Full Throttle Suspension (FTS) Lift Kit?

[sbuko213]

Looks mean man!

 

[Maxtrac Suspension]

After months of research I finally decided to pull the trigger on the FTS 8" suspension with 3" body lift and Bilstein shocks (front & rear). I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I'll be creating my build thread pretty soon.

2014 Ram 1500 Sport 4x4. 3.92 gears

8" FTS Suspension
PA 3" BL
Bilstein set @ 1.4"
37x13.50R22 Toyo MT
22x14 Fuel Cleaver Wheels
Bushwacker painted fender flares

Sheengon, your truck is sick man I love the setup. Very nice! I do have a question though... Is that truly a 12.5" lift on a 1500 4wd?

 

[maxh]

Very nice man. I just ordered my new truck last week and will be doing something similar. Everyone has said go Zone plus Bilsteins at 2.1 or 2.8. I was looking for some info on this FTS. Do you have any suspension pics? Looks like its only been done a few days but can you comment about everyone saying the FTS lifts just break?

Looks wicked!

 

[brandonjansen]

Also interested in seeing the fender measurements to see exactly how high it's sitting. Looks fairly close to my 3500 with a 9" lift on 37's but the measurements will tell for sure.

 

[maxh]

This is how she currently looks!

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8" FTS and body lift is installed in this photo?

 

[Sheengon]

Sheengon, your truck is sick man I love the setup. Very nice! I do have a question though... Is that truly a 12.5" lift on a 1500 4wd?

The FTS 8" suspension is not truly 8" but it's a true 6" lift. The rest of the lift comes from the spacer (preload) that comes in the kit assuming you want to use the factory shocks. Never had it installed since I got the Bilstein shocks so I don't know what the actual height would be. My initial setup had the Bilstein set @ 0.7" (in pictures). Right now they are set @ 2.1". With my current setup, you're looking at 11" lift. Here are my measurements.

Stock (32" tires)
Front: 36"
Rear : 39"

Lifted (36" tires, Bilstein @ 2.1", 3" BL). Note 37" Toyo MT measured 36"
Front: 49"
Rear" 50"

 

[Sheengon]

Very nice man. I just ordered my new truck last week and will be doing something similar. Everyone has said go Zone plus Bilsteins at 2.1 or 2.8. I was looking for some info on this FTS. Do you have any suspension pics? Looks like its only been done a few days but can you comment about everyone saying the FTS lifts just break?

Looks wicked!

From what I've read, FTS inherited their bad reputation when they bought off the Whiplash Suspension brand. Those suspensions had so many issues (breaking) that they decided to start from scratch and change the name to Full Throttle Suspension. Lots of guys are running FTS in the GM world with no issues whatsoever. It's a pretty solid and legit suspension. I've had it for 4 months now with no issues. The ones saying that they break don't know what they're talking about or don't have one. FTS offers lifetime warranty on their parts. I even got it in writing before I pulled the trigger on this kit.

 

[Sheengon]

8" FTS and body lift is installed in this photo?

Yes. Both installed in photos. Bilstein were set @ 0.7" there. Right now they are set at 2.1"

 

[Chillz3201]

I just ordered the FTS 8" for my 2014 1500. Are you saying you don't get 8" of actual lift out of the kit? I decided to go with the FTS lift instead of a 6" and 3" body. If Im only getting a 6" lift I will send it back..... Your truck looks bad ass by the way.....

 

[brandonjansen]

I just ordered the FTS 8" for my 2014 1500. Are you saying you don't get 8" of actual lift out of the kit? I decided to go with the FTS lift instead of a 6" and 3" body. If Im only getting a 6" lift I will send it back..... Your truck looks bad ass by the way.....

Only using the strut spacer provides 6" of lift. The additional 2" comes from the preload spacer that the OP did not install as he used Bilsteins. So yes, it is an 8" lift if you install all components. However I don't expect it to get a full 2" of lift out of a preload spacer. I'd bet it's closer to 7.5" of lift total.
The best option of course would be to ditch the preload spacer and install Bilsteins exactly as the OP did.

 

[brandonjansen]

Lifted (36" tires, Bilstein @ 2.1", 3" BL). Note 37" Toyo MT measured 36"
Front: 49"
Rear" 50"

Nice. Sits very close to my 2012 3500 with an 8" lift and 37's. I'm right at 50" all around.

 

[Chillz3201]

Only using the strut spacer provides 6" of lift. The additional 2" comes from the preload spacer that the OP did not install as he used Bilsteins. So yes, it is an 8" lift if you install all components. However I don't expect it to get a full 2" of lift out of a preload spacer. I'd bet it's closer to 7.5" of lift total.
The best option of course would be to ditch the preload spacer and install Bilsteins exactly as the OP did.

Thanks for the input. I am new to the 1500, my last rig was a 2004 2500 w/ a 6" lift and 35"s. Im hoping to get to about the same ride height with the new truck. Hopefully tge FTS gets me there. Eventually I will upgrade to the Bilstiens but have to recover from the sting of getting the lift tires and wheels first....

