The effect of running a traditional spacer lift
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- A Traditional spacer lift is fine if you are not planning on doing any off-roading or if you are doing it strictly for looks to run a larger tire. But when it comes to off-roading this is what happens over a short period of time when it’s starting to show signs of failure. You can see the lose of suspension travel in this video 
I put a 3 inch spacer on my 4runner, but upgraded the bumb-stops to larger ones immediately after the install of the spacer, and it is about 12 or 13 years now and everything is fine. The larger bump-stops is spec for a 3 inch
Where did you buy it?..I will quick lift my hilux so hope to get oversized bump stop
@@stephenmulholland4868 I just got some for $30 off of ebay but the hack or trick is, that the bump stops are for the rear so it will be longer, but on my 4runner it fits in the front threads which is what I care for. I want to protect my front shocks. The back is fine, because coils are durable and the 2 inch in the back isn't hurting anything. I did a 3/2 lift with spacers. But just get universal 4runner bump stopss for the rear off of ebay. It should work.
@stephenmulholland4868 i bought a spacer kit but now my hilux squikes, so im removing it, id rather spend more money on something proper like new suspension that a "quick solution " that actually will just damage the vehicle
Where did you order the bigger bump stops from ?
@@MrSparsilis maybe Sumo Springs.
Awesome teaching point. Go cheap and end up paying more in the long run. I will be using your kit for my 2021 TRD OFFROAD 4X4.
Cool video showing why strut top spacers are not the recommended way to lift trucks. Though this is not a problem for McPherson struts where the bump stops are at the top of the shock 👍🏼 e.g. Subarus
Ah cool good to know!
would a Volvo wagon be similar? wanting to lift 1.2 inches with strut spacers. mild off-roading
The spacer itself is almost never the issue. Installing a larger/longer bump stop would've definitely helped out the OEM suspension live a longer life. However what always happens is user error. The owner figured "I'ma jump this bitch aka dirt cliff and do all sorts of crazy shit I'm not supposed to". The owner overestimated and underestimated the breaking limitations of OEM parts. OEM parts are designed to withstand upto a certain, going past that and reality starts to get real ugly fast.
It behooves to all individuals lifting their suspensions to invest in off-road extreme/hard hitting performance parts to compliment the spacers if one decides to put their vehicle to the test in off-roading and extreme baja 1000 torture race runs.
I'm an IT Specialist by the way and I have my 2013 F150 lifted and upgraded to ICON Vehicle Dynamic Strut Suspensions and ICON Vehicle Dynamic Upper Control Arms and Zone-off Nitrogen Rear Shocks. Took me a decade to save up the money and finally have the parts installed. Rides like a dream and off-roading is jazz event.
Cheers 🍻
No other option when lift kit not available and custom suspension more expensive than car.
I feel your pain 😂
The main problem is the bump stop, If we lower the bump stop accordingly, nothing will happen and nothing will bend, easy:))
That’s true but then you sacrifice the full range of the suspension travel or your suspension articulation if used for off roading.
It doesn’t affect the range of travel it just moves the position of the lower and upper control arms in the range of travel, the range of travel is determined by the shock and the spacer does not affect the shocks travel, the bump stop is a problem, easily fixed with extending and the other issue is if you space it to much it will allow to much angle on your cv’s and rack-ends at full droop.
I agree it doesnt affect the travel it will travel the same distance as factory because of corrected tolerance. The cv angles and control arms wont be ad level as posible and that will wear out faster but dont drive like a maniac and it should be fine
@@westcottdesigns you shouldn't even be off-roading with spacer lifts. They are for aesthetic purposes or "balling on a budget".
@@POTFULLOFGREEN I agree!
The issue isn’t the spacer lift, it’s the fact that the spacer is too large. The same things happens when you lift too high with a traditional lift. To maximize articulation with Toyota ifs, keep your lift below 2.5”, preferably 2” with extended shocks. No more than 1.5” with a spacer lift and stock shocks.
