I am looking to do the B mod for the rear of my 04 X. I think it has the stock springs sitting on 4 inch blocks. The right rear shock is toast and leaking.
I have the factory blocks if needed.
The front has BDS springs, the PN# indicates its a 4" spring. I would like to keep the front springs if they will work with the modded B springs in the rear.
All four shocks need replacing , so I am thinking the Blisteins from CT Performance would be the way to go.
Also , I asked Junior from ATS about some B code springs for the rear, is there any advantage with ATS over trying to buy new Ford springs? Other that $$?
Are the ATS springs good quality?

 

Krazee Matt that's a nice stance for sure. I spoke with Junior at ATS and he recommended two different directions for me to go. He said I could go with a direct bolt in V/C spring kit that would only increase the ride height slightly (1.5 front,a little more rear) or I could do the V/B mod spring setup. For me I want an all inclusive kit that maintains the stock height as close to possible so in a few months I will most likely be going this direction. He said I could use a stock height shock but I also wonder if I could use the 5100's? This thread has been great with lots of help from everyone. I do know that when I do the swap I will document and take pics to help the next guy or gal.

 

Folks, What kind of $$$'s are we talking about for all this? Just want to start saving up the pennies

 

I would say from my research , it all depends...
I talked to CT Performance and the price is steep , but im sure you would get a quality kit and I understand the customer service is amazing.
I wish I had the $$ for his complete kit...
I did look at the replacement springs on SD springs site and was shocked at how inexpensive the springs are. And that made me nervous considering the cost of OEM Ford springs was 2-3 times the SD price.
I also PM'd ATS Junior and asked a few questions.
So , I guess it all depends...

 

I would put away around $1500 to get started with a good spring and shock kit from what I have found and more if you get factory springs.

 

OEM springs seem to be running $350 each side for the B code rears.

 

Apologies for the thread hijack

 

Save your money. I went through Cary when I did mine because I was naive, uninformed, and Google showed a lot of results pointing towards CT Performance.

Having had my setup for well over three years:

The shocks are NOT custom valved. Not at the price you get charged for them. Bilstein isn't going to go off and make a custom valved shock for a small company with a narrow customer base. If anything, the shocks fit the collapsed/extended lengths and the valving is something that works for the X, but probably isn't in the recommended applications when you go through Bilstein directly for 5100's. Personally it seems like a bit of a ploy to get customers to spring for the dual shock kit, but that is purely MY opinion and not supported by anything factual.

If you do the maths yourself, you'll find that you can piece together one of the kits from CT Performance for nearly $1000 cheaper with proper shopping. All the other components (drop hanger kit, adjustable chromoly trackbar) come from Icon. I know this because when I got my shipment, they were shipped separately and in Icon's sealed boxes with accompanying invoices - from Icon. Hefty markup, which I was less than thrilled with. I understand there's a markup period to maintain profit, but this was damn near a 'purchased from Icon and then marked up' situation. U-bolts and such can be made by any decent spring shop near you, or found new for less as well. $2500 shipped is what I paid for the 33" tire setup. Which, by the way, has been clearing 35x12.50's since the day I put the lift on with zero issues. I only contact a little bit now during full lock because I threw wider wheels with more offset on.

Plenty of people are happy with their setup, but for the price and now that I know what I could have SAVED by doing some leg work myself, I am highly displeased and cannot recommend CT...

 

Keep in mind, that was more than 10 years ago now.

Oh wow, that is a lot of money.

Stewart

 

unleashd no worries I think it's relevant to my thread, if I hadn't asked CT and ATS already I would have included it as one of the questions.

 

I paid $69 for my new U bolts, everything else used on my modded X/B swap was free. A coworker had installed a lift kit on his Duper Duty earlier and was more than happy to get the 20k mile takeoff X/Bs out of his garage, he gave me all the springs, factory Rancho shocks, front upper shock mounts, rear blocks and a box of loose hardware.
Look around and ask others with lifted SD trucks, these deals are out there, rare but they do happen.

 

I have been checking Craigslist and other places. High milers though...
Maybe new OEM is worth the $$

 

Pro-comp springs from Amazon $125 ea free freight
KGB monomax shocks $55 ea free freight
Ubolts- local spring shop but I am sure other online sources are not to hard to find

Edit.... pmf fab is legit.... custom ubolts
http://www.pmfsuspension.com/Ford199...olts_p_43.html

 

How do you like the Rancho for someone in south Texas that doesn't see salt?

Follow up question to that. I don't ever go off pavement. Would I still find value in the adjustability or am I going to end up with just one "right" setting that I never change from and if so, is that the same difference then as a Bilstein or KYB ?

For the record my excursion is sitting on X/C mod springs from ATS and I will have some longer shackles in the front shortly to (try to anyway) bring the nose up to level so it's definitely not stock ride height, but I don't know if it falls in to "lifted" category either.

 

I think ATS' prices are very reasonable for what you're getting. Here's my invoice from July.

Replacement X code Spring Kit, FRONT

Kit Includes:
(2) X code Replacement Leaf Springs
(2) Front Spring Eye Bolts
(4) Custom Made U-bolts
(4) Rear Spring Eye/Shackle Bolts
(2) Rear of Front Shackles
350.00

Replacement ATS Mod C code Kit, REAR

Kit Includes:
(2) ATS Modded C code Leaf Springs
(2) Front Spring Eye Bolts
(4) Custom Made U-bolts
(4) Rear Spring Eye/Shackle Bolts
(2) Rear of Rear Shackles
595.00