Actuall thickness of leveling kit spacer?
03-12-2013, 05:09 PM
#21
This is wrong
In a suspension system that has front struts something like this could work, because the strut not only provides spring and damping, but also acts as the upper suspension arm. It's a cheap and weak way of doing independent suspension. Think economy car. As an example, a Strut suspension has a lower A-Arm, and a strut. It does not have an upper A-Arm, because components job is also done by the strut
Our trucks are not cheap or weak. The coilover does not locate the wheel. That's the job of the Upper and Lower Control Arms. You could put the suspension together completely without the spring/shock assembly and it would work locate the wheel like normal. In fact I did this on my lift to make sure I knew where to trim the plastic to prevent rubbing.
The sole reason they do the the rotating 180 degrees on install is for bolt clearance.
As to why the lift provided is greater than the thickness of the spacer? That's a simple matter of levers. The attached picture shows it pretty well. Pivot Point 1 is essentially stationary. the spacer lift lengthens the shock body, so Pivot Point 2 moves down by exactly the thickness of the spacer. This moves Pivot Point 3 down farther than the spacer. It has to, it's a lever.
The amount greater is dependent on the ratio of the Blue Line over the Green Line.
In a suspension system that has front struts something like this could work, because the strut not only provides spring and damping, but also acts as the upper suspension arm. It's a cheap and weak way of doing independent suspension. Think economy car. As an example, a Strut suspension has a lower A-Arm, and a strut. It does not have an upper A-Arm, because components job is also done by the strut
Our trucks are not cheap or weak. The coilover does not locate the wheel. That's the job of the Upper and Lower Control Arms. You could put the suspension together completely without the spring/shock assembly and it would work locate the wheel like normal. In fact I did this on my lift to make sure I knew where to trim the plastic to prevent rubbing.
The sole reason they do the the rotating 180 degrees on install is for bolt clearance.
As to why the lift provided is greater than the thickness of the spacer? That's a simple matter of levers. The attached picture shows it pretty well. Pivot Point 1 is essentially stationary. the spacer lift lengthens the shock body, so Pivot Point 2 moves down by exactly the thickness of the spacer. This moves Pivot Point 3 down farther than the spacer. It has to, it's a lever.
The amount greater is dependent on the ratio of the Blue Line over the Green Line.
Why doesn't the spacer measure 2", (2.5" or 3") tall?
The ratio of lift to spacer thickness is not one to one. Due to the design of the independent suspension of the truck, when you extend the strut by 1-1/4" (for 2" lift), 1-5/8" (for 2.5" lift) or 1-3/4” (for 3" lift) the angle of the strut becomes steeper allowing the truck to experience approximately 2", 2.5" or 3” of lift, respectively. It is the combination of extending the strut and the change in angle that gives the full lift. Once the kit is properly installed and you have the truck aligned, you will see the lift you expect. Remember that the installation is not complete until you have the truck aligned.
The ratio of lift to spacer thickness is not one to one. Due to the design of the independent suspension of the truck, when you extend the strut by 1-1/4" (for 2" lift), 1-5/8" (for 2.5" lift) or 1-3/4” (for 3" lift) the angle of the strut becomes steeper allowing the truck to experience approximately 2", 2.5" or 3” of lift, respectively. It is the combination of extending the strut and the change in angle that gives the full lift. Once the kit is properly installed and you have the truck aligned, you will see the lift you expect. Remember that the installation is not complete until you have the truck aligned.
03-14-2013, 04:56 PM
#22
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What is the right size level kit for stock 05 lariat 4x4
Just curious if anyone actually knows the right size leveling kit to put on my truck. Looks like there are 1", 2", 2.5" and 3" level kits out there.
thanks
thanks
03-16-2013, 06:23 AM
#24
Senior Member
