4Runner Suspension Buyer's Guide: Best Lift Kits for 4th & 5th Gen 4Runners (2"–3.5")
If you've reached out to us about lifting your 4Runner, this is the guide we want you to read first. The aftermarket is overflowing with shocks, coilovers, springs, and upper control arms all claiming to be the "best" — and honestly, most of them are fine. But "fine" isn't what we build at SWAT Customs.
This post is the distilled version of the recommendations we give every 4th gen (2003–2009) and 5th gen (2010–2024) 4Runner owner who walks through our shop in Fremont, CA. We're focused on the 2"–3.5" lift range — the sweet spot for daily-driven, trail-capable 4Runners. No drop bracket lifts, no long-travel kits, no solid axle swaps. Just the proven combinations we install over and over with great results.
Why We Skip Spacer Lifts
Before we get into the good stuff, a quick word on spacer lifts. They're cheap and easy, but they come with real downsides over time — ride quality, premature wear, and stress on factory components.
We made a short video covering the pros and cons of spacer lifts vs. a true suspension lift. The short version: if you care about durability, ride quality, and the long-term health of your front end, go with a real suspension lift.
Durability & Daily-Driver Options
These are the kits we recommend most often for 4Runners that get driven every day, see weekend trails, and need to last. All three deliver real ride-quality improvements without the maintenance overhead of a race-grade setup.
Bilstein 5100
The Bilstein 5100 is one of our most popular entry-level kits and a textbook "buy once and forget it" option.
✅ Great on-road handling with mild off-road capability
✅ Backed by a lifetime parts warranty
✅ Excellent value for stock or lightly modified 4Runners
❌ Not ideal for heavy builds (bumpers, sliders, drawers, RTTs), towing, or high-performance off-road use
If your 4Runner is mostly stock and you want a clean, reliable 2"–2.5" lift that won't let you down, 5100s are hard to beat.
Bilstein 6112 (with 5160 or 5100 Rear)
The Bilstein 6112 is our most popular 4Runner suspension kit overall — and for good reason. It's arguably the best bang-for-your-buck setup on the market.
✅ Multiple spring rate options to match your build's weight
✅ Noticeably better ride comfort and damping than the 5100, both on- and off-road
✅ Ride-height adjustable so you can dial in the stance you want
✅ Works equally well on a lightly built daily and a 4Runner loaded with armor
We typically pair the 6112 up front with a 5160 remote-reservoir rear for the best ride and value combo, or 5100s in the rear when the budget needs to stay tight.
It's worth mentioning, Bilstein does make the 8112, which is on a whole different planet in terms of comfort and control. If you have a top-of-the-line budget, you may want to drool over the many glowing reviews of the 8112 around the internet. Note, though, that given the ultra-high performance they provide, they will need servicing sooner than the other "daily driver" options here (all of which should essentially never need rebuilding), but far less than the Foxes and Kings of the world.
Dobinsons IMS
Dobinsons IMS coilovers are arguably the most durable high-end shocks in this category — and of these three durability picks, IMS offers the best overall ride.
✅ Plush but controlled — Some of the best comfort and control you'll get off-road
✅ Excellent for everything from a stock-weight 4Runner to a fully loaded overland rig
✅ Built like a tank — Dobinsons' reputation for durability is well-earned
✅ Best ride quality of any kit in the daily-driver tier
If you want the smoothest ride without stepping up to full performance coilovers, Dobinsons IMS is the pick. If you want to step up to the next performnace catagory, and keep legendary reliability, the Dobinsons MRR is by far the most durable top-performance option.
Honorable mention: Have you read good things about the Eibach Pro-Truck shocks? If you're dead set on those, we've had great luck with them. They cost a bit more than the 5100s for essentially the same perfromance, which is why it isn't our go to, however many feel they're a bit more comfortable on-road.
High-Performance Options
These kits step into territory where adjustability, tuning, and outright performance start to matter. Ideal for 4Runners running heavier weight, more aggressive trails, or owners who simply want the best.
One thing the "other guys" might nor bring up: High performance coilovers and shocks require periodic servicing, including recharging nitrogen, and rebuilding the entire shock. This should be considered before choosing any high-performance or "race" style shock.
Radflo
Radflo is one of the best-value performance shock brands we install, especially in their mid-tier lineup.
