Needing advise on suspension lift.

[JDub]

I'm looking at lifting my 2023 XLT but I'm getting conflicting opinions. I leveled it the week I picked it up but to achieve the look I'm going for I think a 3" lift is where I want to be. Dilemma is this. The local 4x4 shop is telling me that a 3" lift, even with new upper control arms will wear front end parts extremely fast. They recommended going 4" with a kit that provided all the brackets and stuff to bring everything back to factory angles. Does this make sense? This will be my first experience with lifting a truck and I don't want a lot of hassle with worn parts and poor ride quality. Any advise you may have would be appreciated.

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[Facemelter]

Went with a 4 inch BDS on my 22.

The 3 inch I have heard really puts the CV axles/UCA's in a bind. I didn't want any of this mess and went with the lift and brackets to put the front diff back where the axles and control arms were at the correct angles. Figured if I ever needed to go back to stock I'll weld the tab back on the pocket for the front diff.

The other side of the lift kit from BDS is the warranty coverage. What Ford wont cover because of the lift, BDS will cover. Which gives me the piece of mind I was looking for with modifying the truck.

 

[TexasTruck]

They recommended going 4" with a kit that provided all the brackets and stuff to bring everything back to factory angles. Does this make sense?

It absolutely makes sense. I have a 2” level kit (strut & UCA replacement's). Even at 2” it makes the CV joints look uncomfortable. If I went any higher, I would do a 4” kit, for all the reasons mentioned by @Facemelter, no question.

 

[JDub]

Thanks y’all…. So what are your thoughts on a 3” bolt on kit with new UCA and coil overs? Still too much stress on other parts?

 

[wz00r2]

2" level and 35s is the way to go.

 

[zx6roclet]

2" level and 35s is the way to go.

Not 100% true. With a level the upper control arm makes contact with the shock at full droop on most if not all kits. Pucks are cool if you never hit the dirt.

 

[wz00r2]

Not 100% true. With a level the upper control arm makes contact with the shock at full droop on most if not all kits. Pucks are cool if you never hit the dirt.

Pucks aren't the only way to level a truck. That being said, pucks work for 90% of people that want larger tires. Very few do any off-roading that is more than dirt/gravel roads.

 

[JDub]

That’s me…. I’m not looking to take her off road. Just make it look awesome.

 

[TexasTruck]

Thanks y’all…. So what are your thoughts on a 3” bolt on kit with new UCA and coil overs? Still too much stress on other parts?

Too much lift IMO. No matter what coil over and/or puck combination you have you'll be sacrificing front end component life and ride quality. Again, IMO and experience and reading other owner stories.

As for the UCA's, I'm a fan in general, just watch the UCA ball joint cup and the inside tread/sidewall of the tire for rubbing. The wheel backspace/offset and tire width come into play there.

I understand the cost of installing a 4" kit is higher, but in the long run your front end is happy, better riding truck, no component binding, clunking, knocking, CV over extending, etc.

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