2.5” Lift in the Rear

Disclaimer: I’ve searched all over this forum before making this post.

I have a 2017 TRD Sport 2WD. I’m wanting to get a 2.5” lift for the front and back. I’m looking into getting the Bilstein 5100s w/ 887 coils for the front.

I plan on getting Bilsteins for the back as well. I just can’t figure out how to level it at 2.5” w/o blocks and w/o it costing me a lot more.

The TRD Sports come stock with 2” of lift in the back right? If that’s the case, I would need a .5” of lift. I’m not seeing .5” AAL’s. I’m looking at one from HS, but it would add an 1.5”-2”.

Any recommendations?

 

A stock truck does not come with any type of lift. You will need to lift the rear using a block, add-a-leaf or a replacement leaf pack.

That Headstrong AAL will add 1.5 inches to the rear of your truck.

 

Less than 2in of blocks in the rear really isn't all that bad at all. It's also fairly cheap. Just check the driveline angles to make sure your good, which you should be.

Otherwise you need an add a lead or something, which gains lift by stiffening your rear suspension... Which is already very stiff


I wouldn't block the front unless it was a street queen, and only if I was seriously budgeting and HAD to have it lifted.

 

Will the HS AAL get me leveled to 2.5” front to back with the front at 2.5” of lift?

 

Thanks for the tip. Definitely not interested in putting blocks on the front. It’ll most be a daily driver with a little bit of off-roading here and there; nothing crazy.

 

Sounds like a question for headstrong.

I would measure from center of the wheel to the fender and see how much you need, then check roughly how much lift that AAL adds.

Personally I went with 1.5in blocks in the rear with new extended travel shocks, and adjustable coilovers in the front. I don't want a stiffer rear suspension, and a shackle lift really isn't an option. A whole new set of leafs is what would be needed to do it "correctly" although that's 400$.

I also frequently am in rough terrain, by no means a mall crawler.

 

I doubt that the AAL would level you if you want the front at 2.5" higher that stock.

Contact headstrong, they have great customer service and will give you all the info you need.

 

Yeah, they’ve been great so far. I actually have an ongoing conversation with them as well. They just responded and said the same thing as sand_in_my_taco: measure from the center of the wheel to the fender to get a rough idea of what I’ll need.

 

You can leave overload in and it will net you 2" with HS AAL, without is 1.5"

 

Aaaaand the rear will be super stiff

 

Only if he loads it, so overload touches. Not in everyday driving. You get the extra. .5", from the overload thickness. Mine doesn't touch rest of pack, until 500lbs is in bed.

 

I measured from the center of the wheel to the fender with less than a 1/4 of a tank, 1/2 a tank, and a full tank and got the same results each time.

Front:
20” both sides

Rear:
21.5” Driver
22” Passenger

So I would need somewhere between .5” to 1” of additional lift in the rear to level it with the front.

1. Is it worth getting a whole new leaf pack over that small of a lift? Will the ride be that bad/stiff with smaller blocks or AAL? Genuinely asking.

2. If not, what’s better: smaller blocks or an AAL?

 

Here is my previous truck. It was a 2018 that I raised 2" in the front and 1" in the rear.

I used a 1" block in the rear. While it did raise the truck 1", the block induced a good bit of axle wrap and the truck would sag in the rear with fairly light loads.
That being said, I went with an AAL on my new truck and that is about to be replaced with a full leaf pack.

Do yourself a favor and avoid the block in the rear.

 

The full leaf packs I’m seeing from HS provide 1.5” or more of lift, and I don’t want that much. So I would probably just go with a 1” AAL.

Are you upgrading to the full leaf pack because the AAL was that terrible, or because you just wanted to go from good to better?

 

I'm installing a new leaf pack because the Icon 1.5" AAL I have is not meeting my expectations.
Its been installed for less than a year and is already sagging and riding poorly.

The Headstrong Offroad AAL is a much higher quality product than what I used. If I were to install another AAL, it would be theirs.

 

Yeah, I’m thinking the HS AAL is what I’ll end up going with.

Man, I really appreciate all your help, and the pics. Your truck looks nice by the way! I’m diggin the bronze rims with the cement color.