Honda Pilot Lift: Episode 5  

The next two videos have some great action shots of the Pilot. Hang on!

​@ericscamping What size tire did you go with? Just bought a 2015 today and plan on the same size lift.

Thanks! Easy concept, simple lift kit placement… sore shoulders!

I am looking forward to next video to see the clean up of the bottom!

Definitely worth doing a lift. So far I have not had any axle problems. However, I did not do a spacer to move my wheels out. The spacer changes the leverage of the weight of the vehicle against your wheel bearings and will cause them to fail sooner. So just be aware of that. Everything that is out of vehicle specs does come with a little bit of a cost.

Hence the measuring tape. Got the go pro in the mail when finishing the video LOL. 😂

I think that’s pretty smart. Honda pilot Overland has an episode where he reduced his tire size back down because of loss of power.

What are the size of your tires now?

Would love to see that LineX

Hello I have a 2014 honda pilot touring 2wheel drive. I lifted it 2" lift kit with 18" wheel and 265 70 17 tires. I get a vibration when we take off goes away after 40miles per hour . Is this normal now because it's lifted now?

@@dominickbecerra9722 I really don’t know the answer to that. I left on stock tires and left my suspension entirely intact only did the lift on the front struts in the back springs. I’m glad I don’t have that issue.

what lift did you purchase did you add anything else or just lift?

Just curious how many miles were on the Pilot when the lift was installed? Could be the the cab axles

There are some spacers in the spare tire well I am looking at. Great idea!

What do you mean better departure angle ?

@@Davidh741it’s an off-roading term referring to the amount of clearance in the back after going over an obstacle

Evolution off Amazon. Been using them for years on other vehicles. Did great so I put them on the Pilot.

No. But I haven’t looked closely because I have read that it always cause much faster deterioration of the front suspension parts. If you find something aluminum, let me know.

I am happy with it.

Agreed!

I really like it too. It does seem just right.

Faulken Wildpeak AT3W. I went with standard size so that I would not lose power/torque against my motor and transmission.

@@ericscamping i was thinking the same with the ridge line Faulkin is one of the few that make a 245 60 18 in a AT .. thank you for the reply

I think that it did decrease it maybe one to two miles per gallon. I noticed most when I put the storage cases on top.

A little increase in sway, but otherwise normal… my wife loves it.

I kept tire size stock. Never any vibration. Definitely do an alignment after your lift.

Love the platform of the 2nd Gen Pilot. It has a ton of potential. I think with the differentials being recessed has great potential for clearance. Only problem is no option for low gearing. The low gearing is the most restrictive feature. That means a lot higher lift has no functional purpose because the high gearing just wont drive it up a surface that the high lifts enable.

what company?

@@wyattcannon9865 I used a Ready Lift.

Some of the kits come with a different length sway bar link. Not sure it is necessary. But not bad to change your link. They don’t last that long.

Don’t lift your pilot they are never meant to be lifted like Toyota or Jeep even 2 inch will put to much stress on cv axle and tranny

@@Davidh741 I agree with you that higher lifts strain the cv axle. I have had mine on for two years and not had a single problem. I do believe the three inch lift does contribute to early failure of the cv axle. I don’t how it could contribute to transmission failure ?? Things do wear out without other factors. I do think that removing sway bar links increases travel of the suspension and increase the angle at the cv joint.

Rudy thanks for commenting. I have not had any issues. Yes I did the camber bolts. I went with a 2” lift and because it is a 4 wheel independent suspension I will not remove the sway bar links. That causes to much force on the CV axles. I personally am hearing that those who went with a 3” lift are having CV axle probs. Too much angle???

I just used stock tires. I would discourage you from using bigger tires. The distance from the hub to the outer tread is the length of your lever arm of the ground being used against your engine and transmission. Since the pilot does not have low gearing I don’t think it’s a good idea to use bigger tires. I used a 2 inch lift from ready lift. At the time it only cost about $300. I imagine it’s more now. I found a good product.

The format is similar but I’m not certain it is exactly the same. However a lot of the companies that manufacture the lifts have better information about compatibility.

www.rockymountainsusp.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAys2MBhDOARIsAFf1D1f8r3IvfiiGrK7YAIVWm-gZu6kTrmy3sY7rsa8UGmbHuqgp-4WHEZYaAh1oEALw_wcB

I believe the geometry of the rear suspension is only a 1” lift if you want it level with the 2” in the front. That is how this kit is.

The rear lift is a small puck that fits between the spring and spring seat. The lift in the rear is simple to place the puck. It is very difficult to replace the lower control arm on the hub.

