How bad is a spacer front lift?

I wasn't really lifting the 08 RC just leveling, already had one so 20.00 for another spacer, already had free TRDs in the attic to replace the black base model tokicos and that's all the 08 RC was getting so for my purposes the little spacer/TRD swap fr & rr on my prerunner was enough. Only real money spent was for the 3yr alignment after the install. The 5100s were great on the lifted AC with 33s I had but wasn't going that route this time. For those starting from scratch and wanting real amounts of lift for better tires and better 4wd action then minimum, do the 5100s. Spacers would not be the way to go other than going to the mall to crawl.

 

I just did my Lift last weekend and the ride IMHO got a tiny bit stiffer but not that harsh, I mean you wouldn’t really notice it unless you were really paying detail attention to it
Set up was
Bilstein 5100’ Adjustable height 2.5 in front (got it from Downsouth Motorsport $299.00 for 4 Shocks)
AAL single Leaf Spring in the back 1.5” inch Lift (got it from ToyTec for $79.00 )
Wheel Alignment from Sear Auto Center for $84.99 (make sure to do Wheel Alignment right after the lift)

Less than $500
So there you go the cheap way to do a lift

BTW I’m not Offroading this is mainly highway use and a little bit of Dirt Road
And yeah no New wheels yet

 

I'm not a mall crawler, and I got spacers...

for dirt roads to camping spots, hunting and fishing spots, and even with some bigger obstacles which I take slow either way, the spacer has no negative effect, if you are bashing through whoops and constantly bottoming out the shock, then of course you need more, but it is far from limited to "mall crawlers".

 

$120 to my door for my 3'' ready lift with 1'' rear block, installed in my garage in 3 hrs, and rides like the day I bought it.

 

What caster setting did you end up with? I'm betting you have no caster if camber is good and I bet it wanders on uneven surfaces without getting UCAs and it is noticeable offroad on choppy offroad bumps with TRD progressive coils. That being said, everyone has their priorities and uses and must start somewhere. I started out with stuff to get going then refined it later on the 05. Just not going that far for something that has limited offroad use and capability this time. Pick your poison people and has as much fun as possible with what you have to spend.

 

Is it this one? It comes to $400 shipped for me. Did you get it used?

 

The dealer puts spacer lifts on trucks they sell so they must be OK. end sarcasm.....


I have nothing against them used correctly.

 

others explained for me. Tell me how 56,000 miles later, I have zero issue's if it is bad for light use?

 

I have no idea about my caster setting and I haven't ride it yet on un-even surface UCA are still stock OEM

All I did was change the Stock TRD Shock to Bilstein 5100’s and set it to 2.5 inch lift and insert the added leaf spring at the rear after installing it I have the alignment check and it was off by few degrees

As you said you have to start somewhere and this is where I started out and might do some tweaking and refining afterward but for now I’m a happy camper and New Tire and Wheels are next in my wish list

 

exactly. yea I got it used, keep an eye on the classifieds and you can pick something up cheap, just be sure to get an above coil spacer.

 

Researching about how I did, I found this and gave me confident about my Lift
I hope they're telling the truth

http://www.bilsteinus.com/fileadmin/user_upload/user_upload_us/pdfs/Bil_LevShks_WebArticle.pdf

 

even better! I was talking about really bottoming out the front end (extreme). But yes, going "moderately" I could see spacers working functionally.

 

The 2nd gen with all the fiberglass is on spacers?

 

do it right or don't do it at all and you do get what you pay for. spacer lifts are junk

 

Spacer lifts are the only type my dealership installs and covers under warrenty. Alot of the new trucks on their lot are lifted. Mine came with a 1" spacer up front and aal in the rear. I take it easy and don't do hardcore stuff...just some local forest service roads and jeep/snowmobile trails. I've had zero problems, truck rides great, and no vibration issues.

 

Ok well it seems like most of you are going to call me stupid but I decided to go with 1/4 inch top plate spacers which should give me about 1/2 an inch in front. For $42 from wheelers, the lowest price I could find Billy's for was $180 and that's just too much money for me. Like I said, I mainly just want it a bit more level. This should still give me a little rake but it won't look as stupid as it looks now. I only go off road a little so I'm not worried about breaking things, and it seems like these top plate spacers won't affect my ride much if at all. Thanks for all the opinions from both sides.

 

yes, BUT he fucked up his front suspension multiple times that week. He had spacers and drove like it was mid travel, but you can be dam sure you knew it was spacers.

 

for the 1/4" spacer there is no real chance for damage or compromised suspension anything, so you are fine there, it's just not much lift and ill be surprised if you really notice it

 

Spacer in the front & AAL in the rear.

I wheel my truck pretty good sometimes without ever having a problem at all. Truck has 112,000 miles and about 90,000 miles with the spacer on the front... been looking to upgrade but just because the suspension is about worn out on my truck. The spacer lift was put on because I had not enough money for the "right way". Now I have the money and I like the color blue that Procomp uses on there shocks and want a complete new suspension.

 

I like your truck!