My 04 has a relatively new set of TF224 shocks under stock springs. AB says these shocks are "2" lift compatible" and I'd like to lift the truck for mainly cosmetic purposes. The truck is too nice to do any off-roading in, plus I have an 03 which is more suitable anyway. A set of TF spacers is about $170 and the TF HD springs are $280. My head is telling me spacers are stupid and springs would be a smarter path. The whole plan is leaving me a little unsettled since it's a cosmetic upgrade, but spacers seem like complete heresy. Are the benefits to the spacers, like a softer ride due to stock springs?

 

I don't know anything about spacers but would like to see pictures of the BMW collection please. I used to track a 2002 years ago.

 

Haha. Happy to oblige. I don't have a single shot of all them however I don't know why that never occurred to me before. The Schnitzer and the M5 are in off-site winter storage but now that spring is here maybe I can get them all together. I had a pair of 02s back in the 80s but once I got into E28s it was game over. Here's a throwback to earlier days as well. Bonus points if you can identify them by the sig.

 

Personally I'm not a huge fan of spacers but I do run a pair of 1" spacers in the rear of my white disco to level things out visually (cut front fenders made it look like it was squatting real bad even though the truck was level...). If only going with a 1" spacer then go for it, I've had no extra noise or issues with them.

 

So spacers can be used to compensate for load and I get that. Is that their primary purpose and is using them to lift is cheating? Is there a difference? At the end of the day you're raising the body up, just with blocks instead of coils. For an extra hundred bucks I'm leaning towards buying the springs but again, this is purely cosmetic. The rest of the truck is stock and will likely remain so.

 

It's not cheating per say and if you're main purpose is cosmetic I see no issue with some 1" spacer, I'm not wild about bigger than that. I have the lucky8 1" spacers and the spacer themselves are nice but the hardware they supply is straight garbage. Not overly surprised by that but it's a little disappointing as if those failed that could be extremely dangerous. Simple enough to pick up some grade 8 hardware to replace it.

 

If it's just the rear, you can get some spring seats from a D1 and install them instead of the stock D2 ones. You will gain about an extra inch that way. I put them in because I have TerraFirma HD springs up front, to handle the weight of my brush bar. Gives a nice little subtle lift all around.

 

Do you have med duty in the rear or stock? I am thinking of doing something to the 03 and a bumper/bull bar is near the top of the list. I'm lining up a set of OME MD springs but perhaps I should be considering HDs

 

You shouldn't consider the HD springs unless you plan on driving around fully loaded They are not any higher, just stiffer. You will hate the ride if you aren't always full of cargo.

If your springs are original then they probably are sagging, Any grade of new spring would bring it up at least to spec.

I would not exceed medium duty without all of the extra steel accessories and a constant extra 200 lbs of extra cargo.

 

Thanks Dave. According to ARB the mediums raise 1.5" (same as HD) and that's plenty for me. 90% of my driving will be medium to light duty so there's no need for HD at this point then.

The spacers are for a different truck however.