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52s or tuff country?

k5blazerguy

k5blazerguy

1/2 ton status
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Ruidoso NM
i need some help making a decision here. and i will start a build on my blazer in a bit, but heres what i have......im removing the 6" skyjacker lift i installed back in high school about 17-18 years ago. i finally acquired a 14bff/d60 4.10s to replace the sorry d44/12b 3.42s. i want to improve ride quality, flex. etc.... i dont go extreme rock crawling, but do take the family out to the mountains every now and then and have some fun, has to clear the 37s on H1 beadlocks as well. i want it to be an all around capable rig. it never sees speeds above 60mph.
for the rear, i have already removed the 12 bolt and spring hangers, plan is to get 4" shackle flip with zero rates and 56" springs....... for front, i wanted to see if anyone had a preference for either tuff country 4" EZs or 52 swap? are there any advantages with one over the other? it may cost the same to do either,..... im gonna do crossover steering too. i looked at the DIY4X 52 kit with body mount bracket. not sure which way to go, seems like theres pros and cons of 52 swap, but i dont have any experience with it. thanks.
 
Will you or do you have crossover steering? 52's can exceed the range of motion of stock push / pull style steering.

52's can be very flexy requiring longer than average brake hoses (for the amount of lift) and possibly longer driveshaft travel (in addition to length), are these side effects ok?
 
Some folks have suggested that using a stock length spring with the rear shackle hanger relocated forward (with a longer shackle to compensate) can yield improved flex and ride quality without some of the downfalls of a longer spring.
 
i will do crossover, ive had a 2wd gearbox for years and i dont like the stock push pull, i almost got stuck in a river crossing one time because couldnt steer out of it.......the 52s would flex more than the TCs? does that mean it would ride smoother on the road too? any other comparisons to the two setups pros and cons other than possible driveshaft length if i flex too much? thanks for responding!
 
bolt and go good ride = stock length springs .

crazy flex and willing to spend the time to dial it ALL in and get it to work = 52 or 56 swap .
 
You could do the b52 kit from kert, and still run stock length tc 4” ez rides. That gives you a little bit of tune-ability with stock length springs, and then down the line if you decide to do 52’s you already have the hangers. Of course thats additional expense, but they are stout pieces and you can move the front axle forward (stock length fronts or 52’s), which will help keep the tire out of the fenders when cycling the suspension.
 
If trail only rig that doesn't see much (or any) road use and do hardcore wheeling = do 52 swap

For more road rig that sees some wheeling here and there, not really hardcore wheeling = do 47" springs in whatever lift height you want
 
Awesome thanks. Just wanted to get input and see what route I should go with instead of wishin I had gone another route. If the Tuff country is a lot better than my skyjackers I have now, I’m sure I’ll be happy with em. Lol. I just wanna do it right the first time.
 
muddybuddy said:
You could do the b52 kit from kert, and still run stock length tc 4” ez rides. That gives you a little bit of tune-ability with stock length springs, and then down the line if you decide to do 52’s you already have the hangers. Of course thats additional expense, but they are stout pieces and you can move the front axle forward (stock length fronts or 52’s), which will help keep the tire out of the fenders when cycling the suspension.
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I heard that the B52 kit is designed for stick rear spring width. The factory front springs are wider at the front and taper down. This would require the replacement spring bushings to be narrower to fit the B52 hanger. Kert doesn't make a replacement spring hanger that will work with a stock width spring bushing, and the factory hangers can have problems with worn holes and cracks.
 
I've got 47s in the 52 style hanger in my a bomb bumper. Stock springs are tapered but not aftermarket lift springs. I just trimmed the bushings down a quarter inch each side. Easy to overcome. The shackle bushing is stock width still.
It was an easy way to get my axle even further forward also.
 
obijuank5 said:
I've got 47s in the 52 style hanger in my a bomb bumper. Stock springs are tapered but not aftermarket lift springs. I just trimmed the bushings down a quarter inch each side. Easy to overcome. The shackle bushing is stock width still.
It was an easy way to get my axle even further forward also.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I did when I first put my a-bomb on. I was running 4" lift pro comp springs at that time, and all I did was cut down the front bushings to fit inside the b52 kit. Worked just fine for a year before I did a 52 swap.
 
Kay86K5 said:
That's exactly what I did when I first put my a-bomb on. I was running 4" lift pro comp springs at that time, and all I did was cut down the front bushings to fit inside the b52 kit. Worked just fine for a year before I did a 52 swap.
Click to expand...
How were the road manners? If you drove on the street at all?
 
I did mine like that and it drove the same as it did before the abomb.
 
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