does the axle and steering linkage look alright? I just want to be sure its not going to get screwed up or wear out faster.

BEFORE:




AFTER:



PASSENGER SIDE:



DRIVERS SIDE:

 

Someone else has had this problem before and it wore out the front within a year the spring should not be touching anything.

What kit did you use?

Maybe you put a part back in and twisted it the wrong way or something but no those should not be touching.

 

good catch Cos. I was looking at the Cv Joints and the tie rods. I didn't even see the coil contacting the UCA until you said that. No they def. shouldn't touch. I got the Rancho quicklift leveling struts on mine and my coil and UCA aren't even close to touching.

 

Actually there isn't anything touching or rubbing, I think I took it at a bad angle so it looks like it touching

 

Oh, well then if you are asking about the C/V shafts and the tie rods, ball joints, etc, then yeah, that is what mine look like.

 

Oh yeah you should be OK then I have read about some other guys around here who had the UCA touching so that was were my eye went too first. The other areas look OK. Things could potential wear out quicker this is true on any kind of lifting but it also depends on your driving habits.

 

Kinda off the topic but has anyone ever lowered the rear suspension to get rid of the rake? i don't do any off-roading and don't need any more grouand clearance.

 

Yes. 2wd blocks are shorter than 4wd blocks. You can also do it with lowering shackles.

 

Lowering a 4x4 in anyway is crazy...just my .02

 

Can you give me a specific reason why?

 

Personally I have only seen it on 2wds. I like the lifted look myself but would feel alot better riding my lawnmower up the ramps into the back if it sit about 2 inches lower. You might even see a slight handling improvement. I feel my truck cornered better before i lifted the front. I was expecting that but what i didnt account for was how hard it is to tell the distance from a tiny car in wally world parking lot. Havent hit on yet just tend to park humorously far away from the vehicle in front of me.

 

Yeah, I know what you mean. Between the hard tonneau and the high profile bed I have a difficult time seeing who or what is behind me when stopped. I've been using only my side view mirrors when backing the truck.

I figured the fuel economy might improve with a lower stance and it would be easier for my wife to ingress and egress the vehicle. I'm not talking about slamming it; just a 2" rear drop. Like I mentioned above I'm not into off-roading. The 4WD is good for pulling a glass boat up a wet launch ramp and it makes it easier to navigate in deep snow.

 

Its a 4x4. Don't know about you, but part of the reason I buy 4x4s is for their ability to go offroad via ground clearance and the 4x4 drivetrain. Like I said its just my opinion, but if your gonna lower a 4x4 then you may as well just but a two wheel drive truck. But like you said, you don't go offroad so I guess in your case, then lowering it wouldn't hurt anything. Lowering a truck is just not an option for me with what I use mine for

Again not trying to start anything, but thats just my opinion.

 

It probably really doesn't matter to you but...

2WD truck in snow in these parts is no fun; esp with a little ice sprinkled in. Wet boat ramps is another reason why I have a 4X4; especially on early mornings in March.

So I have 2 options to get rid of the rake. Raise the front 2" or drop the rear 2". Dropping the rear will achieve the desired result and I think it would be less stressful on the CV joints and half shafts.

 

I don't know how you plan on lowering the rear end, there may be a kit with new leafs or something out there you can do it with, but the last time I saw a lowered 4x4 was on a 06 Tundra. Some moron flipped the rear axle. The truck was supposed to be spring over axle but when they got done with it, the leaf spring ran under the axle. It completely screwed the truck up, but thats just because of the method they used to lower it.

Definitely look for a kit if your going to lower the rear. The toyota that i mentioned above rode like a two horse wagon and creaked, squeeked, and made all sorts of racket. Everybody has their reasons for doing what they do to their trucks, but some people have no idea how to do things the correct way.