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My lift kit choice and readylift review

37165 Views 15 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  dudleyh, 
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Thought I would add this post cause I assume there is many folks just like me that want or wanted to put a lift on your truck but was tossed in so many directions of what to go with. Brands, quality, price points etc.

I first started out wanted to put a 6 inch lift on my truck but was hesitant do to the fact of the functionality I was going to loose from day to day operations. Kids getting in, Great Dane jumping in the bed of the truck, etc. So after a ton of research I went with a readylift sst 4 inch kit. My main reasons for choosing this kit was,
I didn't have to take it to a shop to get it installed, which I suggest its probably the smartest choice because after all you are messing with some pretty important parts.
It was a good price point and when I called readylift they gave me a 10% discount, hey every dollar counts right!
It guarantees factory ride quality and other things I don't remember. But maintaining a smooth ride was a big deal for me.
And finally I am not a big off roader so I didn't need a real fancy kit.
However if I was to go with a kit that would serve the need of off roading capabilities I would have choose the BDS kits. Killer warranty. Who else right " a no bs warranty".

Ok so now that I have given you the reasons I chose readylift, by the way I did have a bit of influence by a guy I called at a lift shop that had his 15 tundra equipped with fox shocks on all 4 corners, I will now give my input on this kit.
It all came rather fast and all parts were accounted for, directions on a scale of 1 to 10 was about a 7.5.
I feel it could have gave better directions and warnings of what bolts to replace and what not. But overall not bad.
Now I will be honest with you, I am a very mechanically inclined person but this did take me all day. I had to do this out side, and it rained and I mean it rained!!!! I took stock tires to the tire store and had the sensors swapped out to the new wheels which took them 2 hours ugh and other conflicting events during my day. Let's just say it wasn't a good day. I did run into a operator error issue while installing the kit and readylift tech support was right there to help, via phone.
Ok now it's all installed with 35x12.50r18 fuel wheels 18x9 +1 offset and it rubs the front bumper and body mount. I removed the plastic on the front bumper problem solved. But still issues with rubbing body mount. After making some calls in order to fit a 35" tire under a tundra with this lift you need a min. 6 inch back spacing on your wheels. So now I am forced. To put 1.25 spacers on to clear the body mount. Or I could have put 33s maybe 34s ish to clear, but that's not cool, plus I am already into this setup as it is.
Now for the appearance, let's just say it put a smile on my face. I didn't think the stance was going to look so good. I honestly thought it was going to look more like a leveling kit and I would just settle for it.
So let's get down to the measurements, before I started I had stock suspension and stock wheels and tires 275 65 18s ground to middle of fender measurements as follows. About 38 3/4 in the rear and 36 3/4 in the front. After install with the 35" tires it is now about 43 1/4 all the way around. So I gained about 5 inches in the rear and 7 inches in the front on my 2014 Toyota Tundra sr5 trd off-road. Keep in mind that it is mentioned that the trd achieves a higher stance than other models when completed.
Finally the ride quality , I think anyone would be lieing if they said there is no differenc in ride. It is a bit stiffer but hey I have some big meets on there now and it will take some time I suppose to break it all in. Oh yeah tires I installed are nitto trail grapple mts and I stayed with the factory bilistin struts. I was gunna go with some different struts but I figured since I only have 12k on them I would just run them for now. I hope this review helps others and I promise I will post pics tomorrow. Before and afters. Good luck and don't take short cuts!
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This post is useless without pics!
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T
from what I read about the sst 4" you could run the stock 18" TRD rims and fit 35" tires with no problems. maybe your new rims caused the issue of rubbing?

I'd be interested in pics of how it rubs. also interested on your take installing the upper control arms and the ease of alignment afterwards? did it align to stock easily for the tech?

I am thinking about using this kit as well, but also adding a carrier bearing drop kit and a driveshaft spacer if it is needed.
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Here is the pic

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Try this s again

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Sorry can't get the pic to rotate. Doing this from iPad
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TRD44 said:
from what I read about the sst 4" you could run the stock 18" TRD rims and fit 35" tires with no problems. maybe your new rims caused the issue of rubbing?

I'd be interested in pics of how it rubs. also interested on your take installing the upper control arms and the ease of alignment afterwards? did it align to stock easily for the tech?

I am thinking about using this kit as well, but also adding a carrier bearing drop kit and a driveshaft spacer if it is needed.
Click to expand...

The rims did cause the rubbing. They were only 5 inch back spacing. Need to have 6. Not sure if stock wheels will work, I assume they will though just check the specs first.
Upper control arms where easy, no issues at all. Toyota calls for three hour labor time. It took me about ten minutes tops.
As far as alignment. Before you break the lower control arm bolt make your marks to make sure you line it back up. I didn't have any issues getting it back, and I just installed this kit a few days ago and have not had the time to take it in for an alignment. To be honest with you I see and feel no alignment issues while driving it. But defiantly take it in. I will be on my next day off.
If your interested in this kit I would recommend it for sure. Talk with the techs at ready lift to see if you need to add the spacers you mentioned. I don't believe it is necessary,
What also helped me with the install was the you tube video ready lift posted, so watch it before you tackle the job and make sure your up for it. Hope this helps.
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the spacer I'm talking about, not a lot of people think about. but if you start getting vibration and stuttering when going then you will def want the carrier bearing spacer. it drops the carrier bearing down so that it is at the proper angle, and I'm sure it helps with pinion angle too. (basically the same reason the readylift comes with the diff spacer to correct the axle angles) the driveshaft spacer is to make sure the shaft is properly set in the end of the transmission. basically a slip yoke extender.

