Lift Kits
 

Okay, here's the deal.

We have lots of folks who have questions about what lift kit to get, what setup, what shocks, how high, tire size, yadda, yadda, yadda. This is specifically aimed at the SD crowd.

I want to do this so we can link folks to a thread that has most of the stuff they are looking for and some honest opinions on a lift setup.

Here is what I want:

1 - Type kit and how big
2 - Rear springs, blocks or add-a-leafs
3 - What shocks
4 - What tires and size
5 - Gear ratio and what would you go to
6 - Self install or shop
6a - If self install, how difficult and what problems
7 - What is YOUR impression of the kit overall
8 - If you could have, what would you change
9 - If you wouldn't mind, how much you paid for the LIFT

Okay, I'll start it up.

1 - 6" Skyjacker
2 - Rear Springs
3 - Pro Comp MX6, was ES3000
4 - Super Swamper TSL Radials 36 x 12.5
5 - 4.56 (just right for me)
6 - Shop install
7 - Great lift, nice ride, solid components
8 - Adjustable track bar and bigger rear stabilizer bar (hellwig). Skip the cheap shocks, get good ones.
9 - $1392 w/ ES3000 shocks

DR 4 1/2 in kit & DR shocks for me. Best kit I have ran yet & I have ran alot of different ones. I have the kits installed at the dealer. Use rear blocks. I never go bigger than 35's on tire size & use 8 in wheels. I have 4:10's in my SD. Wouldn't change a thing VERY happy with this Kit & set-up.

1. 8 in skyjacker
2. All springs
3. skyjacker soft ride shocks
4. Parnelli Jones 38x15.50-16.50
5. Stock gears
6. Shop install
7. Decent ride, very dependable, dont think you could break it
8. Hydro assist.
9. $4500 includes lift, wheels and 16.5 x 12 American Eagle wheels, plus install.

2004 F250 4x4 6.0L PS Lariat Crew Cab Short Bed

1. Donahoe Racing - 4.5" Bracket Kit + 2" Spring Pack
2. 3" rear block
3. Donahoe Racing Reservoir Shocks
4. BF Goodrich A/T - 315/75/16 ( 35" )
5. 4.10 Gears
6. Shop installed
7. The ride of the lift is unbelievable, way better than stock!
8. Nothing, I love this lift!
9. Lift, shocks, and installation was a little over $2000

1)BDS all spring $1450(included steering stabalizers)$300 install fee $60 align
2)8 inch front 6 inch rear with factory 4 inch blocks
3)bilsteins all around extra $200
4)dual steering stabalizer BDS
5)procomp front driveshaft spacer $75
6)jessies highangle driveshaft rear around $600
7)37x1350x17 toyo MT on tmaxx wheels $2200
8)tru speed by superlift $169
9) truck rides stiffer than stock but i think the lift is a quality lift. overall happy but it cost alot more than i though it would to get everything to my likeing, but im very picky about vibrations and tire rubbing so thats why it costme alot more.
10)3.73 gears thinking about 4.30. sorry the numbering is mixed up???

1. Donahoe Racing "The Edge" 4.5" Spring Hanger/extended shackle.
2. 5" Blocks
3. Bilstein 5100 series.
4. BFG M/T 235/85/R16(stock size)
5. Stock 4.10 (tires are stock size, no need to change gears)
6. Wife and I install.
6a. Easy, but time consuming. Stock pitman arm refused to come off, only real problem. Had to loosen exhaust to remove upper shackle to frame bolt.
7. Nicely manufactured. Welds look solid and all parts fit with no modifications. Ride is improved by the installation of the Bilsteins.
8. Nothing. One of the rare cases where I envy myself.
9. Around $1500 for the kit (w/shocks). Installation was blood and sweat, put whatever price you want on that.

