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IFS lifts

R

RIPPEDK5

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Are they worth it?

Are they strong enough for mild to moderate off-road (I dont wheel rocks, just backwoods and mud,)

What kit gives best ground clearance?

Best bang for the buck?

anyone use kits with success?

Ideally a 38" tire would be used,

it is daily driven
 
Need to know what truck.

For IFS chevy's, not sure there is a lift out there that really stands up to 38's. At that tire size range, a D60 solid front axle swap is probably a more reliable bet.
 
Its an 2005 chevy silverado 1500 Z71

I havent found a kit that works with 1500's

ive seen 2500's and 3500's.

and the price difference is quite drastic dont ya think? isnt a dana 60 swap big money? Id have to swap a rear axle into too...
 
Its big money, but running 38's on a 1/2 ton really isnt' a good idea, and even worse of an idea with IFS.

35's should be considered max on IFS, 1/2 ton OR 3/4.

When its all said and done, yes, its more expensive to do an SFA, but do it once, do it right.

Not trying to sell you on overkill here, but 38's will destroy that IFS front end. If you end up with a good lift kit, you will still be wearing out and breaking CV's, ball joints, etc. regularly. For a DD, that sounds like a bad gameplan.

Sure you want to go 38's? What if you went 35's on a 6?

There are decent IFS kits out there, and if driven carefully, could suit you ok.
 
35's arent out of the question

currently my tires measure 31.5", with a different offset rim i could run 33's with no lift..

s wouldnt i be able t use 35" tires with 4" or less?
 
Its possible, but normally requires some cutting. Not 100% familiar with the 2000+ trucks. The 90's rancho lifts were 4-6, based on T bar setting.
 
I used a superlift F.I.T lift kit on my 01 gmc. Im running 305/70/18 dick cepeks.
I chose that kit because of the ground clearance and skid plate that is included I haven't had any problems with it and Ive had it on for close to five years. The other kit I would recommend is a rancho kit they advertise it as a 4in but if you measure there drop brackets its the same as every other kit out there.
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i would have to stay around 4" because laws prohibit lift height.

what do you think about the lifts that use longer knuckles versus kits that use the stock knuckles?

I am also worried about cutting and grinding..i hate to cut things off..not that i would resell the truck

how about strength? if i hit a rut and wheels up the front end? can it take it?
 
That setup looks solid. 35's and 4-6" seem to be a safe recipe.
 
what ever happen to the pr comp lift with the long rear ladder bars in the back (maybe there called trailing arms)
 
Those rear ladder bars didnt' really do anything. The suspension didnt' perform well enough to warrant them. More of a high speed pre-runner type thing.

No need for them.
 
i just thought they looked cool..lol

the idea is function over form...


fabtech over skyjacker

rancho over pro comp

trailmaster over superlift etc.

lengthened knuckles or using factory ones in a kit

styles of drop downs for the front differential

use keys with the kit or not

and cutting or not

lots to think about
 
I would not worry about the cutting. Really, you aren't going to return it to stock. If they could have made it reliable and structurally sound w/o cutting, they would have. But, they could not. The cutting on most of them is pretty minor from what i've seen.

I don't consider myself advanced in anyway, and would not hesitate to install one in my driveway.
 
If i was to do this id get the rough country kit and35s. I've had enough trouble keeping frontend parts alive with 31s and ifs
 
My buddy had a 95 Yukon with a mystery 6"lift on 38s, 10 bolt in the rear and ifs lift up front. We got real good at changing front CV shafts, but it worked.

He ran it on old ground hawgs for months and beat the piss out of that thing, even took it through mud bogs at the fair grounds near us with my new boggers and never broke too bad. those trucks are fun as hell, just have fun getting it aligned.

But my friend sold that truck and got his 72...well now he misses his ninja turtle (had a two tone Rican paint job)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk
 
The first pic is my 05 2500HD with 37/13.5/17's

The second pic is with 35/12.5/17's

It's a CST lift with 5 inch blocks in the rear and whatever they use for front lift. The CV shafts are at the proper angle.

By dropping 2 inches on tires and an inch on width I gained 3mpg also rides a bunch better.

For a DD I wouldn't go higher than 35's you will get tired of climbing in and out of it.

Also they trimmed my front inner fenders to fit the 37's and they still rubbed. So you would have to go higher.

Things you need to consider.

To clear 38's your gonna also need to extend your rear driveshaft.

Since yours is a 1/2 ton it's gonna eat your rear end, your tranny (unless you regear) your motor is gonna work it's ass off.

Poor poor fuel milage

Your gonna eat front hubs often.

Brakes are gonna wear faster.

I think if you go 4 inches with 35's you will be happy. Do a little inner fender trimming and you will be fine.

You should still regear tho since you will never see 4th gear with that tall of a tire.

Be prepared to save up for front hubs, they go out even on stock trucks, def on lifted ones. I have replaced both sides so far. 240 for the American made lifetime warranty one for the driver side and 170 for the American made one year warranty for the pass side.

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holy shnit!!!! those kits are almost up to $8000!!!.. i might as well do an SAS kit at that price..the RCD suspension looks good.. the cost wuld make me wait

ive seen kits for $2k or less, but $8k!? no way ill sell the truck lol


my truck has 122000 miles on it, and i have never replaced the ball joints nor have i replaced the wheel bearings (hubs).. ive replaced tie rods and the idler arm and the shocks
 
1500 1/2 ton + ifs + 35" up = waste of money as it will wear out all front end parts fast and not be worth it in the end.

do a sas with ford dana 44 front then swap gm knuckles out on it to make gm brakes and 6 lug. this will hold up for ya with out the dana 60 and 14ff prices.
 
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