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Educate me on leveling lift kits
Posted on 9/6/22 at 7:15 pm
Posted on 9/6/22 at 7:15 pm
I was kicking around the idea of putting a rough country 3” leveling lift kit on my Tundra. Then I started reading about how it can have a big increase on the wear/strain of ball joints, etc. Definitely don’t feel like dealing with that crap. Is that the case for 3” or is this more about bigger lifts?
14
Posted on 9/6/22 at 7:17 pm to VanRIch
Find a Toyota specific forum and see what they are running. Cognito is best for GMs. Fox, BDS, Icon, Carli, and a few others are great for Ford. No clue about Yota. Do not just get a spacer puck. Spend the money and get something good.
Posted on 9/6/22 at 7:17 pm to VanRIch
Posted on 9/6/22 at 7:39 pm to VanRIch
3” is to big for a tundra. I put a 2” on mine. Got 230k plus miles on my 14 with no issues before trading it in.
You do need to bring it to a tire place so they can get everything back aligned after you do it or you will wear the front tires quick
You do need to bring it to a tire place so they can get everything back aligned after you do it or you will wear the front tires quick
This post was edited on 9/6/22 at 7:40 pm
Posted on 9/6/22 at 8:29 pm to MorningWood
Same here, 220+k with leveling kit with no issues. Alignment after install is a must.
Everybody loves the Blistiens. I destroyed 3 rear blistiens in under 5000 miles. Will never buy again. I think they are made for pavement dwellers.
Everybody loves the Blistiens. I destroyed 3 rear blistiens in under 5000 miles. Will never buy again. I think they are made for pavement dwellers.
Posted on 9/6/22 at 8:50 pm to VanRIch
After talking to a mechanic whom I really trusted, I did a 2.5” leveling kit on my GMC Sierra. Put 33” bf goodrich tires. He said he’s never seen faster wear as long as the truck isn’t lifted super high with big heavy tires. Only have 10k miles on the lift and tires so far but no issues.
Posted on 9/6/22 at 9:21 pm to VanRIch
I would go with h a factory approved TRD level only. And then get a good alignment. Trucks are built with the idea of leveling for 4 wheel drive applications.
Posted on 9/6/22 at 9:33 pm to VanRIch
I put a 2 or 3" kit on my Sierra (can't remember specifically). No issues whatsoever.
Posted on 9/6/22 at 10:09 pm to VanRIch
There are a lot of different types of kits.
Most will change your factory wheel/suspension geometry. You can get kits that will correct it to a proper geometry post-lift.
The truth is, you need to do a good bit of homework and learn it well enough to do it yourself (even if you don't do it). Join a TRD or tundra forum. Have a few people interact and point you in the correct path.
In the end, even with a perfect kit, bigger lift means bigger tires and wheels usually. Bigger = some parts wearing and tearing sooner than they would have. But that's part of car and truck ownership anyway.
Repairs happen.
Most will change your factory wheel/suspension geometry. You can get kits that will correct it to a proper geometry post-lift.
The truth is, you need to do a good bit of homework and learn it well enough to do it yourself (even if you don't do it). Join a TRD or tundra forum. Have a few people interact and point you in the correct path.
In the end, even with a perfect kit, bigger lift means bigger tires and wheels usually. Bigger = some parts wearing and tearing sooner than they would have. But that's part of car and truck ownership anyway.
Repairs happen.
Posted on 9/6/22 at 10:19 pm to m2pro
I put a 2 inch level on a 09 Silverado. Upper ball joints gave out at 40-50k miles. Luckily I had the truck in the shop due to tire noise and the tech pointed it out to me. If I had to do it over would buy a set up that comes with new, beefier upper A-arms and ball joints. Can’t remember the manufacturer’s name. It really does change the geometry significantly. Wouldn’t go over 2 inch level for sure.
Posted on 9/7/22 at 6:11 am to Cajun Slick
Thanks for the input everyone. I found a few forums to join.
Posted on 9/7/22 at 6:31 am to VanRIch
quote:
Definitely don’t feel like dealing with that crap.
IMO, you shouldn't do it. While you may not keep the truck long enough to realize it, bigger tires are harder on the whole truck. Higher offset rims combined with lift kits are what REALLY tears up front end stuff. Steeper angles on all the joints wears them out quicker. Bigger tires hurt fuel mileage and towing performance and increase wear and tear on all of the rotating parts.
I despise any kind of lift kit on a truck these days that isn't a play toy.
