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Installing a Trailboss 2" rear lift block on a non-trailboss truck

fondupot
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fondupot Senior Enthusiast

fondupot

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Hi all, I installed the 2" block from a Trail Boss on my non-trail boss truck (2022 Custom). The part number I used was 84379975.

 

I was wondering if these blocks are tapered? I didn't think to measure them when I installed them, and now I am having second thoughts.

 

I can't seem to get an accurate measurement with them installed on the truck. As far as I can tell there wasn't any indication of a forward/backward indication on the block itself, which makes me think they are not tapered.

 

But I developed a very slight "rumble" coming from the rear of the truck after installing the blocks and I am not sure what it is. It's not that bad, but definitely noticeable. I also installed new Bilstein 5100's out back and have new Bilstein 5100's up front set on 1.5".

 

Any input is appreciated. Thanks

Diamond817 Enthusiast

Diamond817

Posted
Posted (edited)

So you added 1/2" more rake to your truck? 2" rear lift and 1.5" front lift?

 

The blocks are flat. The axle might be bound up a bit depending on the angle of the axle when the u-bolts were tightened. On a flat/level surface I would loosen all 4 U-bolts, bounce the rear of my truck with my body weight, then torque the U-bolts to 85lb-ft.

 

 

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Edited by Diamond817
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fondupot Senior Enthusiast

fondupot

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Posted (edited)

Yea, so the truck was pretty much level, before the lift, because I have a toolbox in the back with a bunch of stuff in it on a regular basis. But I wanted to get a little rake back. The rear lifted 2" with blocks, and I did 1.5" with the Bilsteins, because I read reports of them lifting more than what they were rated, so I didn't want to go too high. I ended up only getting about 1.25" up front, so I may have to do an adjustment and put the fronts on the 2" setting to bring it up a bit. Either way, the truck has about 1" of rake right now from rear to front. Not bad.

 

As for your recommendation, thanks. That seems logical. I can try that this weekend and see what it does.

Edited by fondupot
Vincej138 Enthusiast

Vincej138

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, fondupot said:

Yea, so the truck was pretty much level, before the lift, because I have a toolbox in the back with a bunch of stuff in it on a regular basis. But I wanted to get a little rake back. The rear lifted 2" with blocks, and I did 1.5" with the Bilsteins, because I read reports of them lifting more than what they were rated, so I didn't want to go too high. I ended up only getting about 1.25" up front, so I may have to do an adjustment and put the fronts on the 2" setting to bring it up a bit. Either way, the truck has about 1" of rake right now from rear to front. Not bad.

 

As for your recommendation, thanks. That seems logical. I can try that this weekend and see what it does.

 

Your springs will settle also after a few days of driving. I think that's a bit of thing people see when they post higher #'s. Even on my 2.7L the 0" was a bit higher, then settled to be true. 

Diamond817 Enthusiast

Diamond817

Posted
Posted
15 hours ago, fondupot said:

Yea, so the truck was pretty much level, before the lift, because I have a toolbox in the back with a bunch of stuff in it on a regular basis. But I wanted to get a little rake back. The rear lifted 2" with blocks, and I did 1.5" with the Bilsteins, because I read reports of them lifting more than what they were rated, so I didn't want to go too high. I ended up only getting about 1.25" up front, so I may have to do an adjustment and put the fronts on the 2" setting to bring it up a bit. Either way, the truck has about 1" of rake right now from rear to front. Not bad.

 

As for your recommendation, thanks. That seems logical. I can try that this weekend and see what it does.

Interesting. How much does that tool box weigh? I got exactly 1.5" of front lift from installing the Bilsteins. The weight of the tool box might be compressing the front end that 1/4".

fondupot Senior Enthusiast

fondupot

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 1/12/2024 at 11:14 AM, Diamond817 said:

So you added 1/2" more rake to your truck? 2" rear lift and 1.5" front lift?

 

The blocks are flat. The axle might be bound up a bit depending on the angle of the axle when the u-bolts were tightened. On a flat/level surface I would loosen all 4 U-bolts, bounce the rear of my truck with my body weight, then torque the U-bolts to 85lb-ft.

 

 

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So I did this over the weekend. Didn’t seem to make a difference. I didn’t loosen the shocks. But I loosened the u-bolts and then jumped up and down several times, til I was out of breath. 
 

I wonder if my u-joints are worn and just aren’t happy with the additional 2” in them. The truck has 95,000 miles in it. 
 

Did some highway driving today and it seems like the “rumble” is present at all speeds. It’s accompanied by a slight vibration that can be felt throughout the truck as well. 
 

Any other thoughts?

Diamond817 Enthusiast

Diamond817

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, fondupot said:


So I did this over the weekend. Didn’t seem to make a difference. I didn’t loosen the shocks. But I loosened the u-bolts and then jumped up and down several times, til I was out of breath. 
 

I wonder if my u-joints are worn and just aren’t happy with the additional 2” in them. The truck has 95,000 miles in it. 
 

Did some highway driving today and it seems like the “rumble” is present at all speeds. It’s accompanied by a slight vibration that can be felt throughout the truck as well. 
 

Any other thoughts?

 

I would look at the U joints. How do the front hubs feel when you spin them? How about the CV axles?

fondupot Senior Enthusiast

fondupot

Posted
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Posted (edited)

I popped under the truck to inspect the u-joints. I checked for play by hand, none apparent. The rear u-joint has some grayish dust/grease around it. Maybe that’s a sign it’s going bad. I should have taken a picture. I’ll go out there later again and get one. 
 

Front CVs look fine. Front bearings appear fine. The noise feeling definitely feels like it’s coming from the “center” of the truck. 

It was definitely paired to installing the blocks. I actually did the rear blocks and shocks about a week before I had a shop do the front struts. And I noticed the noise/vibration immediately on my test drive after doing the rear shocks and blocks. 


 

 

Edited by fondupot
fondupot Senior Enthusiast

fondupot

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Here are some photos of my u-joints. You can see the grayish dust/grease on the rear u-joint. Not as much on the front one, but a little.

 

REAR

IMG_8296.thumb.JPG.aba56744f1f8633210aa7255458fe1fd.JPG

 

IMG_8295.thumb.JPG.09afe934b3ad95039d4b0a38bbb2303d.JPG

 

IMG_8294.thumb.JPG.e59f3ec1e5167e224b1b7c59816ccaec.JPG

 

 

 

FRONT

IMG_8297.thumb.JPG.3f9374a67e6addb3882b81fc98d05009.JPG

 

IMG_8298.thumb.JPG.891b6824643d5fd5fa5cd7a976d5aa56.JPG

fondupot Senior Enthusiast

fondupot

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  • Author
Posted

I got curious again today and went under the truck. This time I measured from the front of the spring perch to the center of the bolt on the front leaf spring bushing. 
 

On my driver side I got 29.5”

On my passenger side I got 29.25”

 

Meaning it appears my axle is not straight. This is most likely the cause of my vibration/rumble. It has to be. 
 

I am still going to replace the u-joints as a precaution, they should arrive today or tomorrow. But I am also going to loosen the u-bolts back up and straighten the axle back so it’s even on both sides of the leafs. Maybe the centering pin on the blocks has a large enough hole so that there is some play in getting them perfectly centered. 

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