KDSS lift advice

[SATSTRAIL]

Hello all.

I know there are a zillion threads out there dealing with lifts, KDSS or not. I have searched through lots of them and have found a bunch of good information. Thank you!

Here's where I am at so far and was hoping for some input/advice based upon first hand experience.

I have a 2016 trail with KDSS that I am looking to do a mild lift/level on. I have purchased a full set of 5100s and also the wheelers T13 rear coil's. I purchased the rear T13 coils after initially seeing a number of reports that they provide 1 inch of actual lift even though they are rated at 1.5. Then I read a number of other post stating they get 1.75 approximately. This goes to show basically I need to install them and see what they actually produce. I understand that.

Initially I was hoping to lift the front by keeping the stock coils and setting the 5100s at 1.75. However if the T 13's produce more than 1 inch of lift the 1.75 in the front might not be enough.

So some of the options I have been considering and would like to get some first-hand input and advice on are:

Option 1)
Adjustable Front Coil Over Kit for Bilstein Shocks 2010+
Toytec ultimate coil overs that can be added to my 5100s. I'm thinking these might be nice since they're independently adjustable and therefore I could adjust out any KDSS lean that may be produced. Does anyone have experience with these? How is the ride and reliability?

Option 2)
Use the stock front coils on the 5100s set at 1.75 and add these toytec spacers to the top to boost it a little.
Front Top Plate Spacer (One - 1/4")

Option 3)
OME 884 Front coils with 2 inch lift
Front OME Lift Coils
I'm assuming I would pair of these with the 5100s set at zero to provide the 2 inch lift?

Option 4) I'm open to suggestions. I'm sure I will get plenty of grilling/sarcasm here…

In the end I'm sure I will have to install what I have and fine-tune it from there but I'm just hoping to be able to pre-emptively choose as close to the best options to avoid as much repeat work as possible and hassle with the KDSS. I'm a technician and I have access to my shop of course but time is my problem as it is with most of you guys. Thanks for any constructive input/suggestions you may have! And thank you for your time!

 

[b407driver]

What do you plan on doing with your truck? Mall crawler? Dirt roads? Serious crawling? Towing?

 

[Swarty]

Do the rears first and see...

So... what happens if you just install the rear to see what you get? Then you can decide what to do from there. Driving around with some extra rake for a couple days while different parts come in doesn't seem all that unbearable. You may find that what you wanted to do is the best choice after all.

 

[desert pirate]

Just install what ya got but set the fronts at the 2.5 and you get what you get on the rear, prolly around 1.5 and you will be close to level, maybe a bit of rake still.

I did 5100 @2.5 with a 1/4 spacer and 2" springs and still got rake, you should be closer to level if that what yr after with your set up @2.5, if you go lower your going to have rake still.

 

[SATSTRAIL]

What do you plan on doing with your truck? Mall crawler? Dirt roads? Serious crawling? Towing?

Definitely not just a mall crawler, no towing, but I do from time to time traverse some pretty rugged 4 x 4 forest service roads for the sake of fly fishing. This is one reason why I opted for the rear lift coils over spacers. However I was previously running a Jeep grand Cherokee Laredo with a spacer lift front and rear and it got me everywhere I needed to go.

So... what happens if you just install the rear to see what you get? Then you can decide what to do from there. Driving around with some extra rake for a couple days while different parts come in doesn't seem all that unbearable. You may find that what you wanted to do is the best choice after all.

I hear what you're saying. My time is so tight however that install points could be a month span from each other or more. But I'm guessing that's likely what I need to do as I stated in my original post. Just trying to avoid as much redundant work as possible and therefore reaching out to see if anyone has been in a similar situation. Thanks for the info from both of you!

 

[SATSTRAIL]

Just install what ya got but set the fronts at the 2.5 and you get what you get on the rear, prolly around 1.5 and you will be close to level, maybe a bit of rake still.

I did 5100 @2.5 with a 1/4 spacer and 2" springs and still got rake, you should be closer to level if that what yr after with your set up @2.5, if you go lower your going to have rake still.

