How big can I go on a 96 before I have to buy new drive shafts and start worrying about pinion angles? I was looking at 5" but dont know if I will run into problems with it. Thanks.

 

A 5" you will be ok.....no driveshaft mods to do. Just make sure that your lift comes with a pinion angle shim to keep that driveshaft straight and you'll be just fine!!


~Nick

 

I'm running a 4.5" with no issues. And I've got a one piece driveshaft on the rear. Like Gotlift said, just make sure the lift comes with the shim to rotate the rear axle upwards to keep the pinion angles in line.

 

So no issues with most 5 inch lift kits? Just curious about what I really have to do to install the kit.

 

With my combo, singlecab I ran 9" of lift with no problems.

 

Don't you have a 2-piece driveshaft?

I'd definitely shim the carrier bearing properly, if I were you.
I can get enough lift out of the 5K# airbags to feel the U-joints in 1st & 2nd, so I made a half inch aluminum spacer in the shop to bring the driveline angle back to spec.

 

Yes I do have a two piece rear shaft. I would love to get rid of it but will probably just shim the carrier like you said. Your half inch spacer was good for a five inch lift?

 

The airbags at 100psi lifted the frame over the rear axle 4" when the truck is normally loaded (about 10K#), so the carrier bearing was about 3" higher. 60psi still put the bearing high enough (about 2") to feel the U-joints, and 40psi they were still happy. The half-inch spacer kept the driveline angle good up to 60psi, which was about a 2.5" lift - I keep them at 40psi to keep the stock empty ride height with the 2K# of tools, equipment and parts that are always on the truck.

I would think that a 5" lift needs to have the carrier bearing shimmed at least 1", I'd go 1.5" for sure if the truck was empty.

 

i'm pretty sure that most of the "kits" come with a shim for th e 2 piece drive shafts...

later, dustin

 

I should think they'd have to; but are they carrier-bearing spacers or rear-axle shims?

 

Ahh I forgot about you having a long bed.....yeah you will have to shim the carrier bearing down which is a piece of cake!! I made my own bracket for my powerstroke using some 3"X3" hollow square tube steel and drilled some holes and bolted it back in......worked like a charm.

And with the shims on the axle and moving the carrier down....you'll have no issues and won't have any need to get a new shaft.


~Nick