Best Lift Kits
- Thread starter wancho1
- Start date
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Check out the web sites for:
Marlin
All Pro
Downey
Trail Gear
Alcan (Custom Spring built truck specific)
Other alternatives are on the Faq section at www.Pirate4x4.com .
Depends if you want to relocate hangers or do you want a straight bolt in. No Welding.
Decide how you want to use it before you pick height out. Also, Stay away from Aluminum lift blocks. Steel work fine but NO Aluminum.
Regarding 3" lift. All Pro's is set up more for buggy weight. Light up front.
Trail Gear has a 3" for standard weight. Not sure if MArlin has one.
Pro Comp, Super Lift Rancho etc all have lifts available for the truck. Everyone uses different spring rates on their springs. Also springs from All Pro, Trail Gear and I believe MArlin adjust the spring pin location on the front spring.
FYI my 82 has All Pro 4". I haven't wheeled it yet but the previous owner wheel it a lot and liked it.
My nephew has a trail gear 5" Fronts with CHevy 63" springs in the rear witha 2" block and it flex's well. However, he is in the process of putting 3" springs up front and taking out the block. Will do some sheetmetal trimming to make it clear 36" tall tires and keep the center of gravity low.
Good Luck
Dave
Marlin
All Pro
Downey
Trail Gear
Alcan (Custom Spring built truck specific)
Other alternatives are on the Faq section at www.Pirate4x4.com .
Depends if you want to relocate hangers or do you want a straight bolt in. No Welding.
Decide how you want to use it before you pick height out. Also, Stay away from Aluminum lift blocks. Steel work fine but NO Aluminum.
Regarding 3" lift. All Pro's is set up more for buggy weight. Light up front.
Trail Gear has a 3" for standard weight. Not sure if MArlin has one.
Pro Comp, Super Lift Rancho etc all have lifts available for the truck. Everyone uses different spring rates on their springs. Also springs from All Pro, Trail Gear and I believe MArlin adjust the spring pin location on the front spring.
FYI my 82 has All Pro 4". I haven't wheeled it yet but the previous owner wheel it a lot and liked it.
My nephew has a trail gear 5" Fronts with CHevy 63" springs in the rear witha 2" block and it flex's well. However, he is in the process of putting 3" springs up front and taking out the block. Will do some sheetmetal trimming to make it clear 36" tall tires and keep the center of gravity low.
Good Luck
Dave
I run 32'" MTRs on my 4R daily driver so I went with the ARB (medium) set up front and rear. Light and Heavy are available also. It's 50mm (around 2") lift, but because my OEMs were sagging it raised me around 4". I don't have too much drag on the highway and have yet to rub on the trails. I decided on the 50mm lift after riding w/ a friend using a 4" lift and 35s. His felt kinda unstable on the highway.
I spent about $650 for 4x springs, 4x shocks, stabilizer, greasable shackles, U-bolts w/ hardware and shipping.
I spent about $650 for 4x springs, 4x shocks, stabilizer, greasable shackles, U-bolts w/ hardware and shipping.
Ooops, yes, it;s OME not ARB. Thanks for the quick catch.
Keep in mind, when you install the lift springs, the lift side side is going to hang lower in front. this is because the axle gusset on the right side is taller, due to the diff. I know NW Off Road Specialties sells the springs that wont do this. But I dont know about the others.
also any lift 2" or more will require steering modifications. the best mod you can do is IFS steering gear with crossover.
If you are going to go through the trouble of lifing your truck, than lift it. dont tease it with a 3" cocktail weeinie. feed it the 6" kielbasa dog.
cause once you realize that your 33" tires with your 3" lift are gettin stuck in all the ruts, you will wish you had 36" tires or better with your 6" lift.
cause once this off road bug bites you, it is very hard to find the antidote.
also any lift 2" or more will require steering modifications. the best mod you can do is IFS steering gear with crossover.
