Rancho / General HD lift

After much debate I ended up going with the Rancho Quick Lift and General Spring HD's. The ride is much improved over the stock set up. I was experiencing wicked axle wrap. The suspension is tight, has a firm but not harsh ride and the shocks have 9 adjustments. Which I'll probably never use...

The rear sits 1/2 higher in the rear but I'm sure it will settle over time. The front measures 37inches to the bottom of the wheel lip. The rear 37 1/2. I'm running 265s.

The total price for parts was about $900 after a $100 rebate on the shocks. I just wish I would've measured the before height! I'm pretty sure I gained at least 2" all around.

 

So those are the General Springs. Ive been looking into the non-HD version as they wont add a lift as much. Just to understand, you said it rose the rear 1/2", then that it rose 2". Do you mean roughly 2" front, 2.5" rear? Are the fronts height adjustable?

 

Yeah my post might read a little confusing.

Basically the truck sits 37 1/2" high in the rear and 37" high in the front. So 1/2" difference in ride height.

My overall impression is that my new set up raised my truck at least 2" over the previous height with worn out stock parts. I wish I would've measured prior to installing.

The Rancho fronts supposedly add 1.75" over stock. I feel they are closer to 2 as installed and might settle over time. The height is not adjustable but the dampening is.

The rear springs made a huge difference. No axle wrap whatsoever. After 400 miles they have softened up and now the shocks are actually dampening. I loaded the back with 120 pound sand bags to help settle the springs.

If I was to just replace the rear leafs and not the front struts my truck would've had a nose down rake for sure.

After endless research on suspension I think this set up is perfect for me. No bro lean, no taco lean, no vibes and no axle wrap.

Honestly this is the exact look I was going for and I'm super happy.

 

Logger, that is the exact same set up I went with this summer and have been very happy as well. I spoke to General Spring and they said that with the HD springs you can add about 750lbs more in the bed than standard springs.I wasn't expecting the lift I got from the HD leaf springs and it did make the truck look funny w/o lifting the front. Like you said the Quick Lift struts don't get it quiet level, but it still looks much better than stock. My ride is as you described, firm in the back, however when I have weight in the bed is where the ride really improves over the old suspension.The atv weighs about 400lbs and barely even squats the new leaf springs.

 

Do either of you want to sell your old Bilstiens? Assuming they are still good.

 

Mine were actually Tockio shocks which were used in the TRD as well. They were sacked out anyway.

 

Caligula, my rear shocks were definitely worn out and these struts are almost 18 yrs old so I wouldn't think they have much life left in them either.

 

quick question on the install of the general springs, did you guys have to replace shackles, ubolts and such?
Trucks look great by the way!!

 

Russ.... We replaced my U-bolts because w/ the new springs a little longer U-bolt fit better and I think we cut one off due to some rust. Also if the nuts come off the shackles you should be able to re-use them. We learned the bolts are part of the shackle and just thought it was rusted on there, that is until we cut it off and realized we just needed to go after the nut! ha! So I had to replace 1 shackle that probably didn't need replaced...$70 or more at the dealer!

 

Be sure to re torque your u bolts after a few hundred miles. And again a few hundred later, mine were loose causing what felt like axle wrap.

 

Just curious if those General HD's have settled at all? Know how much lift you now have over stock?

Also how is the ride with the bed unloaded?

 

I don't think they've settled much. I can measure and see. My Rancho quick lift did settle very slightly.

Honestly it's hard to determine how much over stock but if I knew stock height we could come up with a pretty close figure.

The ride is nice, not bone jarring or rough at all. I dailed my shocks down from 5 to 3 and it sucks up the bumps much better.

I was admittedly a bit nervous when I ordered the HD but I'm glad I did.

Ride is pretty subjective, but I'm happy with the set up and I'm pretty picky cause I spend A LOT of time behind the wheel.

 

Will add my 2004 doublecab to this thread since after hearing the review from Logger and messaging for information and others good reviews, this made me think this was the right solution for how I use the truck. 99% on-road, some towing of a 16 foot I/O boat and needing to get rid of the axle wrap from the worn springs.

For me it all sits about 2" higher (V6) up from about 35" on the old worn out springs/struts. Rear sits at 37.25 with tonneau cover and at least 100lbs in the bed (and a full tank of gas) and 37.00 in the front with the passenger side just a .25 higher than the drivers - sitting on 265/75/16 Discoverer AT3.

Appreciate the write up and the information provided - very pleased with the ride and handling over the post winter pot holes.

 

Looking good man!

 

Sorry to revive this thread but Im needing some help and don't know where else to ask. So I installed a pair of the General Spring HD leafs on my '99 4x4 but Im having trouble finding shocks for the rear. I originally purchased some KYB monomax shocks that are made for up to a 2" lift but they weren't even long enough with the truck on the ground. I thought these springs produced a 1.5" lift but the extended shocks were not even close to fitting. Did anybody else have these problems? Thanks in advance

 

The general HD's settled slightly for me, I installed Bilstein 5100's with them and they fit well.

 

Do those not limit the suspension at full droop for you?
Right now I'm measuring 24.5" at full droop on my passenger side but the 5100s only extend to 22.6" so they will bottom out before the suspension does. And Ive been told the full droop measurement wont change as the springs settle, is this true?

 

Is that for driver side or passenger side. If you are still using the stock shock mounts, there will be a difference of between them with the driver side being 1/2" longer typically. What full compression numbers are you seeing?

Take a look at the Bilstien 5125 series. You will see a chart of the available sizes on the DSM website:

http://downsouthmotorsports.com/i-10786891-bilstein-5125-series-universal-fit-shock.html

 

Sorry, that was passenger's, drivers side is just under 24". I havent found my compression numbers yet because Im avoiding dismantling the leafs. Plus I probably need to extend by bump stops so I figured I see what shocks were long enough and go from there. Thanks for the link to the 5125s, that looks like the route I need to take.
It just baffles me the GS HD leafs should only produce a 1.5" lift and yet most shocks arent long enough for them. Anyway, thanks for the help everybody!

 

Stock shock travel is ~6-6.5" I think. Don't quote me on that.

If you are looking at 9-10" travel shocks, you'll definitely have to extend your bump stops or risk over compressing the new shocks.