clemson725

I have an 06QC and will be due for some tires soon. I'm going to go with 35" tires and my personal preference is for about 4inches of lift. I know i can fit the tires with less lift but I like the looks of more lift and with a little rake left in. So, I've looked around and figured out some components.

FRONT: top gunz customs 3.5" taller progressive coil springs with 1" spacers and long arm upgrade. Bilstein 5100

REAR: 2" add-a-leafs with 2" lift blocks. Bilstein 5100.

That would give me 1.5" of rake. 4.5" of lift in front and 4" of lift in rear. Does any of this throw up red flags to anyone? Is there anything else i need to consider like carrier bearing shims?

cbrahs

adjustable track bar, extended sway bar links, steering stabilizer, steering brace, (could go with a 1 piece shaft but will have to shim carrier bearing)

clemson725

is that just recommendations? or necessities? Also i want to ask what is the best/cheapest place anybody has found for gears? I may go to 4.10s when i put the 35s on.

rootkit

Check out http://thurenfabrication.com/ they have great products. If you have extra coin to burn Cari as well. With 35s I would think 1.5in longer control arms as well...

I have 33s while out wheeling I get some rubbing on a full flex nothing crazy but does rub.

trik396

I'd recommend Thuren as well...

Backwoods Bumpers

Another one for Thuren..... He's an excellent fabricator and really knows his stuff. Not to mention he's a great guy to talk to.

clemson725

What would make a thuren spring spacer, lift blocks, or add-a-leafs any different than anybody elses except the price? I saw the more expensive names have progressive rate coils but they are significantly higher. does anyone have the ones from top gunz that can offer any insight? I'm all for getting good stuff but if nobody has ever had problems with the cheaper stuff like tuff country for their long arm kit, theres no reason in spending the extra money.

Backwoods Bumpers

This is more of a question than advice..... I've been thinking about lifting my truck almost exactly as you described. I've been worried about the way it will handle, though. The add-a-leaf will make the rear stiffer, and the new front springs will make the front softer..... Maybe someone can speculate on that?

To answer your question..... when people recommend thuren, they're usually talking about the types of parts he specializes in. He makes really nice long arm kits and also control arms that bolt in the factory location (0.5" longer lower arm) with custom rebuildable joints instead of bushings. I've also heard great things about his springs. I can tell you for a fact that his adjustable track bar is top notch. Also, he'll work with you and just sell you what you need. He's helped many people put together custom kits with parts from many different brands other than his own.

I think everybody is in 100% agreement about spending extra money! In my mind, there's no reason to spend much on spacers and blocks, etc. When it comes to the parts that aren't as simple, you get what you pay for. I'm not saying that what you've looked at already isn't good stuff, and neither is anybody else. Folks are just giving you their opinions based on experience.

Either way, keep us posted about what you decide to go with, and how you like it!

cbrahs

necessities to make things last and I agree with above, thuren is getting my business when I level my new truck. you don't always want the cheapest. you get what you pay for. progressive spring with a bilstein shock (5100 or better) and your ride improves greatly..

clemson725

The springs on thuren's site just say soft rate springs. I really dont want a softer rate and i wish they'd specify the rate. I'm still leaning towards progressive rate. i know carli has progressive rates as does top gunz. For all i know they are the same springs.

I also want to add that i'm not needing a super strong sport suspension with 12" of travel so i can ride through the desert. Its strictly a street truck that i pull stuff with. Its purely for looks, yet i dont want it riding like a wagon. A stock ride or maybe a slight bit softer is all i'm looking for in addition to the lift...

backwoods bumpers.....as for the add-a- leafs, i'm pretty sure they are zero rate so the ride shouldnt suffer. I just like the idea of that with a 2" block vs a 4" block.

clemson725

btw thats a ton of cash to get all those components from thuren. i just looked some up. I dont think that is going to be an option for me since the lift is 95% for looks for my needs. I have another toy to go off roading in.

trik396

If you are going with that much of a lift in the front, I'd say it's mandatory to get an adjustable track bar... at a minimum. I'm sure Thuren has progressive springs also. No matter who you go with... remember what I said about the track bar... trust me.. I made a mistake of running without one for too long and paid the price.

AkitaSumo

When I worked with Don, he recommended Carli new coils in the front and their progressive leafs for the rear. The design parameters that Don was using were almost the same as Carli's, so Don now uses Carli springs in his systems. SO, I got my springs from Carli and all the other goodies that go with it from Don, including his King shocks. Everything was ordered through Don. I was fortunate that I was in Southern California at the time, so I picked up my springs from Carli and saved some shipping costs. I have been very happy with my setup that he and I came up with, it handles and rides great! I will be adding some airbags in the future. As the truck sits now, it is level...

rootkit

if i recall thuren and dialed motorsports used to work at Carli... I think they are all friends but different visions. thuren leafs are soft compared to carli ie not all that great for a load but on whoops they will preform better.

I have nothing against topgunz but i dont think they have all the R&D in there products but there support is top notch.

I like my DM suspension with the 5100s I have yet to install the adjustable trackbar to recenter the axel, later on i will be running carli leafs and fox shocks and some other goodies. I guess the reason I would pick Carli they are in socal.. so if i have some issue i can go to them as well. haha. Check out http://www.8lugtruckgear.com/ they have some options and George is top notch with replying to questions and turnaround times are freakin quick.

pronstar

If you're just looking for spring spacers and lift blocks, then Carli/Thuren isn't for you. The don't make that stuff, and you're right...there really would be no difference from one brand to another. It sounds like you just want a traditional "lift kit". The cost is minimal because there's no complex engineering that goes into these types of parts. And 5100 are just "off the shelf" parts, they can't be valved so you can buy them from anyone.

If you want a suspension system - not a lift kit - that's engineered/tested to perform off-road, while providing an unbelievably good street ride, then Carli/Thuren are for you. You're paying for the engineering/testing that goes into their setups. Custom shock valving plays a huge role in ride/performance.

I'd do your research - here and other sites - before taking the plunge. While a lot of people are perfectly happy with a lift kit, many others aren't...and they soon start piecing together a quality suspension system from shops like Carli/Thuren.

Nothing is worse than buying parts twice.