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Lift questions. Just curious right now.

nad

nad

1/2 ton status
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Festus, MO
Okay, so once I get my truck up and running, I'm gonna be looking for options to get more lift on it. Right now I have some very worn out 4" springs on the front, and worn out add-a-leafs + blocks in the rear.

So the question is, would I be better off to go with a 6" lift kit from a company like Superlift or Tuff Country, and just get a T-case lowering kit and extended brake lines?

OR

Would I be better off getting a 4" all spring lift, and using a rear shackle flip and some type of extended front shackles to achieve my 4" of lift? I'm not all that sure how shackle flips work, and exactly how much lift they give you, and I definitely don't understand the front shackle setup, but that's why I'm asking for advice.

I will probably be going with a 14BFF and D44 and probably try to run around a 37" tire. Any advice/input would be appreciated. Thanks guys.
 
You can get 4" lift springs from a ton of different manufacturers.

The shackle flip replaces the bracket that houses your rear shackle on your rear springs. If you get a shackle flip, you will net ~4" lift and you still use your stock rear springs.
 
But what do I do about the front? How do I even it out up there? So if I used 4" springs and a shackle flip, I'd be at like 8" of lift? I dunno if I want to go that high because I don't want to have to get my driveshaft extended and whatever else is involved.
 
nad said:
Okay, so once I get my truck up and running, I'm gonna be looking for options to get more lift on it. Right now I have some very worn out 4" springs on the front, and worn out add-a-leafs + blocks in the rear.

So the question is, would I be better off to go with a 6" lift kit from a company like Superlift or Tuff Country, and just get a T-case lowering kit and extended brake lines?

OR

Would I be better off getting a 4" all spring lift, and using a rear shackle flip and some type of extended front shackles to achieve my 4" of lift? I'm not all that sure how shackle flips work, and exactly how much lift they give you, and I definitely don't understand the front shackle setup, but that's why I'm asking for advice.

I will probably be going with a 14BFF and D44 and probably try to run around a 37" tire. Any advice/input would be appreciated. Thanks guys.
Click to expand...


4" of lift for 37's??? Uh, prolly just my personal preferance but I'd shoot 6" lift in the front, 6" springs in the back. I'm not saying a shackle flip is a bad idea, but I'd rather go with a solid spring. 4" IMHO is NOT enough to clear and you will do some fender crunching and tire damage. Go with 6" for sure, if not 8". Superlift 6 or 8, or even BDS will do the job.

Maybe I'm still old school. Time to get more modernized I guess. I just love big, but not stupidly built trucks!

Manny
 
some of it depends on what you do. I stay out of mud as much as possible, but run trails and rock. I run 4-5" and 37's with minor trimming. Honestly, I want to lower mine down a little or get 39's. My COG is just too high.
 
I said I want a 4" lift kit then a shackle flip to acheive my 6" lift. How would I get that extra 2 or 3 inches in the front?
 
Manny, that's exactly what I wanted to know. Whether I should combine lift springs with a shackle flip to get the proper amount of lift, or whether to buy the whole kit and have an all spring 6" lift.

Either way, I want at least 6" of lift, and hopefully won't have to do any extreme mods to my driveshafts. Just lower the transfer case a bit.
 
Alright, just making sure that would be the cheapest, easiest, and best choice for me. It's not gonna be an extreme rock crawler. Mostly just a mall crawler/trail runner/occassional mudder.

Oh, I was looking at the 6" lifts, and they have 2 different ones, one for a 3/4 ton and one for a 1/2 ton. If I was going to swap in a D44 and 14BFF, would I get the 3/4 ton kit? Or still stay with the 1/2 ton kit since my frame is still 1/2 ton?

Thanks for the input guys.
 
nad said:
Manny, that's exactly what I wanted to know. Whether I should combine lift springs with a shackle flip to get the proper amount of lift, or whether to buy the whole kit and have an all spring 6" lift.

Either way, I want at least 6" of lift, and hopefully won't have to do any extreme mods to my driveshafts. Just lower the transfer case a bit.
Click to expand...

Well, I went to BDS Suspension's web-site for ya. Here's your lift. It shows everthing that will happen, and what you get. No drive shaft mods needed with a 6" lift. Don't panic on the price, you can get it cheaper, just shop around, but I think you realize already that lifting a vehicle is by no means a $5.99 Happy Meal.

[url=http://www.bds-suspension.com/php/ProductBase.php?kri=131H]BDS Suspension 6" Lift for 87 GMC Jimmy 1500 4WD[/URL]

Hope that helps.

Manny
 
6" all the way around - get a set of 6" springs for the front, 2" for the back and a shackle flip. Or just get 2" zero rates for the back to use with your stock springs.
 
CBBR, the problem is, I don't have my stock springs anymore. I have VERY worn out rear springs with add-a-leafs and blocks to get my 4" in the back. They're hardly even arc'd anymore.
 
Thanks for that link Manny. The price scared me at first cuz i've seen them cheaper, but that one comes with EVERYTHING I would need, other than the extended brake lines. I think that's all I would need anyway...
 
I've actually found Superlift's for cheaper. I thought $1157 was the all inclusive price on that, but when I got to the customize section, it looks like you have to pay extra for the t-case drop kit, etc...
 
nad said:
I've actually found Superlift's for cheaper. I thought $1157 was the all inclusive price on that, but when I got to the customize section, it looks like you have to pay extra for the t-case drop kit, etc...
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be so hasty on dropping your TC down. I just lifted my truck with a Superlift 10" kit and have to get new drive shafts by Jesse at HAD. My Superlift 8" which was on the truck when I bought it, had the TC Drop already installed. This will worsen your angles up front. Jesse has told me to remove the TC drop and restore to stock angles. If I have to do that on a 10" lift, taking into account you have a Blazer type body, then I have to say, you won't need it on yours.

I would call or PM Jesse and ask for his .02 cents.

www.highangledriveline.com

Just food for thought. Either BDS or Superlift on a 6" will get you where you want to go. Although I suspect that the softride BDS will be a little more forgiving for your mall crawling adventures. My 8" was no kidney buster, but heavy bumps or potholes I did feel. Jury is still out on the Superlift 10".

Manny
 
Well shoot, if I'm gonna have to get my driveshafts lengthened either way, I might as well go with a 10" lift then. I was just trying to go as high as I could without having to do so many expensive mods to my drivelines and what-not.
 
nad said:
Well shoot, if I'm gonna have to get my driveshafts lengthened either way, I might as well go with a 10" lift then. I was just trying to go as high as I could without having to do so many expensive mods to my drivelines and what-not.
Click to expand...

Nad,

You should not have to get your shafts lengthened. That's why I said for you to contact Jesse. He'll tell you for sure. On a 6" lift you should not have to get shafts done. My 8" lift did not require any mods to the drive shafts so I can't see why 6" would for you. I have friends who have 6" lifts in their blazers K-5 and no extensions were necessary.

Manny
 
Okay, well I e-mailed that company that you posted the link to and asked. My 4" lift looks like it's pushing the drive angles pretty bad. And my t-case linkage got out of line when i lifted it? Is that anything to do with needing the lower the t-case or lengthen the shafts?

Thanks Manny, I appreciate your help.
 
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