No. The only “vibration” I have gotten is at higher speeds at 75 or higher. We have some high speed limits here in Oklahoma and as soon as I got my tires balanced it was fine. A badly unbalanced tire could give you a pretty, regular thump, but I wouldn’t use the word vibrate for that. Hope that helps 🫤

Thanks a lot. God bless you...

No leaks, no clicks, and no issues yet after 2000 miles. However, I have left my swaybar links attached.

@@ericscamping i see. Yes. Other parts are installed also. Ill have this checked by mech soon

Im looking to get a 2 inch lift on my '11 pilot as well, what is the issue with the cv joints that you are experincing and is there a way to fix it?

@@wyattcannon9865 CV joints are very different from a solid axle. When you increase the angle of the CV joint at the hub it’s just like a universal joint on a socket with a sharp angle. It doesn’t turn as well and it wears quicker. Whenever you put a lift on a vehicle with a CV joint it increases that sharp angle. They wear quicker.

I have not had any actual issues yet and I have about 2000 miles on it since doing my lift. I do not even have any clicking going on after 2000 miles. One thing that I did not do was I did not remove my swaybar links. If you do that you will get extra travel in your suspension that will draw the axle out further and increased angle at the CV.

@@ericscamping the kit i ordered came with shorter sway bar end links. did you use the originals? Thanks for the feedback!

@@jeffreyc9183 mine were also a little shorter, I wasn’t concerned about it because, it changes the position if the sway bar symmetrically. Perhaps the differences makes up the position change of the sway bar versus the new position of lower control arms with the lifts installed?

I have not had any issues caused by my 2" lift. If you do not disconnect your sway bar links and do not increase your tire size you are controlling forces to your CV axles. I would discourage you from increasing your tire size. All that does is create a "look" but reduces authentic performance and increases force against your CV axles. You may want to take in the video where Aaron Gotter @gotteradventure reduces his tire size. Aaron may have more information if you choose to increase your tire size.

@@ericscamping Thank you so much for the valuable tips!!

Ready Lift -www.readylift.com/shop/v/honda/pilot/2011/4wd

Personally, I would choose Monroe. They have a long track record. You can buy a small bracket that will also extend your shock down 2 inches and keep the shock operating in its optimal range.

@@ericscamping oh. I see. Where do i buy the bracket? Is it safe to go off road with the bracket?

www.amazon.com/dp/B002HXZ04Y/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_2W69AER9Z7A93E1T0KGB This kit from ready lift shows that little bracket right in the center of the picture. I don’t know that a Pilot is really made for off-road usage. Hard to gauge.

Thanks! Faulken Wildpeak AT3W

You did great! As long as you buy a complete kit. Make sure it includes front “camber bolts” and new “sway bar links” for front and rear.

If you buy replacement parts that are OEM you should be fine. I highlight some of the most difficult parts on my video. The sway bar links are always rusted. It’s difficult to get shock attached to the lower hub both front and back. Make sure you have jackstands and a free Jack to push your lower control arm back up into the hub, front and rear. Always nice to have a buddy around for moral support and an extra hand.

@@ericscamping Thanks, there’s so many lift kits there’s ones with just the lifts and other with lifts and sway bars. Which should I buy.

Did u lift the rear of the vehicle at all?

Yes. If you drop the lower control arms then the spring comes out. A puck style lift goes on top of the spring. It is usually smaller than the front lift. That is because of the geometry of the lift -that’s normal. Sorry for the late reply.

I would go with “ready lift” or HRG.

I left the little plastic pieces in place. So that the metal didn’t wear on the metal

Stock tires! I decided that if I were to put on larger tires that I would lose torque. Larger tires change the gearing and the Honda pilots do not have low gearing.

Yes. Rims are original, just Faulken Wildpeak at stock size.

They do not make loud noise, but the do have a moderate sounding “hum”.

It does not. I have seen others say that this has occurred. I have not experienced this at all.

I just completed this 2 inch lift mod myself and I do have vibration on accelerating from 20-35mph. After that, it is smooth. Anyone know the fix? I also have installed brand new CV axles, control arms at the same time.

Probably spend another $400 bucks for subframe drop kit.

No problems. When you buy a 2 inch lift they are designed for the geometry of the vehicle but the actual lift of your suspension is not all 2 inches. The front top hat lift is exactly 2 inches. The rear lift is a small disk like puck that is a 1 inch lift that fits in between your spring and the spring seat. It only has to be 1 inch because of the geometry of the vehicle - when you place the 1 inch puck the mechanism is then lifted 2 inches between the wheel and the fender. I wouldn’t do more than 2 inches. It is pretty hard on your CV joints and axles, and getting the alignment straightened out is pretty rough. If you choose to do a lift make sure you always get an alignment afterwards.

