Leaf springs + Shackles
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Leaf springs + Shackles
Hello,
I have a couple questions about lifting the front end of my 03 f250 5.4 gas up 2 more inches.
I have a 2" shackle leveling my truck out right now. I ordered a leaf pack for the front end that comes with center pins. Putting the add a leaf is possible correct? I know it is not the recommended way to go but I'm going the cheaper way. What are the negative impacts of doing it?
Thanks for the info!
I have a couple questions about lifting the front end of my 03 f250 5.4 gas up 2 more inches.
I have a 2" shackle leveling my truck out right now. I ordered a leaf pack for the front end that comes with center pins. Putting the add a leaf is possible correct? I know it is not the recommended way to go but I'm going the cheaper way. What are the negative impacts of doing it?
Thanks for the info!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,654
Likes: 20
From: Tewksbury, MA
Definitley doable, I have a 2.5" leveling kit in my truck as well i went with the Zone leveling kit because i liked the reveiws it had from people on here over other mini packs.
Just checking so you have a 2" shackle kit now your going to add another 2" correect? If so then you also need to get eh following:
- Adjustable Track bar or drop pitman arm and trac bar relocation bracket
- Extended brake lines
- longer sway bar links
All trucks are different like mine with the plow prep package and the 5.4l being very light i essentially got 4" out of my 2.5" leveling kit and that made me need all those things to keep the truck form having bump steer and other issues. Just keep that in mind because you are changin the geometry of a lot of things when you lift the truck.
Also since you are lifting the truck from under the leaf spring you do not need longer shocks but since you lifted have longer shackles you should probably get new shocks if its close to the time but when you do dont get them for a 4" lift get them for a stock-2" lift because the distance from shock mount to shock mount only changed 2" not 4".
Just checking so you have a 2" shackle kit now your going to add another 2" correect? If so then you also need to get eh following:
- Adjustable Track bar or drop pitman arm and trac bar relocation bracket
- Extended brake lines
- longer sway bar links
All trucks are different like mine with the plow prep package and the 5.4l being very light i essentially got 4" out of my 2.5" leveling kit and that made me need all those things to keep the truck form having bump steer and other issues. Just keep that in mind because you are changin the geometry of a lot of things when you lift the truck.
Also since you are lifting the truck from under the leaf spring you do not need longer shocks but since you lifted have longer shackles you should probably get new shocks if its close to the time but when you do dont get them for a 4" lift get them for a stock-2" lift because the distance from shock mount to shock mount only changed 2" not 4".
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7
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Definitley doable, I have a 2.5" leveling kit in my truck as well i went with the Zone leveling kit because i liked the reveiws it had from people on here over other mini packs.
Just checking so you have a 2" shackle kit now your going to add another 2" correect? If so then you also need to get eh following:
- Adjustable Track bar or drop pitman arm and trac bar relocation bracket
- Extended brake lines
- longer sway bar links
All trucks are different like mine with the plow prep package and the 5.4l being very light i essentially got 4" out of my 2.5" leveling kit and that made me need all those things to keep the truck form having bump steer and other issues. Just keep that in mind because you are changin the geometry of a lot of things when you lift the truck.
Also since you are lifting the truck from under the leaf spring you do not need longer shocks but since you lifted have longer shackles you should probably get new shocks if its close to the time but when you do dont get them for a 4" lift get them for a stock-2" lift because the distance from shock mount to shock mount only changed 2" not 4".
Just checking so you have a 2" shackle kit now your going to add another 2" correect? If so then you also need to get eh following:
- Adjustable Track bar or drop pitman arm and trac bar relocation bracket
- Extended brake lines
- longer sway bar links
All trucks are different like mine with the plow prep package and the 5.4l being very light i essentially got 4" out of my 2.5" leveling kit and that made me need all those things to keep the truck form having bump steer and other issues. Just keep that in mind because you are changin the geometry of a lot of things when you lift the truck.
Also since you are lifting the truck from under the leaf spring you do not need longer shocks but since you lifted have longer shackles you should probably get new shocks if its close to the time but when you do dont get them for a 4" lift get them for a stock-2" lift because the distance from shock mount to shock mount only changed 2" not 4".
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,654
Likes: 20
From: Tewksbury, MA
Try bds (bdssuspension.com) iys usually called the box kit it comes with a trac bar relocation bracket and drop pitman arm and make sure its for a 4" lift since thatd your total height now.
