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Spacer Lift?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by MatthewMay1, Apr 3, 2013.

  1. Apr 3, 2013 at 8:22 PM
    #1
    MatthewMay1

    MatthewMay1 [OP] I'm an amateur professional.

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    Why does it seem like everybody hates spacer lifts? Do they do anything other than give you a firmer ride? I'm looking into getting a suspension upgrade since im having a brand new frame put on the truck, so any feedback would be great!
     
  2. Apr 3, 2013 at 8:29 PM
    #2
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    our trucks have things called "bump stops" on our suspensions that prevent the shock from compressing too much (called "bottoming out")

    when the shock is fully compressed, it takes the full weight of the truck/suspension; something it's not meant to do. It's only supposed to dampen the movement of the coils/arms, not to take direct force

    adding a spacer makes the bump stops useless, the shock bottoms out before the bump stops stop the movement of the shock. instead of having a longer shock with more articulation, you have a stock length shock that is now effectively too long for how much travel are in the stock arms

    in an offroad situation where the suspension is flexing there are many cases of the shock topping out, snapping the neck of the shock clean from the mount.


    make sure to do some research before you buy your suspension parts, this topic has been covered many, many times. :thumbsup:
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2013
  3. Apr 3, 2013 at 8:35 PM
    #3
    Buckoma

    Buckoma Well-Known Member

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    People usually get spacers because of cost and many eventually upgrade to better stuff. I have had a Rough Country 2.5" spacer lift since 2004 and I have put on 125,000 miles... and a whole lotta 4x4. Yeah, I never got around to upgrading :D

    By the way, spacers that go over the coilover don't really change your ride much.
     
  4. Apr 3, 2013 at 8:42 PM
    #4
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    lots of people run them with no problems, and they're the cheapest lift out there

    but there's also a lot of people who painted their houses with lead paint and didn't get cancer :D
     
  5. Apr 3, 2013 at 8:55 PM
    #5
    MatthewMay1

    MatthewMay1 [OP] I'm an amateur professional.

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    Alright well thanks for that information! So with spacers, if I don't do hardcore flexing often, I should be okay?
     
  6. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:01 PM
    #6
    Buckoma

    Buckoma Well-Known Member

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    Dude, you're 16 years old... just get a spacer for now and save some money for chasing ass.
     
  7. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:02 PM
    #7
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    100% onroad use you'll be fine
    just have to worry about cv angles, like all lifts

    true, but ive seen damaged shocks on 1st gens from slamming into itself....

    Shouldve taken pics:rolleyes:
     
  8. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:05 PM
    #8
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    it sure as shit didn't help haha

    I was on the same trail...was fine :cool:
     
  9. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:07 PM
    #9
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    or just save up and do it right the first time...
    I got my lift in at 18

    and after this summer my truck will have had 3 completely different suspensions on it because im an impatient fuck haha
     
  10. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:10 PM
    #10
    MatthewMay1

    MatthewMay1 [OP] I'm an amateur professional.

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    So here is the link for what I'm looking into getting From what I understand is I'll need the brake line extension, and the differential drop, correct? What about UCAs? I don't even know what those do...and it also mentioned that "Top mounts are not included". Will I need those as well?
     
  11. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:11 PM
    #11
    MatthewMay1

    MatthewMay1 [OP] I'm an amateur professional.

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    I am VERY impatient as well....
     
  12. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:19 PM
    #12
    Buckoma

    Buckoma Well-Known Member

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    You will get a stiffer ride with that setup because you'll have to compress the spring to get the spacers in. I am also not a fan of putting an AAL on an old set of springs. And if you keep those rubber boots on the shocks I'll reach across the internet and bitchslap you.

    Consider this.
     
  13. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:19 PM
    #13
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    you might want to do some research before you jump in
    but yeah, a bajillion people run that here with no problems. if you have questions, you should give em a call.
    you probably wont need new uca's (upper control arms) if you don't mind a few vibes.
    and skip the diff drop, they don't really do crap
    and brake lines arent necessarily needed, but theyre good to have

    as far as the top plate you reuse the stock one IIRC..i dont really know the specifics of spacers

    I forgot to add "three suspensions and nearly $7,000 later..." haha
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2013
  14. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:20 PM
    #14
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    longer shackles will just wear out the stock pack even faster, without adding any support to the leafs
     
  15. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:24 PM
    #15
    MatthewMay1

    MatthewMay1 [OP] I'm an amateur professional.

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    I wanted to do the AAL because I believe that Toyota is putting on new leaf springs with the new frame so I wasn't going to want to just get rid of perfectly new parts like that. With the front raised 3" I won't need a diff drop? I thought that was simethjg that just about everybody gets. And what do the UCAs actually do and why would you need to change them out?
     
  16. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:27 PM
    #16
    Buckoma

    Buckoma Well-Known Member

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    This is true, but I tend to think when old used up leafs are replaced, it's nice to already have some sexy shackles.
     
  17. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:29 PM
    #17
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    the upper and lower control arms connect the wheel to the suspension.

    basically when you lift the truck, you change the geometry of the suspension. this change can cause vibrations due to the truck not being able to get proper alignment
    the fix is to change the joint in the arm to accommodate the steeper angles, to get a better alignment (doing so gets you more articulation from the arm too)

    but new arms are $400-600. and not everyone gets vibes, so as a budget item, people tend to skip it.

    and the diff drop hardly does crap. whatever gains from it are minimal (I'm running one....couldn't tell a difference in CV angle with it on or off)
     
  18. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:31 PM
    #18
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    I liked my AAL. wasnt too stiff, was perfectly level when I ran it (got mine from toytec too)

    just wheeled it too much and broke it in half lol
     
  19. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:33 PM
    #19
    Buckoma

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    If you're getting new leafs then an AAL is as good an option as any.

    No diff drop and no brake line extension.

    I would not worry about UCAs unless you need new ones.
     
  20. Apr 3, 2013 at 9:36 PM
    #20
    MatthewMay1

    MatthewMay1 [OP] I'm an amateur professional.

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    So if I don't replace the UCAs, my alignment won't be able to return to the way it is now? That would really hurt tire wear...
     

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