Hey guys,

I know there have been 1 million and 1 questions about coil spacers.  My question is the front end of my Tracker droops a little (sits lower than the rear).  I want to install a set of coil spacers anyway for a little extra cheap lift.  My question is would it be possible to use the RRO 1" (or 1 1/8" whatever they really are) spacers in the rear and the Sky 1.5" spacers in the front.  This would theoretically level the truck out a bit.  My other thought is that maybe I need new struts/shocks.  I know they are rather worn out (rear shock bodies are rusting out).  When I put new struts on my 240sx it raised up a bit cause the old ones were shot.  What are everyone's thoughts on all of this.  Other thing that may help is when I get my rear tube bumper made, that may bring the rear down a little bit...

Thanks guys,
Bryan

Oh, and one other thing.  What's the biggest spacer I can safely run with otherwise stock suspension.  I was looking at TJ spacers on eGay that were 1 3/4".  That would probably yield a little over 2" total.  Is that too much, for stock struts/shocks/springs...just want something cost effective besides the 3" body lift.

Thanks again!

Sounds like a good idea to me.

New shocks and struts are a good idea, but they shouldn't give you any additional lift.

Of course the spacers will give you lift but there are the limiting factors of the shocks and struts.

Did you try the "Search" option found at the top of the page?  There have been several threads about home made suspention lifts using stock parts, strut spacers, rear upper contol arm extions, and shocks and struts with longer travels.

Wild's is all home made.  He had a good thread going once with all his information on it.

I actually have the same problem and have made some 1.5" spacers for the front but haven't installed them yet. I believe the problem is caused by the wheels that you and I have. They are wider and have a more positive offset than the factory wheels which increases the leverage effect on the front springs.

I actually have the same problem and have made some 1.5" spacers for the front but haven't installed them yet. I believe the problem is caused by the wheels that you and I have. They are wider and have a more positive offset than the factory wheels which increases the leverage effect on the front springs.

did u use the stuff i sold ya? how do the look

did u use the stuff i sold ya? how do the look

Oh yeah I'll take some pics before i install them.

A 2" front spring spacer will give you
3" lift, the rear is a 1 for 1 lift ratio

Lift without travel is no good offroad,
you need front strut spacers 3" long
to get any good use out of the lifted
springs, at the minimum you need to
do a strut mount flip, but do not do
both, CVs will die, 3" is really too much
for stock axle location, I would say 2 3/4"
strut spacer is better for longevity

Wild

I believe the problem is caused by the wheels that you and I have. They are wider and have a more positive offset than the factory wheels which increases the leverage effect on the front springs.

Like I said before the back does sit higher than the front, take a look at some stock trucks. I wondered about this a few years ago when I fitted my lift but I took a trip to the local dealer and looked at a whole row of new trucks and they were all the same. A lot of lifts level the suspension out but I guess this is because they are designed to run with lots more weight. I wouldn't worry about it, like Wild said its lift without travel. You're also increasing the preload on the springs which can give a harsher ride

how are you increasing the preload on the springs? All you are doing is spaceing them down. The springs in turn push the a-arm down. no extra loading.

The extra loading comes from the bigger tires and heavier wheels not the spacers.

how are you increasing the preload on the springs? All you are doing is spaceing them down. The springs in turn push the a-arm down. no extra loading.

The extra loading comes from the bigger tires and heavier wheels not the spacers.

The suspension travel is limited by the extension of the struts. With the stock setup the spring has to be compressed around an inch to get the strut mounting bolts in. Say you add a 2" spacer, then you have to compress the spring 3" to get the strut bolts back in, the preload is trebled. Of course if you add a 2" strut spacer then the problem goes away. Also its easier to get the strut back on and you restore any lost travel. If you've ever ridden a bike you will be used to this, nearly all bikes have a preload adjuster which does the same thing, it effectively stiffens up the suspension to compensate for additional weight.

yes bikes have preload adjusters because they are coil over shocks(the coil is attached to the shock) thats is how they change ride height.

You should not have to preload the coil to get the strut to bolt up. at stock ride height my strut slipped right in. I agree that without lowering the strut mount and installing a spring spacer all you would do is top out the strut and limit flex not change spring preload.

at stock ride height my strut slipped right in.

But, if you had a 2" spring spacer and no strut spacer then you would have to compress the spring to get the strut back in - that is preload. It doesn't matter whether the spring is on the shock or not. My truck had only done 12,000 miles when we fitted the kit so the springs may have been fresher.

Ah I get what your talking about. If you installed spring spacers and no strut spacer then you would be topping out the strut sitting still!!! Not good!

So in other words, if I do coil spacers, I need to make some sort of strut spacer as well?  

**wonders to self, wow, I wonder if Wild has a link to any information/pics about his homemade setup**  

Bryan

You knew I would