Hey everyone,

First things first, ’02 SE/SC with a SLR shackle PML, Rancho steering stabilizer, running on 32” Toyo Open Country AT’s.

I am in the process of planning out my 3” lift, and I want some advice.

My plan is to go with the 3” kit from AC, with the Rancho RS9000 shocks and the AAL. I already have SLR shackles, and the rear leaves are sagging on my truck, so I’m going that route to rejuvenate things in the rear.

To beef up the steering, I’m planning on going all out and getting the TC set up. I like the set up, and the Heim joints look indestructible, so that’s the plan.

Ok, here’s where things get a little interesting.

Right now, my upper control arm bushings on the passenger side are shot, and I need an alignment. The last time I went in to get an alignment, the tech told me that it would be tough to get it to align because the bushings are shot. I wasn’t too sure about that, but I took his word for it, and decided against getting the alignment at the time. My front tires already need to be replaced, so I wasn’t too worried about making them any worse then they already are.

My dilemma right now is that I only have enough saved up to get the lift kit, not the steering upgrade. I should have enough for the steering upgrade, but it might take 6 months to get there.

Winter is coming, and I want to replace the front tires on my truck before the snow hits. To do this, I need to either replace the bushings in the UCA, or do my lift.

Because I already have enough $$ for the lift kit, I don’t want to have to do the work twice by replacing the bushings for the stock arm, and then later re-doing the work when I do the lift with the new UCA’s and bushings.

My question: How long will the stock CL and steering system be able to hand the lift before it’s utterly destroyed? Right now there is no play at all, but the steering box has a very minor leak. I’ve been keeping my eye on it, and although it has been wet from steering fluid in the past, it hasn’t been leaking recently, and my fluids haven’t needed topping up at all.

Thoughts?