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What kit needed for straight 3" lift?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by rossivey, Sep 1, 2011.

  1. Sep 1, 2011 at 2:04 PM
    #1
    rossivey

    rossivey [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I want to lift my truck 3" but I don't know where to start. I've looked at some straight body lift kits (front & rear) but not really sure what I'm looking for. I don't wanna spend too much since I'm also buying a new set of tires as well. Any info would be appreciated!
     
  2. Sep 1, 2011 at 2:06 PM
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    JLee

    JLee The Man! Vendor

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    I lost track thousands of dollars ago.
    I don't recommend a Body Lift what's your budget?
     
  3. Sep 1, 2011 at 2:07 PM
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    MontanaTaco

    MontanaTaco Well-Known Member

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    Yeah don't get a body lift they look.......gross
     
  4. Sep 1, 2011 at 2:09 PM
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    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    Don't do a body lift... What's your budget and what do you use the truck for? Bilstein 5100's are a cheap, easy way to lift the front of the truck and you can use an AAL for the rear. The 5100's will get you close to a 3' lift, but not quite (2.5' +/-). At that height you may need new upper control arms which are pricey.
     
  5. Sep 1, 2011 at 2:25 PM
    #5
    rossivey

    rossivey [OP] Well-Known Member

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    i'm not sure on the price of any lifts to even know what my budget would be. i just don't want my truck to be higher in the front than in the back. i'd like to keep the same stance but just lift it a little. What are some good configs for a lift? Again, i'm super new to this. I have a 2006 Double Cab & i'm about to go to 285/75/16.
     
  6. Sep 1, 2011 at 2:31 PM
    #6
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    How set are you on the 3" mark? 3" of lift in the front puts you in the range of where you'll need new upper control arms. If you stay a bit lower, you could avoid this expense (they run about $500 and up). Check out toytec's website, they have a section for full suspension lifts. That will give you a general idea of what you'd be looking at. Check out Toytec Ultimate Lift Kit and the Old Man Emu complete lift kit. Both are popular choices for members and seem to be pretty tried and true. There are other options but that should get you started so you can start asking more specific questions with a price range in mind.
     
  7. Sep 1, 2011 at 2:39 PM
    #7
    rossivey

    rossivey [OP] Well-Known Member

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    If it says 3" Front & 2" Rear is it going to give it the same look or will the front look higher than the rear?
     
  8. Sep 1, 2011 at 2:44 PM
    #8
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    3" front and 2" rear will pretty much level the truck out, it have a front-high bro lean because the factory rake already has the rear higher than the front
     
  9. Sep 1, 2011 at 2:44 PM
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    Pugga

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    It will sit more level. Measure your truck as it sits now from the center of the hub to the fender both front and back and you'll see there's about 1.5 - 2" of rake stock. Plus, most AAL's give a little more lift than they advertise.
     
  10. Sep 1, 2011 at 2:48 PM
    #10
    rossivey

    rossivey [OP] Well-Known Member

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    What about the Rough Country lifts? They're around $250. I dont want to spend too much but i'd like my truck to ride pretty decent. I dont know what i'm sacrificing by not spend close to a grand.
     
  11. Sep 1, 2011 at 3:04 PM
    #11
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    It's a cheap lift, spacers up front and blocks in the rear. Blocks can make axle wrap worse and spacers can cause your strut to break if you actually do off road your truck. If you don't off road, spacers are used by a lot of folks, they do work and will preserve a factory ride up front. I'd avoid blocks in the rear, look at an AAL for $50.

    A lot of the aftermarket coils will give you a better ride than the factory so you're not really sacrificing, you're spending money and not gaining anything except a look.
     
  12. Sep 1, 2011 at 3:07 PM
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    rossivey

    rossivey [OP] Well-Known Member

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    is there a good lift for under $500 that doesn't use the blocks or spacers?
     