Agreed
The last thing you said there confused me... 1.5" spacer on top is max in your opinion, or total lift? What about a preload spacer on the bottom, or same result with the combination of both? Also, I think my problem is the droop if I catch air may cause damage. I need a droop limit strap or something. Not sure yet where to connect it to though.
@@fasterforward4699 What is your setup?
Not true at all.
These idiots will do anything for a few inches of body height. Good video. 👍 modify The entire suspension system or don’t do anything. Period.
What kind of shock is that, that only has a piece of rod at the bottom..? 🤔🤔🤦🏻♂️
Thank you!!! I've been looking for info on spacer lifts, and what you've showed me here sealed the deal - heck no! A great visual and great explanantion. Thanks!
How can it loose upward travel, there is actually more upward travel due to the increased bump stop gap. Install a longer bump stop which is very common to address this issue. The main issue still though is the loss of downward travel and of course the contact area of the strut.
Because the strut can only go up so far before it bottoms out internally which is before it hits the bump stop. The strut can not take multiplying weight when it comes to an abrupt stop, which then causes it to snap off at the bottom or bend in this situation.
what if we put the spacer down?
lol so a person would need to change the bump stop and that shock is way overdue to be changed I’m guessing instead a person should buy the 1500 dollar lift kit instead of the 50 dollar spacer
used a 6" lift on my tacoma and also included a 2" leveling spacer......after a while I had issues with my steering rack....is the spacer the reason?
The rough country lift is 500 and dosent come with bump stops, if bump stops are so important why dont these lifts come with that included🤔🤔
@@GeeNee13 I agree! I don’t understand their thinking.
But you sell a 2.5 spacer kit; how is the mechanics different?
@@tpharo34 this mounts on the top of the strut and pushes it down to lengthen the strut. That’s how it creates lift. Now when you fully compress it you lost the upward travel because the strut bottoms out internally before it hits the bump stop. This over a period of time will cause the strut to snap off at the bottom as this one is starting to in the video. Ours works exactly like a coil over by adding more preload to the spring in return makes the spring push back which creates lift. What we do is we make a collar that replaces the factory collar that the spring sits on on the bottom that is a little taller. So it full extension it’s exactly factory location and at full compression it’s still at factory location and utilizing the factory bump stop as well
That’s all true, however, a leveling kit is NOT a lift and people know that. The folks that level their vehicles are not hardcore off-roaders that understand a leveling kit does what it says it’s does: it brings the the vehicle to a more horizontally level stance by use of a spacer.Ive leveled my 4 trucks without ever causing any harm to anything.
After working for Toyota for 20 years we would see them cause the struts to snap off monthly. They would say their vehicle was still under warranty and wanting it fixed under warranty. We had to explain to them it was not covered because the aftermarket part installed was what caused the failure. One customer claimed that he was speeding through a parking lot and went over a speed bump and caused both of the front struts to collapse. You’re right they do what they are intended for. To lift or level a vehicle for looks and not function other then to put bigger tires under the vehicle.
I’m looking to raise up my suspension 1” on a ford escape, I just want larger tires bc of where I live. Would adding larger bumper stops help reduce this issue? I’m new to the car community so any advice helps
Not for tires if you go up 1 size in tires it equates to a inch lift roughly it will put tour speedometer out and increase fuel consumption slightly but gives you the lift you need if the car can take a size up. Talk to your tire dealer. Bump stops only affect the distance the shock travels if you increase that be sure to extend the break hoses and stuff to not rip a line and have no breaks also putting strain on joints and cvs because of steeper angles so do at your own risk. Just ask if something is unclear
You're supposed to extend your bump stops to match. They have bump stops for a reason. Don't tell people who can't afford a fancy lift that they can't off-road, tell them about the crazy cheap solution that will save their struts.
PS your suspension is designed to travel 2 inches down it will be fine but your ride will be rough. Whater you do break will also likely be cheaper to fix than a fancy lift will cost you. Is it as nice? NO. Will it work? Yes.
