I am preparing to pull the trigger on a lift - final decision for the lift itself will probably be between Dobinson IMS vs MRA, but there are plenty of options for the common 2 - 2.5 inch lift and a million different threads comparing them.
What I'm attempting to do here is make a list of the common lift-adjacent mods and indicate if the smarter option is to plan ahead and install at the same time as the lift. There's tons of info out there but it can take a lot of digging through threads and builds to find everyone else's lessons-learned.
What I'm attempting to do here is make a list of the common lift-adjacent mods and indicate if the smarter option is to plan ahead and install at the same time as the lift. There's tons of info out there but it can take a lot of digging through threads and builds to find everyone else's lessons-learned.
- Front UCAs: Install with the lift. Somewhere between 2 and 2.5 inches of lift, these become necessary so better to just knock out while lifting. (I've ordered the Ironman4x4 but lots of options here).
- Front LCAs: Not needed. You only need these if you're ditching KDSS and/or spending big money on a long travel setup.
- Spindles/Spindle Gussets: Not needed. These come into play with huge tires plus big speed and/or big rocks.
- Body Mount Chop: ??? I believe this comes into play with tire size, not lift (with UCAs) but not 100% sure.
- Diff Drop: Not needed. Lots of shops say its required but I see very few diff drops installed on lifted GXs and no issues seem to come of it.
- KDSS Spacers: Install with the lift. From what I can tell, there is no downside to the rear KDSS spacers, but the front usually interferes with the skid plate so install rear-only or prepare to cut clearance into the front skid.
- Rear upper/lower control arms: Not needed for a 2 inch lift, but somewhere above 2.5+ these become necessary to keep the rear axle in the right place.
- Panhard Bar correction kit: The weld on bracket (i.e Eimkeith) seem like relatively cheap insurance against certain negative handling impacts with any lift.
- Adjustable Panhard Bar: Not needed if you have a panhard correction kit, which is the better solution for suspension geometry anyway.
- Light bars: You should always install more light bars.