Posted on 9/7/22 at 7:19 am to VanRIch
For Fords atleast, anything over 2.5" is pushing it, and even with a 2.5" cheap style spacer kit the cv and joint angles up front are somewhat scary looking. Granted I've had one on a truck for a long time and never had issues, as well as knowing tons of people with the same but 2" is probably the sweet spot.
Not sure about Toyota specifically, but depends on what you want to spend, as there are leveling kits that can cost as much as a full lift. In my experience if you have larger tires or want them, and plan on leveling it, a 4" lift kit is the better option as it will bring your truck back to stock angles and relieve that strain on the angles. Tundras are fairly large to begin with though, but I know an F150 with 35's with a 2.5" level parked next to an f150 with 35's and a 4" lift is nearly the same exact height. Where the 4' lift version has stock angles for the tires. Leveling kit just pushed it up, where lift drops the parts down.
ETA: Finding a Tundra forum Is probably the best bet for getting knowledgable insight. I will add that many of the lift kit manufacturers (not necessarily bad or the "cheap ones") basically use the same size parts for the 4" and 6" lift, so the 6" is gonna end up with angles basically as if it had a 2" level. FWIW. An alignment after any sort of suspension work is absolutely NECESSARY though, and if you do get a level or lift make sure to get it aligned every other oil change or third one. If you get a lift definitely make sure they retorque all the bolts and parts to spec every 5k miles or so.
Not sure about Toyota specifically, but depends on what you want to spend, as there are leveling kits that can cost as much as a full lift. In my experience if you have larger tires or want them, and plan on leveling it, a 4" lift kit is the better option as it will bring your truck back to stock angles and relieve that strain on the angles. Tundras are fairly large to begin with though, but I know an F150 with 35's with a 2.5" level parked next to an f150 with 35's and a 4" lift is nearly the same exact height. Where the 4' lift version has stock angles for the tires. Leveling kit just pushed it up, where lift drops the parts down.
ETA: Finding a Tundra forum Is probably the best bet for getting knowledgable insight. I will add that many of the lift kit manufacturers (not necessarily bad or the "cheap ones") basically use the same size parts for the 4" and 6" lift, so the 6" is gonna end up with angles basically as if it had a 2" level. FWIW. An alignment after any sort of suspension work is absolutely NECESSARY though, and if you do get a level or lift make sure to get it aligned every other oil change or third one. If you get a lift definitely make sure they retorque all the bolts and parts to spec every 5k miles or so.
This post was edited on 9/7/22 at 7:28 am
Posted on 9/7/22 at 8:42 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Well maybe I’ll just scrap the idea all together. Just paid off my truck and it’s given me zero issues. I want to keep it for as long as possible at this point. I really wanted a lift for aesthetic purposes, as dumb as that may sound, but not at the sacrifice of a solid truck.
Posted on 9/7/22 at 8:46 am to VanRIch
For a level - don't go above a 2" and don't use the cheap spacers. Go with something like the 5100s or a loaded strut. My ride and handling improved a ton when I replaced those cheap spacers and loaded struts.
Posted on 9/7/22 at 11:14 am to VanRIch
On very late model Tundras with Adaptive Cruise Control it can change what the sensors see; you could have cruise problems. The Toyota dealer can't fix it after lift kit. Call the Toyota dealer for more info.
Posted on 9/7/22 at 12:10 pm to VanRIch
quote:
want to keep it for as long as possible
Than don't do it, and keep OEM size tires on it. It's negatively affecting the reliability and longevity of the truck. Whether or not that gets realized in the time you own it is anybodys guess, but you are spending money to expose yourself to that.
quote:
wanted a lift for aesthetic purposes
That's the only reason 90% of people have them and that's fine. If you keep factory offset wheels and don't go up in tire size significantly, you probably won't REALLY affect anything measurably. Increasing the offset is what really destroys front suspension and steering. Larger tires are just harder on the drive train since it's just more load.
Posted on 9/7/22 at 12:18 pm to VanRIch
I have a 3" toytech with decker leaf and add a leaf on my Tacoma. guys at Southernstyle Offroad in BR did it and im 40k in with no issues. Def get aligned after and maybe upgrade the upperCA's for more adjustability. went with Dobinson on those for more camber.
Posted on 9/7/22 at 12:35 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:IDK about you, brother, but there is no way in hell I’m running a set of 245/75-16 pawpaw slicks on my 4WD Tacoma.
Larger tires are just harder on the drive train since it's just more load.
That said, I can demo and rebuild the front end on a 2gen with my eyes closed.
This post was edited on 9/7/22 at 12:36 pm
Posted on 9/7/22 at 7:35 pm to White Bear
quote:
245/75-16
I think my last F250 4x4 had these on them
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