Probably asked a billion times

AZ-Z71 · May 17, 2004

Ok I know this is going to open the box and I'm sure everyone has their favorite.

Here are my top two choices. RCD or FABTECH, 6" lift. (Already have the 3" body lift installed)

I have heard of a lot of good things about both but also heard a little about the quality of FEBTECH which leads me to wonder.

Just got done calling my local shop who sells RCD, Fabtech, trail master, rancho and I think he told me superlift. They recommend out of all the kits the Fabtech or the RCD. Apparently neither will require the extended front drive shaft for the auto trac 4 wheel drive. I guess from what he told me that both kits come with the shocks and steel braided brake lines come in the kits but not necessary to use them. (Sounds odd to me but if they come with the kit then I want them installed - which I'm sure is an extra.)

Currently the Fabtech is about $350 cheaper (out the door price) than the RCD so the shop is suggesting going with the Fabtech lift because the say both lifts are pretty much equal. They are also saying that I would probably be able to get 36" or 37" under there with the 3" body and the 6" suspension lift. (So I guess that will give me approximately a 12" seat height over stock)

If the RCD is truley a better route I wouldn't mind spending the extra $350 to get it.

Here is what I'll be using it for, obviously not the gas mileage. It is my daily driver and on the weekends I like to go off road. Off road for me is everything from wash board roads to some deep mud rutted roads to small rock/wash boulder climbing. Nothing too extreme and I'll be the first to admit that the lift will be primirarly for show. (Don't want to go super cheap on the lift because I want it there for when I need it)

Also if going with the 36" tires, what am I going to need to modify in the rear, I forgot to ask that question. Currently I have the 3.73 gears and 285's. They told me I should go to a 10" wide rim and I could use a 4.5" offset.

Ok so what do you all suggest between the two kits RCD and Fabtech and are there any pointers or questions I need to ask prior to installation.

GONZO · May 18, 2004

i can't help with the lifts, but if you go to that large of a tire you will want to re gear too... probaly about a 4.56 gear would be needed. i have my 35x12.5's mounted on a 10" wide rim and they look good. it wil be the width of the tire that you get that will determine what rim you need.

juicy · May 20, 2004

got a 99 silverado lifted

check out my sig

i got a fabtech 6 with a 3in performace lift..

if your gonna get 36's your definately going to need to regear...

i have 4.56's on mine..

if you have any more questions just ask

AZ-Z71 · May 20, 2004

Ah Juicy,

That is the look I'm going for. I haven't seen on with the 3" body and the 6" lift. That thing looks sweet. Now I'm excited about it. Mine should look like that except in black.

Ok here are two questions,

What size tires are you running?

How do you like the dual hoop setup?

juicy · May 20, 2004

Ah Juicy,

That is the look I'm going for. I haven't seen on with the 3" body and the 6" lift. That thing looks sweet. Now I'm excited about it. Mine should look like that except in black.

Ok here are two questions,

What size tires are you running?

How do you like the dual hoop setup?

i love the dual shock hoop im chaging the rear shocks tho.. going with rs9000x's self adjusting

35 in parnelli jones tires

<3 my truck

anymore questions feel free to shoot them my way

AZ-Z71 · May 21, 2004

Currently that is what I have on my truck for shocks. I bought them only a couple of months back but now I'll need to take them off because they will not work with the new lift. Oh well, I'll just e-bay them or something. Probably have about 10,000 miles on them, maybe less. They seem to work well but not sure if I'm totally impressed with them.

On your dual hoop, does it make the front end really stiff? Currently I get a lot of virbarion and bounce in the front end at highway speeds. It was a lot worse before I change the factory shocks out (around 90,000 on them, yeah a little worn).

Getting my lift installed on Wednesday of next week, went with the 6" fabtech in the black color, 315/75r/16 BFG's All Terrains TA KO (I love those tires, have them on my truck now in a smaller size) on Axis Sport Regulators. I didn't order the dual hoops yet, was sure if I should get them, and didn't order the front stabilizer but definately thinking about it. Probably will not order the traction bars either.

What gears are you running? Also what did you do to adjust the computer for the larger tires? Hand held programmer, superchips gizzmo...

juicy · May 23, 2004

i dont think the front end is still at all... my rear is stiff... thats why the change for the 9000x's

im running 4.56 gears..

tuned it all up with a hypertech programmer III

but if i could afford it i would get a lydon custom tune.. instead of the HTPIII

if you got any more questions lemme know

AZ-Z71 · May 28, 2004

6" Lift has been installed and all I can say is, wow. This thing looks great. Personally I think it is the perfect height now for me. Should have come this high from the factory for being a 4x4.

Anyway, yes I think it will definately need to be regeared for the 4.56's. The ride is a hell of a lot better and the turning radius seemed to have improved. (go figure)

juicy · June 3, 2004

6" Lift has been installed and all I can say is, wow. This thing looks great. Personally I think it is the perfect height now for me. Should have come this high from the factory for being a 4x4.

Anyway, yes I think it will definately need to be regeared for the 4.56's. The ride is a hell of a lot better and the turning radius seemed to have improved. (go figure)

this thread is useless without pics

AZ-Z71 · June 3, 2004

I agree!!!!

Where can I put some up? Is there a free site? I have a couple I took the day I brought it home.

Last night I went ahead and put on the Fabtech front stabilizer. The instructions were a lacking on how to put the metal mount on the centerlink bar, so I put it on on way only to find out that in that position the piston seemed to far extended, then turning the other way seemed to stop to short. So I had to take it off and reverse the bracket, then make some adjustments because the bracket bolts were hitting the shock. Got it worked out after about an hour and a half. Still not sure if that bracket is going the correct direction, but it works.

AZ-Z71 · June 3, 2004

My Truck

Ok lets try this, the only way I guess is through a link since I don't have a web site.

P.S. the truck is dirty, well cleaner than most days. Once I get the nerf this weekend I'll take some more pictures.

BDZ71 · June 4, 2004

Personally I like RCD a little better of the 2.

But Im a "full drop" kit person so I like Procomp, CST, Superlift etc. more then the spindle lifts but I guess that is just IMO

AZ-Z71 · June 4, 2004

RCD and Fabtech are very similar. I saw them side by side on the wall. Only real difference is that Fabtech puts an arch bend in the front cross member and RCD doesn't. Another dealer told me that Fabtech and RCD are pretty much built in the same industrial park like around 3 blocks apart in California. There was a technical write up about the two companies in some magazine.

On four wheel drives, NBS, most of the kits are a drop down knockle to retain the factory spec on the front drive shafts.

Anyway, everyone has their own likes/dislikes.

juicy · June 5, 2004

i chose the fabtech because it allowed me to use the factory A arms

all the rest of the kits are cheezey a arms

the stock a arms are beefy and less likely to taco like the ones in other kits

its just like hollow tubing with other kits

juicy · June 5, 2004

I agree!!!!

Where can I put some up? Is there a free site? I have a couple I took the day I brought it home.

Last night I went ahead and put on the Fabtech front stabilizer. The instructions were a lacking on how to put the metal mount on the centerlink bar, so I put it on on way only to find out that in that position the piston seemed to far extended, then turning the other way seemed to stop to short. So I had to take it off and reverse the bracket, then make some adjustments because the bracket bolts were hitting the shock. Got it worked out after about an hour and a half. Still not sure if that bracket is going the correct direction, but it works.

i would take it to the nearst off road shop to get it checked out, dont want to dirve around with something that may or not be installed right, i would do it for piece of mind.

on a lighter note, i installed some bilstein 5150's on the rear, wow what a difference on the ride