using a lift to get angles lower without the full height increase

[sportsmandiesel17]

has anyone ever installed a 4-6" lift that dropped the front diff down and key crossmember but didnt install any of the keys,shock blocks or of the rear shackels or blocks in rear? ive had this idea for awhile because i believe i read about it years ago i wanna say a magazine but unsure. would this still work with all of built front end parts from say Krypotnite or cognito etc..

for a drag/pull/ street truck. have no want for a full 6" height increase but willing to piece a kit together for the angles

 

[Chevy1925]

Been done many many times and is the preferred way to get a good lift while keeping the front end together. Cognito 4” lift was one of the best lifts to do this with

 

[2004LB7]

I have the cognito 4-6" lift and loosed the torsion bolts until the suspension was level/flat in the front. The front was still pointing up just slightly. A set of 2" blocks in the rear leveled the truck out

 

[SoCalMike]

I also have a Cognito 4-6. If you take the torsion bolts out or just barely have them in you will need at least 1 inch blocks in the back or the nose will be pointing up. The jounce bumpers will be smashed. You can cut/trim them if you wanted.
For shocks, Fox shocks that are made for the Cognito 4-6 lift will be your best bet. Years ago I was looking for different shocks that would work and only found Bilstein that were close to the correct size. But fully compressed they were longer. So if you lower the truck to the lowest position you could potentially limit your up travel. Also with the way the lift is designed the purch for the jounce bumpers could rub / bump the shock body if the shock body is too large. The Fox shock body for this kit is "reverse" where the body is on top with the shock shaft on the bottom.
I guess you could remove / replace the jounce bumpers and get different key to get you lower so you don't have to run one inch blocks in the back. But you will be limited on up travel. I'll see if I can dig up some pictures for you.


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[Bdsankey]

If your goal is a drag truck I wouldn't lift it at all but that is my opinion.

As for the process of using a 4-6" lift turned way down to run say a 35" tire without tons of cutting it's the way to go. Your CV shafts will appreciate it over a 2-3" lift with cranked up torsion keys. You will want a small block in the back in my opinion to level the truck and keep the nose pointed in a reasonable position but I would order that based upon your desired look, typically 1-2" block or a full lift spring.

I've done it successfully with Cognito and BDS lifts and had great ride quality. Most of the time I use a Fox 2.0 or Bilstein 5160. Icon shocks also, I've been told, are pretty good but I have not used them personally to comment.

 

[2004LB7]

 

[SoCalMike]

View attachment 129332

That looks a little different than mine. Looks like your jounce bumper stop is not the same. Are you running Bilstein shocks? When did you get your lift? I got mine in 2019 and they could have changed things.

 

[SoCalMike]

This is when I first installed the lift. I had the bolts in to get it leveled with the 2inch blocks.

 

[SoCalMike]

This is with 1 inch blocks in the back and I believe the bolts are turned down but not out to the lowest position. Wheels are 17x8 I forgot the backspacing. Tires are 285/70/17.

 

[2004LB7]

That looks a little different than mine. Looks like your jounce bumper stop is not the same. Are you running Bilstein shocks? When did you get your lift? I got mine in 2019 and they could have changed things.

I don't remember the date but definitely before 2019. At least several years prior. I did change the bump stops to gain more clearance

Mines the non torsion bar drop if that makes any difference

Edit: photo time stamp is 2016

 

[SoCalMike]

Here is a picture from a couple years ago. Cognito tapered 2 inch blocks in the back with Sulastic shackles. the front raised to match the rear. I believe it is a 1/4 to 1/2 higher in the front. I don't like the look of the front end down at all. Running 35's on 17x 8.5 Methods with 0 offset (4.75 back spacing. I did have to do the fender mod in the rear and cut the front bumper a little.

 

[SoCalMike]

I don't remember the date but definitely before 2019. At least several years prior. I did change the bump stops to gain more clearance

Mines the torsion bar drop if that makes any difference

Same. I have the NTBD too. I don't think they sell the other version any longer.

 

[SoCalMike]

Oh I forgot, I guess you could remove the jounce bumper stop and gain more clearance.

 

[sportsmandiesel17]

thanks guys. i didn’t mean exactly the cognito 4-6” but it seems like everyone likes it a lot with more reading i’ve done

If your goal is a drag truck I wouldn't lift it at all but that is my opinion.

