Can I get just a couple inches of lift without a major installation?

nat.estrada

Jul 26, 2023

I have a Black Diamond. I will start off by admitting I don't know shit about suspension, lifts, etc. Before the Bronco, I drove a stock F150 for a long time.

I've been out and about on some muddy/slightly hilly/slighty rocky trails in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Nothing that gave the stock Black Diamond any issues. I am planning a spring trip to Big Bend National Park for the spring. Although the ranger guidebook says 8" of clearance is needed for the primitive roads, I had a friend say their truck with 9.5" of clearance scraped bottom a couple of times on the rockiest trails.

I visited a couple of shops in my area to ask about getting a couple of inches of lift added. I like the stock wheels (they were part of the reason I chose Black Diamond) and I am not looking for a major overhaul. These guys saw me coming...one said it is impossible to do any lifting without new wheels and tires, which of course, he could provide. The second one said he could do it, but I would not be happy with it, it would cause the ride to feel rough, it may interfere with the warranty, etc. But he could show me what he recommended.

Is what I am wanting possible? Or am I just really that dumb?

Laura

Last edited by a moderator: Jul 26, 2023

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Jul 26, 2023

Short answer is "yes". There are some great forums on this site that explain everything from body lifts and perch collars to full coilover replacements. Dive in and do some searching. You should find the exact advice you need.

7/14/20 Res - 2/1/22 VIN - 3/1 In Prod - 3/9 Built - 3/15 at dealer - 3/17 Deliverd
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Chief Ron

Jul 26, 2023

73chesney
Short answer is "yes". There are some great forums on this site that explain everything from body lifts and perch collars to full coilover replacements. Dive in and do some searching. You should find the exact advice you need.

Thank you! I searched, but really had no idea what terms to use. I’m not very smart.

Jul 26, 2023

nat.estrada
Thank you! I searched, but really had no idea what terms to use. I’m not very smart.

I have a 2022 BD non sasquatch. i went with the Ford Bilstein 2" coil overs. It's a Ford product that is available on the Ford performance parts website. Because it is a Ford product it does not affect the warranties at all. My broncowski rides and handles better than ever. i did put 34" Toyos on without any modifications at all.
You won't be sorry!!!

nat.estrada, Chief Ron

Jul 26, 2023

Yes!!

It ultimately depends on what you're going for.

The two cheap/simple options:

Spacer Lift - Very cheap, very easy to install yourself. But not a great option if you actually need it to be functional off-road. This is more of a "I want it to look cool" option, in my opinion. They are sufficient for light off-roading, but once you get into the heavier stuff it gets iffy and you start having to worry about suspension geometry, broke tie rods, etc.
Perch Collar - Also cheap, and a much better option if you need off-road capability out of your suspension. But there are some downsides. Perch collars "pre-load" the suspension, so your ride quality on the street will suffer a bit. They are also rather difficult to install yourself if you are new to wrenching. If I were to guess based on your description, the second shop you talked to had a perch collar lift in mind.

Both of those two cheaper options can be done for under $1000, especially if you install them yourself.

As the first shop you visited mentioned... you can also install a larger tire. But unfortunately the stock Black Diamond wheels are narrow, which really limits the tire selection. It is possible to install 35s on the stock Black Diamond wheel, but it'll be an odd size that is hard to find and there won't be very many options available to you.

After that you start digging into the much better, but more costly options. If you check out this post I wrote (post #3 on that thread), I go into a lot of detail. But to cut to the chase... for the vast majority of people, coilovers are the answer. Those start around the $1200 mark and move up to $7500+ depending on the quality/purpose/etc. There are many MANY options when it comes to coilovers, Bronco Nation sells a few options here, and there are these from Fox, these from Ford Performance, etc.

Regardless of what lift you choose... the important thing to note is once you lift above 2" you're also looking at replacing control arms, which will means the cost of the lift escalates quickly after you get above the 2 inch mark.

2022 4dr Badlands, 2.3L Manual, Mid pkg
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Laura, Roughstock11

Jul 26, 2023

I have a set of perch collars I’ll let go of and they’re brand new. I ended up doing eibach 2.0 and couldn’t be happier. Rides like a caddy and does awesome on crawling. Don’t forget you will need an alignment after suspension work.

I’ve Also heard good reviews of the 4wp branded shocks.

Jul 26, 2023

BN1
I have a 2022 BD non sasquatch. i went with the Ford Bilstein 2" coil overs. It's a Ford product that is available on the Ford performance parts website. Because it is a Ford product it does not affect the warranties at all. My broncowski rides and handles better than ever. i did put 34" Toyos on without any modifications at all.
You won't be sorry!!!

You guys are the best! Thank you!

BN1

Jul 27, 2023

I found some stock Sasquatch take offs online for a couple hundred bucks, including the upper control arms that I'll keep as spares. Should give me a couple extra inches of clearance, easy to install, and shouldn't cause any warranty issues. Worth looking for a set.

23 Bronco 2D, 12 Raptor,17 F350,66 Mustang GT, 07 Mustang GT, 77 Scout, 26 t-roadster

Chief Ron

Jul 27, 2023

BN1
I have a 2022 BD non sasquatch. i went with the Ford Bilstein 2" coil overs. It's a Ford product that is available on the Ford performance parts website. Because it is a Ford product it does not affect the warranties at all. My broncowski rides and handles better than ever. i did put 34" Toyos on without any modifications at all.
You won't be sorry!!!

I’d like to add that you are very smart for knowing what you don’t know and seeking advice!

Chief Ron, Laura

Jul 28, 2023

Everything you need to know about lifting

nat.estrada, McGrits

Sep 19, 2023

#10

By Black Diamond has the stock wheels wearing 285/75R17 KO2s which are 34” tires, I removed the intrusion bars and added 2” Superlift spacer lift. Lift not required to fit the bigger tires.

Chief Ron

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