4Runner Lift Kit Guide: Leveling, Coilovers, Lifts

A Toyota 4Runner lift kit can be a pair of 1-inch strut spacers, a bolt-on 3-inch kit with a differential drop, or a full ICON coilover system with adjustable damping. What fits depends on your generation, whether the truck is 2WD or 4WD, and whether it has KDSS, X-REAS or a TRD Pro or Trailhunter suspension. This guide sorts what NVMOS carries by generation.

Short answer: Start with your generation and drivetrain. On a 2010–2024 5th gen, a 2-inch front spacer is the simplest way to level, and ReadyLIFT lists a 33-inch maximum tire for its 2.5- and 3-inch SST2.1 kits. For damping and wheel travel as well as height, look at ICON coilover systems. On a 6th gen, ReadyLIFT lists 35x12.50R17 tires with minor trimming on its 3-inch kits, which name only the 2025 model year. If your truck has KDSS, skip any kit that says it will not work with it.

Leveling kit, coilovers or lift kit: what each one does

There are three common ways to raise a 4Runner, and they do very different amounts of work. Our leveling kit vs lift kit guide covers the basics in more depth.

Shims and leveling spacers. A spacer bolts on top of the front strut and raises the front. The factory shocks and springs stay.
Spacer lift kits. ReadyLIFT SST kits use front strut spacers and rear coil spacers. Some add differential drop parts, upper arms, shocks or a skid plate.
Coilover systems. ICON systems replace the front struts with height-adjustable coilovers and add rear springs and shocks.

Option	Front lift (as listed)	What changes	Good fit for
Coachbuilder shim	.250 to 1.00 in	Billet shim on top of the strut; factory parts stay	Fixing a lean, small corrections
Front leveling spacer	1 in (6th gen ReadyLIFT) to 2 in (ICON Alloys)	Steel spacers on top of the strut	Level stance, slightly bigger tires
ReadyLIFT SST kit	2.5–3 in front, 1–2 in rear	Strut spacers, rear coil spacers; some add arms, diff drop or shocks	33s on 5th gen; 35s with trimming on 6th gen
ICON coilover system	0–3 in (3rd gen), 0–3.5 in (4th and 5th), 1.25–3 in (6th)	Coilovers, rear springs and shocks, then arms, links and adjusters	Damping, wheel travel and heavier builds

4Runner lift kits by generation

Lift parts are generation-specific. Match the listing to your model year, and to 2WD or 4WD where the listing splits them.

1996–2002 (3rd gen)

ICON is the brand we carry with complete 3rd gen systems. Stage 1 through Stage 5 give 0–3 inches of adjustable front lift. Stage 1 pairs 2.5 VS Series front coilovers with 2.0 Aluminum Series rear shocks. From Stage 2 you choose tubular or billet upper control arms with ICON's Delta Joint, plus rear springs with about 1 inch of lift. Stage 3 moves to remote reservoir coilovers, and Stages 4 and 5 add 2.5 Aluminum Series remote reservoir rear shocks. ICON also sells 3rd gen front coilover kits and rear shocks on their own, and a front coilover pair engineered for trucks already running a ProComp 6-inch lift.

2003–2009 (4th gen)

ICON's 4th gen systems cover the 2003–2009 4Runner and 2007–2009 FJ Cruiser, with 0–3.5 inches of front lift and 2-inch rear coil springs. Stage 1 is 2.5 Series front coilovers, 2.0 Aluminum Series rear shocks and the rear springs. Stage 2 adds Delta Joint upper arms, and the systems climb to Stage 8, which ICON calls its top-tier package for this platform, with Omega Bypass rear shocks, rear upper and lower links (billet or tubular, depending on the version) and an adjustable track bar.

For a simpler kit, the ReadyLIFT 3-inch front / 2-inch rear SST kit (69-5060) is listed for 2003–2024 4Runners, 2WD and 4WD, in non-Trail editions. It uses strut extensions, front differential drop brackets, skid plate spacers and rear coil spring spacers. ReadyLIFT also sells that 2-inch rear spacer alone for 2003–2024 trucks. If you carry a heavy bumper, winch or rooftop tent, ICON's rear dual rate coil spring kit for the 2003–2024 4Runner gives 3 inches of lift unloaded and 2 inches with typical overland gear, per ICON. Our 4Runner overland build guide covers the rest of that kind of build.

2010–2024 (5th gen)

For a simple level, the ICON Alloys 2-inch steel spacer kit bolts on top of the factory coilover on 2003–2024 4Runners, and ICON Alloys says it allows 32-inch tires. Coachbuilder shims come in .250-inch, .50-inch and 1.00-inch front lift versions listed for 2005–2023 Tacoma, 4Runner and FJ Cruiser, TRD Pro included with the Coachbuilder Hardware Kit. They also correct driver-side lean. The shim listings stop at 2023, so confirm fit for a 2024.

