El Cheapo Lifto Por Favor

[Dissent]

I've got an idea for a lift kit on the cheap and wanted to run it past the experts. I have a stock LX450 and am considering 255/85-16 tires with 1" coil spacers. I estimate this will give me an effective 2.5" lift and retain my daily driver ride? Comments, criticisms, flames?

 

[matttaylor1976]

New coils, castor correction (if needed) and shocks is way cheaper than tires.... But if you need tires, why not?

What is the intended use of the PPR? All street, some trails?????

 

[2MinutesTurkish]

New coils, castor correction (if needed) and shocks is way cheaper than tires.... But if you need tires, why not?

What is the intended use of the PPR? All street, some trails?????

What he said ^^

If you need or want new tires, there's no problem going this route with spacers. 285/75/16 also Gives you a 33 inch ish tire and it gives you more/cheaper tire options in that size range

 

[Slabsides45]

If you keep your eye on the classifieds you can score some coils. If you're so inclined, you can buy the Ironman adjustable castor bushings and install them yourself (no press needed). So you can do all of that for a pretty reasonable cost, then save a few pennies for the shocks. Worked for me...

 

[Dissent]

It's my daily driver. I don't need tires per se, I have 4 month old Yokohama Street tires but I'd like to sell them and get some ATs. I am out on trails about 1-2 times a month. We did trails all around Box Canyon Florence and I only scraped the hitch a few times. I do maibly moderate teails with some 12-16" boulders max. I'd do the spacers first to get a smudge more clearance.

 

[Thanatoz]

It's my daily driver. I don't need tires per se, I have 4 month old Yokohama Street tires but I'd like to sell them and get some ATs. I am out on trails about 1-2 times a month. We did trails all around Box Canyon Florence and I only scraped the hitch a few times. I do maibly moderate teails with some 12-16" boulders max. I'd do the spacers first to get a smudge more clearance.

Dissent, sounds like your in AZ. If you haven't already, meet up with the CSC guys/gals (I rarely make the meets myself, as my BSA Troop camp outs usually leave the same night) on the 3rd Friday of the month in Tempe. You can then see all types of different ways to do lifts. From body lifts to custom portal axles, there is always something new.

 

[Dissent]

Dissent, sounds like your in AZ. If you haven't already, meet up with the CSC guys/gals (I rarely make the meets myself, as my BSA Troop camp outs usually leave the same night) on the 3rd Friday of the month in Tempe. You can then see all types of different ways to do lifts. From body lifts to custom portal axles, there is always something new.

I know the feeling on the scout outings. It's cold sleeping in that black LX at the outings. It's sooooo shiny! Made last Fridays meet due to Digalus.

 

[86tuning]

I did almost the same for a couple years. 315 tires and some minor trimming. I used mr gasket front spacers to compensate for the weight of my winch. And airlift 100 bags in the back when I was loaded down with stuff.

Otherwise 35" tires at very close to stock height. Works great but there's some minor rubbing in certain situations. Just go slow when really flexed up and nothing tears off or breaks.

 

[Dissent]

OK, I'm sold that my proposed solution of spacers and taller tires will work.

Now, the next question; what about the stock brake lines? I just ordered replacement rubber lines to replace my cracked fronts and I'm going to replace the rears and flush the system. Am I going to have issues assuming Metaltech 2" in fronts and Man a Fre 1" in back?

 

[86tuning]

I would rather swap springs than install a 2" spacer. You'll want caster correction in either case.

With a 1" rubber spacer you might be able to get away with not running caster correction, but I'd get a caster sweep done to find out what the numbers are anyways.

I recently lifted my suspension with OME 85/860 and didn't need to change hoses, but I'm not using OME shox. I'm running fox 10" remote reservoirs.

 

[bsmart82]

Here is mine with stock suspension, Ironman 30mm front and 15mm rear spacers, and 315/75R16 BFG A/T tires. I get minimal rubbing off road, and I trimmed the front bumper ends. I plan on rocking this for a while and do sliders next. My caster was 2*. It does feel like it wants to wander more than before, but I'm ok with it for now. I will do caster correction after I do a 2" lift.