 

[Sheengon]

Only using the strut spacer provides 6" of lift. The additional 2" comes from the preload spacer that the OP did not install as he used Bilsteins. So yes, it is an 8" lift if you install all components. However I don't expect it to get a full 2" of lift out of a preload spacer. I'd bet it's closer to 7.5" of lift total.
The best option of course would be to ditch the preload spacer and install Bilsteins exactly as the OP did.

7.5" was my guess as well if using the preload spacer. With the Bilsteins set at 2.1" I'm exactly at 8". I would have liked for the Bilsteins to be set at 2.8" but the shop I took it to refused to max them out. I'm planning on going back to the shop that installed the lift kit and have them set it at 2.8" with Zone UCAs. I'm thinking that it can be done but I can't tell if my front end can handle the extra 0.7". I'll post some pics as soon as I get a chance and maybe someone can chime in and give me some recommendations.

 

[brandonjansen]

Thanks for the input. I am new to the 1500, my last rig was a 2004 2500 w/ a 6" lift and 35"s. Im hoping to get to about the same ride height with the new truck. Hopefully tge FTS gets me there. Eventually I will upgrade to the Bilstiens but have to recover from the sting of getting the lift tires and wheels first....

Honestly, I'd be getting the Bilsteins and throwing them on with the lift as it will save you money on the long run. Since the truck is already apart and the struts are out it takes very little time to swap over the OEM hardware to the Bilsteins. If you add them after the fact you'll be paying for the entire disassembly and reassembly of the front end again. If you can swing the finances or even wait on the lift install that would be the way to go.

The FTS kit with Bilsteins on 37's will definitely put you higher than where your 2500 with the 6" lift and 35's was.

7.5" was my guess as well if using the preload spacer. With the Bilsteins set at 2.1" I'm exactly at 8". I would have liked for the Bilsteins to be set at 2.8" but the shop I took it to refused to max them out. I'm planning on going back to the shop that installed the lift kit and have them set it at 2.8" with Zone UCAs. I'm thinking that it can be done but I can't tell if my front end can handle the extra 0.7". I'll post some pics as soon as I get a chance and maybe someone can chime in and give me some recommendations.

Yeah post up some pics of what the CV shafts and A-arm angles look like right now. I'll take a look and let you know what I think. With the FTS kit being built for 8" of lift I wouldn't expect any issues bumping the Bilsteins up to 2.8".

 

[Sheengon]

Yeah post up some pics of what the CV shafts and A-arm angles look like right now. I'll take a look and let you know what I think. With the FTS kit being built for 8" of lift I wouldn't expect any issues bumping the Bilsteins up to 2.8".

 

[R.L.K.]

I agree with doing the bilsteins with the lift install and ditching the preloaded spacers from beginning , I also think the bils @2.8 should be fine ( CV angle wise ) on a lift designed for 8" with 2" being from the preloaded spacers .( as stated by Brandonjanson )

I say this because lot of guys like myself are running the bils maxed @2.8 for just leveling and having no issues at all , so combined with the FTS designed for 8" it should work great and give you a MUCH better ride than using the spacers .

I hope the FTS kits prove to be a nice and durable kit , cause I'm debating on a 6" BDS or Zone kit with a 3" body lift, but then I'd have to remove my tow hooks that I like . I would rather just go with an 8" kit all suspension and retain my Tow hooks and bilsteins!

Post up pictures that include the lift components up front please Sir !

 

[brandonjansen]

Those CV shaft angles are steeper than I would have expected for that kit however the upper A-arm looks fine. It's questionable... I wouldn't go as far as saying "go ahead and install them at 2.8", you won't have any issues" but I wouldn't say don't do it either. What I'd recommend is go ahead and do it, but be aware of the fact that you may snap a CV shaft and if that's the case, they should be replaced with Kore high angle CV shafts.

Curious, what's the measurement from center of bolt to center of bolt for the crossmember drop bracket in your first picture. I'm wanting to know if they're actually dropping the A-arms and differential a full 8".

 

[Sheengon]

Those CV shaft angles are steeper than I would have expected for that kit however the upper A-arm looks fine. It's questionable... I wouldn't go as far as saying "go ahead and install them at 2.8", you won't have any issues" but I wouldn't say don't do it either. What I'd recommend is go ahead and do it, but be aware of the fact that you may snap a CV shaft and if that's the case, they should be replaced with Kore high angle CV shafts.

Curious, what's the measurement from center of bolt to center of bolt for the crossmember drop bracket in your first picture. I'm wanting to know if they're actually dropping the A-arms and differential a full 8".

Center bolt to center bolt for the crossmember is 6". The differential drop bracket center bolt to center bolt is 4.5"

 

[R.L.K.]

I believe your CV angles are a bit steeper than mine with a level only , all stock with my bils @2.8 ....

Edited.

 

[Sheengon]

Here are a few suspension pics.