ReadyLIFT's SST2.1 systems come in 2.5-inch (62-50310) and 3-inch (62-50340) versions with Falcon 2.1 monotube shocks. The 2.5-inch system uses front Falcon coilovers and a rear block system; the 3-inch adds DOM tubular upper arms and a front skid plate. Both list a 33-inch maximum tire.

ICON's 5th gen systems run from Stage 1 to Stage 9, with 0–3.5 inches of front lift and 2-inch rear springs. Stage 1 is front 2.5 Series coilovers, 2.0 Aluminum Series rear shocks and rear springs. Higher stages add Delta Joint upper arms, remote reservoirs, rear links, CDCV adjusters and, on Stage 9, CDEV electronic damping run through ICON's app. ICON says its standard front coilover kits work with the stock upper arms, its extended travel versions need aftermarket arms, and its 700 lbs/in spring versions are meant for the weight of bumpers and winches. ReadyLIFT's upper control arms (67-53640) fit 2003–2024 4Runners on 2–3 inch lifts.

2025 and newer (6th gen)

ReadyLIFT's 66-54150 strut spacer kit raises the 2025–2026 4Runner 1 inch (the same part lifts a 2024–2026 Tacoma 1.5 inches; see our Tacoma lift kit guide). The ReadyLIFT 2.5-inch SST kit (69-55250) uses steel strut spacers, billet pre-load spacers and a rear coil spacer. ReadyLIFT's 3-inch kits lift the front 3 inches with 2 inches of rear lift (SST and SST2.1) or 1 inch (SST3.3, with Falcon 3.3 Fast Adjust shocks). These three listings name the 2025 model year, so confirm a 2026 on the product page.

ICON lists separate 4WD and 2WD systems for the 2025–2026 4Runner, with 4WD running from Stage 1 to Stage 14. All give 1.25–3 inches of front lift and 0.75 inch of rear lift from dual-rate rear coils. The 4WD Stage 1 includes front differential drop brackets, which ICON says prevent CV bind. Higher stages add Delta Joint PRO upper arms, remote reservoirs, rear links, a track bar and CDCV, CDXS or CDEV adjustable damping. ICON's 6th gen remote reservoir rear shocks are listed separately for the driver and passenger side, so order both sides if you need a pair.

KDSS, X-REAS, TRD Pro and Trailhunter

KDSS is Toyota's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, a hydraulically linked sway bar setup. Check whether your truck has it, or X-REAS, before you order. We only state compatibility where the product page states it.

Listed as not working with KDSS. The ReadyLIFT 3-inch front / 2-inch rear SST kit, the 2-inch rear block kit and both 2010–2024 SST2.1 systems. The same listings exclude X-REAS and TRD Pro.
Listed as KDSS compatible. ICON says its 2010–2024 Stage 6 systems are compatible with KDSS-equipped 4Runners. Its Stage 7, 8 and 9 systems include an adjustable rear track bar that ICON lists as KDSS compatible. The Stage 8 billet listing gives 2010–2023 in its description, so confirm a 2024 on the product page.
Not stated. ICON's 5th gen Stage 1 to Stage 5 pages do not mention KDSS. Ask us before you order one for a KDSS truck.
6th gen trims. The ReadyLIFT 2.5-inch SST, 3-inch SST2.1 and 3-inch SST3.3 kits are listed as not for TRD Pro or Trailhunter models. ReadyLIFT says its 1-inch leveling kit has not been tested on TRD Pro, Adaptive Variable Suspension or hybrid applications.

Tire sizes as the vendors list them

Here is what the vendors list for the kits we carry. ICON's listings mention larger tires but do not give sizes, so ask us if you are planning around an ICON system. Wheel width and offset matter as much as the lift; read our wheel offset and backspacing guide before you buy wheels.

Kit	Generation	Tire size listed
ICON Alloys 2 in spacer kit	2003–2024	32-inch tires
ReadyLIFT 3 in F / 2 in R SST	2003–2024	Up to 33-inch
ReadyLIFT 2.5 in SST2.1	2010–2024	33-inch max; 285/65R18 on 18x9 +0
ReadyLIFT 3 in SST2.1	2010–2024	33-inch max; optimized for 295/65R18 on 18x9 +0
ReadyLIFT 1 in leveling kit	2025–2026	285/70 without trimming
ReadyLIFT 2.5 in SST	2025–2026	285/75R17 on 17x8 +35; 285/65R18 on 18x9 +1 with trimming
ReadyLIFT 3 in SST, SST2.1 and SST3.3	2025 (see listing)	285/75R17 on 8 in +35 or 295/55R20 on 8.5 in +35; 315/70R17 or 35x12.50R17 with minor trimming

Larger tires add weight, change effective gearing and throw off the speedometer until it is recalibrated.

