Lift Amount Guidance

[AGENT SMITH]

So I'm a newbie who's trying to plan out a lift. That being said, I have put in a ton of reading and thinking into this and feel like I'm getting close I'm going to be putting on 32s and I'm debating on whether to use Marks 2.5" lift or 3" lift. I know it's only a minor difference, but just wanted some feedback. I was initially thinking the 2.5 to keep my 1" rake, but the I've read good things about the 3" being better quality/design. Also, I will be putting in Bilsteins up front since I'll have it all apart, but wont be able to upgrade the rear shocks/springs quite yet. I thought the 3" kit (really 3 in front and 2 in rear) would be more compatible with adding Z71 springs and BDS shocks later (seems like that would make an ideal setup). That way, I'd be adding the additional 1.5" in new springs to an existing 2" instead of 2.5", which would take me to about 1.5" rake. Stuck on this in my planning, so I thought I'd pick your brains.

[TBYODA]

Keep in mind which ever lift you choose adding the 2" rear spring spacer without longer rear shocks will cause you will top out. BTW. A bunch of us run skyjacker 8030's with good success.

[AGENT SMITH]

Dang. Somehow I missed that detail in the threads. Guess I'll have to rethink this. Was hoping to upgrade the rear shocks/springs later, but maybe I should save up some more to do it all at once.

[Trail X]

If I was doing a spacer lift, I'd probably go with a shorter (2") lift and stiffer springs. In my opinion, you don't want to be running 3" lift spacers and the stiffer (87-89) springs or you'll be topping out all the time. A little downward articulation is good.

[AGENT SMITH]

With marks 3" kit, it is 2" in the rear. Plus the 1.5" from the springs. That wouldn't top out the BDS 5500s, would it? Is the 3" puck in the front to much for the bilsteins? Seems like many others are using a similar setup.

[ErikSS]

A little downward articulation is good.

Yep. As I learned when I cranked the Radflo too far.

[Trail X]

The rear is fine with pretty much whatever you throw at it, as long as you have a ~26" extended length shock that you're putting in there.

I was referring to stiffer front springs. The front is much more limited in it's articulation due to the CVs, which have a catastrophic failure if you over bend them which is why the front suspension downward articulation becomes your limiting element for lift. You want to make sure you have at minimum 1" (maybe 0.5" if you're a glutten for punishment) of downward articulation from your suspension's weight-on neutral position. If you get a 3" and 87 springs, I would suspect that you're in a bad place on downward articulation. 2" and 87s is about the max. So if you went with a 3" suspension lift, I'd probably suggest you only look at MAYBE 84 front springs max. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you need to read more threads in the suspension section)

[AGENT SMITH]

No, I hear ya. I was planning on leaving the stock front springs and just adding the spacer and the bilsteins.

[ErikSS]

Do you plan to put a steel front bumper and skid plates on it? The stock springs I used failed.with additional weigh. I'm sure the wheeling and flexing didn't help them.

[AGENT SMITH]

No, not planning on a steel bumper or much extra weight on the front. That's why I thought leaving the stock springs would be fine. I'm assuming that would be ok with the added 2.5" or 3" spacers along with the bilsteins?

[Trail X]

Yeah, upgrading the front shock and just adding a spacer on top of your stock spring is pretty standard practice.

[muddingandgunning]

ok so lets dumb this down.... best shock options for 3" mark kit + z71 (thats what ill be running)

[Trail X]

That discussion is elsewhere.

(start here maybe: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4806&hilit=shock#p92201 )

[AGENT SMITH]

adding the 2" rear spring spacer without longer rear shocks will cause you will top out.

If new shocks are highly recommended in the rears, even with just the 2" spacer, would the bilsteins work ok with the stock springs until I upgrade them down the road?

[TBYODA]

The rear is fine with pretty much whatever you throw at it, as long as you have a ~26" extended length shock that you're putting in there.

adding the 2" rear spring spacer without longer rear shocks will cause you will top out.

If new shocks are highly recommended in the rears, even with just the 2" spacer, would the bilsteins work ok with the stock springs until I upgrade them down the road?

see above, if the bilsteins are not long enough then I suggest to wait as it has been proven it to be more costly to do things twice. IIRC you will notice the toping out pretty soon, like a another new member did. If you are planning on spacing your build out because of $$ then I am sorry you have some misconceptions here. Save your $$ up and do the build all at once and have extra $$ aside for breakage if this is your DD. Other wise good luck.

[Trail X]

While I agree with Robert, go ahead and try out the stock length with your plan.

If it sucks to you, its easy to swap a rear shock out. Worst case, you pull a shock apart by topping out on it too much, but you can drive without a shock if you have to.

[v7guy]

I'd look at leaving the stock springs with a lift of your choice. You start doing the heavier springs, especially with no weight added up front and you're just looking for shock destruction.

[AGENT SMITH]

Oops, I meant to ask would the BDS shocks be ok with the stock rear springs, not bilsteins. Sorry for the confusion. Or I could just run the stock springs and shocks in the rear with the added spacer and see how it does.

[Trail X]

The BDS shocks will be fine with a lift in the rear, with or without the Z71 springs - either way. There may be better options out there, but the BDS is nevertheless a fine shock in my experience.

[AGENT SMITH]

Thanks a lot for all the input. Still need to decide which MarkMC lift I want, but I'm closer.