T-Wrecks
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Mark
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2019
- Threads
- 18
- Messages
- 148
- Reaction score
- 124
- Location
- Roberts, WI
- Vehicle(s)
- 19 XLT FX4 S Cab, FX4, 301A, Tow, Technology
- Thread starter
- #1
From what I know there are 2 ways to lift/level a vehicle with factory length struts.
#1. A longer spring or a spring preload collar. This effectively takes up the up the top-out travel to raise the height but maintains the overall stroke travel of the shock. Over rough terrain you risk toppling out the suspension more, since you have less travel when your wheel falls into a hole or you bounce over a big rock and the front wheel comes off the ground.
#2. Strut spacer. This is just a spacer on top of the strut which keeps the same up and down travel (and overall stroke) as before, just moves it down relative to the truck body. Since itās just a spacer to raise the truck it will allow the suspension to drop down more than before, i.e. when the suspension tops out the wheel will drop down more than before. And more than it was designed to.
Iāve done both on an older Escape which caused problems. The primary issue is the angle of the CV joints are increased which isnāt good for their life. This is more of a problem with the strut spacer since they allow the wheel to extend down more. But in both cases the truck is riding higher so the CV joints are at a greater angle. I had a 1ā strut spacer in my Escape which took out 2 CV joints. That was primary front wheel drive so maybe itās not as big an issue with a truck thatās primary rear wheel drive? The longer spring didnāt seem harm the CV joint but it was very annoying to have the suspension top out all the time driving on rough roads. It was also very noisy when it did.
So what long term effects are there to leveling a Ranger with a 2ā front end lift? I think thatās the lowest they have right now. Whatās the best way to go, collar or spacer?
#1. A longer spring or a spring preload collar. This effectively takes up the up the top-out travel to raise the height but maintains the overall stroke travel of the shock. Over rough terrain you risk toppling out the suspension more, since you have less travel when your wheel falls into a hole or you bounce over a big rock and the front wheel comes off the ground.
#2. Strut spacer. This is just a spacer on top of the strut which keeps the same up and down travel (and overall stroke) as before, just moves it down relative to the truck body. Since itās just a spacer to raise the truck it will allow the suspension to drop down more than before, i.e. when the suspension tops out the wheel will drop down more than before. And more than it was designed to.
Iāve done both on an older Escape which caused problems. The primary issue is the angle of the CV joints are increased which isnāt good for their life. This is more of a problem with the strut spacer since they allow the wheel to extend down more. But in both cases the truck is riding higher so the CV joints are at a greater angle. I had a 1ā strut spacer in my Escape which took out 2 CV joints. That was primary front wheel drive so maybe itās not as big an issue with a truck thatās primary rear wheel drive? The longer spring didnāt seem harm the CV joint but it was very annoying to have the suspension top out all the time driving on rough roads. It was also very noisy when it did.
So what long term effects are there to leveling a Ranger with a 2ā front end lift? I think thatās the lowest they have right now. Whatās the best way to go, collar or spacer?
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