2/1 Cornfed = Damage to Suspension

[keylay31]

The preload spacer's function is to provide lift, just like the top out spacer. The preload spacer accomplishes lift by "preloading" the spring. The top-out spacer provides lift by legenthing the coil assembley. The preload spacer makes the ride stiffer, while the top out puts the suspension system out of its normal range of motion. Choose your poison. 1" additional droop via the top out does not concern me, therefore I get a smaller preload spacer using the DS kit, which reduces the change in ride handling. Other kits (you'd have to get measurements on your own) appear to have smaller top out spacers with larger preload spacers, which can make the ride harsher, but limit the amount of out of spec range of motion.

This is the type of answers I want! This is gold.

Let me see if I understand this after I read your great Lift writeup: So with the Cornfed 2/1, you get a 1/2 inch preload and a 1/2 inch topout. (resulting in... 1.5 inches of lift, because you only get double the lift on the topout?) You mention that you chose the DS because of the ratio of the spacers. What is that ratio? What is CF?

 

[J.A.]

Well that is not exactly what I am saying. I did not give CF measurements nor did I say that the preload spacer does not give double the lift.

I can see where that is implied as the DS front is marketed as a 2.5" lift. But in my case after installing the DS front kit and 1.1" larger tires (1/2" lift) at the same time I gaind 3.5" of lift. Since I attribute 1/2" of the lift to the tires, I figure the DS kit gave me 3" of lift, 2" from the 1" top out spacer and 1" from the 1/2" preload spacer.

What I am suggesting is that other kits can accomplish the same front end overall 3" lift by having this combination reversed. ie: a 1" lift from a 1/2" topout spacer and a 2" lift from a 1" preload spacer.

What we need is some one with a CF 3/2 to measure their spacers. I've asked in the past but no one responded.

By looking at this CF 3/2 pic you can see that it is does indeed look like the topout is smaller than the preload and that my assumptions are in the correct direction of topout to preload ratio and that they are opposite to the DS kit.

 

[keylay31]

So I would be interested in what the 2/1 CF measurements are as well.

Jason, you around?

 

[J.A.]

Also, to your original question. I dont believe a 2/1 would harm your suspension, but that is my opinion. But as others mentioned if you want to make sure their is absolutly no chance of anything ever happening, then dont lift.

Also I am not suggesting that kits other than the DS are not good or anything like that by any means. I am simply saying why I chose my kit. I chose it as I wanted the ride to stay the same as possible while providing 2.5-3" of lift.

If you are worried about damage to the suspension, indeed go with the CF kit as their topout is much smaller and having a larger topout is what will cause balljoint damage. That said I dont think a 1" topout will cause damage but a larger toput has the potential to do so and as mentioned before early kits were all topout (some may still be as they are easier to install, no compressing of the coil needed) and those kits are where the damage was reported. I have never heard of damage otherwise with kits that split the lift between topout and preload but time will tell and I am willing to take the chance based on what I know now.

 

[keylay31]

Well, while we are waiting for Jason Burtman, JA, where did you purchase your DS kit? Google isn't treating me well. What can I expect to pay for DS 2/1? I know CF 2/1 is approx $250.

Also to Jason, I assume the 2/1 means two inches of lift, meaning probably 1/2" preload, 1/2" top for the front, and... 1/2" top for the back? I'm still a little confused about the rear suspension.

 

[J.A.]

It's very similar in price. DS 2.5/1.5 is around $265.

 

[keylay31]

Looks like they are selling a 1inch preload spacer on BI, in which case, I'll probably be looking elsewhere.

 

[keylay31]

Me: hey Jason, we are having a convo over at T4R.org about the CF spacer lift, and I know you have one on your truck, I was wondering if you could chime in

Jason: they are giving 1" of lift from topout and 1" lift from preload, for a total of 2", the rear then is a 1" spacer

Me: what about the statement: (typically double the amount of the spacer measurement itself due to suspension geometry), does that mean the actual spacer dimensions are 1/2" each

Jason: for front, yea

Me: ok thanks, I was a little confused by you picture which seems to show one spacer which looks 1"

Jason: that's the 3" front, which is 1.5" THICK

I'm still a little confused, because it looks like its all preload...

 

[Jason B]

Also to Jason, I assume the 2/1 means two inches of lift, meaning probably 1/2" preload, 1/2" top for the front, and... 1/2" top for the back? I'm still a little confused about the rear suspension.

They are giving 1" of lift from topout and 1" lift from preload
for a total of 2" in the front. The rear then is a 1" spacer. On the rear since there isn't a strut, there is no such thing as preload or topout.

Also....

To make this less confusing, we only advertise the lifts by HOW MUCH lift they give... SO, if you want a 1" lift in the front, the spacers is actually .5 inches thick. Because of the arrangement of the front coilspring/shock assembly in relation to the a-arms the coilspring acts in a manner similar to a lever. In this manner the height of the spacer is right at 1/2 of the thickness of the height it gives you when installed. I hope this helps explain it.

In compairison, say you wanted a 3" front lift, (the spacers thickess are 1.5 inches total thickness), but again, our lift sizes are listed by the amount of lift that they give, not the thickness of the spacer.

I've been selling these kits for over 4 years, and have never had one customer complain of any issues with wear to date.