@ the Marysvliie event I had pointed out to a fellow 1st genner how I cured my tire rub by buying some universal shackles from NAPA, which raised me another 1 1/2" that was just enough to clear the tires from any rubbing. He pointed out that if you raised the rears and not the fronts there would possible be problems in the engagement of 4 wheel drive due to geometry articulation, and suggested I install shims? This is my question. With all the noise and excitement from the Dyno runs, I couldn't make out what he was putting down. What shims was he talking about, and is there a link to go to where I could see a pic and possibly purchase? I have been working out of town w/o my truck and never got a chance to put it in 4x4. It's hard to believe an 1 1/2" raise could mess things up, but I better fix it now if need be before I get stuck out in the woods while hunting. Let me know your thoughts.
PS, although I appreciate the job the NAPA shackles have done for the tire rub, they kinda look wimpy at 1 1/2" in width. Is there another set I could purchase, other than fabbin' my own, that come w/ rounded ends and are like 2 1/2" wide? I see them on some lifted Toyotas.

 

he may have been talking about shims under the spring pack to correct the pinion angle of the front differential. with the wrong angle, you make the u-joints work harder and fail prematurely.

 

The thing I would be worried about would be the caster. Basically you are putting the top king ping forward of where it should be. That could make the truck want to wander.

 

Actually he's giving it more caster...

 

You are correct. I guess my brain is in reverse today.

 

Fix it right.. New front springs... Anything else risks 4wd and steering issues and could be dangerous at highway speeds.

I rebuilt my front spring pack using the original top spring and leafs 2 - 6 of a 4" lift spring pack from a 1/2 ton truck. Result was about 1" - 1.5" lift above stock height and about 3" above where it was with the tire spring pack. The truck sits essentially level, front to back, now.

 

this is what ya need!!

I made the front drop hangers while retaining the factory length rear ones, reason being is, the sky 2.5 fronts don't come with a shim to set proper angle, So I made the front drop hangers about 2" lower than factory which ponted the pig up where it needed to be and it gave me an extra 1" lift. But, yes, by lengthening the rear swing shackle is the wrong thing to do to gain lift.

 

As I recall caster has a specific maximum number of variable degrees (which I can't recall the exact number at the moment). The point is that whether you tilt forward or rearward beyond this range you will likely experience highway speed steering problems.

 

so what would be the best way to lift the front on my w250? add some leafs? make a longer front shackle? how can i measure caster?

i know its a lot to ask

thanks for the info

 

but basically anyway you lift the front end you are gonna mess with the pinion angle right? so if i re-arc the springs and add a leaf on them, will i have to put shims in?

 

bump...i would assume so, would measuring the caster be done the same as on a racecar or is there a special gauge to do so?