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Duff lift and what else?


mnewman

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Getting ready to order the Duff Stage II 3" lift kit. What else do I need to order and replace while I'm in there? This is not a project I'm looking forward to so I'd like to do it once. Until I break something. Do I need the drop pitman arm with 3"? Do I need to need the pivot arm bushings? Do I need longer brake hoses?

Anyway my BII is the worst handling vehicle I've ever owned. It's floaty, darty and is generally unruly on the road. It's to the point I barely drive it. I've had it aligned and the local shop verified nothing is glaringly wrong. The truck currently has a lift in the rear and RC leveling spring in the front. So the rake is horrible and the worn out 31" tires rub the front fenders. I know it's not going to handle good but it's gotta be better than what it is now.

20210501_181731.jpg
 


ericbphoto

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I would recommend longer brake lines. And, while installing the lift, you will have the axle beams dismounted. So it would be a good time for axle beam pivot bushings if they are old. With 3" lift, you're getting into the range of needing a pitman arm with more drop. But I'm not sure if there's a good size available for 3" lift.
 

mnewman

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Any recommendation on material or manufacturer of the pivot bushings? I was assuming I'd be replacing them.

And holy crap. Longer lines from Duff are $120! Anyone have any other options? Stainless is nice but my truck will never see salt and will likely be running the stock brakes. Not sure stainless is warranted here.
 

ericbphoto

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I don't remember where I got my lines. Might have been Skyjacker. You're probably right on the edge between needing or not needing them. But it's a bummer to skip them and then get on a trail somewhere and have one rip free at full suspension droop. The problem with too long of a line is keeping the slack from getting caught up somewhere like in the springs.
 

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The STX High Rider package came with a drop pitman arm and it was only 1.5"... it looks identical to the drop pitman arm that comes with most of the RBV lift kits I've dealt with. I would say that you are probably better off using a drop pitman arm.

Pivot bushings - I would buy Moog or AC Delco or Delphi, judging by what's available on Rock Auto... stay away from Mevotech and Quick Steer, they do not fit worth a crap, and I would definitely not use a poly bushing there. Rubber is best.

I know you can get longer rubber brake lines. You may want to try what you have and let the suspension droop down. If you can get it drooped down all the way and still have slack in the brake lines, leave it alone.
 

mnewman

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Ok, I'll order the pitman arm with the kit and get some of the pivot bushings. Is there anything else I should be thinking about? I know i should check the wheel bearings. The shop said the ball joints looked good but I wondering if I should replace those as well. Like I said this thing drives terribly but I'm hoping it's all just because of bad geometry.

I'll wait on the lines. I need to replace them either way but I'll wait until the kit is on the truck before I seek out something other than stock.
 

ecgreen

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I needed longer lines for my stage 1 lift and the pitman arm. I bought stainless from either duff or broncograveyard, cant remember. If you ever flex that thing out, pop!

Personally, I think you should re-do evertything that is old in there. Sway bar bshings, U-joints, pivot bushings, seals, bearings, etc. If you only want to do it once, do it once. I re-did everything when I did mine and I am glad I did. Any wear item that is original is toast for sure. I dismanteled the axles, painted them and even redid all of those seals (alltough i was re-gearing too).

And your right, it will still drive like crap, BTW lmao. It will allways be a TTB axle in a B2 - your gonna feel every bump and them some! I get in my 2015 Tacoma and think...man my B2 sucks on road! Now offroad, that TTB is amazing!
 
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ecgreen

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OH yeah! You coil spring seats are gonna be toast too. Duff ones are nice.
 

ecgreen

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Clean lookin truck btw! Gonna be nice
 

Uncle Gump

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ericbphoto

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Snorkel?

aa70e36935c1fdee02045cc3a7f3f685.jpg
 

mnewman

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I didn't even think about seals in the front diff. I'm still hung up on grinding out the coil buckets. This will be the biggest modification I've attempted myself. Should be a good time.

As far as the handling... I'll be happy if it'll go straight down the road without trying to dart off in either direction at the slightest dips.
 

mnewman

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Not sure I'm going extreme enough for a dorkel haha. I've been pinching pennies all summer to justify spending that much but I think it will be worth it in the long run. Pennies all gone now. Just placed the order. Annd the price of the kit went up by $200 since last month. Damn it.
 

ericbphoto

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In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
All my buddies call it a "Dorkel" lmfao:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
Not a dorkel when you need it.

The idiot who hydrolocks and stalls half way across the stream crossing is the real dorkel.
 

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