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3.5" - 4" lift what am I damaging?

SilveradoRST
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SilveradoRST Enthusiast

SilveradoRST

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Posted

I've been conteplating on what direction to go with my lift.  If I do a 3.5" (Rough Country Strut lift) or 4" (ReadyLift), what am I damaging or wearing out faster?  Half shafts?  Front diff?  Power steering?

Ryan Crann Enthusiast

Ryan Crann

Posted
Posted

Everything dude! I just traded a 2018 f150 bilstins and 33’s. 100 k and it had issues. I plan to do the same to the new 3.0. But if yours altering suspension geometry by that much with spacers. Yes everything is going to wear faster. Along with running a heavier tire. I’m not saying not to do it! 

 

Anything over 3” and I’d look at going to a drop bracket 4”. And keep good geometry. 

 

 

at the end of the day it’s a truck thing. Can’t leave them stock what’s the fun in that lol 

Supercup Enthusiast

Supercup

Posted
Posted

Below is a photo of my 2019 AT4 with 2" Ready Lift SST level kit - so 4" over a stock truck.  Note CV angles are pretty extreme for level ground.   Also note that RL has on their website a note that states - they don't recomment you use auto 4WD with this kit as they have customers who did and toasted the front diff due to torque of shift on the fly and poor geometry.  There are potential issues for your front diff with any level over 2" and common knowledge with experience shops that over 3.5" you will likley have problems sometime down the road - I went 11k on my 2019 with no ill effects, but never used auto 4WD.  Losing a feature on your truck like that is not ideal.

 

If you go with a proper lift kit that drops the front diff, you can go 4" or 6" no problem - see photo #2 of my 2020 AT4 (traded to get trailer tow mirros and good camera stuff for towing).  This is a BDS lift kit of 2.5" - so on an AT4 that is 4.5" over a stock truck - note the axels are pretty much level - which is what you want.   You can get proper lift kit from rough country, zone (owned by BDS but a bit less expensive) or BDS without shocks and you will spend about twice as much as a level kit - but you will not have any issues down the road.   

 

2019 AT4 - note angle of CV axel boots 

IMG_8840.thumb.JPG.a07a57722c6527f062a5d102ac0e46c3.JPG

 

2020 AT4 - BDS 2.5" Lift Kit 

IMG_9550.thumb.JPG.1616557079f989c6d155e02b3dd61464.JPG

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Dunn Senior Enthusiast

Dunn

Posted
Posted

yep..... and cant rely on companies who sell these or shops to tell you its bad idea.....if their telling you dont use a standard feature on the truck that is a BAD sign......50k truck with $600 spacer lift makes no sense even if it is mall crawler.....get geometry right and truck will last, drive better and stil look "cool"

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