Lift/Leveling Kits w/ Blocks

Hi all,

If shackles are superior to blocks, why are so many kits offered with blocks? I don't really understand this. I've searched this forum and from what I can tell the advantages are numerous to going with shackles (better ride quality, better pinion angle to reduce vibration, better on axels, etc.).

It's frustrating trying to find an intermediate level 3" kit with shackles. Additionally, I've only seen one basic kit (from Rough Country) that seemed to offer everything needed for a proper level, which most intermediate kits seem to lack (front diff spacers, skid plate spacers, sway bar spacers, E-brake and brake line extensions, bump stop spacers, etc). I'm assuming the E-brake and brake line extenders would be needed with shackles too?

Just seems that for the novice beginner, you're stuck with a quasi crappy level/lift, or a kit that only has the essentials like coilovers, UCA's, and shackles, and leave it up to you to already have the intricate knowledge required for the lift or find things out the hard way.

I feel that a lot of first time do-it-yourselfers are missing a lot of necessary minute but yet important steps to a proper level/lift. Please feel free to give your advice on a level/lift. I'm looking for 3" (intermediate coilovers) so I guess only 1" in the rear. 2014 Tundra Platinum btw. Thanks all.

 

Cost is probably the main factor. A set of plastic blocks like whats in the Rough Country or Ready Lift kit doesn't cost much. Where a set of rear shackles is a couple hundred dollars. Most people going with a block/spacer lift are wanting an affordable solution and offering it with shackles would negate that. If you are good with the cost, don't buy a level kit but make your own and put shackles in the rear.

That's about my knowledge base. Hope it helped some.

 

Thanks Robert,

You pretty much confirmed my suspicions with regard to just having to "build my own" kit. I've watched enough do-it-yourself lift videos on youtube to see that many of the spacers and such offered in the Rough Country leveling kit are simply not done. I even watched a video by BDS and they didn't do half the spacer/extenders offered in the Rough Country kit. Are they unnecessary? Seems they would be beneficial to get proper alignments and such. Thanks again.

 

@Bullhead I can't help you there. I have only done a small lift to my front and didn't have to worry about any of that. I'm sure someone with more knowledge will chime in about if those components are needed.

 

The general consensus is that anything under 3" you most likely wont need all the "spacer" stuff. Like the diff drop, center bearing spacers, upper control arms etc. they can always be added later if needed.
Stick with a coil over lift and skip the leveling kit spacer nonsense.

Eibach, Old Man Emu, Bilstein, Toytec.. there are more to choose from.

Buy once, cry once

 

Official welcome... Concur with pay once, cry once, your Rig deserves a quality lift and ride....my vote is Eibach or Toytec... Solid and proven. Good luck... Pics?

 

Thanks all.

No pics yet. I just bought it from CarMax. 2014 Platinum in Sunset Bronze Mica w/65k miles for $37.5k. Being shipped here to McKinney, TX now, should be here by 1st. Can barely sleep I'm so excited.

 

When I bought my truck in Nov. ‘18 I had the dealer install a 3/1 kit (ready lift, or similar). The ride never really bothered me until recently - we have a stretch of concrete highway that made the truck feel very stiff/bouncy going over the joints.

I removed the rear blocks and installed Coachbuilder +2 shackles about a month ago. It definitely helped with the bed bounce and made the truck feel more solid/less jarring when going over the joints in the road/pot holes.

My plan is to ride the stock TRD OR shocks for a bit longer and then swap the spacers for a coil over setup and upgrade the rears at the same time before I have to get new tires.

For me, I lacked the knowledge when I originally had the dealership install the lift/level. Knowing what I know now, I would have skipped the 3/1 and done with a coil over/shackle setup from the beginning.

 

Having owned a Readylift 3/2 spacer/block kit before, do it right the first time. You will be much happier. I ran that kit for a year and a half, rode rough as hell. I switched to Toytec Aluma 2.5 coilovers and shackles. Night and day difference in ride quality.

 

Thanks all. I keep switching around between FOX, Icon and OME. But I think I'm going with OME BP-51's as they seem to be really good at that price point.

 

My order would be..

OME BP51
Fox 2.5 kit with UCA's
Icon Stage 4

 

I just called the shop prior to your response, ordered Icon stage 8.