Hi All, I’m new to the forum and have read multiple discussions on lifting our mini trucks and some against lifting them. However, there aren’t anything conclusive about the cons of lifting our trucks! Also, I’ve seen both arguments for lifting our trucks 2” or more. But, are there any real mechanical problems associated with lifting these trucks? Thanks in advance for your input!
Lifting can get the angles too tight on the CV joints of the half shafts, particularly the side with the short shaft, (typically the left side). And it can also get the angles too tight on the u-joints on rear drive shaft. Both can be worked around at the cost of a bit of clearance, which may mean you have lifted the truck, and added taller tires to get more clearance, and then have to lower the front cross member/differential mount, and/or the rear of the transmission to get the angles to the joints right. But, typically you don’t have to lower as much as you lifted. So, you do come out ahead. Say the stock tire is 18-inches in diameter, and you add a lift which lets you run a 23-inch diameter tire. The difference is 5-inches, so you gained 2.5 inches of clearance. If you have to add spacers between the cross member/differential mount 1-inch tall to get the half shaft angles right, you still gained 1.5-inches. Welcome aboard, and please go into your profile, and edit your signature, to tell us what your rig is, and any mods. That makes it lots easier to help you trouble shoot the inevitable problems.
Thanks for the in-depth explanation. I’ve seen a couple of lift kits out there that are 2” and 3.” They are only front shocks extenders and rear shackle extensions. I have not seen any lift kits for our trucks that comes with the full setup, containing differential drop, additional rear leaf, adjustable coil-overs for the front that can lifer the vehicle in a better way. Thus, avoiding the issues of tight angles and pressure on the cv joints. Would I need to fabricate parts or is there a US supplier that I can buy all the needed parts for a proper lift? Thanks.
I am not aware of anyone making a full kit. There was a guy in Michigan, who was selling lift kits which included an extra rear leaf to re-arc the rear springs, and the standard spacers for the front struts. But no one who had anything to drop the engine or front differential support to keep the angles from getting too steep. If I was going to space mine, I probably use UHMW plastic discs and longer higher grade bolts. Mostly because I have a ready supply of the UHMW discs. A place i used to work generates about fifty a year, and has no use for them. So I get them to make sliders for furniture or spacers. Hard enough not to ge squashed, soft enough to work with common woodworking tools.
That’s interesting. UHMW discs are rigid enough to support the weight of our little trucks. It’s not like these trucks can go off roaring and such, that the discs would get fried. Maybe you could fashion it into a true auto part for our trucks and market it? By the way, do you know if any of the mini truck model parts are interchangeable? I’ve heard chatter that some parts may work with other trucks, as well as, some of the Honda Civic parts will work on the ACTY.
Depending on the year, you might be able to interchange alternators, Denso pretty much makes all the alternators, and they only have a couple in the right size range. Some of the Suzuki, Honda and Subaru parts can interchange with the same years of Kei cars. I half way keep an eye out for Daihatsu Charade, just to see what might interchange. But, they are probably at least as rare and hard to get parts for as the Hijets.
That’s what I thought. I guess that it will be a trial and error case for me with this truck until I get it modded to where I want it. Thanks a million for all your feedback.
hi from BC,. I suggest you read my recent post about my t-case output bearing failure: https://minitrucktalk.com/threads/possible-drive-shaft-angle-misalignment.22290/#post-129395 The full kit exists for Suzuki Carry's. B/c I'm using one (even though it's giving me slight trouble) I don't know what you are driving. My advice, only lift the minimum you need to clear x" tire size. The more you do, the more stuff you have to pay attention to.
Thanks for the heads up. That’s my biggest fear of lifting my truck. I was told by a mechanic that lifting my truck and any other truck 2” is not going to harm the truck mechanically. He said that 2” lift is mere leveling of the truck. I have some 16” wheels and tires that I got for the truck and lifting it no more than 2” will work perfectly for me. I have no intentions of going crazy wild with modifications to the truck at all. I certainly do understand what you have experienced and are saying about lifting the trucks though. I do appreciate you letting me know what you have experienced.
