a key-on fuse, ground to the chassis and corrects the speed signal at the blue/yellow wire at the speed sensor plug on the transmission or transfer case.

Overall, this is an economical way for late-model Toyotas to experience about a 10-percent growth spurt. Much of the job can likely be handled by mechanically competent do-it-yourselfers with the possible exception of the strut modifications. Installation highlights are covered in the accompanying photos and captions.

10. With the strut compressed and its shaft lined up with the top plate, the top nut can be torqued to spec.
10. With the strut compressed and its shaft lined up with the top plate, the top nut can b
11. Here's the stock strut assembly (left) compared to a Superlift-spaced version (right).
12. Position the kit's index ring over the studs. Then line up the studs with the tower holes to reinstall the spaced-out struts into the vehicle. Reattach the sway bar to its links.
12. Position the kit's index ring over the studs. Then line up the studs with the tower ho

13. To install the rear blocks, begin by unbolting the U-bolts.
14. Disconnect the shocks at the axle. The optional Superlift Superide rear shocks are direct replacements for the stock units. Use a jack to slowly lower the axle, taking care not to overextend the brake lines and vent hoses.
14. Disconnect the shocks at the axle. The optional Superlift Superide rear shocks are dir
15. Inspect the spring perches. They sometimes collapse or warp, particularly toward the rear. If the perches aren't perfectly flat, the kit's tapered blocks won't seat properly. Replace or reinforce the perches by welding on 1/4-inch-thick plate if necessary.
15. Inspect the spring perches. They sometimes collapse or warp, particularly toward the r

16. Insert the Superlift blocks between the axle and springs, making sure that they're seated in the spring packs' pins. Mate the springs to the axle with the kit's U-bolts.
16. Insert the Superlift blocks between the axle and springs, making sure that they're sea
17. A rear brake-proportioning extension bracket is included in the kit. Finish the suspension install with the kit's e-brake extension bracket.
17. A rear brake-proportioning extension bracket is included in the kit. Finish the suspen
18. In addition to assembling the struts, Randy's Tire also mounted and balanced 285/75R16 all-terrains (32.8-inch overall tire diameter) on the stock wheels to replace the OE LT255/70R16 (about 29.25-inch-tall) rubber.
18. In addition to assembling the struts, Randy's Tire also mounted and balanced 285/75R16

Late Model Toyota Suspension Speed Recalibrator

19. The optional TruSpeed speed recalibrator connects with four wires and allows the speed-signal pulse to be dialed in within 1 percent accuracy by following the included instructions.