  13. Sep 1, 2011 at 3:18 PM
    #13
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    Personally, I went with 5100's all around (only the fronts have the ability to provide lift) with Eibach coils and the Icon 3-leaf AAL for the rear. I gained just over 1.5" up front and about 2" in the rear (it was settled down with the weight of the shell I have to about 1.5" all around). You can set the 5100's with Eibach coils to .85 setting and get a little over 2" of lift up front also, I just wanted to stay a little lower.

    5100s are under $200 for the fronts
    Eibach coils are $149 for the pair (OME coils can be used also which are $169 for the pair)
    Icon AAL is $180 shipped but can be swapped out for a different AAL to save some $$$
    Total, just over your $500 with the Icon AAL, just under with a different AAL but much better ride quality.

    FYI, TW members get a discount at Toytec and for comparison, Downsouth Motorsports has great prices and incredible customer service.
     
  14. Sep 1, 2011 at 3:22 PM
    #14
    Russell F

    Russell F Well-Known Member

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    bilstiens are pretty popular here on TW and are a way better choice than a body lift. Stay away from blocks and spacers they give you a crappy ride and its easy to mess stuff up. AAL stands for "add a leaf" and you simply add an extra leaf spring to the rear. You can get the desired 2" in the rear with that and the bilstien can get you around 2.5 in the front. I would suggest reading up on some lift threads just so you get a better idea on what is going on in your trucks susp and a better idea on what lifts to stay away from and what lifts are good.
     
  15. Sep 1, 2011 at 3:24 PM
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    Pugga

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  16. Sep 1, 2011 at 3:26 PM
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    rossivey

    rossivey [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I mainly just drive on the highway. the only off roading i do is the occasional trip to a fishing hole or to the deer stand. nothing over the top. so would the blocks and spacers be a bad choice? or maybe a combination of coils/aals?
     
  17. Sep 1, 2011 at 3:43 PM
    #17
    Pugga

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    You've got some decisions to make...
    First and foremost, are you set on 3" of lift or would slightly lower be acceptable?
    Your options in order from worst to best (and budget and ride quality, go figure right?):
    1) Body lift - Hopefully you've thrown this idea out by now!
    2) Spacers and blocks - Cheap lift, retains factory front ride because all you're doing is spacing down the entire front strut. Rear blocks suck because they can make axle wrap worse and wear your leaf pack quicker. There is another type of spacer that is inserted between the top of the front coil and the top plate and it preloads your front coil. This makes for a very stiff ride and can be bouncy with your stock shocks (because your coil is preloaded, it's essentially a stronger coil and your stock shock can't dampen the ride properly).
    3) 5100's - 5100's are an adjustable strut with 4 settings, stock or 0, .85", 1.75" and 2.5". You could re-use your stock coils on 5100's set at 2.5 for 2.5" of lift. The difference between this and the spacers I mentioned above is the 5100's will actually damper then stiffer spring. Out back you could use either a block or an AAL (AAL preferred for reasons stated above).
    4) 5100's and new coils - With aftermarket coils you're letting the coil do the lift, not some metal spacer. These generally give you a better ride than preloading the stock coils. Same options for the rear.
     
  18. Sep 2, 2011 at 11:01 AM
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    rossivey

    rossivey [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So if I go with the bilsteins all the way around, what size leafs do I need? & what size coils?
     
  19. Sep 2, 2011 at 11:19 AM
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    Zac808

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  20. Sep 2, 2011 at 12:28 PM
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    Pugga

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    See the last 2 options for 5100's. You could reuse your stock coils or buy aftermarket. As far as aftermarket, you could go with either Eibach coils or OME (Old Man Emu) coils. Eibachs only come in one length, OME you could go for either 884's or 885's. 885's would push you closer to 3" of lift.

    If you're asking about AAL sizes, your options are 1.5" or 2". What you choose up front (how much lift) and how much rake you want when you're done will dictate which AAL to get.

    You never answered my question, are you set on 3" of lift or are you going to stay under that mark? Pushing 3" of lift could require you to get new UCA's which would completely blow your $500 budget by at least double.
     

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