I am going to get my truck lifted in a month. There are two shops here and they both use a different brand. I called both shops and one is going to use a CST lift the other is going to use a Fabtech. So I guess my question is which brand would be the better choice to go with?

 

Year and model of your truck and whether it's a 4x4 or 4x2 would help... And are you aware Fabtech is in bankruptcy?

 

fabtech is in bankruptcy but many of their 4x2 kits are crossmember drops instead of spacer/spindles like CST, which give you a few more options as far as lifting higher

 

Yeah, I'm not saying DON'T USE Fabtech, but I think someone should know how solvent a company is before deciding, mainly because parts down the road could be iffy.

I also ask what truck he has because IMO the Fabtech IFS kit ('02-'05 1500 4x4s) is poorly designed, puts a bad strain on the CV axles AND only lifts about 4.5" and NOT the 6" they list. BUT, the coil over 1500 kit (all 4x2s & '06+ 4x4s) appears to be a much better design...

 

Yea I agree hammer, I saw that fabtech kit in our little picture comparison and the CVs didnt look like they were at a happy angle. I just really cant say alot about the 4x4 kits because I havent looked into them.

And you are definitely right about keeping and eye on how available parts will be. It would suck to have a part break 5 years down the road and have to buy a whole new lift just because you couldn't order an essential piece of the old kit. Just like your recent issue with rancho, you paid a bit more but got parts replaced years later for free.

 

2008 Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x2

Is Fabtech going out of business? If so that would be a real deterrent from getting one of their lifts.

 

As far as IF they are going out of business, nobody knows. Fabtech and Superlift is owned by the same parent company and they both sought bankruptcy protection from their creditors last spring. Neither has emerged from bankruptcy yet, but both are still operating.
It would throw a caution flag up with me though, as stated by Matt, I just had a simple tie rod end go out on me that was a part of my lift and is a different and larger part than the stock one was. I'da been screwed if I couldn't get another one from the manufacturer. Woulda sucked to have to tear down and replace a close to $2000 lift kit cause nobody made THAT $50 tie rod end (which Rancho sent me two of AT NO CHARGE BTW)...

 

Yeah I don't think I will go with Fabtech for that reason.

Does CST make good quality lifts?

 

CST makes great lift kits but the fabtech lift is better IMO. All the CST does is longer spindles and spacers/coil whereas the fabtech is a crossmember drop

There arnt a ton of options for 06-08 2wds but if I keep this truck I will end up w a crossmember drop kit for the 11"ish of lift I'm wanting

 

There are pluses and minuses with all kits. Personally, I really only considered a Rancho or Skyjacker kit because I DID NOT want a single or dual crossmember system. The Rancho and Skyjacker actually use a FULL boxed frame. But yeah, a crossmember is gonna be stronger than nothing.
Keep in mind that the Fabtech kit will NOT allow you to use a tire wider than stock with the stock wheels (or any wheel with a backspace greater than about 4.5").

A LOT of guys have the CST and I've never heard a complaint, but I've never really read anything bad about the Fabtech 2 wheel drive lifts either. I don't really have an issue with their coil over 4x4 kits, just the torsion front kit is a poor design IMO.

I've had seven full size trucks in my life and NONE have been a 4x2, so I am by no means familiar with the 4x2 lift kits.