by The Roadie » Sun Oct 25, 2009 8:54 pm
I'm pretty sure I posted the pure lift height in the initial thread in the OS, but IIRC it's like 1.5". I have BDS spacers on top for another 2" and the Airlift 1000 bags that (depending on load I'm carrying) add another 1-2".
Of COURSE the ride is rougher. The spring rate is higher. Nobody has measured the exact spring rate, and the Z71 springs are progressive where the normal trailvoys are linear, so it's a very, very difficult comparison to make. As to whether it's 10% or 20% or 30% "rougher" or "harsher" or "annoying" or "springier" is not a description I'm prepared to make. I DO KNOW that if you don't use upgraded shocks like the BDS I'm using that were meant for a Suburban that you will be severely underdamped, and that can be as annoying and dangerous as running the wrong springs.
I only hate the question because it's irrelevant to me at least. The ride WILL BE what the ride WILL BE. We need the ground clearance. Desperately. Springs are a great cheap way to get it without trading away a lot of your travel. Spacers steal travel. So do anti-sway bars, under cross-loaded conditions.
Just buy them, put 'em in, and become a test pilot like we ALL were 4 years ago.
Teebes' issue that prompted him to try this kit on some OEM shocks was that his front springs, installed with his BDS kit, had sagged. My fronts sagged a good 3" (!!!) after a few years of abuse. I swapped my springs for some stiffer EXT ones and gained it all back! He didn't have the same amount of time to spare getting ready for a trip, so I passed him this set of Readylifts to try. But the Readylift concept re-uses the OEM upper rubber mount, a known weak spot for hard use. So for the harshest offroad use, the Rough Country and BDS kits are so far the ones of choice, since they replace the upper mount concept with poly bushings in compression, not rubber in shear.
If you're looking for the ultimate in height and adjustability and the shocks to handle heavier bumpers/winches - hold out for the coming Icon coilovers.