I'm new to the Trailblazer ownership group, since my wife and I bought an 05 Ext about a week ago. A guy I work with told me about this site and I have found some interesting stuff so far. I have been thinking about leveling it out and have been looking at a few different lifts. I have also noticed some say you have to use spacers and some don't. I was just wanting to get some input on maybe which lift and if anyone can give some input on why some say to use spacers and others (rough country) say you dont need them. Any help would be great, thanks.
lifting
- Thread starter deonlj2
- Start date
Check this out first:
OffRoad TB - View topic - The Complete Lifts and Suspension Accessories Thread
And the "will it fit" tire sticky in the Offroad forum here:
Off-Road
Then we need to discuss the confusion about the term "spacers." Some folks use it to mean the disks that you put in the suspension to gain height (under or over the rear coil spring) or (inside or on top of the front strut). And it can also mean disks with threaded studs that you use to move the wheels and tires away from the center of the vehicle.
On our suspension design, especially the steering knuckle, the upper ball joint mount is EXCEEDINGLY close to the edge of the tire. If you want larger tires, above a certain size, you will need wheel spacers to obtain more clearance.
If you just want more ground clearance or to level the front without lifting the rear, you need suspension spacers of some amount to get the front to sit higher.
All depends on your intentions - appearance, offroading (mild or aggressive) or whatever.
No matter what you do, make sure the maintenance is up to date, especially the 50K fluid change interval on the transfer case.
OffRoad TB - View topic - The Complete Lifts and Suspension Accessories Thread
And the "will it fit" tire sticky in the Offroad forum here:
Off-Road
Then we need to discuss the confusion about the term "spacers." Some folks use it to mean the disks that you put in the suspension to gain height (under or over the rear coil spring) or (inside or on top of the front strut). And it can also mean disks with threaded studs that you use to move the wheels and tires away from the center of the vehicle.
On our suspension design, especially the steering knuckle, the upper ball joint mount is EXCEEDINGLY close to the edge of the tire. If you want larger tires, above a certain size, you will need wheel spacers to obtain more clearance.
If you just want more ground clearance or to level the front without lifting the rear, you need suspension spacers of some amount to get the front to sit higher.
All depends on your intentions - appearance, offroading (mild or aggressive) or whatever.
No matter what you do, make sure the maintenance is up to date, especially the 50K fluid change interval on the transfer case.
barron03
Member
- Nov 20, 2011
- 960
the roadie said:
The spacers I was talking about was the wheel spacers. I am just wanting to more or less level it out and maybe go a little bigger on the tires but nothing real big. My wife is going to be driving it more than me.
OK, then the quick answer is that your stock tires are 29" diameter. Generally, but each tire style is slightly different than the "nominal" size molded into the sidewall, you need wheel spacers if the diameter goes over 30.5". There are many tire size calculators you can Google for that will tell you the outer diameter of tire sizes you're thinking about installing.
You can lift or level the suspension to get more ground clearance with stock tires and not need wheel spacers.
The two modifications are mostly independent of each other until you go to extremes as some of us do for aggressive offroading, and get to 33-35" tires.
Welcome!
You can lift or level the suspension to get more ground clearance with stock tires and not need wheel spacers.
The two modifications are mostly independent of each other until you go to extremes as some of us do for aggressive offroading, and get to 33-35" tires.
Welcome!
fadyasha
Member
- Dec 21, 2011
- 1,134
I think the guys have said enough already but still would wanna chime in 
!
It all depends on how high you wanna go and your budget. I went for a lift but due to my taste and this being my daily driver I went with the following:
* 2 inch lift in the front, 1.75 inch lift in the rear
* Running stock 17's with 265/65/17's (30.8 Diameter) --> That's the highest you can go without spacers as the guys already indicated
* No spacers
You can use Mark's lift but don't install the upper part of the front spacer and you'll TB will look something like this. If you wanna go higher with the full lift from Mark then I suggest you go with the Spacers and bigger tires (265/75/17's) look sweet on the complete lift :wootwoot:
!It all depends on how high you wanna go and your budget. I went for a lift but due to my taste and this being my daily driver I went with the following:
* 2 inch lift in the front, 1.75 inch lift in the rear
* Running stock 17's with 265/65/17's (30.8 Diameter) --> That's the highest you can go without spacers as the guys already indicated
* No spacers
You can use Mark's lift but don't install the upper part of the front spacer and you'll TB will look something like this. If you wanna go higher with the full lift from Mark then I suggest you go with the Spacers and bigger tires (265/75/17's) look sweet on the complete lift :wootwoot:
Short Bus
Member
- Dec 2, 2011
- 1,906
fadyasha said:I think the guys have said enough already but still would wanna chime in
It all depends on how high you wanna go and your budget. I went for a lift but due to my taste and this being my daily driver I went with the following:
* 2 inch lift in the front, 1.75 inch lift in the rear
* Running stock 17's with 265/65/17's (30.8 Diameter) --> That's the highest you can go without spacers as the guys already indicated
* No spacers
You can use Mark's lift but don't install the upper part of the front spacer and you'll TB will look something like this. If you wanna go higher with the full lift from Mark then I suggest you go with the Spacers and bigger tires (265/75/17's) look sweet on the complete lift :wootwoot:
My truck before spacers and tires. 265/65/17's in this pic
Thanks everyone for the info. Has anyone used or know someone who has a readylift style lift. I'm thinking of going that way since the strut doesn't have to be taken apart. I dont have a problem messing with the rear spring since it is static but dont really have a way of pulling apart the struts safely. I was just wanting to get some input and there feedback on it.
HARDTRAILZ
Moderator
- Nov 18, 2011
- 49,665
Me007gold said:
Please explain yourself. I think up to a certain point the readylift style is fine, but I will let you tell me how I am mistaken.
I tried a readylift for evaluation, and IIRC, Cardone aftermarket CV's bound up where OEMs did not. They may have designed them using a vehicle with OEM CV shafts. They are way over the 1/2" outside-the-strut spacer thickness that Markmc decided to limit his products at. I think Mark and the other folks who experimented with outside-the-strut washers have pretty much homed in on 5/8" to 3/4" as the largest safe spacer to put up there. Am I misremembering?
Thanks for the input everyone. I think I'm prolly going to go with the Lift Meister lift. Just one more question, if I go with the new style 3" lift will I have to do any mods to any other suspension parts (UCA, Axles).
HARDTRAILZ
Moderator
- Nov 18, 2011
- 49,665
Me007gold
Member
- Nov 20, 2011
- 1,106
fadyasha said:The old style lift 2.5" was made to fit the stock setup. Anything higher it's better to go for the UCA, better shocks, etc.. You can also do UCA on the 2.5" lift from what i've seen and read.
Don't forget to post the pix when you're done
I am running Marks 3" lift and all i upgraded was the shocks. Everything else is still fine.
I just order a Marks old style lift. I dont have a strut spring changer and not sure if my local auto parts store will be open when I have a chance to change it. Any suggestions on changing the springs on the struts.
HARDTRAILZ
Moderator
- Nov 18, 2011
- 49,665
deonlj2 said:
It cant be done without spring compressors. You can rent them at any parts store at any time and keep them for a while til you can do it.