So i am still learnin my truck. I see that some people do a SL, others do a BL. Also, some do Spindles and AAL. I also see that some are doing something with the torison bars.

Someone said that only EDGE/Sports that are 2wd have the torison bars.

That would make mine have them. What is everyone doing to those that affect lift/ride?

I am tring to rise my truck 3", but that will look good on stock wheels for a while.. I was thinkin of the Body lift, then others said Spindle and AAL, which seems good to me as well.

Im not tryin to do the cheapest thing, but, something that is price efficent.

Can someone take some time to break these down, or point me in the right direction.. Website that or something like that.. Maybe Truck's for Dummies.. .....I am just tryin to research all these before i go to deep and do something i dont need/want or stupid. But, without knowin what these are affect, its a little hard.

Thanks for the time. You guys/gals are great..

 

it would help if you told us exactly what your truck is.

i ASSuME it is a 06+ sport from your post and avatar........

 

Sorry, left out the most important thing.. Yes a 2006 ext cab Sport 2wd

 

You are correct with EDGE/Sports having torsion bars. There are 2 main ways to lift a 2wd with torsion bars.

1) A body lift. Cheaper then suspension lift and can install in a weekend. Does affect bumpers, hitch, exhuast, tow hooks and other stuff. All that stuff can be fixed though, so dont worry to much about it. Can be purchased from summitracing.com and stuffforyourranger.com

2) Suspersion lift. You can get spindles for the front which will raise it 3-3.5 inches. You have a couple different options for the back, Add-a-leafs, shackles or blocks(advised against) The AAL and shackles can also be purchased from summitracing.com and the spindles can be purchased from sporttrucksuspension.com. The install of those are easy as well, probably taking a weekend. This route also doesnt affect the body any.

If you offroad frequently I would advise with going with the spindle lift, but many guys run body lift offroad and they have had no problems. If you have any more questions ask away!

 

I dont really off road to much.. And when i do.. there is little mud.. or just like trail riding.. Nothing i or my 2wd cant handle. thanks for the help..

So a spindle is a suspension lift? So what would i do to my T bars?

 

a spindle basically just moves the wheel down(raising the truck) without changing any angles of the control arms, if that makes any sense.

you can crank your torsion bars and get about 1-2" in the front also. but it will ride a little rougher.

a body lift is a good inexpensive option if you dont offroad much, as they do not lift the frame of the truck. but you can fit larger tires. but with that said i personally dont like body lifts much, just my opinion.

if you can afford spindles, i would go for those, as they dont affect ride at all. then maybe some shackles for the back.

 

It seems like i am heading away from a BL and thinkin about spindles and shackles... I work at a dealer, so i am makin calls and seein my price on some 3" lifts...

 

suspension lift = making way for more clearance under the vehicle, clearance is made with larger tires, which equates to possibly less damage to frame and components while wheeling.

body lift = just that, lifting the body off the frame. Everything suspension wise stays the same. This is another form, cheaper initially, of making room for larger tires. To attempt to quote someone's quoted sig on here...."building up a 3.0L is like polishing a turd" Body lifting is about the same, IMO. Or to put it more nicer. I agree with desertrunner07's view of body lifts.

 

But, for me, i am not off roadin.. It is mainly looks, so body lift would be nice.. Cheaper for looks.. I dont need to spend that much more to lift the frame.. when it wouldn't get beat up.

 

if you do a body lift CORRECTLY no one can tell unless you crawl under the truck..

few ways to hide it.. make gap guards for the rear like Erv and Bill did.. second step bars on the side, the stock ones help to hide A LOT of the gap.. and front stock skid plate will hide from most everyone.

it comes with bumper re-location brackets.. unless you have a hitch and do not modify it, then you can tell from the back.. if you are running a Draw tite hitch where normally the bar sits up behind the bumper like me and Grant(g'sevo) the hitch after body lifting looks like the stock reese hitch offered on rangers...

also with thread lock on the bolts and checking all the bolts to make sure there TQ about 300-500 miles after install, as long as you do not dune jump your truck you will have no problems...

hell us MI/IN guys have installed about 7-8+ now with no issues.. its actually a very easy process...





