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As yokev pointed out all legit lift kits use an elongated spindle. When you lift a 4wd truck, the front end diff moves down X number of inches and then you install new spindles to bridge the gap between the UCA and lowered LCA. A 2wd truck will need a spindle lift only because there aren’t any axles to contend with. You can fit up to 35” tires with just a level kit or new springs though, there really isn’t much to gain with a lift kit unless you want to run 37” tires.
I am not familiar with a spindle lift. Isn't this basically like a level kit? Seems like an inexpensive way to gain an inch or two.
When you're dealing with new spindles, you're usually talking about a minimum of a 4" lift.
If you just wanna go up an inch or two, then you're talking spacers or CO's that use preload to adjust height. Fox makes longer-bodied CO's that are sold through BDS and I THINK now Zone as well(both are owned by Fox I believe), but IIRC they have at least 4" longer bodies, and are to be used with 4-6" lifts
My advice is to run a search on it('level kit' or words to that effect). You'll come up with more info than you know what to do with.
I recently put a spindle lift on my 2wd and I am very happy with it. I used the Maxtrac kit and there are a few threads on this forum that have pictures and answer lots of questions. As others said it will increase the track width 1/2 inch. I had originally planned on adding a rear spacer but the difference is so negligible I’m not going to bother. The maxtrac kit lifts the front 4.5” and you can add a leveling strut or spacer on top of that to go up to 7”. In my opinion it doesn’t make sense to use all of the drop brackets and components for a 4wd truck when you can install these yourself in your driveway and get the same result without having to cut the frame like on the 4wd kits.
I recently put a spindle lift on my 2wd and I am very happy with it. I used the Maxtrac kit and there are a few threads on this forum that have pictures and answer lots of questions. As others said it will increase the track width 1/2 inch. I had originally planned on adding a rear spacer but the difference is so negligible I’m not going to bother. The maxtrac kit lifts the front 4.5” and you can add a leveling strut or spacer on top of that to go up to 7”. In my opinion it doesn’t make sense to use all of the drop brackets and components for a 4wd truck when you can install these yourself in your driveway and get the same result without having to cut the frame like on the 4wd kits.
Because 'all the drop brackets and components' are necessary to return its' geometry back into spec, and prevent you from eating ball joints, CV joints, and axles. Without 'em, you'd also have a really hard time trying to getting it to align properly, which in turn would chew up your front tires.
Here's the UCA angle on your Maxtrac lift, taken from this thread: https://www.f150forum.com/f118/level...h-lift-438858/
As common sense tells you, that ball joint isn't gonna last
And here's the UCA angle on my Rancho lift, complete with all of the drop brackets and components The UCA/ball joint angle(s) are within factory specs. And this is just the UCA/ball joint. What we don't see, is the angle of the CVs and axle etc.
Because 'all the drop brackets and components' are necessary to return its' geometry back into spec, and prevent you from eating ball joints, CV joints, and axles. Without 'em, you'd also have a really hard time trying to getting it to align properly, which in turn would chew up your front tires.
Here's the UCA angle on your Maxtrac lift, taken from this thread: https://www.f150forum.com/f118/level...h-lift-438858/
As common sense tells you, that ball joint isn't gonna last
And here's the UCA angle on my Rancho lift, complete with all of the drop brackets and components The UCA/ball joint angle(s) are within factory specs. And this is just the UCA/ball joint. What we don't see, is the angle of the CVs and axle etc.
There are no axles or CV’s to worry about on a 2wd truck. And yes if you put a spacer on top of the “Spindle Lift” your UCA angles will increase just as they do with a level kit. No spacer = happy angles. The more spacer, the more angle. A spindle lift itself is a longer spindle that lowers where the hub is mounted thereby lifting the truck. My vehicle alignment report shows everything within spec. My shop had no issues.
There are no axles or CV’s to worry about on a 2wd truck. And yes if you put a spacer on top of the “Spindle Lift” your UCA angles will increase just as they do with a level kit. No spacer = happy angles. The more spacer, the more angle. A spindle lift itself is a longer spindle that lowers where the hub is mounted thereby lifting the truck. My vehicle alignment report shows everything within spec. My shop had no issues.
Yep. I was talking specifically about 4wd, cuz I (mis) interpreted this to mean you didn't think the drop-down parts to be necessary on 4wds:
Originally Posted by Seanzy
In my opinion it doesn’t make sense to use all of the drop brackets and components for a 4wd truck
If your UCA/BJ angle looks like the one in the photo I posted though, 2wd/4wd doesn't matter. You'll definitely get binding and accelerated wear
Ah I see. Yeah sorry I meant all the components for a 4wd on a 2wd. I ended up going with an intermediate setting on the Bilstein 5100s as I didn’t need that much lift. No argument from me on those UCA angles. That’s intense.
As yokev pointed out all legit lift kits use an elongated spindle. When you lift a 4wd truck, the front end diff moves down X number of inches and then you install new spindles to bridge the gap between the UCA and lowered LCA. A 2wd truck will need a spindle lift only because there aren’t any axles to contend with. You can fit up to 35” tires with just a level kit or new springs though, there really isn’t much to gain with a lift kit unless you want to run 37” tires.
So my ultimate goals is to run 37’s, is there a way to run a spindle lift and still fit 37’s?
do you guys know what’s the max lift I can get with a spindle lift on a 2WD 2018 F150?
There are no axles or CV’s to worry about on a 2wd truck. And yes if you put a spacer on top of the “Spindle Lift” your UCA angles will increase just as they do with a level kit. No spacer = happy angles. The more spacer, the more angle. A spindle lift itself is a longer spindle that lowers where the hub is mounted thereby lifting the truck. My vehicle alignment report shows everything within spec. My shop had no issues.
A shop OF COURSE would have no issues, all they care about is making the money on doing the job LOL. I would however have issues knowing the UCA - ball joints were running at that severe angle. looking like that. Not gonna happen.
So my ultimate goals is to run 37’s, is there a way to run a spindle lift and still fit 37’s?
do you guys know what’s the max lift I can get with a spindle lift on a 2WD 2018 F150?
4.5" maxtrax spindle + 2.5" spacer is about topped out without going with a larger 8"+ kit. 37's should fit with the proper offset wheels and some trimming. I wouldn't expect to run x12 or x14 wheels with 37's.
04-07-2019, 09:37 AM