As for the process of using a 4-6" lift turned way down to run say a 35" tire without tons of cutting it's the way to go. Your CV shafts will appreciate it over a 2-3" lift with cranked up torsion keys. You will want a small block in the back in my opinion to level the truck and keep the nose pointed in a reasonable position but I would order that based upon your desired look, typically 1-2" block or a full lift spring.

I've done it successfully with Cognito and BDS lifts and had great ride quality. Most of the time I use a Fox 2.0 or Bilstein 5160. Icon shocks also, I've been told, are pretty good but I have not used them personally to comment.

i plan to stick to 33’s or close too. and really don’t care for the truck any higher then it is factory. only 2” would be great tho.

I also have a Cognito 4-6. If you take the torsion bolts out or just barely have them in you will need at least 1 inch blocks in the back or the nose will be pointing up. The jounce bumpers will be smashed. You can cut/trim them if you wanted.
For shocks, Fox shocks that are made for the Cognito 4-6 lift will be your best bet. Years ago I was looking for different shocks that would work and only found Bilstein that were close to the correct size. But fully compressed they were longer. So if you lower the truck to the lowest position you could potentially limit your up travel. Also with the way the lift is designed the purch for the jounce bumpers could rub / bump the shock body if the shock body is too large. The Fox shock body for this kit is "reverse" where the body is on top with the shock shaft on the bottom.
I guess you could remove / replace the jounce bumpers and get different key to get you lower so you don't have to run one inch blocks in the back. But you will be limited on up travel. I'll see if I can dig up some pictures for you.


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do you still install the supplied spindles even with the intent of lowering the lift?

 

[SoCalMike]

I think you would have to. With out the spindles I don't think it would make sense to even buy the lift. I don't thing it will lift the truck without them.

If you are going to stick with 33's and want the lowest lift possible, I would to the Cognito 4inch lift and drop it as much as you can. One 1 inch blocks in the back or none depending on how low you and lower the front.

They only reason I say Cognito is because I believe they are the only ones that have a non torsion bar drop lift for the classic body style trucks. I think above 07 BDS has a non torsion bar drop lift for them.

 

[Bdsankey]

thanks guys. i didn’t mean exactly the cognito 4-6” but it seems like everyone likes it a lot with more reading i’ve done


i plan to stick to 33’s or close too. and really don’t care for the truck any higher then it is factory. only 2” would be great tho.

Run a relatively low offset wheel and you don't need a lift....... A 265/75R16 fits like cake and is 31.6". I've seen many trucks running a 285/75R16 which is a 32.8" tire, the key is as close to zero (or even positive) offset. My truck clears 305/50R20 on a 20x9 +0mm offset wheel with minimal rub. I am going to have to do the NorCal mod but that's about it.

do you still install the supplied spindles even with the intent of lowering the lift?

You absolutely have to install the spindles. If you don't, your ball joints won't install and you won't get the added lift you're after.

These lifts move the lower control arm downward increasing the distance between the ball joints. This has to be made up with the spindle which then also shifts the wheel bearing downward giving you the added lift.

 

[sportsmandiesel17]

I think you would have to. With out the spindles I don't think it would make sense to even buy the lift. I don't thing it will lift the truck without them.

If you are going to stick with 33's and want the lowest lift possible, I would to the Cognito 4inch lift and drop it as much as you can. One 1 inch blocks in the back or none depending on how low you and lower the front.

They only reason I say Cognito is because I believe they are the only ones that have a non torsion bar drop lift for the classic body style trucks. I think above 07 BDS has a non torsion bar drop lift for them.

perfect thank you.

Run a relatively low offset wheel and you don't need a lift....... A 265/75R16 fits like cake and is 31.6". I've seen many trucks running a 285/75R16 which is a 32.8" tire, the key is as close to zero (or even positive) offset. My truck clears 305/50R20 on a 20x9 +0mm offset wheel with minimal rub. I am going to have to do the NorCal mod but that's about it.


You absolutely have to install the spindles. If you don't, your ball joints won't install and you won't get the added lift you're after.

These lifts move the lower control arm downward increasing the distance between the ball joints. This has to be made up with the spindle which then also shifts the wheel bearing downward giving you the added lift.

yes between that and i wondered if it would throw the camber off too without installing them. thank you