We think it's man's nature to toil away on, tinker with, and fix everything we touch-even when things don't need fixin'! Our vehicles are no exception. The first thing we do when we get a truck in our clutches is tear it apart, then build it back up again. So to help you out in your quest to better your new, vertically challenged, fullsize trucks, we gathered up all the top suspension manufacturers. If you are building your truck for real-world use, then these manufacturers should have a setup for you.
This ARB suspension system is a complete performance lift kit for the '07-and-up 4WD Toyota Tundra. It's designed to lift the vehicle 2.5 inches front and rear with Old Man Emu components. Multiple spring rates are available for the base-model light-duty trucks to the Highline models with the 5.7L V-8, fitted with or without a Bull Bar and winch. Improved ride quality, a reduction in brake dive, and better trailer and weight control are attained by using new full leaf springs, uprated coils, and OME struts and shocks valved specifically for this vehicle. ARB USA, 888.427.2872, www.arbusa.com
This coil-spring suspension system and solid-axle swap is for the '99-'07 Chevy K2500 and will allow a Ford Dana 44, Dana 50, or Dana 60 axle (kingpin or ball-joint style) swap. It provides 6.5 inches of lift front and 3.5 rear. The kit comes with all the custom parts necessary to do the conversion such as upper and lower coil-spring mounts, progressive-rated performance coil springs, dual shock mounts, four nitrogen shocks, radius arms, an adjustable track bar with bushings and a rod end, an upper track-bar mount and crossmember combination, a lower track-bar mount for the axle, and custom weld-on mounts. Rear lift components such as shocks, U-bolts, and blocks are also provided. CAGE Offroad Products, 866.587.2243, www.cageoffroad.com
The new 8-inch lift system for the Super Duty is centered around four massive control arms that replace the stock radius arms with a four-link suspension design. The four-link offers improved on- and off-road control versus a standard radius arm. These arms are attached to new heavy-duty mounts at the frame. The BDS mounting brackets replace the OE mounts and bolt directly to the frame to increase the rigidity and control of the suspension. The greaseable control-arm ends use giant 2.5-inch od urethane bushings that are both internally and externally fluted to ensure long-term performance, reduced noise, and increased vibration damping. A forged pitman arm is used to drop the drag-link angle, and a reinforced track-bar relocation bracket is used to match the angles. This system also includes new front and rear braided, Kevlar-lined, stainless steel brake lines; sway-bar drop brackets; extended bumpstops; a steering stabilizer; and rear exhaust relocation brackets for the diesel models. BDS Suspension, 517.279.2135, www.bds-suspension.com
The Performance 2.0 suspension system is built to offer excellent on- and off-highway performance. The system's multirate coil rates give a lighter-than-stock rate on the street, but a higher rate built in for off-road travel. The proprietary valving profile is set up for freeway driving with room for additional tuning for light to moderate off-road performance. This custom valve profile and every other aspect of the components have been tuned specifically for the 2500 and 3500 Dodge Ram CTD. The balanced ride is designed to prevent high-speed bucking on freeway expansion joints or while cornering. The Performance 2.0 system includes Bilstein 2-inch 7100 remote-reservoir shocks, a five-leaf progressive Add-A-Pack, multirate coil springs, an adjustable track bar, stainless sway-bar end links with F.K. bearings, a machined billet clevis with hardware, zinc-plated U-bolts, powdercoated reservoir mounts, and limit straps. Carli Suspension, 714.532.2798, www.thecarlisuspension.com
The CST Performance Suspension systems for GM trucks drop the factory upper and lower control arm, steering, and differential components a true 6 or 9 inches. This system's design maintains the factory steering and CV geometry so that the original track width is retained. The 6-inch HD lift system provides durability and factorylike ride through with a unique one-piece subframe design with strut-bar supports. Supported upper control-arm drop mounts and a steering drop-down assembly, which includes a steering stabilizer and Heim-jointed support linkages, ensure idler and pitman-arm stability. CST Performance Suspension, 951.571.0212, www.cstsuspension.com