Lifting a 1st gen 5lug - feedback and ideas

@lilred5lugger This is awesome info, it’s super helpful for me and hopefully someone else who stumbles on this thread.

So front you did the fabtech 3” spindles and a spacer? Which one did you do was it worth it or was it really tough? And the back you did the 2” shackle with two 1.5” add a leafs? How hard are the leafs? Are there other easy ways to lift the back if I did a spacer in the front with the spindle but wanted it level? I’m worried about a really stiff ride by adding the leafs.

 

Is the regeared differential needed for the lift im thinking of, what does that do? or just because you are going even more with the bigger tires? I wanna hear how it goes for you.

 

I’m anxious to hear if the 31s clear. I have the 3” spindles with an 1.5” spacer in front. But it’s the width I’m worried about.

 

What gear ratio did you go with? Are upgrading to an LSD or a worm gear also?

 

@19975lugger did you do the 1.5 spacer from fat bobs along with the spindle? And what was your setup in back and where did you get it?

I'm trying to finalize my order for the lift, want it to be level though not leaning front or back strong.

 

I believe it will, I have a 31x10.5x15 tire on a 5th rim for my tire swingout. I should put it on to see how it fits. I recently sold my bedliner off my truck to a guy who had a 97 5 lug v6 and this guy had no lift but was running 275x70x16 tires. They looked massive compared to my little 235s. I asked him where does it rub he said the back of the front fenders, that's about it. I think that tire size is equivalent to a 32" tire.

 

I went with 4.10 because i plan on supercharging it from LCENGINEERING and i want the freeway rpm to be close to stock. I already have an arb twin compressor with a 1gal tank installed on the truck just took me awhile to finally pull the trigger on the diff.

 

I would get the spindle the spacer and the 2 inch shackle with rear shocks.

 

Wonder if he did the pinch weld mod. I’d love to know about the spare. I am running 15s right now and want to try the 31/10.5/r15.

 

I want to put the blower on mine too. What is your gear ratio now? Mine is the 3:15 or 3:10.

 

@Mancub5lug Not sure where I got the spacer but yeah I did a 1.5” spacer with the spindle and shocks in front. Then the AAL with the shackle and Fabtech shocks in the back.

Amazon for the full kit.

$750 Fabtech K7014 Spindle Lift System w/Performance Shocks 3 in. Lift Incl. Front And Rear Shocks Rear Add-A-Leaf Kit All Required Hardware Spindle Lift System

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054ENVPI

 

If I did the 3" spindles and 1.5 in spacer in the front I would be at a max of 4.5, likely 4 from what I've seen. Then in the back I would only be up 2" if I only do the shackles like you said @lilred5lugger. Will that look level visually? Or should I do one AAL to get it a little higher in the back? Thanks for the Amazon link @19975lugger

Also for both of you, on some other threads I saw people saying the spindles kick the front tires out wider than the back. How did you guys handle that?

I'm doing the lift now, but I'm excited to hear about what you guys determine on what tires and rims work before I buy those, I want the max without rubbing bad.

 

@Mancub5lug

 

I did bearings and ball joints as well when I did mine.

 

Awesome stuff thank you, and @19975lugger what beartings and ball joints did you do? I'm looking on RockAuto but wow they have so many options. The kyb shock was also suggested for the front from there, would that be better or less stiff than the fabtech one or all these pretty comparable.

Thanks guys for the brainstorming it's super helpful.

 

Not sure but the fabtech shocks are performance oriented, similar to the bilsteins @lilred5lugger suggested. I think I used import direct for my ball joints and the bearings I think were duralast.

 

Did you get those duralast at an auto store? Sounds like those are the most important to do while I'm in there, but curious where the best place to get all four are. Or if on RockAuto anyone recommends which 4 to get.

 

Looks like the fronts and backs are different and the price variance I'm seeing is huge. I wanna make sure I get the right ones.

 

@lilred5lugger and @19975lugger You guys mentioned both doing the wheel bearings, but made it seem no big deal. From what I'm finding in other forums (granted it's hard to find talk on the 1 gen 5 lug) but it looks like a pretty tough thing? Do ours require a press? How did you do y'alls and what ones?

My truck is at about 220k and I think most everything is original, but how would i know if I need to replace those?

 

Heyyo! I had all the stuff for the backend lift so I did that last weekend, did the add a leaf, rear 2in shackle, and new shocks.

the torque sheets I found said 96 or something for the Ubolts a 67 for the shackles. Both seemed SUPER tight.

also for the shackle, I put them on jacked up, then I dropped it down and tightened them up all the way. Ride seems really stiff, I’m wondering if those shackles are supposed to have some play or what? If I bounce up and down on the back there is no movement with the above torque.