Once I get back to my computer I ca link one for you, many places sell the stuff though like Icon and Rough Counry etc. Personally Icon and BDS are really good companies Icon is expensive vs bds but both have good reputations and bds has a lifetime warranty against any part that brakes. Also try PMF I forget thier site link but they are very good quality parts as well.
Once I get back to my computer I ca link one for you, many places sell the stuff though like Icon and Rough Counry etc. Personally Icon and BDS are really good companies Icon is expensive vs bds but both have good reputations and bds has a lifetime warranty against any part that brakes. Also try PMF I forget thier site link but they are very good quality parts as well.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Apr 2014
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Try bds (bdssuspension.com) iys usually called the box kit it comes with a trac bar relocation bracket and drop pitman arm and make sure its for a 4" lift since thatd your total height now.
Once I get back to my computer I ca link one for you, many places sell the stuff though like Icon and Rough Counry etc. Personally Icon and BDS are really good companies Icon is expensive vs bds but both have good reputations and bds has a lifetime warranty against any part that brakes. Also try PMF I forget thier site link but they are very good quality parts as well.
Once I get back to my computer I ca link one for you, many places sell the stuff though like Icon and Rough Counry etc. Personally Icon and BDS are really good companies Icon is expensive vs bds but both have good reputations and bds has a lifetime warranty against any part that brakes. Also try PMF I forget thier site link but they are very good quality parts as well.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,654
Likes: 20
From: Tewksbury, MA
It shouldn't make a difference because a 4" lift with leaf springs or shackles and mini pack will make the drive shaft the same angle I got 4" out of my mini pack because my leaf springs were old and i have a Gasser so it lifts higher.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,654
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From: Tewksbury, MA
Wait do you have a crew cab? you will need a carrier bearing drop bracket because it's a two piece drive shaft and in that instance hey are correct it will make the truck vibrate a lot at high speeds. I have an ex cab so its a one piece i didn't neet to worry about it. PMF sells shims cheap here (1999-2012 Ford F-250/350 Carrier Bearing Shims) on thier site it says that the general rule of thumb is 1/4" drop for every 1" rear lift so if you do a rear 4" lift then you need 4 of them to equal a 1" drop and it will cost you $20.
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New User
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Wait do you have a crew cab? you will need a carrier bearing drop bracket because it's a two piece drive shaft and in that instance hey are correct it will make the truck vibrate a lot at high speeds. I have an ex cab so its a one piece i didn't neet to worry about it. PMF sells shims cheap here (1999-2012 Ford F-250/350 Carrier Bearing Shims) on thier site it says that the general rule of thumb is 1/4" drop for every 1" rear lift so if you do a rear 4" lift then you need 4 of them to equal a 1" drop and it will cost you $20.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,654
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From: Tewksbury, MA
It should be fine, I have not heard of an issue with 4" or 6" even i think once you start getting crazy with up towards double digit lifts is when you need to worry about the drive shafts. No matter how you lift the front of the truck the angle of the drive shaft will be the same. When you think about it since the axle gets moved down the same amount it wont matter if its a leaf spring only, shackles only or what ever its still the same distance from the transfer case 4" is 4" unless your shifting the axle forward or backward then there will be no difference with how you lift it relative to drive shaft angles.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Hillsboro, OR
It should be fine, I have not heard of an issue with 4" or 6" even i think once you start getting crazy with up towards double digit lifts is when you need to worry about the drive shafts. No matter how you lift the front of the truck the angle of the drive shaft will be the same. When you think about it since the axle gets moved down the same amount it wont matter if its a leaf spring only, shackles only or what ever its still the same distance from the transfer case 4" is 4" unless your shifting the axle forward or backward then there will be no difference with how you lift it relative to drive shaft angles.
You CAN NOT change one dimension in a triangle without affecting at least one other dimension.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,654
Likes: 20
From: Tewksbury, MA
I get that but you don't have to modify the drive shaft until you get up to about a 10" lift then it starts to get too short and the drive shafts need to be lengthened. There shouldn't be an issue with lifting the truck via shackles and a mini pack. Many people have done it and I've never seen someone who needed to make drive shaft modifications, most go from a 4" lift to a 6" lift by adding 2" shackles to their 4" lift springs and don't make any drive train modifications to the truck. Either way there shouldn't be an issue I would personally go through with the lift especially since the OP has all the parts in already.
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