If you are going to go through the trouble of lifing your truck, than lift it. dont tease it with a 3" cocktail weeinie. feed it the 6" kielbasa dog.
cause once you realize that your 33" tires with your 3" lift are gettin stuck in all the ruts, you will wish you had 36" tires or better with your 6" lift.
cause once this off road bug bites you, it is very hard to find the antidote.
There is no "best". It depends on the driver, the truck, the usage. OME springs are of the first quality, and you can go LOTS of places with minimal lift.
I chose Alcan stock length in the front, 4" lift. In the rear (4Runner) I chose 9" longer than stock (requires relocation spring and shackle hangers) 6" lift Alcans. I love these springs and the truck clears 35s just fine, and would be quite serviceable as a DD if I was willing to wear it out. I am not, so I take the train and drive a Taco as a DD.
Mind you, this means a crossover is required, you will need an IFS steering box. It is not that hard to do if you have a welder and access to a plasma cutter. Very minor. Also brace your frame, the whole frame will flex when steering against the locks for instance. Visibly. Relocated shock mounts will also be required, I prefer the $12 Ford F250 towers and fabbing a hoop for the back.
FWIW, my son runs All-Pro 4" springs stock length in front, used Alcan 4" springs in the rear on his SASed '88 pickup, and flexes like MAD. Also very driveable as a DD on 35s. YMMV.
I chose Alcan stock length in the front, 4" lift. In the rear (4Runner) I chose 9" longer than stock (requires relocation spring and shackle hangers) 6" lift Alcans. I love these springs and the truck clears 35s just fine, and would be quite serviceable as a DD if I was willing to wear it out. I am not, so I take the train and drive a Taco as a DD.
Mind you, this means a crossover is required, you will need an IFS steering box. It is not that hard to do if you have a welder and access to a plasma cutter. Very minor. Also brace your frame, the whole frame will flex when steering against the locks for instance. Visibly. Relocated shock mounts will also be required, I prefer the $12 Ford F250 towers and fabbing a hoop for the back.
FWIW, my son runs All-Pro 4" springs stock length in front, used Alcan 4" springs in the rear on his SASed '88 pickup, and flexes like MAD. Also very driveable as a DD on 35s. YMMV.
I recently installed a three inch Downey lift with greasable shakles and am running my thirty-three ten-fifty Super Swamper Radials with no additional mods and they are clearing well. My only issue has been getting the short longitudenal control rod on the top left mussled back into place. Other than that, it rides well both on and off road. Oh, and the 84' ext. truck sits level. Put some Skyjacker Hydros on for comfort on the road.
I just finished the light OME Dakar kit I got from cruiser outfitters. This is on the '85 SR5/Xcab. Ride is very sweet even without shocks. Waiting on a set of Doetsch Tech 3000s to arrive. You would need to extend the sway bar bolts if you keep the bar and possibly extend brake lines if you were going to wheel with this kit. The front hanging on it's own gets the brake lines taut.
Day and night difference with the thick slabs of metal some PO used for the front pack. Has the OME ride feel (I'm used to FJ62s setup), smooth and responsive but still like a truck.
Day and night difference with the thick slabs of metal some PO used for the front pack. Has the OME ride feel (I'm used to FJ62s setup), smooth and responsive but still like a truck.
Go with Trail Gear...alot for your money. I always suggest that one goes with longer-than-stock springs. Even if it's an everyday driver, the longer springs make for a much softer ride than just ordering a standard SuperLift, or whatnot.
Research Trail Gear's business practices first. I will not support them. Same springs are available from All-Pro and Marlin, and you can save the difference by not buying pop for lunch for a while. Support those who support us.
I run the stock length fronts and clean the Golden Crack without lifting a wheel. More options with stock length. For the rear, +9" longer definitely do make a very noticeable difference.
OMEs are definitely the finest springs you can buy, except perhaps Alcan (for service if nothing else!).
I run the stock length fronts and clean the Golden Crack without lifting a wheel. More options with stock length. For the rear, +9" longer definitely do make a very noticeable difference.
OMEs are definitely the finest springs you can buy, except perhaps Alcan (for service if nothing else!).