1 - Superlift 4"
2 - block
3 - bilstein
4 - nitto all terrain, 35"
5 - 3.73, 4.30
6 - Self install
6a - No Problems, very simple
7 - Great Quality, Great ride, 100% satisfied
8 - Nothing
9 - Right around $1,100

1 - 8" Superlift
2 - Front & Rear Springs
3 - Superlift
4 - Parnelli Jones Dirt Grips 38x15.5x16
5 - 4.56 (to low for me, wanting 4.30s)
6 - Self install
6a - Lift instal = easy Gears are difficult if dont know what you are doing
7 - Great lift, nice ride, solid components
8 - Adjustable track bar and some Bilstein 7100.
9 - Lift - 1050, wheels & tires - 2200, 4.56 - 700

1 - Rough Country 4"
2 - add-a-leafs
3 - 8000 series premium grade
4 - Pro Comp X terrain 315/75/16
5 - Stock
6 - Self
6a - very simple, worst part was getting the old off
7 - great kit for the money, measure front to be more lift 4.5"
8 - More lift in back, little low. better shocks
9 - $759, free shipping
__________________

2005 F350 SRW CC LB v10
1 - Skyjacker 4"
2 - Rear springs
3 - Skyjacker Nitro
4 - TSL TrXuS MT 35x12.50R17
5 - 4.30 (maybe 4.88 and selectable lockers someday)
6 - shop
7 - excellent, rides better than stock, handles as well
8 - add HD sway bar
9 - about $2000 (kit, rear springs, pitman arm, shocks, odds, ends) + $300 install

2003 F-250 V-10


1 – Super Lift 6”, and 3” Body Lift
2 – Rear Springs
3 – Bilstien 5100 and dual steering stabilizers
4 – MT Baja Claw radials 38 X 15 X 16
5 – Just installed 4.56 and they are great so far.
6 – Shop (some friends of mine own a local 4X4 shop)
7 – The truck is slightly stiffer than stock, but still handles very well.
8 – Would of went with the 8” instead of the 6”
9 – 6” lift = $1200 installed,
3” body lift = $450 tires,
rims, shocks = $1650
Total= $3300

1. 8" Superlift
2. Rear 6" springs
3. Superlift socks
4. 37" BFG Mud TA's
5. 3.73 gears
6. Self install
6a. Locator pin on one of the front springs was too long, had to take apart grind, and reinstall
7. Rides rough, probably due to cheap shocks
8. Change to coils
9. $1,100

2002 Ford Focus SE

1 - It was part of the vehicle when purchased
2 - blocks
3 - Ranchero
4 - 185/65 R16
5 - 4.56
6 - On vehicle from factory
7 - Great ride
8 - Bigger tires
9 - included in cost of vehicle purchase

Oh, this was only for SuperDuty people. Sorry. :-X19 :-X14 }> ;)

-Matt :-tap

Super Steve... Where did you get your 37" BFG Mud T/A's? I've checked around and people say they wont be available until December, and I'm ready to order now! What size wheel are you running? 17"?

1 - Pro-comp 5" stage 2
2 - Blocks and add-a-leafs
3 - Robby Gordon mx-6 rezzies
4 - Nitto Terra Grappler 35's
5 - 3.73 want to go to 4.56
6 - self install
6a - Not bad, alot of drop brackets on the 05 though.
7 - Excellent, like it alot. Fit very well
8 - Rear springs
9 - 1400

Comparison Photos
 

Here are a few photos of the different lift and tire combos to show what they look like. I appologize to the folks who's pictures I used. I saw good looking trucks, so that is what I used.

i put some pictures of my 8 inch with 37s in my gallary for anyone wondering about that combo

6" lift
Full Throttle Suspension
bilstein 5100's
18x10" wheels
35x12.50x18 wheels
blocks in rear, im cheap.
ride = very good
shop installed
ohh yeah, lift = 1200- installed tho.
stock 3.73 gears, and can still roast em with ease (thanks scmt)

would go 4.30, or 4.56, and will.......when the wife gets over the wheels and tires.


overall, very happy. the componets are very heavy duty. i have had a fabtech trac bar bracket in my hand, it it was a flimsy piece of sheetmetal compared to the FTS trac bar bracket.

If you have another lift manufacturer, please let us know what it is. Also, if you have a 2WD.

