Long story short, my final product for a lift is a very mis-matched combo of stuff. It works and it's solid, but it's not nice. I don't have any of my original hardware from back when my Dad had it so I'm in a situation where I have to pretty much build it all from scratch. Also, I botched up the bracket on the front axle to get it to work with a later track bar and bolt so I have two options with the front... fix this axle and make the old e99 stuff work again or swap out the axle for a later one. If I'm right, there are also different U-bolts on the e99's as well so I might be screwed. If I'm gonna go through the trouble to swap out the front axle, should I go with the '05-'07 coilover gear? I know there are some big improvements spring-wise as far as lifts go... will the Icon and Skyjacker leaf-sprung lifts ride nice compared to a coilover suspension? I don't want a Caddy, but I drive it enough to where my 450/550 springs in the rear are obnoxious. I know the death wobble issues can be nipped pretty well with good caster, improved track bar ends, and everything being nice and tight. As for the rear, it's too harsh for an empty 250... I'll get bags to bring my payload back up again. I'm thinking I might swap to the '08 leafs as I hear the added length improves the ride quite a bit.

To sum this up... leafs vs. coils. Worth the swap? Do the leaf spring lifts that Icon or Skyjacker make ride nice? Any experience with them? Thanks, guys!

 

One really big negative I just thought if is I'd have to get new tires and rims... 17's are the smallest you can do on the '05+ stuff. After I dumped all that money into brakes and the front end, I'd almost like to make what I have work.

 

What happened to your track bar bracket? I have E99 and want to convert to newer bar this spring.

 

It got junked along with everything else that's missing from this truck... I had to buy one and I got an "adjustable" bracket that uses a cam to adjust it. I have no idea if it's holding anything put or not. I'm really leaning towards Icon stuff in the front... I like their bracket and track bar. I hear their springs are better than stock and are just as good as Deaver Suspension's stuff. For ther rear, I'm not sure... I might go with stock springs and traction blocks (would like some traction bars). I'm going to get air bags so I'm not too particular about it being mushy in the rear. We'll see!

 

I've had a 4" Skyjacker lift with front and rear springs on for 8-10 years. The truck road a lot better after the lift was installed than when it was stock. I used a dropped frame bracket for track bar and kept factory bar.I'm thinking of replacing track bar this spring with an adjustable one from Zone. The only issue I ever notice about my front springs is ever since new the shackles are leaning back so far that they hit frame now and then. Do your shackles do this? I'm thinking of adding longer shackles to push them away from the frame. When I was searching Track Bars on here I saw a link where someone has a replacement bracket that gets welded on axle to replace E99 bracket. Would a replacement bracket solve your problem with your axle?

 

It might... mine is just a terrible missmatched combo. The front springs are some heavy duty replacements (I don't know the code) and rears are something out of a 450/550. The track bar, bracket, shackles, hangers, and sway bar end links are all different stuff. At least the truck is solid?

 

A few questions (Q) and comments (C)...

Q1 - Your signature states that you currently have a 4" lift kit... Do you plan to change the lift height (+/-) as part of this suspension upgrade?

Q2 - What size tires do you plan to run as part of this suspension upgrade?

Q3 - What is the budget for this upgrade?

C1 - Your 1999 F250 came with a Dana 50 front axle and leaf springs. I do not believe that the 2005+ F250 Dana 60 front axle with coil springs will not fit your truck without modifying the spring mounting points on the axle. Your best option would be to find a 1999-2004 Dana 60 front axle designed for a leaf spring front axle.

C2 - To my knowledge, the air bag upgrade is limited to a maximum lift of 4 inches.

C3 - Personally, I would throw out everything you have currently and start over with a new lift kit. I would include new front and rear leaf springs, new shocks, new adjustable track bar, new SS brake lines, and carrier bearing drop kit.

