I just want to get a minimal lift to simply change the stance of my new to me GX470. Without creating more possible problems, what is the easiest way to get a minimal lift? I am looking for 1-2" in front and 0-1" in the rear. I would like to refrain from tricking the airbags if possible. Mine have 19k miles on them. I also do not want to disconnect any other systems or mess stress the KDSS system that mine has on it. Planning to add 265/70/15 tires as soon as I get lift configured. I would like to make the ride a little less soft, and have gathered that changging springs and tires will do so.
Will adjustable Bilstiens work with stock springs?
Can I use a Toyota "puck" system as used in T4Rs for leveling?
A 265/70/17 tire will not require a lift. If you are looking to keep things "simple" start with that and see if you get the look/stance that you desire. My truck does not have kdss so I'm not able to offer advice directly relating to yours. If you do decide to lift it there are several options for the front. If your factory shocks are in good condition they can be retained so you don't loose the adjustment option. Either spacers or a spring swap can be used for a 2" lift on the stock shocks. For the rear there are slightly less options available. I opted not to trick the airbags either. I tried it, hated the way it drove and almost immediately after switched to a custom made spacer under the airbag. I'm currently running 285/70/17's with 3.5" lift. This is as large of a tire you can run until you're into serious modifications. Do a search and you will find that all these topics have been discussed in great detail. Do your own research on what works with the kdss. I personally have no idea.
This is a 265/70/17 with no lift.
I am using 2.5" non pre-load spacers to lift the front and tricked the rear airbags around 1.5-2" for the truck to sit level. you can check out how I installed them in my thread its a little different than on the 4runner because the comfort sport actuator sits on top so you have to modify the bracket, its in my thread below with pictures how to do it. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...ld-thread.html
This let me fit 285/70/17's with minimal rubbing, just had to trim the fender linings and a tiny corner on the side steps (if you are keeping those).
I plan to do a spacer for the rear airbag or go to coils in the future, as the little bit of lift on the rear bags did make it stiffer but its not untolerable I have been using it like that for quite a while now.
everything still works and I enjoy having the comfort sport button when my wife gets in the car I can switch it to comfort and its all soft, switch it to sport and I can really do some turning.
Thanks RZ! If I simply put a spacer up front to get a leveling impact, do I lose the comfort/sport option?
Any solution for the front that retains the factory shock will still have the sport/comfort setting. Your options are a preload spacer that mounts under the top hat of the shock, spacer on top of the strut (like alisc) or new springs. I'm running a combination of a 1" spacer on top of the strut along with old man emu springs from a 4 runner. The springs are an additional 2.5" lift.
I've got the OME springs and shocks up front and shocks out back. Have the KDSS as well and it gave me probably 2 inches up front. I tricked the airbags in the rear to level it out. The OME are much firmer than stock and do well off road too.
I found out that I do not have KDS . I was using the Lexus VIN decoder and it lied. I looked under the truck when I bought it, but didn't look for KDS . Oh, wel . Now I don't have to fab sliders.
A 265/70/17 tire will not require a lift. If you are looking to keep things "simple" start with that and see if you get the look/stance that you desire. My truck does not have kdss so I'm not able to offer advice directly relating to yours. If you do decide to lift it there are several options for the front. If your factory shocks are in good condition they can be retained so you don't loose the adjustment option. Either spacers or a spring swap can be used for a 2" lift on the stock shocks. For the rear there are slightly less options available. I opted not to trick the airbags either. I tried it, hated the way it drove and almost immediately after switched to a custom made spacer under the airbag. I'm currently running 285/70/17's with 3.5" lift. This is as large of a tire you can run until you're into serious modifications. Do a search and you will find that all these topics have been discussed in great detail. Do your own research on what works with the kdss. I personally have no idea.
Hey Rz500,I was curious about your airbag spacers you had fabricated and how cheaply you could get them recreated? I really like the stock airbay setup on the gx but I want to lift it while retaining all the comfort settings. Front struts are easy enough with leveling spacers. But could I combine this with a rear airbag spacer and a rear shock spacer as to not compromise the stock shocks?