Oh now you tell me. OK, my rig is 2WD...actually it's front wheel drive. :-D

-Matt :-tap

Matt, when ya gonna put some 44's and a big block in the puppy. I mean you better not stop short of 6" stacks sticking out that monster machine.I'm waiting to see the thing in the next local car crush rolling over vans. :-wow

You better check you lift laws up there. Wouldn't want to see you get a ticket cruising around town. Heck you get much higher you might be able to wave to Santa Claus.:rolleyes:

Hehehehehe! :-X14

It's OK. With the push of a button it goes back to it's stock form (as you have seen). :-D

-Matt :-tap

You got issues! :-X15

4" lift
Revtek
rear blocks
bfg 315s
self install
3.73
ride not bad
1300 canadian

1. Pro Comp 6.5"
2. New springs with blocks
3. Bilstein 5100's
4. Toyo A/T's 355/70-17 (36.6" tall, 14" wide)
5. Stock 3.73's (pathetic I know). Someday will go to 4.56's.
6. Shop install
7. My lift kit is the biggest piece of crap ever.
8. Want to change out the leaf springs for something more forgiving.
9. I don't know how much it cost, I traded my ex wife's banshee (quad) for the lift, wheels, tires, shocks, and labor. Wheels and tires have since been changed/upgraded.

1. Donahoe Racing 6"
2. All spring, plus a 2" block in rear for a little rake
3. Donahoe Signature shocks (duals up front)
4. Nitto Mud Grapplers 38x15.5x20 (I have cut-out flares)
5. 4.30 gears from the factory
6. shop install
7. excellent lift. fit and finish are very good. ride is great all things considered.
8. single shocks up front would likely give me an even better ride...maybe 4.88 gears.
9. Around $2,200 for all lift components, including shocks.

Seem to have lots of questions on this again, so just bringing it back to light.

2000 F-350 CC Lariat LB

1-6" RevTek lift
2-5" block with 2" add a leafs
3-Dual front shock setup (RevTek)
4-Dual steering stabilizers (RevTek)
5-37" BFG Mud Terrains on 17x9 Pro Comp Extreme alloy 1079's
6-Stock gears
7-Self install about 10-12hours
8-Lift was $1,500 delivered,Tires around $1,300,wheels around $520.00
mountng and balancing was another $100.00,so when said and done around $3,500 dollars.
9- Only thing I would change( which I am going to do) is go with full 6" spring replacement in the rear, it hangs a little in the rear which drives me nuts! but thats about it the ride is great and the visual impact is second to none.The biggest kick I get is when the young kids see it and tug at their dads shirt and scream "DAD LOOK!!!"it's pretty chuckly.

JMACC

2004 F350 6.0 FX4

1 - Donahoe Racing 3" Leveling kit
2 - Factory rear springs but changed the shocks to Pro Comp MX6
3 - doshtech shocks in the front
4 - BFG's 305/12.50/16 on American Racing Mojave with Teflon
5 - Factory gears
6 - Shop installed
7 - Love it!
8 - Nothing
9 - $1400 installed with adjustable 1" stainless track bar. I bought 5 rims so another $1000+tires.

I also purchased Procomp 6.5 lift kit and running bilstien shock the shocks are great Pro Comp springs are junk.

I have been finding out off road the truck the springs are starting to break in and getting a better ride not saying it great but better I dont beat the truck to death but some bouncing helps break the springs in.

6.5 Pro Comp

Rear blocks

Blisteins

Adj Track bar

4.56 gears

317/70/17 BFG'S TA

Love the truck but hate putting in so much gas just to go to work Ha Ha I knew it was a gas hog before I purchased the truck 120 miles a day just going to work and back eats gas.

