Ive been searching all over here for problems that people have with lifting their trucks and putting bigger tires on them. .Im looking to do 3'' suspension, and maybe 1-2body lift with 33s or 35s. Like I know you get worse gas milage with bigger tires. What about lifting though? Do your front end parts wear out faster? cv joints break more?Do you have to change steering column or driveshaft parts? Im just looking for info from people with their experiences, so I have the facts and dont have any regrets. This truck is going to be my daily driver but i want it to be decent off road too. Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

Anytime you lift a truck, steering components are stressed...but my biggest problem is that I can't pull into the garage with my roof rack on...

 

My 88 4runner with 32x11.50 BFG all terrains eats Idler arms like candy.

 

dont worry i have 33x14 swamper boggers and my idler arm is almost nonexistent

 

with tubing the firewall you can fit 35's with 2.5" of lift. That's what i would do, and am planning on doing.

Your gonna want to regear too when you get bigger meats. 33's your pretty much fine with your stock steering and stuff, it will wear out faster but not by much.

35's is when you start getting into trouble (if you wheel), what i would do is put a power steering cooler in and that should help you keep your heat under control in your rack and pinion.

 

Depends on your setup. 3" of suspension lift with higher angle on your CV's, ball joints and tie rods will create larger stresses on the components. Id stick to more of a 2" suspension and 1-2" body lift.

I run 35's and do 'hard' trails and don't brake anything. As long as you are light on the gas, and use your lower gears to get you over things, you'll be safe.

Ya as mentioned earlier, its good preventive maintenance to add a power steering and transmission cooler. I have done both and seems like its keeping things lubed and cool. MPG's will go down...you have more of a rolling resistance and also higher inertia of the larger tires, equates to more power from the engine to get you moving. However, you are also rolling a larger distance on each revolution so your true gas mileage is higher than what it says from the odometer.

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With a 2inch body lift to you have extend the steering column or something though?

 

Depends on what vehicle. I have a 3 inch on my 85 and didnt have to extend it

 

We need to know what year and model you're working with. Is it a Tacoma or 4Runner and what year?

 

its a 98 4runner 5speed

 

I re-geared to 5.29's with 35's and my odo/ speedo is almost spot on. It actually reads slower. I went past a radar box/trailer on the side of the road at an indicated 60 and was doing 56-57 according to the radar.

I also just found out that the SS1.2 lift kit with a 3" body lift still requires some trimming of the rear wheel opening at full stuff. I was grinding my mudflaps all day yesterday. Damnit!

Other than that no problems to speak of with my lift and 35's. Though I suspect the steering rack bushings will need regular maintenance/ replacement over an extended period of time. My tie rods are brand new but there is still play in the wheel.