ready lift states stock rims are good to go even with 35", so I'm glad to hear it was your new rims causing you issue, but only because that means that my stock rims will work not because I think it is funny or anything.

thanks for the feedback, I posted about this kit and nobody responded to my thread, so this was very welcomed for me!

good looking truck, I'm about to order mine today and I'm stuck between the dark grey and the light silver. I think its gonna be silver sky for the win because I like the red 4x4 on the trd off road on that truck....on the dark grey truck it is a light silver and doesn't contrast well imho.

here is your pic corrected.

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StormTrooperRW
Get the body mount chop done to eliminate the rub and you should be good to go!
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TRD44 said:
the spacer I'm talking about, not a lot of people think about. but if you start getting vibration and stuttering when going then you will def want the carrier bearing spacer. it drops the carrier bearing down so that it is at the proper angle, and I'm sure it helps with pinion angle too. (basically the same reason the readylift comes with the diff spacer to correct the axle angles) the driveshaft spacer is to make sure the shaft is properly set in the end of the transmission. basically a slip yoke extender.

ready lift states stock rims are good to go even with 35", so I'm glad to hear it was your new rims causing you issue, but only because that means that my stock rims will work not because I think it is funny or anything.

thanks for the feedback, I posted about this kit and nobody responded to my thread, so this was very welcomed for me!

good looking truck, I'm about to order mine today and I'm stuck between the dark grey and the light silver. I think its gonna be silver sky for the win because I like the red 4x4 on the trd off road on that truck....on the dark grey truck it is a light silver and doesn't contrast well imho.

here is your pic corrected.
Click to expand...
Thank for fixing my pic. Also thanks for the spacer info!!!! Good luck on order too. Share pics when you get it.
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dandailey
Wndpwr10 said:
Sorry can't get the pic to rotate. Doing this from iPad
Click to expand...
Yeah, easy to tell apple was involved,lol.
Truck looks great.
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StormTrooperRW said:
Get the body mount chop done to eliminate the rub and you should be good to go!
Click to expand...
Well I may be doing this. Have you done this? For some reason after installing my spacers 1.25 the rubbing was worse. It now rubs way before the body mount and hits the front bumper when turned in. Ugh. Pissed right now. I called ready lift yesterday before I over nighted the spacers to my house and they said it would fix the problem. Going to be chewing some [email protected]@ in the am.
So my suggestion to anyone that gets this kit don't do any less than a +20 offset. The +1s that I was told should work, key word should, is kicking my [email protected]@.
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StormTrooperRW
Wndpwr10 said:
Well I may be doing this. Have you done this? For some reason after installing my spacers 1.25 the rubbing was worse. It now rubs way before the body mount and hits the front bumper when turned in. Ugh. Pissed right now. I called ready lift yesterday before I over nighted the spacers to my house and they said it would fix the problem. Going to be chewing some [email protected]@ in the am.

So my suggestion to anyone that gets this kit don't do any less than a +20 offset. The +1s that I was told should work, key word should, is kicking my [email protected]@.
Click to expand...

If ready lift told you spacers would fix it then they are dumbasses. Think of it like this. If your tire is hitting the body mount at the current offset, then adding a spacer (negative offset) increases the swing radius of the edge of the tire so you will only hit the mount and everything else worse. Take the spacers off and get the body mount chop done. I stuffed 35's on +18mm Method Standards on a bilstein leveling kit. A higher offset (positive offset) will help tuck the tire in to the wheel well and reduce the swing radius. Our trucks actually have a lot of space inside the wheel wells aside from the body mount. Here's a pic of my 35's on my truck with absolutely no rub at any point. Land vehicle Vehicle Car Tire Automotive tire
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StormTrooperRW said:
If ready lift told you spacers would fix it then they are dumbasses. Think of it like this. If your tire is hitting the body mount at the current offset, then adding a spacer (negative offset) increases the swing radius of the edge of the tire so you will only hit the mount and everything else worse. Take the spacers off and get the body mount chop done. I stuffed 35's on +18mm Method Standards on a bilstein leveling kit. A higher offset (positive offset) will help tuck the tire in to the wheel well and reduce the swing radius. Our trucks actually have a lot of space inside the wheel wells aside from the body mount. Here's a pic of my 35's on my truck with absolutely no rub at any point. View attachment 515042
Click to expand...
Thank you, one question with the chop. Does welding a plate back in place just an appearance fulfillment, or is it to add structural value from chopping the mount back so much?
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StormTrooperRW
Wndpwr10 said:
Thank you, one question with the chop. Does welding a plate back in place just an appearance fulfillment, or is it to add structural value from chopping the mount back so much?
Click to expand...

Adding the plate back adds to the structural integrity of the mount. Socalsupertrucks.com sells the stitch plates specifically cut for our trucks. They are about $30 for both sides. You can take hose to a welding shop and they should be able to get everything done in about an hour. I highly recommend it.
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dudleyh
I know it's an old post but how is the lift still doing? CV's and alignment doing good? Just see if you'd give me a update before I buy one. Thanks
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