I am planning on installing 2" spacers front and rear. (maybe only 1" rear for level look) I have 97 40th all stock. I never go off road just want a better looking rig. Do I need to do casters or shocks? What would be the largest tire without any rub or noise. Is there anything else I need to worry about?
Lift Question (1 Viewer)
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You may need to adjust your caster. It depends on what you have now.
You could run 315's with +2" and should have no rubbing on road. Won't have much flex, but not an issue if you never go off road. If you tow often or go up steep hills (in Georgia?!?! HAH!) then the gearing may be too low.
If your shocks are old I would replace them.
You could run 315's with +2" and should have no rubbing on road. Won't have much flex, but not an issue if you never go off road. If you tow often or go up steep hills (in Georgia?!?! HAH!) then the gearing may be too low.
If your shocks are old I would replace them.
Lots of people have had good results with Nitto Terra Grapplers including myself. Comfortable, low noise, great in snow, and perform great on the highway.
I've only heard good things about the Nitto Terra Grapplers.
I currently run General Grabber AT2's on mine. You can see my thoughts on them:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/291656-general-grabber-at2-315s-1997-fzj80.html
I currently run General Grabber AT2's on mine. You can see my thoughts on them:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/291656-general-grabber-at2-315s-1997-fzj80.html
I had 315s on my truck when I had the OME medium springs on and they rubbed. With what you are doing I'd go with a 285 tire.
If you have the cash I'd also consider the low height springs from OME. They really do a nice job at giving you a little lift and improving the ride quality over stock.
If you have the cash I'd also consider the low height springs from OME. They really do a nice job at giving you a little lift and improving the ride quality over stock.
Looks like you have a heavy load in the rear. I would get rid of one of the spacers in the front, put on some good 285/75/16 tires, and call it good.
Ditch the damage multiplier. 
spdwaver
Formerly Kalifornistanian
I chose Hankook's Dynapro 315/75R16 since I wanted an all-terrain tire with added sidewall protection. It has good reviews and a decent price point.
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Wound up with the Nitto's
I added another inch in the rear and got 295/75/16 Nitto Terra Grapplers. Found them on Discount Tires Direct and the local Discount Tire mached the online price. 821.00 Mounted and balanced. Now the finderwell to the ground is 38" all the way around. Zero noise over the stock tires and odometer is off 3 mph @ 50mph.
I added another inch in the rear and got 295/75/16 Nitto Terra Grapplers. Found them on Discount Tires Direct and the local Discount Tire mached the online price. 821.00 Mounted and balanced. Now the finderwell to the ground is 38" all the way around. Zero noise over the stock tires and odometer is off 3 mph @ 50mph.
Looks good now!
I'm sorry to tell you that but start saving money for a spring/damper kit. Here's my story:
I have been driving my truck with spring spacers for over a year and a half or maybe two. I liked the fact that it was a bit higher and it looked good overall. I even used it on some moderate off-road hoping to rip apart the OEM shocks at full extension but it never happened, they held up pretty well. The truck behaved, as I thought, normally.
Some 7 months ago I decided to ditch the stock suspension and spacers and go for a stiffer lifted kit (+2"). I was hesitating a lot and my main concern was that I used the vehicle as a daily driver and 99% was road use. After much thinking I decided to give it a try, but without any enthusiasm. I bought a Dobinsons spring/damper kit (also Australian as OME). And here comes the funny part:
The difference was jaw-dropping. The vehicle handled in a totally different manner. At slow speeds the damping is slow and the ride seems stiff but at speed the truck soaks up anything. On flat roads there's little sway and it feels like a sports car in terms of handling (very little body roll compared to stock) and off-road I can ram over hard terrain at speed and the vehicle just goes smoothly over it. This is the moment when I realized that the stock setup was way too soft and way to sloppy. The same obstacles that used to make me hit the steering wheel with my face, now, with the new suspension, are just some bumps I ignore and go on.
So even if you don't ever leave the pavement, save money for new springs and shocks. A good investment.
I have been driving my truck with spring spacers for over a year and a half or maybe two. I liked the fact that it was a bit higher and it looked good overall. I even used it on some moderate off-road hoping to rip apart the OEM shocks at full extension but it never happened, they held up pretty well. The truck behaved, as I thought, normally.
Some 7 months ago I decided to ditch the stock suspension and spacers and go for a stiffer lifted kit (+2"). I was hesitating a lot and my main concern was that I used the vehicle as a daily driver and 99% was road use. After much thinking I decided to give it a try, but without any enthusiasm. I bought a Dobinsons spring/damper kit (also Australian as OME). And here comes the funny part:
The difference was jaw-dropping. The vehicle handled in a totally different manner. At slow speeds the damping is slow and the ride seems stiff but at speed the truck soaks up anything. On flat roads there's little sway and it feels like a sports car in terms of handling (very little body roll compared to stock) and off-road I can ram over hard terrain at speed and the vehicle just goes smoothly over it. This is the moment when I realized that the stock setup was way too soft and way to sloppy. The same obstacles that used to make me hit the steering wheel with my face, now, with the new suspension, are just some bumps I ignore and go on.
So even if you don't ever leave the pavement, save money for new springs and shocks. A good investment.
scoop, your truck definitely looks better with the new look! I'm having a moment of tire envy.... Are you adding an ARB at some future point, and if so, what will that do to the ride quality of the truck as it sits?
Another question on shocks vs springs. How long a "life expectancy" do shocks have? Say you bought a used set of OME stock springs and shocks, and the ride is now worse, not better (with 1" spacers all around). Would changing the shocks (with unknown mileage) be a reasonable start? OME Stock springs are much thicker than stock springs, but when they're sat beside one another the stock springs appear to be a bit TALLER than the OME's. Is this normal?
Another question on shocks vs springs. How long a "life expectancy" do shocks have? Say you bought a used set of OME stock springs and shocks, and the ride is now worse, not better (with 1" spacers all around). Would changing the shocks (with unknown mileage) be a reasonable start? OME Stock springs are much thicker than stock springs, but when they're sat beside one another the stock springs appear to be a bit TALLER than the OME's. Is this normal?
