Leveled Avalanche Lightning (Eibach Stage 1 & 35" Wild Peaks)

[digitaldad]

Finally, the wheels and tires arrived and were installed today.

Build Info

Eibach Stage 1 Lift/Level: 2.9" front/0.3" rear
SPC: Adjustable Upper Control Arms
Lower Control Arm: Camber/Caster Kit

Wheels:
G-FX TR33
18x9
+20 offset

Tires:
Falken Wild Peak A/T4W 35x11.50r18

Overall impressions, ride is great but man, gonna take me a minute to get used to slower off-the-line speed. I haven't floored it yet but my (known feeling of) casual acceleration that I'm used to has obviously changed. EDIT: The tires were underinflated, once raising, feels much better.

We used to have a 2005 F-150 with 6" fabtech lift, and it's great to feel that lifted big truck feeling again.

As others have shared with very similar setup (mainly offset and wheel/tire width), I have no issues with crash bars, nor at my UCA, which I was pretty worried about. However, the front tires do clip the bottom rubber valance at full turn so I'm deciding on whether I will trim or just remove it.

Won't worry about range until I take my next road trip (fretting the next winter one ).


Before:

After:

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[derelict]

Looks sweet... do you have a PN for the UCAs?

 

[abcut973]

Very nice... ??

 

[digitaldad]

Looks sweet... do you have a PN for the UCAs?

Yes sir...don't pay attention to their MSRP

https://www.spcalignment.com/product/25685

 

[K6CCC]

Damn, they are proud of those!
But as you said, don't pay attention to the MSRP...

 

[Quantum]

Cool - so you're riding about 3" higher?

 

[digitaldad]

Cool - so you're riding about 3" higher?

That is almost the front level alone...add going from 33" stock tires to 35", I'm pretty sure north of 4" in the front (but I didn't measure). My step-stool is needed for drying the hood in multiple areas I could reach before (6'2" here).

 

[Kohlblooded]

Good looking truck!

 

[fhteagle]

Nice write-up and a definite look improvement.

Any affect on efficiency?

What's your "final" opinion on the change in ride, launch, etc after living with it a bit more?

 

[digitaldad]

What's your "final" opinion on the change in ride, launch, etc after living with it a bit more?

Haven't driven far yet, just in town...and haven't really looked. I should have reset trip 2 meter.

As I edited my original post: the more sluggish acceleration at takeoff was due to lower tire PSI. They went off my sticker (36) and I bumped it to 42. Nice and fast takeoff, just a tad slower than stock but very strong.

Road ruts are felt more than stock but not bad; not as bad as my former Model Y (which I see you have as well).

Kohlblooded had stated (in his thread) that he notices more torque steer when flooring it, I see the same and may look at a beefier sway bar later.

1-pedal regen is understandably working harder but I adjusted quickly to the change.

I wouldnt hesitate a strong recommend for this suspension setup, then your desired wheel/tire combo.

 

[AZT9]

Finally, the wheels and tires arrived and were installed today.

Build Info

Eibach Stage 1 Lift/Level: 2.9" front/0.3" rear
SPC: Adjustable Upper Control Arms
Lower Control Arm: Camber/Caster Kit

Wheels:
G-FX TR33
18x9
+20 offset

Tires:
Falken Wild Peak A/T4W 35x11.50r18

Overall impressions, ride is great but man, gonna take me a minute to get used to slower off-the-line speed. I haven't floored it yet but my (known feeling of) casual acceleration that I'm used to has obviously changed. EDIT: The tires were underinflated, once raising, feels much better.

We used to have a 2005 F-150 with 6" fabtech lift, and it's great to feel that lifted big truck feeling again.

As others have shared with very similar setup (mainly offset and wheel/tire width), I have no issues with crash bars, nor at my UCA, which I was pretty worried about. However, the front tires do clip the bottom rubber valance at full turn so I'm deciding on whether I will trim or just remove it.

Won't worry about range until I take my next road trip (fretting the next winter one ).


Before:

After:

Looks great! I think it’s time
To launch the front coil spacer and OEM coilovers. Looking into the Eibach or bilstin. Glad
To hear it’s working out! With the lift in the rear. Did you notice it correct the camber issue our trucks suffer from with the IRS suspension? Love my zero offset Methods but they seem to really exaggerate the camber issue. I’m having to rotate the tires ALOT!


Cheers??

 

[digitaldad]

Did you notice it correct the camber issue our trucks suffer from with the IRS suspension? Love my zero offset Methods but they seem to really exaggerate the camber issue. I’m having to rotate the tires ALOT!

Cheers??

Yeah, I read up on that before I did mine where others say the rear lift helps correct (at least more favorably) the rear camber, since there is no adjustment. I saw improvement but only did the 0.3" rear setting, I bet the 0.7 may improve slightly more.

 

[sunrise089]

Good looking truck @digitaldad. I plan to use this same lift, but with Tremor takeoff wheels, so narrower wheel with same size tires.

Can you clarify if you purchased one control arm product or two? I see a link to one but wasn’t sure if I was interpreting correctly. I also see some trucks with this lift, or at least the same front lift, don’t change the control arms. Did you and/or your shop feel the change was necessary. Thank you!

 

[digitaldad]

Can you clarify if you purchased one control arm product or two? I see a link to one but wasn’t sure if I was interpreting correctly. I also see some trucks with this lift, or at least the same front lift, don’t change the control arms. Did you and/or your shop feel the change was necessary. Thank you!

In regards to the UCAs, I purchased the SPC pair in the link I provided above. Some folks do not change them when lifting but is recommended for the best alignment and longetivity of components.

My shop also installed these LCA (lower control arm) cam nut/brackets to get the best possible alignment.

https://www.spcalignment.com/index.php/product/86250

Comparably, you can look at my buddy's thread where he installed only the Eibach shocks but kept factory springs and UCA's. Based on these savings (compared to the Stage 1 kit), you could delay/offset that for now and then if needed later, just pay for the UCA parts/labor.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/i-converted-my-lightning-from-awd-to-a-4x4.29495/

 

[sunrise089]

Thank you for the response and the link to the other thread. I concur the setup @HI Zeus went with is an appealing choice. I’d probably not keep the OEM wheels since while I like the look the wheel spacers and cutting make me nervous. I also see that, for instance, Rough Country has a full spacer kit which includes upper control arms for about half of the mode you went with. I don’t mind replacing the control arms on principle, it’s just a taller order if the new arms cost more than the entire lift kit

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