Lifting a 1st gen 5lug - feedback and ideas

I had 3.58 gears. It did fine without any extra weight on the truck. It still does with it being loaded down but it's definitely slow on the freeway and most of the time I had to keep it in 4th.

 

Front wheel bearings do not require a press, it's super easy, I've never done them before in my life but I had my father give me a hand and it was easy peasy, he did the old school way of hand packing the bearings with grease.

 

Shackles shouldn't have any play/

 

Same did mine last week. Really easy.

 

Just finished putting on powerstop rotors, calipers and steel braided brake lines. Fun job!

 

Very nice. Yeah just checking on the shackle movement. Any good resources or steps for the wheel bearings and then in general that front end lift? @19975lugger you just did it, hoping my spindles come soon!

 

For the lift no, but for the bearings, this video is perfect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6smTU_SnPg. This video is really helpful as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiQkczs33Ig. I also referenced this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxUtjuMejos&t=706s

 

Gentlemen… I’m in the final stretch. I’ll write up a full thing for someone to learn from someday at the very end but!!

Back end I did a few weeks ago, AAL and shackle. As of this late night spindle is on, shocks are on (nobody mentioned how they don’t fit in the hole haha grinding required!) I’m not doing the 1.5 spacer I don’t think. I have it but was getting pretty worried with getting it all together again.

My concern is the brake lines. The metal formed part comes off the caliber, then into the brake line that connects to the bracket next to the coil on the lower arm. The hose right there is resting on a metal edge, did nobody else have that? What have you guys done?

 

this pic is what I’m talking about, however I undid the two brackets to see what kind of play I have and I’m not seeing any good options for moving it. When that first bracket is on the hose rests on the lip, I’m worried about it rubbing overtime.

 

@lilred5lugger @19975lugger ? Thoughts?^^

 

Mine doesn't have that little pinch clip in the middle of the two bolt on hose stays. Are you able to bolt those two brackets back in place? That should pull the brake hose away from where it touches. You are correct to not want it to touch. Those little brackets can slide.

 

Yeah I had them off just to see better, but when they are bolted back on the excess between the last bolt and the caliper still touches that edge. I put it down on the ground to see if it lifted and it did a little but not enough to feel safe... hmmm crazy nobody else has had this.

 

That may just be how it has to sit. Keep an eye on it and if doesn't seem to cause any wearing, then send it!

 

@lilred5lugger have you thrown those 31's on there yet and seen if they will fit? The back seems like it would fit whatever, the front looks tight. I only did the 3in spindle on the front, but I want to figure out the largest wheels and tires to be looking for that work without tons of work.

 

@lilred5lugger and @19975lugger what are yalls suggestions on tire and rims? I got the lift all done. I only have the 3”spindles in the front. When I measure the current gap from tire to bumper it’s like 3.5in and maybe 4.5 till more substancial things. Not sure what you guys did on trimming. Black Friday approaches!

What do you guys suggest? Also any ideas for good Black Friday deals?

The recommended was:

• 30/9.50R15 tire w/15x7 wheels
• 3 3/4 in backspace or 0 offset
• Minor trimming

 

Note: I have a 4.5 lift kit and the 3" spindle. As of last week I am running 30/9.5r15 and I am to the point where my lower valance can't be cut anymore and. So I am considering a high clearance bumper, but I love the stock look. So I would rather try cutting the metal and valance as pictured by the red line in my pic. The pinch weld mod took care of the back of the tire rubbing. In fact I was able to just bend the plastic and put in a screw and didn't even have to cut metal. On the back, you will scrape on the right angle. So moral of the story, 30" is the max you can go and you will have to cut that bumper in front.

 

Thank you! The pictures are helpful too. I guess I'll go with the 30/9.5r15 with my 3"spindle lift in the front. With a little plastic trimming, hopefully it all fits!

 

I finally got the 31s installed on the truck. I bought a 3rd assembly from ECGS a few months ago with a Harrop E locker geared for 4.10 and recently got the diff broken in properly. I'll take pictures asap. I put on Mickey Thompson 31x10.5x15 Deegan 38 Mud Tires and they barely rub at all, the only rubbing is on the inside of the mudlflap at the front.

 

That looks great!