 

Same height, same tires... pretty much decided against the coilovers just because I'd need axles and wheels. Plus, I already spent alot on brakes and front-end parts already. I was figuring on starting over as I have no idea what I've got already, I just know it's about 4" higher than other stock 250's I've seen. Some of the 2000's had D50's I think... I can keep my axle, I just have to redo my track bar mount. The difference was the U-bolts and track bar mounting I think. As for what I'm going to put into it now, I don't know. I really like Icon's hardware for the front end and from what I hear, the ride is better than stock. As for the rear, I don't know. I can fab up stuff if I need to for the bags. I'm debating on stock springs and traction blocks. Those are expensive, though... I can fab my own traction bars easy. I'd love to have straight spring in the rear, but Icon doesn't make anything. Might get something from Deaver for the rear... I don't know. As for the price, I don't really care. It's looking like it's going to be a piece-meal anyways. Plus, I'm planning on keeping the truck indefinitely and I drive alot so I don't mind putting the time and money into it. I know it sounds like I have my mind made up already, but I'm open to anything.

Noticed on the newer trucks, drop pitmans and track bar brackets aren't what's done anymore... they just lengthen the track bar. I thought it was because of the the fact that when you lift it, the box may not be able to sweep enough to turn the knuckles all the way to the bumpers? I know bumpsteer is part of it, but that happens when the drag link and track bar aren't parallel... what gives? Is it because leafs don't allow enough side-to-side movement to work with the angles that are created when lifting the truck? I can understand that seeing how coil suspension can move side-to-side pretty much indefinitely.

 

Icon offers 5" Rear Leaf Springs for your truck and a Cross Over Steering Kit for the front axle to address steering issues.

5" Rear Leaf Springs - $744.19
35000 - '99 - '07 Ford Super Duty 5" Lift Rear Leaf Spring Kit - ICON Vehicle Dynamics



Cross Over Steering Kit - $854.44
3-9500 - '00 - '04 Ford Super Duty Cross Over Steering Kit - ICON Vehicle Dynamics

 

If I'm right, though... on a 4" lift, that's overall lift. I think the rear only gets picked up 2", it's the front that gets 4". Isn't that crossover for 8"+?

So here's another Q: if putting a 4" stock block in the rear of a stock 250 will make it level when the front is picked up 4", does that mean that if I truly have 4" lift, I should be able to swap stock 250 springs under my truck and it'll sit level with my 4" blocks? In the 4" Icon lift, are those 4" blocks used WITH, or IN PLACE OF the stock blocks? If they're used in place of, then I'm gonna find some stock springs just to ease up on my ride some. It's driving me crazy!

 

The Icon 4" lift kit includes new rear blocks to "replace" your OEM rear blocks. You stated that you currently have F450/550 rear leaf springs that offer a very harsh ride. You also stated that you wanted to install new air bags. My thought was to recommend the Icon 5" leaf springs that will "replace" you current F450/550 rear leaf springs and your OEM 2" rear blocks. In short, you will have a new set of progressive rate rear leaf springs with NO REAR BLOCKS. There will be 1 inch of rake with 4" leaf springs in the front and 5" leaf springs in the rear. The Icon seller will adjust the cost of the lift kit for the removal of the Icon rear blocks and the addition of the Icon 5" rear leaf springs.

Here are two Icon sellers that will work with you on your suspension upgrade:

TopgunCustomz.com
4" 00-04 Ford F250/F350 Icon Suspension Lift System @Top Gun Customz

TruckToyzPerformance.com
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 4 Inch Lift System - 2000-2004 F250/F350 4wd - Icon Veh. Dynamics - 2000-2004 F250/F350 SRW 4wd - Truck Toyz Store

I have contacted Icon asking them if their cross over steerng kit can be used with their 4" lift kit.

 

Nice!

Actually, mine is an e99 so it came with 4" blocks... I think '99 is the only year Ford did this. As to the springs, they're either 450/550 equivalents or they're a 350DRW spring. Either way, it's stiff. I've bought from Top Gun before and I liked them. I'll see if I can't get them to put something together for me when the funds allow.

 

Just for reference, you really aren't limited by any size lift. You simply would need to make an adequately sized and stable spacer. We actually offer up to a 6" lock-n-lift spacer for lifts. However, depending on what lift you go with you may not need a 4" spacer for a 4" lift. Any lift achieved by a block below the leaf springs would not require a spacer. Only lift achieved by springs will require a spacer.

The best way to know how much spacer you need is to measure the distance between the frame and top of leaf pack prior to the lift versus after.

 

You guys now make air bag kits to fit trucks with turnover *****, correct?

 

Good to know... I'll remember that in the future!