Installed 3" lift, now re-thinking that decision -- Opinions?

[96RedRunner]

True, I was thinking more long-term cost (added wear and tear due to the lift). Definitely learned a lot with this thread.

The long term cost depends on usage not from lift install. The way you described
what your usage is, a good guess you'd see 75-100k mi. no problems. Folks that have commented range from hard core to 2wd. Sometimes we break stuff sometimes we don't.
Your ride looks good! Install PCK n roll with it. Next step, size up on tires, wheel spacers, lights, stickers, paint rims, am I leaving anything out ?
Merry Christmas Ya'll

 

[octanejunkie]

True, I was thinking more long-term cost (added wear and tear due to the lift). Definitely learned a lot with this thread.

It's funny what we learn after we begin, or have finished, what we thought was a simple mod Lol

Most guys neglect the PM required on a 18 year old truck. They mod it, then complain about it needing constant maintenance - which should be expected once you make radical changes. A 3" suspension lift on an 18 yo truck is a radical change to the factory original components.

IMO, these trucks look better taller, and they can be made to perform well with the right mods and updates (bushings, tie rods, ball joints, etc) often however it's event that becomes a process if it's not fully contemplated, planned and done right. We are all guilty of that. But we learn and we grow and we fix it and we go on with our lives.

Your truck looks great. Enjoy it. Make it safe. Welcome to the club.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[kfriede]

The long term cost depends on usage not from lift install. The way you described
what your usage is, a good guess you'd see 75-100k mi. no problems. Folks that have commented range from hard core to 2wd. Sometimes we break stuff sometimes we don't.
Your ride looks good! Install PCK n roll with it. Next step, size up on tires, wheel spacers, lights, stickers, paint rims, am I leaving anything out ?
Merry Christmas Ya'll

Next on my list (probably in order):
- Paint wheels gunmetal/dark gray
- Paint grille
- Roof Basket
- Light bar on roof basket
- Nicer tires
- Sleeping platform

It's funny what we learn after we begin, or have finished, what we thought was a simple mod Lol

Most guys neglect the PM required on a 18 year old truck. They mod it, then complain about it needing constant maintenance - which should be expected once you make radical changes. A 3" suspension lift on an 18 yo truck is a radical change to the factory original components.

IMO, these trucks look better taller, and they can be made to perform well with the right mods and updates (bushings, tie rods, ball joints, etc) often however it's event that becomes a process if it's not fully contemplated, planned and done right. We are all guilty of that. But we learn and we grow and we fix it and we go on with our lives.

Your truck looks great. Enjoy it. Make it safe. Welcome to the club.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Definitely guilty of that here. Lol. Thanks for your input and help.

 

[theesotericone]

Next on my list (probably in order):
- Paint wheels gunmetal/dark gray
- Paint grille
- Roof Basket
- Light bar on roof basket
- Nicer tires
- Sleeping platform




Definitely guilty of that here. Lol. Thanks for your input and help.

[MENTION=95183]octanejunkie[/MENTION] brings up some valid points about age and maintenance. It's worth noting that even non-lifted vehicles need it after a certain mileage. I have a 2002 Jetta TDI as my daily driver. It's stock with 189,000 miles. Last week I had to replace both front wheel bearings. No lift. It's never seen a dirt road longer than a mile. It's just got the usual wear for a vehicle it's age. Moving parts need to be replaced, lifted or not.

That's a pretty good list of things you want to go forward with. Check out the Rola rack. It's cheap. I made a custom low profile mount for mine using some 7/8" unistrut. Total cost, including the rack, was under 140 bucks.

I skipped a sleeping platform and just removed the rear seat bottoms. That allows the rear seat back to fold down almost flat. It works perfect for my wife and I. The seat bottoms are really easy to remove then put back in when needed.

Just some tips to help you along.

 

[kfriede]

[MENTION=95183]octanejunkie[/MENTION] brings up some valid points about age and maintenance. It's worth noting that even non-lifted vehicles need it after a certain mileage. I have a 2002 Jetta TDI as my daily driver. It's stock with 189,000 miles. Last week I had to replace both front wheel bearings. No lift. It's never seen a dirt road longer than a mile. It's just got the usual wear for a vehicle it's age. Moving parts need to be replaced, lifted or not.

That's a pretty good list of things you want to go forward with. Check out the Rola rack. It's cheap. I made a custom low profile mount for mine using some 7/8" unistrut. Total cost, including the rack, was under 140 bucks.

I skipped a sleeping platform and just removed the rear seat bottoms. That allows the rear seat back to fold down almost flat. It works perfect for my wife and I. The seat bottoms are really easy to remove then put back in when needed.

Just some tips to help you along.

Yeah I had a 96 Impreza with 200k on it that was no stranger to wheel bearings and axles. I get that old cars need maintenance, I was more curious on the *extra* wear that a lift causes (like maybe on the transmission or some other less common areas).

The Rola (or something of that kind) is something I was looking at. Doing at least 1 extension, maybe 2. I like that rear seat idea, definitely something to learn what I want and what I don't before building something.

 

[alanflies]

The people have spoken

Wow...that looks super high in the front.

 

[kfriede]

Wow...that looks super high in the front.

I haven't had a chance to measure it yet (lost the tape). If anything I was worried about the back being high.

 

[02gixxersix]

I'm flinging grease with < 10 miles after the lift, but it's oozing out by the clamps. Not a broken boot.

Hoping the drop will cure that, or it'll relieve itself. Worst case scenario I put some hose clamps on.

I'm still flinging grease weeks later and I did the diff drop. I couldn't find anyone who actually had any serious issues. It just makes a mess for a while and I take it to the car wash to spray the front end down every once in a while. It's throwing less lately, though. I also don't drive it much.

 

[kfriede]

I'm still flinging grease weeks later and I did the diff drop. I couldn't find anyone who actually had any serious issues. It just makes a mess for a while and I take it to the car wash to spray the front end down every once in a while. It's throwing less lately, though. I also don't drive it much.

That's what I'm hoping for, especially considering it's coming out at the clamps. Not to mention, it seems like many people run bad-boot CV's for a long time before actually replacing it. Not a trip-ending item.

 

[ceviche eater]

I don't get it why are your cv's leaking?

 

[kfriede]

I don't get it why are your cv's leaking?

I can't get a picture until Monday, but it's almost as if they slid when I did the lift, and now they're oozing out below the clamp. I'm going to do the diff drop, clean up the CV, and see what happens.

One thought is that maybe the intense angle "compressed" the volume inside a bit and pushed some grease out?

 

[bike]

One thought is that maybe the intense angle "compressed" the volume inside a bit and pushed some grease out?

Really common to lose a little grease after lifting. Should stop after a week or two. Grease finds a way

 

[TillytheToyota]

I don't get it why are your cv's leaking?

Lots of factors come into play. I’d say biggest one is age. OPs truck is ~17 years old and has over 200k mi with the original cv axles at a stock angle. When you lift your front end it changes that angle and puts stress on the boots. Grease will seep for some time and then eventually they’ll tear or rip from the clamp like mine did at 5K mi after the lift. Re-booting is necessary to extended the ribs on the boots so that they don’t touch. I wouldn’t worry too much about a little grease and even when it rips I’ve heard of people driving 10k mi of normal driving before replacing them. I wouldn’t do that personally but my point is it’s not an issue that requires immediate attention