Spacers won't affect the suspension geometry. With a spacer or without, the problem won't change. I agree with you, he should have installed a bump stop spacer.
got a 03 Lexus GX470. Did my rear bag delete. Looking to install a 1.75-2'' spacer in the front with my 33" tire+wheel.
Im doing it for the looks not off-roading. Would a 2" spacer be fine to install?
I think so. I've installed em. You run the risk of what's being shown tin the video. But I think it's mostly due to vehicle abuse and off roading. Shouldnt occur in normal everyday driving
So what’s the west fort product I would buy instead of the traditional spacer?
2013 Tacoma crew cab 5’ bed TRD off-road 4wd.
I like to keep it simple... A knuckle and body kit... Stay under 6 inch your driveshaft will scream to stop any higher and u dont want to buy and pay for a custom u joint drive shaft extension .. it will go on your tranny output and it's a bitch... Find a 4.5 inch knuckle and 2 inch body it will be 6 inches on the money you won't need to upgrade anything except what you truly want but take care of your ride it will care for you.... Thank me later ... The knuckles can be on the expensive side but u should be able to get it for 250 all 4 drop your tires drop brakes calipers rotors use spray paint here you want everything just how you took it off top and bottom control arms along with coil over shocks (replace ball joints control arm bushings stabilizer bushings here shocks if your feeling generous ) tie rod arm stabilizer pen remove dust cap and knuckle reinstall new knuckle and be sure your ball joints set right and you grease them first an in experienced mechanic could do it with the right tools the body kits 50$ but being a 2013 you won't retain the full 2 it will be 1 to 1.5
When I say body kit I mean every spot your cab mounts to your frame put a spacer and rubber bushing should be 10+ spacers .. cheap easy and quick
This man is so full of BS LMAO!! I’ve ran a lift spacer for 5 consecutive years! Sold the truck with it still on there!
Who is full of shit?
@westcottdesigns Don't mind him he clearly doesn't understand the critical thinking/analysis of said suspension lifts. He had a good experience with his lifted truck and assumes everyone else will be alright however allow me to bring my actual two cents into the matter.
The spacer itself is almost never the issue. Installing a larger/longer bump stop would've definitely helped out the OEM suspension live a longer life. However what always happens is user error. The owner figured "I'ma jump this bitch aka dirt cliff and do all sorts of crazy shit I'm not supposed to". The owner overestimated and underestimated the breaking limitations of OEM parts. OEM parts are designed to withstand upto a certain, going past that and reality starts to get real ugly fast.
It behooves to all individuals lifting their suspensions to invest in off-road extreme/hard hitting performance parts to compliment the spacers if one decides to put their vehicle to the test in off-roading and extreme baja 1000 torture race runs.
I'm an IT Specialist by the way and I have my 2013 F150 lifted and upgraded to ICON Vehicle Dynamic Strut Suspensions and ICON Vehicle Dynamic Upper Control Arms and Zone-off Nitrogen Rear Shocks. Took me a decade to save up the money and finally have the parts installed. Rides like a dream and off-roading is jazz event.
Cheers 🍻
can I put a 3 inch spacer in the front and 2.5 inch spring spacer in the front and add 3 inch numb stop without changing the struts will this effect my 2019 fj cruiser, and if so where can I get longer dumb stops thanks
You can only do a 3” total lift in the front and still be able to get it back into alignment.
Can't you just install longer shocks?
Wouldn't that solve the problem?
You could for sure but some people spent all their money buying the truck that they only have money to buy a $50 lift🤷
@@westcottdesigns😂😂😂🎉
How does your product differ from a regular spacer? Isn’t it the same thing just as the spring collar instead?
