I recently purchased a 2007 EL with 200k miles. I wanted to replace the entire front suspension and I figured while I was there, I'd install a coil spacer lift, which I did. I might have bought the "wrong" amount of lift. I thought I read that a 2.5" lift for the front would set the truck level with the rear. I was wrong. The front is now a tad taller than the rear. So, now I'm left with the decision of either: a) keeping the front lift and lifting the rear to match, or b) removing the front lift altogether. Here are my questions:
1. Is a 2.5" lift in the front "too" much lift for the front end? That is, is the 2.5" coil spacer lift putting too much strain on the CV shaft? Is it also putting too much strain on other suspension parts, such as the front struts? If I want to keep some sort of lift, should I replace it with a 1.5" lift instead of a 2.5"? Or, is a front spacer lift too much trouble for what it's worth, and just remove it altogether?
2. The alignment guy said that he was just barely able to get the alignment in spec with the normal control arms. After installing the new front end and lift, I found that some people install upper control arms especially designed for a 2-4" lift. I didn't know about these until now. If I keep the lift, I will replace the control arms with the one designed for lifts. For those who have installed coil space lifts up front, do these control arms especially designed for lifts actually help with alignment and perhaps front end strain?
3. If I do keep the front lift, I need to now lift the rear make it not look like the truck is squatting in the rear. I'm thinking of doing a 2" lift in the rear. Same question as #1 above, is a 2" rear lift going to put too much strain on the rear axle? Am I going to have alignment issues with a 2" rear lift? Anything I can do to "fix" the possible alignment issue in the rear? Should I go with a 1.5" rear lift instead?
4. How much do you think the coil space lift effects ride quality? On highways, it's great. But, I noticed it's pretty firm when going over bumps. I was hoping the new struts would soak that up more, but I'm wondering if the coil spacer lift (especially 2.5" up front) is leading to a harsher ride than expected.
Thanks
1. Is a 2.5" lift in the front "too" much lift for the front end? That is, is the 2.5" coil spacer lift putting too much strain on the CV shaft? Is it also putting too much strain on other suspension parts, such as the front struts? If I want to keep some sort of lift, should I replace it with a 1.5" lift instead of a 2.5"? Or, is a front spacer lift too much trouble for what it's worth, and just remove it altogether?
2. The alignment guy said that he was just barely able to get the alignment in spec with the normal control arms. After installing the new front end and lift, I found that some people install upper control arms especially designed for a 2-4" lift. I didn't know about these until now. If I keep the lift, I will replace the control arms with the one designed for lifts. For those who have installed coil space lifts up front, do these control arms especially designed for lifts actually help with alignment and perhaps front end strain?
3. If I do keep the front lift, I need to now lift the rear make it not look like the truck is squatting in the rear. I'm thinking of doing a 2" lift in the rear. Same question as #1 above, is a 2" rear lift going to put too much strain on the rear axle? Am I going to have alignment issues with a 2" rear lift? Anything I can do to "fix" the possible alignment issue in the rear? Should I go with a 1.5" rear lift instead?
4. How much do you think the coil space lift effects ride quality? On highways, it's great. But, I noticed it's pretty firm when going over bumps. I was hoping the new struts would soak that up more, but I'm wondering if the coil spacer lift (especially 2.5" up front) is leading to a harsher ride than expected.
Thanks
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