Thanks for the input! I was hoping to not run the 5100s up to the 2.5 so as to not limit down travel as much but it's definitely an option obviously. If I knew for a fact I needed that amount of lift with the T 13's in the rear I would rather put some front lift coils on to accomplish it.

 

[desert pirate]

Looking back i should have just done coilovers myself, i ended up needing ucas with the 5100 at max, also would like some softer springs in the rear for a the 99% of the time when i dont have extra weight, it really all depends on how much you want to spend and what you want to do, for me ill wear this set up out and upgrade again

If I only wanted to go up 1.75 in the front i would have done 5100s with a spacer in the back and prolly retained the good stock drivability

 

[jbstrd]

I just installed this same exact setup on [MENTION=99982]El Deano[/MENTION] 's 5th Gen. Maybe he will chime in and post a pic up of his stance after settling.

 

[El Deano]

I just installed this same exact setup on [MENTION=99982]El Deano[/MENTION] 's 5th Gen. Maybe he will chime in and post a pic up of his stance after settling.

here is pic right after install but don't have a current pic after settling. I got an initial 2" up front (clip set at 1.75") and 1 3/8" in the rear with the T13 springs. seems to have settled at 1.75" up front and 1 1/8 in the rear (w/ 80lbs of stuff).

huge thanks to [MENTION=54404]jbstrd[/MENTION] for the help with install and use of his garage!

 

[jbstrd]

here is pic right after install but don't have a current pic after settling. I got an initial 2" up front (clip set at 1.75") and 1 3/8" in the rear with the T13 springs. seems to have settled at 1.75" up front and 1 1/8 in the rear (w/ 80lbs of stuff).

huge thanks to [MENTION=54404]jbstrd[/MENTION] for the help with install and use of his garage!

Anytime! Happy to help out and glad you like it.

 

[cdiset]

Here is mine with that exact setup. 1.75 in the front, T13's in the back.

 

[Bar4x4]

Great photo and setup.

Here is mine with that exact setup. 1.75 in the front, T13's in the back.

 

[flyboysgt]

Sell the 5100s and get the coil overs. Reason being, when you get the KDSS lean that you can see, you can adjust the lean back out to level the front (side to side).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SATSTRAIL]

here is pic right after install but don't have a current pic after settling. I got an initial 2" up front (clip set at 1.75") and 1 3/8" in the rear with the T13 springs. seems to have settled at 1.75" up front and 1 1/8 in the rear (w/ 80lbs of stuff).

huge thanks to [MENTION=54404]jbstrd[/MENTION] for the help with install and use of his garage!

Here is mine with that exact setup. 1.75 in the front, T13's in the back.

These both look great and are exactly what I'm aiming for! So just to be perfectly clear the front is running stock springs?

I know there is the chance of the KDSS lean but I just need to install it and see what happens and then go from there. These photos you guys provided help me to see that I'm at least in the right region of what I'm looking for. Thanks!

 

[cdiset]

Yes for me. Stock front springs

 

[cdiset]

These both look great and are exactly what I'm aiming for! So just to be perfectly clear the front is running stock springs?

I know there is the chance of the KDSS lean but I just need to install it and see what happens and then go from there. These photos you guys provided help me to see that I'm at least in the right region of what I'm looking for. Thanks!

Yes for me. Stock front springs.

 

[El Deano]

These both look great and are exactly what I'm aiming for! So just to be perfectly clear the front is running stock springs?

I know there is the chance of the KDSS lean but I just need to install it and see what happens and then go from there. These photos you guys provided help me to see that I'm at least in the right region of what I'm looking for. Thanks!

yes. stock front springs.

 

[SATSTRAIL]

Yes for me. Stock front springs

Thanks for sharing your photo and input! Your truck looks great and I hope mine will turn out as nicely.

 

[SATSTRAIL]

yes. stock front springs.

Awesome! Thank you.

 

[RJP0352]

So what exactly are the parts you installed in? I have a 2013 TE w/ KDSS and I'm about to mount Rough Country rock sliders and looking for a small 2-3 inch total body lift to deal with the snow, ice, mud, etc. where I live (Syracuse/Upstate NY) and where I vacation (the Rockies).