87 2wd 1/2 ton lift

[1FASTHOE]

i know, here we go again. i've done the search and only come up with half the answers. to lift a truck like mine i need to purchase 4" lift spindles for 88-98 correct ?
next i need 3/4 ton lower a arms but what year do i need to buy ?

then do i need to buy different ball joints as well, and what year ?

please dont post links, i've read them all, thats why im here still asking questions.

thanks and be patience with this newbe.

[lolife99]

Sorry I can't help you.
Maybe the 4x4 guys can help.
There are alot of lifted 2wd Pre-Runner style trucks built out of the 88-up trucks,... just never seen it done with the 73-87 trucks.
I would think you want 73-87 lower a-arms (the 3/4 ton version), and ball joints for the 88-98 trucks.
I also assume you need the 88-98 rotors and brake calipers.

Anyone else know?

[1FASTHOE]

Thanks for the help lolife. i only want to purchase parts once, but i think your on the right path. not sure about the rotors and calipers either ?

on a side note, i think the moderator should make a sticky of the correct info on what it takes to lift a 2wd sub or truck 73-87 to finally end the confusion and endless threads. also a list of parts and years needed. just a suggestion...

[scottsdaleowner75]

I have seen this done twice to trucks in my area (so cal is big on lifted trucks) and both times they caused more issues they were worth. From lift springs being too long and heavy causing front crossmember cracks to upper a-arms pulling out from the welds. There just isnt any good way to lift 73-87 2wd trucks or any manuf who make kits to do it. I have seen custom fabrication that worked and looked good but if you dont have the skills to make your own stuff then you are very limited on options.

[Prerunner1982]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I would think you want 73-87 lower a-arms (the 3/4 ton version), and ball joints for the 88-98 trucks.
I also assume you need the 88-98 rotors and brake calipers.

This sounds right to me, but am also unsure on the brakes.

[Prerunner1982]

Originally Posted by 1FASTHOE

on a side note, i think the moderator should make a sticky of the correct info on what it takes to lift a 2wd sub or truck 73-87 to finally end the confusion and endless threads. also a list of parts and years needed. just a suggestion...

So you are gonna do a write up on this then...?

[scottsdaleowner75]

I do know fabtech years ago had a kit for the 2wd crowd. But it is long out of production. My suggestion would be to call them. You would be suprised they might have NOS parts sitting on a shelf somewhere. They did when my wife's 04's silverado needed upper a-arms replaced when they cracked around the ball joints. They were friendly too.

[Prerunner1982]

Pretty much all Fabtech had were coils and controls arms...

AIM Industries had spindles for awhile long ago, but I have never heard anything good about them and not sure they are even still in business.

The best way to lift is with a spindle...

[1FASTHOE]

Originally Posted by Prerunner1982

So you are gonna do a write up on this then...?

if i can get all the info together that makes sense to me and i know is accurate.

there's a company in mesa az. the sells 88-98 lift spindles, and i know a guy where i can buy lower a arms, one would think you would have to use 88-98 rotors and calipers to fit 88-98 spindles, correct ? but what about ball joints ?
and thanks for the input guys.

[scottsdaleowner75]

the fabtech upper a-arms corrected the screwed up geometry that the lift springs gave you. also anything you want to bolt to those spindles needs to be for the year that the spindle as made for. the spindle will net you 3-4 inches of lift but be prepared to go through ball joints quickly. even with the corrrect upper arms, springs, and spindle almost all lift companies discontinued this way of lifting because of the issues they had with tearing the front ends up. this is why you see the drop down bracketry on these years now almost exclusively being offered and not the old way of lifted spring/spindle and arms. plus i believe 88-98 had stronger frames than our squares. at least the fronts were boxed
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[Prerunner1982]

Ball joints should be 88-98, that is why you need the 3/4 ton lower control arm since the lower ball joint on the 88-98 is larger. I would get the spindle and ball joints first. Then compare them to the arms and make sure, but I am pretty sure I am correct. Or you could go to the parts store and have them pull stock upper and lower ball joints for both year vehicles so you can compare them side by side. Then have them pull a set of 3/4 ton 1987 ball joints as well. That way you can see if the 87 3/4 ton and the 88-98 1/2 tons are the same..

[1FASTHOE]

Originally Posted by scottsdaleowner75

the fabtech upper a-arms corrected the screwed up geometry that the lift springs gave you. also anything you want to bolt to those spindles needs to be for the year that the spindle as made for. the spindle will net you 3-4 inches of lift but be prepared to go through ball joints quickly. even with the corrrect upper arms, springs, and spindle almost all lift companies discontinued this way of lifting because of the issues they had with tearing the front ends up. this is why you see the drop down bracketry on these years now almost exclusively being offered and not the old way of lifted spring/spindle and arms. plus i believe 88-98 had stronger frames than our squares. at least the fronts were boxed
Posted via Mobile Device

great, now i have to google what you wrote to be sure you are correct.
how long do you think the ball joints last ? this is just my daily, it with never see the dirt.

[1FASTHOE]

Originally Posted by Prerunner1982

Ball joints should be 88-98, that is why you need the 3/4 ton lower control arm since the lower ball joint on the 88-98 is larger. I would get the spindle and ball joints first. Then compare them to the arms and make sure, but I am pretty sure I am correct. Or you could go to the parts store and have them pull stock upper and lower ball joints for both year vehicles so you can compare them side by side. Then have them pull a set of 3/4 ton 1987 ball joints as well. That way you can see if the 87 3/4 ton and the 88-98 1/2 tons are the same..

thanks prerunner...

[scottsdaleowner75]

Yeah look around some. you will see the ball joint wear issues with 88-95 trucks and the old fabtech lifts. i mean they designed it to just lift the truck not to give a factory like ride. i had some of their springs and the things were like train springs!
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[Prerunner1982]

Edit: nevermind..

[1FASTHOE]

people talk about all kinds other folks having done this type of lift, so where are they ?
i need feed back....

[Walts_restoration]

Never done it, but almost have done it to my 83. Still may yet, or just throw a solid axle under there.


You want a spindle lift for a 88-91 extended cab half ton i believe because they use the same brakes as the 73-87 thick style.

You want a pair of 73-87 3/4 ton lower control arms because the center hole is larger like the 88-98 ball joints.

You want ball joints for an 88-91 extended cab as well i believe.

And a caliper for the 88-91. I was thinking about swapping mine to six lug, so id just use the 88-91 light duty 3/4 ton rotor instead of my original one and of course swap the rear to 6 lug semifloat 14 bolt just to keep people guessing.



Like i said, ive never done it, i cant remember where i found all the info but it was all on this site (and i think even a post by prerunner1982, or at least he posted in it).

[1FASTHOE]

well im going to do this lift and do my best to document it.
now i have to start buying parts. wish me luck, and thanks for all your help.

[1FASTHOE]

well i picked up my 4" lift spindles yesterday and i found the 3/4 a arms from some guy on C.L., i'll pick them up saturday.
pics to come later...

[Prerunner1982]

right on..... looking forward to this.

[1FASTHOE]

And here she be...
these things are heavy....

[Prerunner1982]

nice....

[1FASTHOE]

struck out on the a arms yesterday, but i have another lead on a pair.
didn't think it would be that hard to find 3/4 ton arms, but they are elusive.

[Walts_restoration]

Had a guy on cl say he wanted 75 for them, i was like paaaass.



You'd figure they were everywhere and people would pay you to take them away.

[1FASTHOE]

Here's the 3/4 arms, i dont see a difference other then the zerk fittings and ball joint..

BEFORE




AFTER