@@El_Basically_210 with a strut spacer you are pushing the whole strut down the distance of the spacer. Now when it goes to full compression it bottoms out internally and not on the bump stop the way it was designed. This is what causes the struts to snap off after a period of time of this happening. Now a full extension the axle was designed to extent to its original upward and downward stroke of the strut and because it has been pushed the cv axle past its original design and can and will cause cv failure or at least cv boot failure over time. As for our preload collar it works the exact same way a coil over does. Our collar replaces the original collar that the spring sits on with a taller collar the preloads the spring the same way the coil over does which creates lift. Now when it goes to full compression it bottoms out on the bump stop like designed from the factory and when at full extension is still at factory design. So will not cause any premature failure because still works as factory designed it. Best part is you are replacing the factory part with a much stronger better built part that will never fail. That’s how we do everything. Never replace a part with a lesser or equal part. Alway over build😉
@@westcottdesignsthank you for explaining, I will definitely keep your product in mind when it’s time to upgrade.
Who's bottoming out that much or often?
I used to see it monthly when I worked for Toyota. People used to bring their trucks in and think it was covered under warranty and had to disappoint them that is wasn’t.
I am interested in lifting my 2020 jeep Cherokee trailhawk 2 inches, looking at getting spacers just because of affordability. It’s my daily driver but I don’t really go off-road on rough terrain at all it’s strictly for aesthetics. Would that be okay? Or should I just bite the bullet and look at getting a suspension lift
Regular driving will be fine
Need shorter shocks with a spacer lift... Nobody dose that, but; maybe they should.
i noticed In the comments, ( get taller shocks ) Well, they are already too tall by the height of the spacer. if the bottom stem or (fuse) was three inches shorter. No more problem. full travel.
Would a 1” spacer in the front be okay for awhile? (not forever)
Of course and it will be fine as long as you don’t do any incredibly hard four wheeling. I’ve used mine 2.5 inch spacer since 2005 on one truck, another since 2002 and current one for two months. Leveling kits are not at att harmful to an average off roader, snow, mud …. Never had a problem. If you want to rock crawl then you may have an issue
Ford put the level on my new f150…..new upper control arms…struts and ball joints at their cost
I'm wanting to lift my car about 1inch - 1.5inch with spacer and going up in tire size, to get 3+ inch ground clearance. What is the best solution for the bump stock?
What year is your truck and model you have?
@@westcottdesigns I want the same thing, so I'll answer your question - I have a 2023 2WD Tundra SR5 w/ the TRD off road package.
Dont forget brake lines no matter how tall the car is if you snap a hose you dont stop so watch out with 2 inch and higher
it's fact' i have installed liftkit spacers to my jeep compass and in a year and a half i needed to replace the strut.. just be aware of that guys, liftkit look cool to your jeep but just think that you will need to spend more money on suspensions
@@Mika-dj4np you are right! These traditional spacer lifts are no go for long term.
That cv tho
I plan on getting a 1.75 leveling spacer on the front, is that even enough to do anything? Will i be fine?
Does the spacer lift wear out the coil spring ?
So will say a spacer lift is a spacer lift. So it comes down to a true spacer will cause the strut to fail or snap and our preload collar will not cause premature wear. But springs will lose.spring rate over time with or without a lift. Some will lose rate faster then others do to the amount of weight added to the vehicle. When I worked for Toyota we would see new TRD PRO 4Runners lose 1/2-3/4” just off the transporter do to how hard they got strapped down. Please let me know if this was the info you were looking for?
Type enhancement for suspension and find oversized bump stops next time
Thats why the kits come with extended shocks.. and steering column extension, spacer for your pinion angle of driveshaft, longer break hoses, leaf braces for axle wrap, longer u bolts, and maybe a whole subframe if youre going big.. but just using blocks is like somebody just torquing the torsion springs,, ive seen those bars snap before when dude was over tensioning it.. thing made a noise like a bomb., lol.
how does it behave with coil overs?
Im getting a 3rd gen 2024 Traverse (no off road use) and of course they dont make specific spacer lift kits for traverse's.... Do you think I would be able to get away with putting a Acadia or Tahoe spacer leveling kit on there??
If I use a regular lift those thing still not going to touch. Right?
If you use a traditional spacer lift this is the risk you take on if you off road to hard or hit a speed bump to hard.