What to check before you order

Generation and model year. Several 6th gen listings name 2025 only. Confirm the year on the product page.
2WD or 4WD. ICON makes separate 6th gen systems for each. ReadyLIFT notes that 2WD trucks typically sit lower with its 3-inch front / 2-inch rear SST kit.
KDSS, X-REAS and trim. Several kits exclude TRD Pro, Trailhunter, or trucks with KDSS or X-REAS, and the ReadyLIFT 3-inch front / 2-inch rear kit is listed for non-Trail editions only.
Upper control arms. ICON's extended travel coilovers need aftermarket upper arms. Check what your kit includes.
Coilover brand, for shims. Coachbuilder shims on ADS, Fox 2.5, ICON 2.5 or King coilovers need the SAE 3/8 in bolt kit; Eibach and OME BP-51 coilovers take the metric M10 kit.

After the install: alignment, warranty and legal questions

Alignment. Any lift or level changes front geometry. Plan on an alignment after install and have the headlight aim checked. Adjustable upper arms, like ICON's billet Delta Joint arms, give the shop more caster and camber range.
Factory warranty. A lift does not automatically void your whole warranty, but a dealer can deny a claim on a part it believes the lift affected. Ask your dealer before you install and keep your paperwork.
State rules. Lift height, bumper height and headlight height rules vary by state. Check your state before you go tall.

What NVMOS carries

Our 4Runner suspension comes mainly from ICON Vehicle Dynamics and ReadyLIFT, with leveling parts from ICON Alloys and Coachbuilder. A few to start with:

1996–2002 and 2003–2009

2010–2024

2025 and newer

Browse by category: Toyota 4Runner Lift Kits, Toyota 4Runner, Leveling Kits, Coilover Kits, Control Arms, Coil Spacers and all Lift Kits. For bumpers, armor and lighting, see our 4Runner accessories guide. You can also shop by vehicle, check current lead times and read our vendor warranty policies.

Shop 4Runner lift kits →

Shop leveling kits →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best lift kit for a 4Runner?

There is no single best kit. It depends on your generation, drivetrain, KDSS or trim package, tire size and how you use the truck. Pick the generation first, then choose a leveling kit, spacer lift or coilover system.

Will a lift kit work on a 4Runner with KDSS?

Some will. ReadyLIFT lists its 3-inch front / 2-inch rear SST kit, rear block kit and 2010–2024 SST2.1 systems as not working with KDSS. ICON lists its 2010–2024 Stage 6 systems as compatible with KDSS-equipped 4Runners, and its Stage 7, 8 and 9 systems include an adjustable rear track bar it lists as KDSS compatible. If a page does not mention KDSS, ask us first.

What size tires fit a lifted 5th gen 4Runner?

Go by what each vendor lists. ReadyLIFT lists a 33-inch max tire diameter for its 3-inch front / 2-inch rear SST kit and its 2.5-inch and 3-inch SST2.1 systems for the 2010–2024 4Runner. ICON Alloys says its 2-inch spacer kit allows 32-inch tires. Wheel offset matters as much as the lift; see our post on fitting 35s on the 5th gen.

Are there lift kits for the 2025 and 2026 4Runner?

Yes. ReadyLIFT lists a 1-inch leveling kit and a 2.5-inch SST kit for 2025–2026, plus 3-inch kits whose listings name 2025. ICON lists 4WD and 2WD systems with 1.25–3 inches of front lift for 2025–2026.

Do I need new upper control arms to lift a 4Runner?

Not always. ICON says its standard 5th gen front coilover kits work with the stock upper arms, while its extended travel coilovers need aftermarket upper arms. Many systems include upper arms, and ReadyLIFT sells arms alone for 2003–2024 and 2025–2026 trucks.

Do I need an alignment after lifting or leveling a 4Runner?

Plan on one. Changing front ride height changes the alignment angles, so schedule an alignment soon after install and ask the shop to check headlight aim while the truck is there.

Will a lift kit void my Toyota warranty?

A lift does not automatically void the whole factory warranty, but a dealer can deny a claim on a part it believes the lift affected. Ask your dealer before you install, and keep your receipts and install records.

Not sure what fits your truck? Call a real person at (920) 249-7744 or send us a message, and we will help you sort it out.

October 13, 2026 — NVMOS

Tags: Buying Guide Coachbuilder Coilovers ICON Alloys ICON Vehicle Dynamics Leveling Kits Lift Kits ReadyLIFT Suspension Toyota 4Runner

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