I have heard of issues with a three inch lift, but I have no issues with a 2” lift. Do get an alignment after installation and never remove your sway bar links to “off-road.”

@@ericscamping did you install camber bolts also?

@@raymundb4833 I did install the camber bolts.

@@ericscamping thanks😀

No. I just put the spacers on top of the struts and spacer/pucks on the springs in the back.

I do not know the answer to the question. I tried a larger tire size once on a Subaru and I was not happy with the performance. A larger tire size increases the length of the lever arm from the center of the axle to the outside of the tread. It basically gives the ground a larger lever against your transmission and engine.

@@ericscamping thanks for the info Eric if I can ask few more question tires that you have, that you are taking off in your video did you used them before lift ? And what year is your pilot and are you having any issues so far with lift dis you have to add anything down the road any vibration ? Thank you for your time

@@Davidh741 I did use the Faulken Wildpeak AT3 before I put the lift on. It has not really change anything about driving. With the 2 inch lift there may be a little bit more of an impact from crosswind on sway, but not much. I did lose a tire weight while off-roading and that did cause some vibration. I just had the tire re-balanced and it was fine.

@@Davidh741 2011 Touring 4WD.

Stock rims and stock tire size. With larger tires, you lose torque against the ground. Pilots do not have a low range to compensate for this.

@@ericscamping thinking about getting a 2nd gen facelift. I do like wider tires they don’t need to be huge though I just like a slight poke but seems like it wouldn’t work well for pilot…. 😢. Could I get your opinion? I like your set up though

The Faulken Wildpeaks that I have on my vehicle do have a little wider stance compared to other tires. But they are expensive. I would be very cautious of using wheel spacers to achieve a wider stance. The leverage against the wheel bearings is a hub bearing killer.

@@ericscamping ahhh okay cool cool. I will have to think about it. Not planning to do full off reading and trails but I do go fishing and camping. Currently have a taco lifted on 35’s and now that I think about it. It is kind of overkill lol

Not after 2000 miles. No clicks or noise yet. I left my sway bar links attached to avoid extra travel at CV joints.

@@ericscamping thank you! Really cool content man 👍

YW and thx 😁

I do not. I drive my pilot pretty easy …like I want it to last forever. I am definitely not looking for a power boost. I am not afraid to accelerate hard when indicated, but mostly smooth and steady.

No. Longer sway bar links.

No.

No problems at all.

Stock size. Just look good with Faulken Wildpeak AT3. Don’t want to mess with torque issues with larger tires.

Faulken Wild Peak AT3W. I went with the standard vehicle size. When you put a bigger tire on you lose leverage and your engine and transmission doesn’t have as much power. Yes you gain clearance, but you will not have the power to get over significant grades or obstacles.

@@ericscamping thank you I appreciate it , i just wanted something that looks kinda like yours theyre nice , i dont need anything heavy

I use a converter from 7 pin to 4 pin. My trailer is 4 pin.

@@ericscampingi have problems with the internal 12 pin, touring version is not the same EXL 😢

I don’t know anything about that.

Ready Lift.

There was no perceptible change. I had it alligned after I completed the lift. I think if you did a higher lift you would place the vehicle beyond the ability to adjust. Also, I left my sway bars attached… rocking and swaying can definately effect steering control with a lift and the increasing high winds.

I got a “ready lift” at Rocky Mountain Suspension. ru-vid.com?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbURJYk1yX1FXTlpPeEMtVVJXNlFMQk5GMTJVd3xBQ3Jtc0ttTVFjWENzZGt3aElOeFpWNXV5RmVzdV9VcHJ1NEdZTUtjSUdjaVpBczhSVGxrWE0xR3BHdm5oS1JhRjdtX1kxRktjRzdsNTJpUTVWbTJvRUNZa2xGRTFxYnljczJjOUlVeDBxcHZldUxId3U4T0Q2RQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockymountainsusp.com%2F%3Fgclid%3DCj0KCQiAys2MBhDOARIsAFf1D1f8r3IvfiiGrK7YAIVWm-gZu6kTrmy3sY7rsa8UGmbHuqgp-4WHEZYaAh1oEALw_wcB&v=YmhzXJ3bjMQ I don’t know why that link is so long, but it will take you to rocky mountain suspension. I have not had any problems, but I am pretty cautious.

Link is good what do you mean you are cautious

@@Davidh741 I don’t use momentum to tackle obstacles, I plan my line carefully and use the vehicle capabilities.