I had a PT Cruiser it only gotten 17 city and 25 Hwy 19 average my truck gets 15 average not bad for a full size 4X4

I also want to change my springs out most likely to skyjacker I have run this brand years ago on my old power wagon and it rode better than stock, this was with the old type of rancho shocks, the skyjacker springs should be great with the bilstiens

Just put a 7" Pro-Comp lift and 40x13.5x20 Pro-Comp X-Terrains on my Dad's '06 F-350 4x4. The tires just barely rubbed on the plastic at the very bottom of the back-side of the fenderwell...A little bit of moving/trimming plastic and adding the coil-spacers (leveling kit) and it's good now. The kit was only meant to clear 37's.. The kit maintained the factory blocks in rear and added new springs and shocks. Up front there was a lot of drop-down bracketry for pitman arm, steering stabilzer, brake-lines, etc and new coils, shocks, radius arms, etc...Also came with a driveshaft spacer for the carrier bearing in the rear. We did the install ourselves. Seems to ride really good, other than one tire out of balance.....Do have two questions though, 1) how much do new gears and install run, want to move up to 4.56's more than likely... and 2) how much do the service departments charge to upgrade your computer to adjust the speedo for the new tires?

I'm looking at this lift. I've got 315's now with no lift. What size blocks in the rear did you use? Pics? Can I still use air helper bags with this setup? Would you think it's not a good idea to have a camper on while being this high?
thanks for any info!
Jeramiah
MrMrsNord@sbcglobal.net

thanks for all of the pics... they are very helpful! who's silver SD is the one that says "level on 33's" (on pg. 2 of thread) looks like my truck but mine is still stock. tires and wheels are on order, and really want to find out what he/she used for leveling kit!! It's the perfect size!!

I believe the one you are talking about belongs to Marc Good. It's an '04 250 PSD.

Not sure of his user name, but I'll try to find it.

1 - Rubicon 6.5"
2 - All springs
3 - Procomp reservoir
4 - SSR Radials 38" x 15.5" x R16.5"
5 - Previously 4.10, now 4.88
6 - Install lift myself, no problems. Gears were done at a shop.
7 - Very happy, much improved ride quality from last lift (4" Rancho).
8 - I wouldn't "un-do" anything.
9 - Don't remember for sure...I think it was about $1,750.00

Pictures in Gallery.<!-- / message --><!-- no sigs except when logged in --><!-- sig -->

1 - Type kit and how big - 4" Superlift
2 - Rear springs, blocks or add-a-leafs - full rear spring pack
3 - What shocks - Bilstein 5100 series
4 - What tires and size - 295 BFG AT - for now, just bought new tires, wheels that were recommended by shop caused rubbing (10" wide) next ones will be taller
5 - Gear ratio and what would you go to - stock 3.73s, will eventually go to 4.10
6 - Self install or shop - self install over 1 weekend
6a - If self install, how difficult and what problems - only problem was finding a puller to fir the pitman arm
7 - What is YOUR impression of the kit overall - would not hesitate to buy another Superlift
8 - If you could have, what would you change - only thing would be maybe go with adjustable shocks like ProComp or Rancho adjustables
9 - If you wouldn't mind, how much you paid for the LIFT - about $1500 total including dropped pitman arm, extended brake lines, adjustable track-bar ordered from different companies.

i searched the gallery and found his... it was marc! thanks again

Got a 5" ProComp lift, its pretty stiff. I think the donahoe kits are the way to go if you got the frogskins.

My '01 F250 SC SWB 4x4

1 - Type kit and how big?
2 1/2" Leveling Kit.

2 - Rear springs, blocks or add-a-leafs?
Blocks added (see answer #8b).

3 - What shocks?
SX 8000.

4 - What tires and size?
LT285/75R16.

5 - Gear ratio and what would you go to?
Stock.

6 - Self install or shop?
Self install.

6a - If self install, how difficult and what problems?
Piece of cake.

7 - What is YOUR impression of the kit overall?
A little stiffer ride, but good.

8 - If you could have, what would you change?
A) Although not required by the manufacturer, the Kit really should incorporate an extended pitman arm. Using the stock arm requires maxing-out many of your adjustments.

B) I believe the Kit is designed to level the worst-case scenario of Ford truck - the longbox crewcab. Mine was a shortbox supercab, and the geometry (rake) was off just enough to give my truck a nose-high stance, which was unacceptable IMO. To remedy this, I added 1 1/2" blocks to the rear.

9 - If you wouldn't mind, how much you paid for the LIFT?
I believe around $300.00.