5100's/885X's/Devers 2" AAL, Marie, and happiness abound!

@Bluegrass Taco How's this set up been working out?
Any issues?

 

The only issue is, I like it too much and won't quit piling up miles on the truck!

Ride is better.....I'm talking MUCH better that when it was new and stock, or with previous lift. Part of that is the original Bilsteins were starting to wear down. Part is the OME coils are not progressive coils like the original TRD OR coils, and with that, more compliant. I ran the front lift with just the new rear shocks for a day. Once I put the Deavers AAL (2") on the next day, the ride improved even more. The truck holds the road better in turns at highway speed, as well as simply riding smoother. I drive 26 miles each way to work, on a rough concrete interstate. Speeds average around 75 mph. Before, it rode like an old truck. Now it rides better than any 4wd I've ever been in.

Looks.....While not the main purpose of what I installed this lift for, I'd be remiss if I didn't say the truck FINALLY looks like a 4wd!

Performance. I've been on a couple fire roads so far, no serious off road ventures yet, but what I have done, the truck seems to have better control and traction in choppy conditions....And I've had one heavy load in it....a 900lb 15hp pump. The rear didn't squat nearly as much as it did the last time I hauled the very same pump.

So....The 5100's/885X's/Deavers 2" AAL has far exceeded my expectations. I'd do the EXACT same thing again if I had to do it all over.

 

What was the total cost, if you don't mind me asking?

 

$733 at my front door. Headstrong ships free. (That price includes the 1/4" "Taco lean" spacer)

 

Looks good. I'm thinking of something a long these lines but the real question is for me on reliability? Are UCAs needed to keep the truck reliable so as to not rip a cv boot prematurely?

 

UCA's have NOTHING to do with CV boots ripping......and if the truck is in alignment with stock UCA's, aftermarket UCA's will do NOTHING except "look pretty". I'm @ 85,000 miles, the truck has been at 2-1/2" lift MOST of those miles (with 3 different "lift kits" installed) and I've never had ANY reliability issues or torn CV boots.

 

^^^ BUT, if Blue went with a ~3" lift or higher, then he might need new aftermarket UCA's to get his alignment within spec.

He wouldn't want to do that, because he doesn't want to increase the prettiness factor of his truck

 

And THAT's why I DIDN'T go beyond 2-1/2" lift. I like the ugly utilitarian look of stock UCA's! I actually think mine would align even at 3" or more. Every truck is different. I got great alignment numbers, well within the range of adjustment (with stock UCA's) @ 2-1/2". There was more meat on the bone.....

 

They couldn't get me above 1.0 degree of caster. Your alignment cams are probably seized like mine.

 

I should have put that better lol. My concern is pretty obvious though. I just don't want to add to much height to it where the angles cause the CV boots to get torn. The height on your truck looks great, as the truck as a whole does.

 

Yep, every truck is different. My caster was in, but at the edge of the spectrum when i was on stock coils set at 2.5 and stock UCA's. But i will say, now i have 2.5 eibach coils and LR UCA's and my caster is up at almost 4 degrees.

cv boots will be fine. I'm sitting at about 2.75" of lift and mine look like this.



Sorry, I don’t mean to thread jack.

 

I had it aligned after the assembly on the driver's side was replaced and the shop couldn't get it in spec. It drove fine when you did it haha

 

@Bluegrass Taco, @CVYota, @Crom, @DoorDing, @HolyHandGrenade and @HeadStrong Off-Road - I spent the better part of my Saturday trying to pull the rear nut from top hat stud. Did everything I could possibly do to take the nut off. Is there another way to add a spacer that doesn't require removing the top hat? A diiferent type of spacer. Any other novel way to correct the "Taco Lean"? Help!!!

 

Is it just rusted on or hard to get at? Unless you have adjustable shock coilovers, that nut has to come off.

Unless you put more air in one tire

 

Rusted on, hard to get at, AND, since I've been f@#^%ng around with it, now the nut head is rounded off.

 

With what measures to be a 2-3/4" lift, with stock UCA's, I got 2.9 degree caster with adjustments about midrange in the stock cams There was more to be had, but upon test driving with what we got on the first try, I'm 100% happy with how it handles @ highway speeds.

 

I wish you were closer......I've got a set of SnapOn offset metric combo wrenches that reach and fit those nuts PERFECTLY. While that wouldn't be of much help NOW (after the nut is rounded) it would have helped in the beginning. I've had a couple of them on trucks I've lifted for "customers" that were stuck like glue....They can be frustrating. Whoever designed that "location" needs to be horse whipped....!

 

Then you have few options left, cut it off. You can't get an cutting wheel in there, maybe a Dremel or blade. Make 2 cuts on either side and stop before you hit threads then split it with a chisel. Or soak it with liquid wrench for a couple of days and clamp it with vice grips and hope for the best. Or take it to a shop and let them deal with it. That last one has become my favorite method.

 

Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road - PM inbound for a strut mount "top hat"!

 

PM SENT!