Why exactly are front spacer lifts bad?

I saw that, and I read the link posted by buzzards too. Just weighing the pros and cons as to how to level my truck. People have used spacers for many years and most of the time they seem to be great. I don't like the ride of the preloaded springs and I don't need King coilovers. Ride quality is important to me as I drive a lot of highway miles commuting to work and getting to riding areas to dirt bike.

 

We dont have them on 2nd gens, but I would argue worse than a spacer lift, would be turning up torsen bars, or a body lift.

But yes generally agree.

 

You got me on that one... My buddy had a body lift on his dodge and the bolts sheared and the body slid right off

 

If u are just goin to level it (1/2" spacer for ~1" of lift) i think they would be ok, but u can get 5100's for the front for like $170, or all 4 corners for under $320. How maby miles are on ur shocks? Ur gonna have to replace them sometime, if u have over 60000 u might as well swap em while u have it apart and save urself a couple or three hours doing it all again down the road.

 

You'll be fine with a coil spacer. Contrary to fearful internet opinion, almost every single new truck with a lift kit sitting on a dealer lot is lifted with coil spacers and lift blocks.

Not everybody needs what everybody else wants.

 

Just so I understand (and correct me if I wrong), the offroading problem comes into play when the shock is compress, effectively crushing the end of the shock. This is due to the bump stop now being too short for the length of travel.

So why not just adjust the bump stop? Or am I missing something?

Personally I am going the full OME route, but that is my choice and I will get the parts as the budget allows. I am just curious on this topic.

 

Again, they aren't inherently evil. They aren't good choices for some situations, and they are fine in other situations. Owner decides his needs and goes from there and drives accordingly to avoid breaking things, which includes a guy with coil spacers to do offroading, or a guy who buys a new Raptor and then thinks he's going to jump all the dunes he can find.

Both will end up figuring out the shortcomings of their equipment in a hurry.

Yes there is definitely better, but it's totally subjective as to what will work for you. No need for Icon's of Fox shocks with resi's to drive around town with 265s, and Bilstein 5100 shocks are only mildly better solutions with a trade off equally as poor as spacers. Springs are the proper way to do things, but again, not everybody will expose the flaw in their suspension to justify the need to have something different or better.

If all you can afford it spacers, and you understand fully the limitations they give you - then you're FINE. $300 or $30k vehicle makes no difference. Same with 5100s. Same with springs/shocks. Same with everything.

All work, all have trade offs, all have limitations. Pick your combo.

 

I have 5100's with ome springs. Not a fan of the stiff ride for commuting.

 

spacers won't get you a better ride

 

because dealers usually know what the fuck they're doing, and spacers are an easy and cheap way to add $2000 for a "Offroad Super Hardcore XX30TRDQTCD 2xVVTI SuperRuggedTerrain Expo" package

they're cheap, and people run them without problems. But lots of people smoke and don't get cancer either

we won't recommend them unless there's no other option

I've seen people break shocks because of spacers. I've also seen blocks demolish leaf packs with 100% road use. If there's other options, they should be taken before going the spacer route

 

The point was is that spacers and lift blocks work fine for 90% of people who have them, to the point that new trucks are driven with "lift kits" and they're not coming back with thousands of new trucks that have broken suspension parts.

Spacers work for many, not all. Figuring out which side you fall on is the key. There isn't anything inherently wrong with coil spacers, the problem exists when they're pushed beyond their limit, which is true for all suspension setups.

I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just not saying something is the worst thing in the world just because everybody tells you it is.

Everything breaks, suspension parts are consumables.

 

Whats the difference between preloading a coil with a space versus preloading a coil with 5100's?

 

They won't make it worse and like the stock ride. What do you suggest for "lifting" the front 1" to 1 1/2"?

 

What coils and shock setting on 5100s are you using now? Maybe you're oversprung, or over compressed.

 

5100's with 883 coils and set at 0.

 

What's the scoop on your truck? 1st/2nd gen. cab config, engine/trans 4x4/4x2?

 

09 access cab Prerunner, that's why I got the 883 springs to give minimal lift it's not that it's stiff, it's just the preload makes all the small road trash rattle the truck. In the stroke it works fine.

 

Wrong.

Coil spacers make the shock absorbers the bump stops. The stock suspension doesn't do that. A proper front lift doesn't do that. Shock absorbers are not designed to be bump stops. That's what's wrong with spacer lifts....

David

 

Revtech is the only spacer lift that is covered by the Factory Toyota warranty. Why? Because the engineers at Revtech worked hand in hand with Toyota engineers to make sure that the parts and pieces would work together properly.
And as always, make sure you get an alignment done after any lift has been done.