Leveling/Lift Coils
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: West Virginia
Leveling/Lift Coils
I have a 1992 Ford F-150 with the 300I6 and E4OD tranny, 8.8inch rear and Dana 44 IFS ( I guess you would call it IFS, as it is a coil setup). Tthe front of my truck is about 4 inches lower than the rear and I was wanting to lift the front about 3-4 inches while keeping the rear about the same height. Is there any way I could just find some 3 or 4" lift coils and throw them under there, or am I going to have to revamp the whole suspension of the front end of the truck to get it somewhat more level. I don't realy want something that just lift/levels it 2 inches either, that's just not enough, I'm tired of the sissy front end sag and my axle hitting the crossmembers (I think thats what they are called, whatever your axle hits whenever it bottoms out) when I'm out 4-wheeling. I'm not worried about if I get the front alittle higher than the rear as I could always fix the rear suspension height real quick because I would know how high it would need to be lifted to get it even. Any help you guys could give me would be great, thanks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Topsfield, MA
Leveling/Lift Coils
You would have to install a 4" lift kit. But why would your rear end be 3-4" higher than the front? You you have special springs or helpers back there? It's suppose to be only 2" stock. Keep in mind that when you lift the front of the truck, the rear will go down about an inch because the weight is being shifted. By the way, it's called IFS because both tires can move independently, not because it has coil springs.
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Senior User
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From: West Virginia
Leveling/Lift Coils
I know it's called IFS because of that, I was just saying that I thought it was an IFS setup because it had coil springs and it isn't a solid axle. Just a little misunderstanding. Anyway I just remeasured back and front and it is about 4" (a little more than 4" actually) lower in the front than it is in the rear. The ground I'm measuring on is level, I think it's like that because the truck has the stock springs in the front. But I'm pretty sure the back springs are (fairly) new because a couple years back the truck was wrecked, and the back axle was broke in two and if I remember right, they replaced the axle and the springs. So either one of two things happened, from where the leafs are fairly new they don't sag as much as the front springs, or they put leafs on there that have a higher height than the stock ones. Is there anyone that makes a lift just for the front end? I'd hate to pay $400+ dollars for a complete lift kit, when I only need half the stuff in it.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: USA
Leveling/Lift Coils
The Problem you have is your current front springs are SHOT! Junk, Garbage etc.. Afterall the truck is 11 years old... and since you go 4 wheeling your springs are getting more of a beating....
I would goto your local spring shop and get Heavy duty replacement coils. Or get stock coils for a 351W, which is heavier than the 300.
I have a 1984 Bronco and it had a 351W. I dropped a 460 in which is 200 pounds heavier... well I never replaced the Front coils because I was broke and it rode ok. Well when I replaced them with heavier duty springs recommended by my local spring guy, the Front end was 3-4 inches higher than before replacing springs. I had installed new rear springs as well.... so the Front is higher than the rear. My front coils will settle about an inch in 3 months or so. Once they do my truck will be level.
So my advice is call your local spring shop and see what he has to say... no need for a $400 lift kit when you can spend $125 and get the true results you desire.
I would goto your local spring shop and get Heavy duty replacement coils. Or get stock coils for a 351W, which is heavier than the 300.
I have a 1984 Bronco and it had a 351W. I dropped a 460 in which is 200 pounds heavier... well I never replaced the Front coils because I was broke and it rode ok. Well when I replaced them with heavier duty springs recommended by my local spring guy, the Front end was 3-4 inches higher than before replacing springs. I had installed new rear springs as well.... so the Front is higher than the rear. My front coils will settle about an inch in 3 months or so. Once they do my truck will be level.
So my advice is call your local spring shop and see what he has to say... no need for a $400 lift kit when you can spend $125 and get the true results you desire.
Last edited by Steve_Uzi; Aug 5, 2003 at 07:02 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
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From: Topsfield, MA
Leveling/Lift Coils
You can't lift the front of the truck by simply putting in new springs. You can buy a lift kit without the rear components. You need axle pivot drop brackets and either longer radius arms (very good idea) or radius arm drop brackets. New brake lines, shocks, pitman arm etc etc...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: USA
Leveling/Lift Coils
Ok what I was trying to tell the guy is that he probably will raise his front end a bit (from what it is now) by replacing the springs.. you are correct and you cannot just get a 4" lift without all the goodies.. But it sounds like this guy just has junk front springs and that by getting some new ones, heavy duty ones maybe, that he will be able to RESTORE his truck to original height and maybe gain an Inch or so... depending on how heavy duty of a coil he puts. Now if he puts the same coils I used for my Bronco / 460 combo then he will get an inch or so... but a stiffer ride
Before replacing my springs in my Bronco the front end was low... low to the point where the tires were almost rubbing on the inner fenderwell.
