Planning Lift/Wheels/Tires

[strubby]

Hey guys, recently picked up an '03 Ex XLT 4.6L 4x4 for my girlfriend. She loves it, but wants it lifted asap, haha. I've been lurking the forum for a while, and see that the Truxxx for '06+ or BFT spacer lifts should work well for 32's (265/75r16). Is BFT still making lifts? I sent them an email, waiting to hear back. I like the idea that BFT can make whatever size you want. I'm thinking I might want to do a little less than 2.5" for 32's... If not, I saw the Truxxx lift on AutoAnything for $282.75.

We decided on Goodyear DuraTracs 265/75r16 and Pro Comp Xtreme Alloy 7031; 16x8 4.5" backspace, 0mm offset. From what I've searched, this should fit well and will stick out around 1-1.5".

Anyone have any other suggestions for tips? I've done plenty of spacer lifts, so install using the How To should be cake. Lots of great info on here, and I can't wait to start the mods! I'll be sure to post up pics when it's said and done.

 

[CALDWELL]

look into a new set of ball joints for the front upper control arms, as they will be stressed a good bit...

I believe ( Moog ) is better choice then factory replacements from what ive read...

 

[Ronin8002]

Hey guys, recently picked up an '03 Ex XLT 4.6L 4x4 for my girlfriend. She loves it, but wants it lifted asap, haha. I've been lurking the forum for a while, and see that the Truxxx for '06+ or BFT spacer lifts should work well for 32's (265/75r16). Is BFT still making lifts? I sent them an email, waiting to hear back. I like the idea that BFT can make whatever size you want. I'm thinking I might want to do a little less than 2.5" for 32's... If not, I saw the Truxxx lift on AutoAnything for $282.75.

We decided on Goodyear DuraTracs 265/75r16 and Pro Comp Xtreme Alloy 7031; 16x8 4.5" backspace, 0mm offset. From what I've searched, this should fit well and will stick out around 1-1.5".

Anyone have any other suggestions for tips? I've done plenty of spacer lifts, so install using the How To should be cake. Lots of great info on here, and I can't wait to start the mods! I'll be sure to post up pics when it's said and done.

I have a set of 2.5" front/2" rear lift spacers for sale for 180 shipped. The link is in the bottom of this post. Let me know if you are interested.

 

[strubby]

look into a new set of ball joints for the front upper control arms, as they will be stressed a good bit...

I believe ( Moog ) is better choice then factory replacements from what ive read...

Yeah, I read that. Isn't that one of the reasons BTF has been away from here lately? I'll search where to pick them up.

I have a set of 2.5" front/2" rear lift spacers for sale for 180 shipped. The link is in the bottom of this post. Let me know if you are interested.

Honestly, were there any problems with the RoadBully spacers, or was it just the owner disappearing? I've heard good things about the BTF, but not RoadBully. I don't see what the difference would be other than the company behind them.

 

[Cozmik]

The spacers themselves from Roadbully or BTF are very similar and both are of good quality. The issue with Roadbully was service and timelines.

 

[Ronin8002]

Can't comment on RB the person/company but the way the RB spacers and the BTF spacers work is the same. BTF seems to have a good reputation on here and I agree based on my personal experience.

As far as I can tell both "brands" are made of similar materials and are constructed in pretty much the same way.

Main thing is to not go too big on the size (over 2.25") without doing supporting modifications.

Any type of strut spacer lift is going to stress your upper front balljoints more than stock...so moog brand balljoints seem to be a good replacement for the stock ones (which for me were cracked at only 48k miles from normal road use). The moogs seem to hold up well for the occasional or mild offroader. If you go with larger than 2.25" spacers and/or really beat on your truck hard offroad, you really ought to go with limiting straps and/or tubular upper control arms with uniballs.

At least that's what I've seen from spending endless amounts of time through all of the posts related to the topic.

 

[strubby]

Thanks for the info guys. Yeah, I only want to run 265's, so I sent Brandon a message about smaller spacers, like 2/1.75 to avoid more balljoint stress than necessary. If I decide to go bigger down the road, I'll add a bodylift. It's a DD, not an offroader, with 62k miles, so replacing the front balljoints with Moogs is probably a good idea anyways. Should I do the struts too? I'm trying to spend as little as possible, but doing it once is better than twice...

 

[MillerTimeX17]

Strubby, these pics should give you a very good idea at what yours will look like. The rims are 16x8, 4.45" backspacing, and 0 offset. The tires are 265/75/16 Goodyear Duratracs. Also after these pics were taken I added the Truxxx lift and they do fit with minor modifications. Just make sure you get an alignment right away. Hope to see yours soon!

 

[strubby]

Strubby, these pics should give you a very good idea at what yours will look like. The rims are 16x8, 4.45" backspacing, and 0 offset. The tires are 265/75/16 Goodyear Duratracs. Also after these pics were taken I added the Truxxx lift and they do fit with minor modifications. Just make sure you get an alignment right away. Hope to see yours soon!

Your truck is why I decided 0 offset and DuraTracs were the route I wanted, haha. I was browsing through the 'show your 3rd gens' thread. Truck looks great! Do you like the Truxxx spacers? Are they 2.5" spacers, or do they provide 2.5" of lift? I don't think I need 3.5" or so that the 2.25 spacers provide...

 

[Ronin8002]

Thanks for the info guys. Yeah, I only want to run 265's, so I sent Brandon a message about smaller spacers, like 2/1.75 to avoid more balljoint stress than necessary. If I decide to go bigger down the road, I'll add a bodylift. It's a DD, not an offroader, with 62k miles, so replacing the front balljoints with Moogs is probably a good idea anyways. Should I do the struts too? I'm trying to spend as little as possible, but doing it once is better than twice...

It's better to call him to place your order, he hasn't been online much. (909)702-7462. Normal business hours, Pacific Time.

Shouldn't need new struts with only 62k unless you are having problems with them now or want to upgrade.

Definitely do the balljoints and replace with Moogs. I got the kind with the grease fitting on top and they fit great.

 

[MillerTimeX17]

Your truck is why I decided 0 offset and DuraTracs were the route I wanted, haha. I was browsing through the 'show your 3rd gens' thread. Truck looks great! Do you like the Truxxx spacers? Are they 2.5" spacers, or do they provide 2.5" of lift? I don't think I need 3.5" or so that the 2.25 spacers provide...

They are 2.5" spacers front and 1.25" rear. Not too sure how much lift exactly after tires and all though.

 

[strubby]

It's better to call him to place your order, he hasn't been online much. (909)702-7462. Normal business hours, Pacific Time.

Shouldn't need new struts with only 62k unless you are having problems with them now or want to upgrade.

Definitely do the balljoints and replace with Moogs. I got the kind with the grease fitting on top and they fit great.

Sweet, I'm definitely doing the Moogs. Well, if I'm tearing it apart I figured I may do upgraded struts, I don't think there's anything wrong with the OEM as of yet tho. I read some, such as the KYBs, won't work with a spacer lift, so I'll have to look into it more...

They are 2.5" spacers front and 1.25" rear. Not too sure how much lift exactly after tires and all though.

So, the spacer itself measures 2.5"? That would put even more stress on the balljoints than the 2.25" spacers, no?

Thanks for helping, I basically know what I want, but there's a little mixed info out there, and things changed from what was available and what is now, so I'm trying to cross my Ts and dot my Is before getting everything...