Will installing a 1/2 inch front spacer be as bad as everyone says?

This is where we differ. But I think we are tracking now

I do understand it, what I don't think you understand is what's actually doing the work here. I think of this in terms of engineering and a free body diagram.
We can agree that on the bench, the shock is at full length. Now lets add a coil to that shock with the preload collar backed all the way off. That coil rattles around right, nothing keeping it in position?

You spin that collar down until it makes contact with the spring, plus the minimum number of turns the mfg. specs out as minimum preload. You have a fixed coil bucket at the bottom eye. The shock is at full length. You keep turning that collar, you are compressing that coil. That coil wants to push that bucket and piston rod assembly right out of the body. But it can't because of the max travel of the shock and the internal stop is keeping that from happening.

Now under min preload mentioned above, the vehicle will have the most sag...ie under it's weight and whatever is inside, it'll settle at a certain point in the travel...as design, it's usually around 30% sag that you want (so 1/3 of your max travel or eye to eye length).

So here's where I think we are agreeing but saying it differently. You'll have a certain amount of the piston rod exposed. Now you want to sit higher in the travel...which means you don't want 30% sag anymore. That's the only way to get the vehicle to sit higher is to keep the vehicle from dropping that low in it's travel. To achieve this, you have to induce more turns into the coil from the collar, which compresses the coil. You have induced more preload into the coil.

The definition of spring rate is the amount of force it takes to compress a spring X distance, usually 1". You have put that force into the coil, so by nature, it can react more force at that level, whatever you put into it by the spring rate...this means, that your vehicle will now sit higher in the travel. It won't compress the spring and shock so much since the spring now can react a larger force. So YES...when on the vehicle, you will see more exposed piston rod, but it's NOT because you're making anything longer. Your introducing a preload to the coil that can react more force on it...it's not going to compress as much. So now, your sag might only be 10% of your max travel instead of 30%. You will sit higher in the travel, but the ride will be more stiff.

So, under a compressed vehicle I believe we are saying the same things, but the reasoning behind it is where we are getting crossed. I think if it in terms of preload and sag where as you may be thinking of it in terms of exposed piston shaft, which you see sticking out of the body. With a higher preload, you will see more piston shaft sticking out of the body, but it's because by adding preload you are not allowing as much sag so the vehicle can't sit as low in the travel.

It should also be noted that it's not a 1-1 ratio for ride height and preload in the spring...ie you won't ever compress a spring 1" and only get 1" difference out of the ride height because of the suspension geo and angles. So, it maybe only take 1/8" of collar preload to achieve say, 2" above factory ride height

 

For the life of me, I don’t know why I continue to read these types of threads. Totally stresses me out. I feel bad for the OP just seeking a simple answer.

 

Come on, don't turn this into facebook.

 

So you're THAT guy. Good to learn on other forums who those people are. You're at the point where you can't backup the claims so the name calling begins.
Also who are you calling a flat earther? I'm interested about this.

 

Under my extreme example I agree that the ride would be compromised. That above is NOT what anyone is discussing.

Turning collar can’t compress the spring at ride height. It only extends the shock. A heavier load is only thing that will compress the spring.
Like in my example above, I’ll agree that a heavily preloaded spring at max extension is probably going to feel stiffer and lack travel. If that the case the wrong spring is in there.

 

LMAO. You're the guy who reads an internet article and is instantly an expert on everything. You truly have no clue how bad your reasoning is, do you? You're the guy who already admitted that a spacer shortens the spring, but yet somehow magically that raises the truck lol. Truly amazing. But at least you're showing what you got to everybody.

I honestly could not care less how ignorant you are. What I care about is the incredibly bad advice you give to the rest of the members of the forum. That's why I'm countering your really bad advice. You go right on telling everybody that a shortened spring raises the truck - but at this point I think everyone's seen your ass.

 

Am I that guy? You must know me so well. Glad you can sling mud.
You have no clue what I do, or what I know, or my experience or background. I have shown plenty across multiple forums of "what I got".
You can keep the internet insults coming if you want. It doesn't bother me when you're at the point that you can't form an actual explanation for things, that you just start talking smack. Enjoy your day, you have the option to leave. It's a free internet world out there

 

Just for fun, would you please repeat your answer to this question? Do shorter springs raise the truck? lol. Fucking epic.

Thread posted on the other forum - you will soon be legendary.

 

Right. You are preloading the spring at full droop. But, the spring is always going to ride at the same length, no matter where you set the height. If you would compress it to a length where it would be compressed beyond that point, you would be driving around at full droop all the time, which obviously would ride like garbage.

Correct, bypass shocks are position sensitive. But, I was also referring to the fact that the higher you set the ride height, the closer you are driving around to full droop. Also, by doing this, The springs will have more tension at full droop.

 

Oh, boy, looks like this one is heading towards lockdown

 

I'm hoping it's made a sticky.

 

This was a great question till it all went to sh#t. So keeping it civil let's forget about lift... can a mere 1/2 top spacer lower a stock shock (or a pro shock) enough to cause damage to anything? I understand spacers are mostly crap, and springs/shocks are the only way to go, but even Westcott puts a 1/2" spacer in their pro lift kits to get the final 1 inch lift. I picture the fox shock being 3/4" longer and adding 1/2" more might decrease up travel and make it bottom more when flexed? Just wondering if anyone has taken time to measure it out yet.

 

Reading this thread has made me not want to mess with my suspension in any way, shape, or form. Guess I’ll keep rolling on my stock XREAS on my TRD Sport and maybe I’ll get ballsy and get some 265/60/20’s for my stock rims