✅ The 500R series delivers top-tier ride and handling at a mid-tier price
✅ Their 2.0 and 2.5 reservoir shocks and coilovers unlock true high-performance damping and tunability
✅ Custom valving makes them excellent for 4Runners carrying real weight — bumpers, armor, drawers, roof loads
✅ Custom anodizing and Cerakote available, so you can build a 1-of-1 look that matches your rig
Radflo is a great answer when you want more performance than a 6112 or IMS can deliver, but you don't need to go long-travel.
Dirt King
Dirt King is the king of mid- and long-travel performance for 4Runners. For the 2"–3.5" range we're focused on here, their mid-travel kits are the standout.
✅ Mid-travel kits pair perfectly with Dirt King coilovers for an uncompromised daily/performance setup
✅ Industry-leading fabrication quality — built to outlast your truck
✅ The best option for maximum suspension performance without major chassis fab
???? Long-travel kits (with Radflo, Fox, or King shocks) are available if you want to go for absolute max performance and build a baja-monster
If you're chasing the highest level of suspension performance you can run on a 4Runner without serious modification, Dirt King mid-travel kits are it. If you're ready for the big-leagues, we can talk about a long-travel kit.
A Note on Rear Lifts
This catches a lot of new lift buyers off guard: shocks do not lift the vehicle. They control motion by absorbing energy (hence "shock absorbers"). Ride height is always set by your springs. Confusion is created by options like the Bilstein 5100 and 6112 front struts, which use a snap ring to set the height of the spring. Most vehicles (like your 4runner) have a divorced shock and spring, so in the rear, a taller and/or stiffer spring provides lift (or a spacer in rare cases, which isn't as evil in the rear as it is in the front).
Once we lock in your needs, we'll match the correct rear lift option for your build, your load, and your intended use. No one likes a saggy butt, and no one wants a stiff bouncy ride. We'll make sure you don't regret any amount of money you spend with us.
Upper Control Arms (UCAs) for 4Runners
Once you go past roughly 2" of lift on a 4Runner, UCAs become essentially mandatory. A quality UCA:
✅ Restores correct alignment geometry
✅ Prevents premature tire wear
✅ Improves handling and increases usable suspension travel
The brands we install most often:
- Dirt King — premium performance, maximum strength, the gold standard
- Freedom Offroad — excellent budget-friendly option that punches above its price
- SPC — adds extra alignment adjustability (rarely needed on most builds), maintenance-free
We carry plenty of other UCA brands as well — if there's a specific arm you've been eyeing, just ask. We can almost always source it.
Lift Height & Our Ride Height Guarantee
For 4th and 5th gen 4Runners, 2" to 3.5" is the sweet spot for daily-driven trucks. Lifts in this range give you room for 33"–35" tires, real suspension performance, and clean geometry — without the trade-offs of bracket lifts or major fab work.
We'll never set your ride height past the safe maximum for your specific setup, but we'll dial it in to match your expectations. You can read our full Ride Height Guarantee Policy here.
Lead Times
Some premium and performance kits — especially certain Dirt King and Radflo configurations — can carry longer lead times. If anything you're interested in is on a wait, we'll let you know up front so you can plan around it.
Why Choose SWAT Customs for Your 4Runner Suspension?
We're not just selling parts — we're planning, installing, and standing behind every 4Runner suspension we touch. At our Fremont shop, we see 4th and 5th gen 4Runners come through every week (sometimes multiples in a day), and we have the install experience and product knowledge to help you make the right call the first time.
Whether you're putting together a clean 2" daily build or a fully loaded overland rig with a 3.5" performance coilover setup, we'll walk you through:
- The right shock and spring combo for your weight and use case
- The correct UCA pairing
- Proper alignment and ride-height tuning
- Long-term serviceability and warranty considerations
We do not want you to regret any amount of money you choose to spend with us ever.
Ready to Lift Your 4Runner?
Stop by, call, or message us — we'll show you live customer builds in the shop, talk through how you actually use your 4Runner, and help you spec a lift you'll love driving for years.
SWAT Customs — Fremont, CA
2030 Warm Springs Ct. #1, Fremont, CA 94539
(510) 651-7928
Contact us online or DM us on Instagram @swat_customs