@@ericscampingI am not planing any off-roading I am just after the look. Did you have any shake or Uber major issues what year is your pilot

No issues, no shaking, works just the same with one exception. Wind makes it drift more. 2011.

Ready Lift.

@@ericscamping what year is your pilot

@@Davidh741 2011 Touring 4WD

245/65R17

Faulken Wildpeak AT3W

Stock rims and stock tires.

@@ericscamping 235/16/18? What brand thanks

@@Davidh741 Faulken Wild Peak AT3 W

I mean 235/60/18

@@Davidh741 245/65 R 17 are stock on my Pilot.

Did you have it professionally aligned after the lift?

@@ericscamping yes I did 2 times ali . So guy said to do subframe drop. Shall I do that or no. You have any suggestions

I did not do a subframe drop and I did not disconnect my sway bar links. I think before going further I would retrace your steps. Make sure that you installed everything correctly. Just double check. Make sure you don’t have any parts left over ( I’ve done that before myself ). Then I would double check to make sure that you tightened all parts to torque specifications and that nothing has loosened since installed. If you did disconnect your swaybar links let me give you a reason to reconsider that. First of all that will affect your vehicle handling and will appear to affect steering. It also will allow irregularities in the road to transfer a lot more force to your vehicle. Second, when you get travel in your suspension with your sway bar links disconnected it increases the angle of the CV joint and retracts your axle from your transmission. Both are bad for wear. I did a lift on my Subaru and whenever an axle was bent it would wobble pretty significantly. I have to say I’ve had no problems on my pilot and I just did a lift only.

You also might consider if during your lift you moved a rear tire that was unbalanced to the front. Sometimes that little swap out can cause a lot of change. You may not have noticed the vibration on the rear of the vehicle but now you feel it through the front with a swap out.

@@dareldiaz5766 how big is your life 3 inch if 3 you need subframe drop

I do not. When I did my lift, everything worked the same as before. I could tell I was a little higher in the wind, had a little more of the effect pushing my vehicle. That was the only effect. It’s kind of funny you say that because I recently put new tires on my vehicle, and I had a terrible vibration in my steering wheel. I knew the wheels were not balanced, and I took it back in. They gave it back to me and It did the same thing. I took it to another shop. They looked at me funny and said “why are your tires so far out of balance?” I am kind of convinced that if you make a change to your vehicle, some shops will try to create problems with it to get more money for repairs. Just beware.

@@ericscamping exactly ☺️ same things happened to me..

Sometimes, if you make modifications like a lift, or anything else, they will exploit that information and then try to tell you there are other problems. I have learned to share very little, and I have even taken parts off my vehicle to have them serviced so they cannot exploit the information. So sad what we have become.

Yes. That is why I did not do a higher lift. The higher lift will definitely increase the angle at the hub. I will be watching for this. They say that when you’re turning if you’re hearing clicking you’re still OK. It’s when you’re going straight and you start to hear clicking that you may start to have failure. I’ll update.

@@ericscamping To confirm, jack up that side and turn the wheel... if it locks up the steering it is definitely the CV. lowering it back down releases the lock so you can still drive it. Just FYI.

@@danpatterson1676 That’s good to know. So Jack can get up increases the angle and then it locks up because of the wearing of the CV joint… I get it.

2” ready lift.

@@ericscamping Thinking of buying pilot like this does this lift give this pilot ground clearance as a stock 3rd gen tacoma

@@mariodiaz3897 When I measure my lowest point vehicle after a 2 inch ready left it is at 9 inches. I believe the lowest point is the spring seats in the rear, but Tacoma suspension is very different. It won’t be like in Tacoma.

@@ericscamping ok thanks I was wondering because I currently own a 20 Tacoma but I need something mor comfortable I was looking at pilot same year as your just wanted same ride height as Tacoma at least live in Texas it rains a lot here wanted same ride heights as reg tacoma I looked at your video but it’s kinda hard to tell just wondering do they make taller lifts for pilots of your years

@@mariodiaz3897 They do make higher lifts. But then you get into putting in a sub frame drop and the risk of chronic alignment and axle problems.

245/65R17. Stock size, Faulken Wild Peak AT3W.

@@ericscamping Did you ever consider going up a size?

@@kingofbratz3626 I have considered it, and I have decided against it. I know that it’s popular for clearance but you’ll find out by watching my videos that I do my own thinking. Increasing the size of your tires is a physics issue. It causes the engine and transmission output to lose torque, where the rubber meets the road. You will run more inefficiently and lose power on grades. This is pretty critical when attempting any kind of off roading with your Pilot. The Pilot does not have a low range. I decided to preserve the power it has rather than lower it.