the 97 f350 I just bought has a 6" superjacker lift.....thinking of building it into something im gonna hold onto...
the steering is not as tight as id like, I plan on going to crossover steering.....but ive been reading about reverse shackle kit....if I add this kit for another 3", will I gain anything besides more lift? and then are my shocks and brake lines gonna need replacing too?
I would need to do the shackle kit before ordering the crossover kit, right? otherwise the crossover wont be good for more lift later down the line?
is this all correct?




and when on the mods list do the transmission (auto) and torque converter need upgrading? what determines that? bigger tires? im not hot rodding the engine...

 

no one?......................

 

Not sure where to start….

You have a big truck, but want it bigger and are not sure why or what to do?

Keep reading and researching and you will learn most of your answers, or at least how to better address the issues. This is not meant to sound insulting.

Congrats on the truck!

 

I hear ya..........no offense....what im kinda wondering is what benefits would I get with the reverse shackle kit on a already lifted truck? and I would have to do the shackle before I ordered crossover steering...correct?

 

Bigger tires are a death sentence for a transmission.

If you're running bigger tires regear the rear end to trick the transmission into thinking the stock tires are on there.

 

An arched spring gets longer as it compressed and gets flat. The pivoting shackle allows this length change. So, if the overall spring length changes, so does its length change at mid length, where the axle attaches, just about half as much. If this is making sense so far, then it also makes sense that with an arched spring, that the axle is pushed away from the fixed end of the spring. With an arched spring fixed at the rear, the wheel has to move forward as it rolls over a bump. Doesn't seem right, does it?

So now you know what the reverse shackle kit is doing.

But, back to your lift...

There are two RSKs on the market, one for OBS length leafs and one for SD length leafs.

An OBS leaf has a long dimension from the axle to the rear bushing, and shorter from the axle to the front bushing.

A SD leaf is the same length from the axle to the rear bushing as the OBS, but it is longer from the axle to the front bushing. In fact, the axle is attached very near the middle on a SD leaf. But the axle/wheel stays in the same location relative to the wheel well.

The RSK for SD springs moves the front leaf mounting point forward to accommodate the additional length. Then the kit also provides a shackle that is mounted at the rear where the spring used to attach.

The RSK for OBS springs keeps the front leaf mounting location where it needs to be for the OBS leaf dimensions. And includes a shackle for the rear.

In my opinion, you will see no ride improvement from using your existing lift leaf springs with a RSK. It will only give you additional lift.

The real improvement in the ride is gained by using the SD leafs. They are softer at initial compression but the stiffness increases so they can carry the similar overall load.

 

Thank u! That's what I was looking for!

 

I beg to differ here. I have an rsk with stock obs springs. My ride quality was improved over original. I did not know of the pmf at that time and sky was 6" lift with SD springs. My garage door is 7'. I was limited then to stock springs. I am happy but someday will do a pmf with SD springs and go back down a little.

 

I have been done this road I did rsk from sky manufacturing on a already lifted truck it made it huge. I also did there high steer crossover steering kit which you gotta send them the knuckle so they can machine it. I also did a hydraulic steering assist which is what helped tighten the steering the most. Since the truck was so big I ended up taking the lift blocks out of the rear and a few leafs out of the front springs to get it more manageable. It has 40"s on it now and doesn't road walk. It gets expensive quick. Now I got a wife and kids and wish it just had a rsk on stock springs with 35" tires. It's to big to drive with a family without it being a pain

 

The OP is wanting to use a RSK with his 6" lift springs...which I said that he wouldn't see much improvement with, because such lift springs are notoriously stiff. But I do not know from experience nor have I read much about RSKs with such springs.

 

However moving the swing shackle to the rear will help ride anyway because the spring can work to the rear. It may not be Cadillac but it will help. Either way its a big truck.