Before replacing my springs in my Bronco the front end was low... low to the point where the tires were almost rubbing on the inner fenderwell.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
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From: Topsfield, MA
Leveling/Lift Coils
Well the guy said it wants 4" ....not an inch...right?
I should clarify....when I said "You can't lift the front of the truck by simply putting in new springs" I mean't, you can't lift it over 2" by using a heavier coil (it would be a rock hard ride anyway).
I should clarify....when I said "You can't lift the front of the truck by simply putting in new springs" I mean't, you can't lift it over 2" by using a heavier coil (it would be a rock hard ride anyway).
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: West Virginia
Leveling/Lift Coils
I want about 4" from what I have now, not 4 inches from stock (if Steve is right about my springs being shot, it's worth a try). If it the new springs would bring my truck back to stock and then raise it an inch, I would be VERY happy. And I wouldn't care if the ride is really tough, I love a vehicle with very stiff suspension. My buddy has a 3/4 ton Chevy and I love the way it rides, it has very stiff suspension. If with the new coils my truck's suspension got very stiff I would love it, because with the way I 4-wheel (pretty much bajaing everywhere) it would be perfect.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: West Virginia
Leveling/Lift Coils
Well it'll probably be awhile before I get anything done, as I'm broke right now (what am I saying, I'm always broke). But I'm getting some tires here in a couple months, and if I still have some money left over from them, I might mess with the suspension then. Otherwise it will be a little longer. Either way I'll let yall know how it turns out. If only this beast had leaf springs. that would make it easier on me, I can work with leaf setups, but that darn new fangled coil technoligy is something us hicks aren't used to.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: West Virginia
Leveling/Lift Coils
Well, I finally pulled my head out of my ***, and I got to thinking. I had seen stuff about Skyjacker leveling coils, but I couldn't find anything really called "leveling coils" on the Skyjacker site, but after some searching on there, I found the Coil Spring for a 1992 FORD F-150 PICKUP, and I was wondering if these are the leveling coils I've read about. Anyway, if they are, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these, and if they are any good.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,191
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From: USA
Leveling/Lift Coils
Description: Softride; Coil Spring; Front; Lift Height 2 in.; Pair;
The springs you sent a link to are for a 2" lift. I searched on Yahoo yellow pages and came up with 3 places in WV that are spring shops... Call them! As far as I can figure it, you need stock replacement springs that can be had for $125 or so for the pair
West Virginia Spring & Rdtr Co
(304) 744-5347 3100 Maccorkle Ave SW Charleston, WV
Moss Auto Electric Corp
(304) 253-9640 501 S Fayette St Beckley, WV
Wheeling Spring Svc Co
(304) 233-0570 2301 Main St Wheeling, WV
The springs you sent a link to are for a 2" lift. I searched on Yahoo yellow pages and came up with 3 places in WV that are spring shops... Call them! As far as I can figure it, you need stock replacement springs that can be had for $125 or so for the pair
West Virginia Spring & Rdtr Co
(304) 744-5347 3100 Maccorkle Ave SW Charleston, WV
Moss Auto Electric Corp
(304) 253-9640 501 S Fayette St Beckley, WV
Wheeling Spring Svc Co
(304) 233-0570 2301 Main St Wheeling, WV
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Leveling/Lift Coils
Those are the ones, ntwonline.com, summitracing.com, 4wheelparts.com all carry them. It will ride a little stiffer than you are now, even though they call them "softride" (I think they just do that for advertising. I have a skyjacker 6" lift and it's great. All of there stuff has a great reputation. I've been on these boards for awhile and I've never seen anyone complain about a skyjacker product. Remember, all advertised inch ratings for springs are usually based on the original specs of the vehicle when it rolled out of the factory. I don't think the springs you have are as saggy and crappy as others might think, but thats me. The fact that your rear is so high, shifts weight to the front so just that alone is causing the front to be about an inch lower. Sounds like you have something going on with that rear end, even if the springs are what came in the truck and are not as old, they shouldn't be that much higher, 4" is a lot.
Last edited by MustangGT221; Aug 7, 2003 at 08:12 AM.