It's been years since I researched anything about lifts. A cruiser buddy's wife is letting him spend $500 on his Cruiser. He already has a rear locker and a good running set-up, but needs a lift.
Can anyone suggest the best 4inch lift for $500 or less? He would need springs, shackles and shocks.
I,m not a "Spring Over Axle" guy, and from what I've heard it is not a simple $300-400 deal by the time you get the knuckles cut and turned??? I also don't know of any place where you are going to get Springs, Shackles, and Shocks for under $500 (unless e-bay pops up with something). We have 4" springs at $499, but then shackles and shocks are out beyond that.
Anyone have the Hell Creek 4" suspension kit? How does it ride?
I have been thinking about a lift so I can go with 37" tires, but I don't want a stiff suspension. I want something soft and felxable. The Hell Creek kit is priced nice at under $600 before shipping (just checked).
There's no way to do a SOA lift for $500 that I can find. By the time you buy new extended shocks, extended brake lines, track bar, cut and turn( if you do deem necessary) and a whole list of things that escape my mind right now, you will be well over that. And thats if you do absolutely everything yourself. Ride quality is superior with SOA though. The only way you can do lift springs for $500 is wait until someone is selling theirs used and snatch it up then like I did. Just my 2 cents. ;p
yeah I am running a 4in hell creek. I got about 1000 miles on it so far and it's pretty stiff. folks say it will soften up I say we will see. The only real complant i have had with it is my shackel angle is nearly 90 deg. that doesn't lend itself to a smooth ride. I hope once it flexes out the angle and the ride will improve.
I honestly expect it will with more wheeling. But if it doesn't I will be forced to do a reversal and and fix it at that point.
Werds running a hell creek He likes his just fine. (why I bought one)
I have about 600 in the one I got from Rough Country including shipping but its still in the floor of the garage in boxes so I cant tell you much about it. Got to get the truck running before I install it. But I have installed their 4 inch kit on a mid 70's ford and it was great.
You could get the Downey springs and then make his own shackles, then find a set of shocks that are on sale. That will be a little more then $500.00 but not much. Or you can do what I did and buy a used lift.
You cannot install a lift correctly for $500 unless you buy used springs and parts.
SOA is expensive when done correctly even if you do it yourself. As Jim pointed out C&T, longer driveshafts, brake lines, high steer, sping perches, etc. It adds up and do you really want a 7" lift.
You will have the cost of spring bushings, shocks and new shackles with what ever lift you get.
yeah I am running a 4in hell creek. I got about 1000 miles on it so far and it's pretty stiff. folks say it will soften up I say we will see. The only real complant i have had with it is my shackel angle is nearly 90 deg. that doesn't lend itself to a smooth ride. I hope once it flexes out the angle and the ride will improve.
I honestly expect it will with more wheeling. But if it doesn't I will be forced to do a reversal and and fix it at that point.
Werds running a hell creek He likes his just fine. (why I bought one)
In my opinion, Hell Creek is a great lift regardless of the $$$. I have not seen any new lift kits with shackles and shocks under $500.
All new springs are stiff. You just have to flex them till they soften up. Also, be sure your shackle bolts are not so tight that they limit the shackle swing and spring flex. Tom at Hell Creek explained to me that there is a fine line of balance between shackle angle and spring rate. If you have a 45* shackle angle, the spring rate may need to be stiffer. With a more vertical shackle angle, the spring rate can be softer. Finding the perfect balance of both is the hard part. Then you have to factor in the shackle length. The longer the shackle, the more vertical the angle, but the wider the swing as it moves.
I'll second the idea of making your own shackles or finding them used here on MUD or eBay. If he is running 33" tires, he may not need longer than stock shackles. Buy those later if needed.
I'm running 4" springs with 1.5" extended shackles plus a few other mods and it works well for me. Good luck.
I would keep an eye out in the FS section for used lift springs. That is probably the only way to do the lift for $500 with shocks. People toss them when they go spring over.
My SOA was much more than $500, I did all the work myself, and I am not even close to done. Truck was put on hold a while ago as I undershot what it would cost for a frame swap and an SOA. By a long shot.
If you were in the $700 range, you would be OK through downey, skyjacker, hell creek, etc.
The old school method is a re-arch or add a leaves and shackle lift. Way under $500, but a complete waste of time and effort. I would not recommend it. Truck will ride and steer like hell.
Check out e-bay motors , enter toyota landcruiser fj40, they have some lift kits, and used stuff , But it might run you a little more than $500. Good Luck. P.S. What MAMA doesnt know , Cant hurt .I NEVER GOT ALONG WITH THE GIRLS AT MY SCHOOL.... CODE BLUE
The $500 budget for a lift doesn't seem feaseable unless you incorporate used parts. I'm trying to put together a budget lift myself for my FJ40. I'm looking at a set of Hell Creek 2.5" springs. I plan on reusing my orignal shackles for now, but will be replacing all bushings, frame center grease pins and Ubolts. I plan on using Doestch Tech shocks and hope to keep it close to $600
Anyone recommend a good cheap source for U bolts and bushings?
I NEVER GOT ALONG WITH THE GIRLS AT MY SCHOOL.... CODE BLUE