 

[nigelsiam]

I put Falken Rocky Mountain 285/75/16 on my '95 and that alone gave me an almost 2" lift. I do find that it is a bit slower with even that moderate increase in tire size. I can imagine anything bigger would need a regear?

 

[TYM4FUN]

I got an el cheapo lift for yah. I just had a customer come in that used blocks of wood to do a body lift!

 

[Dissent]

I got an el cheapo lift for yah. I just had a customer come in that used blocks of wood to do a body lift!

For some, wooden block body lifts might be their El Guapo!

 

[2MinutesTurkish]

OK, I'm sold that my proposed solution of spacers and taller tires will work.

Now, the next question; what about the stock brake lines? I just ordered replacement rubber lines to replace my cracked fronts and I'm going to replace the rears and flush the system. Am I going to have issues assuming Metaltech 2" in fronts and Man a Fre 1" in back?

I would go with 2" springs if you're going to do metaltech 2" spacers. They cost 120/pair on sierra expedition and camel 4x4.

The reason I say springs is you'll have to do caster correction with spacers or springs, so you might as well get some new equipment in there. Install for either option is nearly identical.

You CAN run stock shocks until you save some dough...plenty of people have done that.

OEM brake lines are fine with 285's and 2" coil springs.

FWIW

 

[Dissent]

Good point on the springs. Trying to keep the price down and the ride smooth for daily driving. However, the 15 years and 6400 lbs have probably dragged my stock springs down 1-2" so the spacers may just bring back the stock ride whereas the 2" springs may lift 2-3" in actuality. Originally I was looking at an OME 2.5, not sure about the stock brake lines there though.

 

[BruntForce77]

I'd also go with new coils over spacers. You will get added benefits other than just height, and the price difference is negligible if you are planning on metal tech spacers anyway. Lots of 2-3" lift coils pop up in the classifieds. I believe some are on there right now in fact.

 

[WanderingFZJ]

I would go with 2" springs if you're going to do metaltech 2" spacers. They cost 120/pair on sierra expedition and camel 4x4.

The reason I say springs is you'll have to do caster correction with spacers or springs, so you might as well get some new equipment in there. Install for either option is nearly identical.

You CAN run stock shocks until you save some dough...plenty of people have done that.

OEM brake lines are fine with 285's and 2" coil springs.

FWIW

I've had the question about running OME medium springs without upgrading the shocks, and in searching I've found a couple mentions of doing this but nothing definitive. My shocks were replaced about 5 years ago but the springs are stock. If I were to put on a set of OME mediums, with the shocks I have, how long can I run that way? Obviously I'm going to get shocks ASAP, but with finishing the last few months of college, it'll be tough for a bit.
I know that if they are flexed too much the shocks will top out, what happens then?

I had been thinking about the stock height replacement with spacers, but I've realized my sliders are going to make me sag back to about stock (they are pretty beefy).

Any advice?

 

[86tuning]

All of the OME front spring are the same rate iirc. So light, medium, heavy, or J front springs will all feel the same. A light front spring with a spacer will effectively be a medium spring, but cost you more money.

The difference between the front springs is the height.

If you're lightly laden, go with medium front and light rears. Or heavy fronts and medium rears if you want a level stance.

I'm running 850-860 combo. Winch inside stock front bumper. 3rd row removed. 35" spare in stock spot. My truck has 1" rake as measured at the ends of my sliders. Once there's some groceries or other stuff in the back, truck sits level.

 

[86tuning]

As for shocks, around town you'll be fine, although underdamped, just like a vehicle with worn out shocks.

If you're going wheeling with stock length shocks and lift springs you will likely pick tires up when articulating due to lack of extension travel.

Just wait til summer to do your lift all at once. I drove around for two years without lifting. Low CoG has its benefits.