Hi I am leveling my 2005 Lexus GX470 by lifting the front end, then adding: Wheels: Method MR305 NV, likely 17x8.5 +0 offset - Tires: Nitto Terra Grappler G2, 265/70R17

My mechanic and friend tells me if I want to do it right I need to upgrade my suspension. I am not very educated about this and ask ChatGPT what is recommended and here is what it showed me. This has to be pretty basic for those of you out there in the know. Do you agree with this list or recommend something else? I only off road use is on mountain dirt roads, not hard for 4wd.Required:

• Total Chaos Uniball Upper Control Arms: SRQ Fabrications
  
• Dobinsons Front Diff Drop Kit: Shock Surplus
  

Highly Recommended Add-ons:

• Dobinsons Front Sway Bar Relocation: Dobinsons Direct
  
• Rear Adjustable Panhard Bar: Dobinsons Direct
  
• Rear Sway Bar Links: Whiteline at Summit Racing
  
• Timbren or DuroBumps Bump Stops: Timbren | DuroBumps
  
• Brake Line Relocation Brackets: Freedom Off-Road
  
• Alignment with +3.5° to +4° caster
  
  Thank you!
  
  Mike
  

 

If all you're doing is driving on dirt mountain roads, then tires will get you the biggest improvement.
Try the Nittos first and see if you need to make further changes.

Chip H.

 

Thank you for the reply Chip. They are getting put on today. I am curious if I will wear out my suspension with a lift and no upgrades due to there being different angles than stock... That being said I am only leveling. I will drive it and asses from there I guess. Anyway I appreciate you in put.

 

So you are going from stock 265/65R17(ie about 31" [30.6]) to 265/70r17(ie 32"[31.6])? With mild 'lift' in the front to level it? 1"??

You need to more than likely need to do zero. I sure wouldn't do a damn thing in the rear.

I doubt I'd do a thing in the front... I dropped the front of one of my 4wd trucks by about 2" and didn't adjust sway bar, etc. A diff drop kit for one inch?

Brake lines in the front are the only thing I might take a look at and it could be as simple as moving the frame mount point down one inch. FWIW, I did a 6" lift on an old FJ40 and just moved the front brake hard mount down 4".

You are talking about logging roads not rock crawling. You aren't doing extreme articulation, axle dropping, etc.

 

Thank you! I think I finally got it sorted out and you are correct I do not need to do a thing! I got confused between leveling and a 3 inch lift and I am just leveling.

 

Here are my .02 for whatever they're worth:
I've been running at stock height on Dx4 Beast 17x8 0 offset with Firestone Destination X/T 265/70/r17 since January and with factory alignment settings. Just recently took a mild wheeling trip and the truck handled it just fine. Also, I'm still running the factory running boards (because of my short wife) and Bilstein 5100's all around.

All that said, if I were to do a "level" like you asked, the 5100's are a great choice but rather than having the front springs at the lowest circlip, just have them set to the second from the bottom which would give you a bit under an inch of lift. No other mods are necessary.

 

Thank you, just what I did and am going to replace my strut master shocks with Bilsteins soon!

 

The recommendations you were given are solid, however, you likely don't need all that. Articulation is not an issue unless you plan 4x4'ing where you are on just 3 or 2 wheels while crawling over stuff.

1. Almost all GX470's at this point need all new arm bushings and ball joints. Highly recommended this be done.
2. Steering racks are also about shot on most GX470's
3. You can get a smidge of lift by installing a spring spacer in the coilover, or, replace spring with ones that are a tad longer, try and stay away from stiffer springs.

Unless you want to make your GX a serious 4x4, then no need for that expensive 4x4 parts list. IMHO.

 

I need to do this myself. The seals are leaking and starting to fill up the boots.
OEM part is about $1000, plus labor and alignment afterwards.

Chip H.

 

I bought aftermarket rack, but I am not doing it only because I don't have the time to do this item, it's a bit tricky from the online vids.