When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 3" body lift on the way and will be running 33x10.50-15 BFG mud terrains. I ran these same tires on my last DAK with just a 1.5" T bar crank and a 1.5" block lift in the rear. I felt like that was just about right. But it took it's toll on the CV axles and ball joints. I blew through 2 passenger side CV's in a year (had to repair it on the side of the road) and ball joints on both sides were about toast when I sold it. That's why I want to go with the body lift on this truck.
But, with that being said... the front of my truck currently sits higher than the rear and I'm not a fan of that look. If I put the 3" BL on and then drop the front down 1" to 1 1/2" will the lowering also effect the angles enough to wear out CV axles and ball joints or it that just a problem with cranking it higher?
It's not an easy question, not everyone is into body lifts or torsion cranks. You're changing the geometry on the joints and that can lead to wear/failure.
In general, the less angle you have on the CV joints, the longer they'll last. Chances are, your axle shafts are angled slightly down now, so lowering the front end an inch should make them more level (a good thing).
If the front is sitting higher than the rear now I would guess someone already cranked the bars in the front or maybe it's time to replace shocks in the rear or there could be something else causing the rear to sag.
In general, the less angle you have on the CV joints, the longer they'll last. Chances are, your axle shafts are angled slightly down now, so lowering the front end an inch should make them more level (a good thing).
Thank you. That's exactly what I was wanting to confirm...
Originally Posted by hanleysh
If the front is sitting higher than the rear now I would guess someone already cranked the bars in the front or maybe it's time to replace shocks in the rear or there could be something else causing the rear to sag.
It is highly possible that someone cranked it somewhere along the way. But just for the record, shocks have absolutely nothing to do with how high a vehicle rides. Ride height is determined by the spring rate. You could remove the shocks completely and it wouldn't lower your vehicle at all. It would just get a lot more bouncy.
Its not necessarily the tb crank that wore out everything. The 33's will have a effect on it. I ran my 98 with the tb cranked with 32's for about a year with moderate off roading and my ball joints and hub bearings were still tight when I sold it.