Ah ok that’s good to know. Let say I put a regular spacer and I use only the truck for work, it’s that ok?
@@hlipm0adzz As long as your not off roading and really pushing your suspension to its limit you should be fine
How big is the spacer? Would this happen with a 1" spacer?
This is a 3” lift and anything at 3/4” or taller bottoms out internally at full compression. That is what causes this to happen. When it comes to an abrupt stop when traveling downward it is then multiply the force causing it to have to give somewhere and it usually at its weakest point.
subframe spacer
I put a 3 inch spacer lift on my OEM tundra and I’ve only had this for about a year now, am I screwed?
@@El_Basically_210 if it’s one like in the video! As long as you didn’t or don’t romp it to hard you will be fine.
@@westcottdesigns got it thanks! I only drive my truck in the city since it’s a 2WD but even here there are some very uncomfortable roads and very bad portholes.
I’m a rookie mechanic, and I’m in the process of lifting my 2 door Camry 3 inches on pucks. 😆 this project is for shits n giggles I’m just learning as much as I can from it
Also it’s got a Lexus motor swapped in. Not sure what one though, the equivalent of a ‘99 Camry is like an es250 or es300 right?
That is super cool! I would love to see it when your done. I cool stuff like that. I don’t like doing anything else like other people as well. Can’t wait to see it👍
a Camry always looks better lifted! rock on
@@makeitpay8241who lift a car? 😂
folks who don't care what anyone thinks, that's who@@gavinoctavien1400
MAKE A BUSHING
I have a 2007 Subaru legacy. I want to run rear strut lift kit so I can also run my hubcentric wheel spacers. Any suggestions please give me a shout I would love to talk on the phone.
Call me any time during the day on my cell 480-703-2440
Bigger spindle
Luckily my truck strut isn’t designed shity like this one
If it’s a second Gen and it still. has the OEM strut in it they are brittle like this or even the Bilstein’s.
Below 40mm wont damage anything.
That is why we only use a 1/2”. But most spacers lifts on the market are a front leveling kit which is 1.75” up to 3” when doing a full lift.
So install 2 inch longer bump stops?
Everything will still wear out faster due to working outside intended angles of operation.
upgraded our suspension from eom suspension of nissan np300 ours does not have those long arms.
Would a loaded strut be a better alternative ?
@@LordRabidKL could you explain what you asking?
@@westcottdesigns sorry meant better than just a spacer or are they basically the same thing but with a new strut
Thank you for sharing
Thank you!
This is very interesting havent heard this take on it before.
I have only ever had a bigger truck- these days i am all subaru and looking at lifting an older outback. I put in 1 and 1-5/8 ADF spacers on our 18 forester XT and for that application it was fantastic.
You helped me identify which way to go. I like the KYB type of spring lift for a tad more utility.
One question if going spring lift, the ride quality may be a bit gummier right? So mpg drops a bit on the hwy?
Thank you for sharing.
The spring would work great if they make it for your application. Mpg is always lost.
When lifting a vehicle. One because the air travels more under the vehicle then around it and air turbulence is created. The biggest factor is the the larger tires.
thanks for your explanation....may I ask you about rough country 2" spacer kit for Fj Cruiser?? which is 1" in thickness, does it cause premature failure too? thanks in advance!!
1”. Would be right at the limit of the strut at full compression. It may be just bumping out at that. Only way to truly tell is to remove the spring from the strut and bolt it back in and run a full cycle on it to make sure it’s still bumps out
Critical question thats not been mentioned yet... with a spacer above the spring, does that compress the shocks by that same amount continually even when parked? IE: 2" spacer, so the shocks are 2" 's tucked in and "lost" cushion?
No it doesnt affect the spring the spring is under constant tention from the housing so the spacer bolt to the top of the housing and the strut mounting point there for dropping the whole assembly down. So no the spring tention is the same it doesnt change.
I dont know if i misunderstood the question but the answer is still no it just changes the shock position not the function the cv and control arms are affected and will wear faster yes but the shock will just be moved down