Learn Me Something

So I’ve been reading and I’ve come up with a question I haven’t seen addressed. So I’ve always leveled my trucks with spacers (spare me the “spacers suck” comments) and now I’m looking at kits like the bilstein 5100s, Rough Country 2.5” N3 struts, and the Rancho 2.25” Level It kits. So here’s my question. The hate on spacers is that it changes the geometry of the suspension and causes unusual wear. You’re just adding extra length onto the top of the strut, so would these strut replacements not essentially be doing the exact same thing? Or am I looking at this all wrong?
Help a simple minded guy understand this. Thanks in advance!

 

Spacers will typically make the extended length of the coilover much longer than what you would find on an aftermarket replacement coilover. This causes a few issues. Can those issues be resolved? Sure!


Lets use some Fox 2.5 coilovers as an example and lets assume the 0-2" lift coilovers are close to stock length/travel. Those have an extended length of 25.330"

The "extended travel" version 0-3" lift has an extended travel length of 25.530" so only .20" more travel at the shock. This is the longest travel shock you can bolt in without going long travel.

If we assume the 0-2" travel shock is close to stock and you added a 1-2" spacer on top, that would make the extended travel length much longer than even the extended travel shock has to offer. If this was ok, Fox/King and other shock companies would be making their shocks this long also. This added length exceeds the limitations on the front of the suspension. Coilover may hit control arm, bump stops are not long enough, CV angles for 4WD may be an issue also etc...

 

That makes more sense now. Never seen that explained before. Thank you for the good information!

 

And it can have an adverse affect on the upper and lower ball joints causing them to fail with catastrophic results.

 

I'll toss this in here also:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/recently-broke-my-front-shocks-need-help-on-choosing-new-ones.23986/