now don't get me wrong.. when you can take the route of spindles with 2wd truck i will 100000000% recommend it over body for one reason... it does look better.. the front crossmember sits higher even with out new tires, thus giving you a little more clearness and look factor.. but spindles have the draw backs i can count on 2 hands of people i know that have snapped them.. now this is NOT an extremely common at all dont think that being there is probably hundreds of people out there with them that haven't.. also the people i know that have 95% if them time abuse there trucks pretty bad offroad... another draw back.. is you need to be a little more mechanically incline to do spindles you are redoing your front suspension.. also you need an alignment after also.. i dont know your skills on working on vehicles so this is why i am saying this...

 

shouldnt be a problem for me.. i worked on cars for a living, now i do parts.. but never touched a truck..

 

The price difference between a spindle lift & a body lift is only about $100, maybe less. Get a spindle lift, it's about the same price and it's 10x better quality.

The only advantage to the body lift is that it saves you money right away. Yet you still have to get your bumpers adjusted, and get your hitch redone (fabricated/welded?), buy guard gaps, fix your exhaust, etc. etc.

Spindle lift you bolt on, have a much better lift, and your done.

 

thats good then i would suggest spindles..

body lift is really the last ditch effort for 4x4 trucks that dont want to spend $1500+ in suspension lifts. OR of 2wd trucks that want like 34+ tires so they double lift

 

BL seems like more work and worries in the long run. I dont have a hitch yet, so no worries there, but will get one in the future..

So, i think i am 100% decided on spindles and aal's.. Thanks for all the help..

I will be running tock wheels and tires for a while.. So.... does anyone have pics of the 3" SL with stock tires and wheels...

Will that look bad?

also, i seen so many websites.. where is the best place to get the spindles and chevy shackles, aal from?

 

you shouldnt need an alignment after a spindle lift cause its a direct replacement for the stock spindle, and if you install it right, you wont mess with the control arms alignments

personally, ive had a spindle lift, body lift, AND a coil lift on my rangers.

and I will never do a coil lift again, was WAY to stiff, killed ANY chance of flex in the front. And I liked my body lift, even without gap guards and steps, mainly cause it allowed bigger tires and was 200bucks. And if i ever lift a 2wd truck again, my first setup would be spindles, its just simple and easy. And since it doesnt change the front suspension at all, you just swap spindles, and run stock shocks up front


ScottG

 

Scotty any time you take apart the front suspension it is a good idea to get an alignment...unless if you like potentially destroying tires...

 

personally YES... it looks horrible... IMO get the spindles and keep saving till you can afford wheels and tires then buy them... you can fit 33x12.5x15 tire after the spindle lift...

also unless you get the "Procomp" style spindle you have to run different wheels. Fabtech spindles do to how there made you can not run stock wheels and tires..

for AAL and shackle 100% summitracing.com should cost you under what $60.. somewhere in that area..

spindles i have no clue someone else will chime in

 

aw, weres the fun in that


also, check out National Tire and Battery. They may not align it 100% as stock, but you wont notice any extra wear on your tires. They have different levels of alignment warranties, so if you get a one year alignment, you can technically take it back for a free alignment for a year. Ive done that with all my trucks, so everytime i lift, lower, and make them stock, I can get another free alignment out of it. Specially helps if you offroad alot and knock the wheel alignment out of place.

 

so i am searchin for a AAL, i dont see the 06 ranger ones

 

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
and if you want the lift shackle its on the same site, PN beltech 6400

 

oh and here is mine with lift and stock wheels and tires...im an xlt so i started lower, but it would be about the same in regards to gap from tire to fender

with the new wheels and tires (this is with just an AAL in the back)

With AAL and shackle in the back

 

So do i not need AAL and a shackle.. only one?

 

How much lift from the AAl.. it says 1 1/2 - 2 1/2..

 

Sorry for multipule post....

RangerJustin, what is in you front end.. to raise it?

 

i had a spindle lift up front, the AAL was about 1.5", i went with both AAL and shackle, cause i was getting some bad rubbing in the back with just the AAL (my tires at flex would pull my fender lips down), just remember yours when stock is about the same height (a little lower) than mine lifted.