Flatty......the sway bar drop brackets (as well as the track bar drop bracket) have nothing to do with increasing off-road capability. You have to keep in mind that you are raising the truck when you level it which changes the front end geometry. The higher you lift it the bigger the change. The sway bar drop brackets (as well as the track bar drop brackets) bring the geometry back to where it was before when stock. Now the decision to be made by anyone doing a "level" is that the geometry change is minor with a 2-2.5" lift. You can get away with NOT installing the sway bar drop brackets (and the track bar brackets), they are not REQUIRED....BUT if you want the geometry back to where it was when your truck was stock then you install them. And in fact these brackets actually benefit ON ROAD driving characteristics by bringing the suspension back to stock geometry. Another example of this is the caster bushings that some (like BDS) offer for a 2-2.5" lift. Are they "required"? No, but even after you align the truck after the lift the front end alignment settings are not going to be optimal. Want "optimal"? Install the caster bushings. Again the caster bushings are not for improving off-road capability, it is for on road. I could get into additional explanations regarding "bump stop drop brackets" and "brake line drop brackets" but you should get the idea, it is more for on road performance not off road.

Also keep in mind that these very items DO become REQUIRED when lifting higher than a level kit (about 3" and higher).

 

When you lift the front, the axle moves rearward, and the positive caster decreases. Lift it high enough, and you will end up with negative caster, like a shopping cart.
Positive caster is what self centers the steering and gives a vehicle straight line stability. Pushing a shopping cart backwards is a good example of negative caster in action.
The truck was designed with a certain amount of positive caster. Whether you want to maintain this will be up to you.

 

I must have mis-worded my post but yes I understand castor and the need to change geometry related part's. What I meant by the comment is if the non-related parts are really needing to be changed (brake line brackets, bump stops, etc). My thought is no since most companies aren't including these with the kits.

 

Got my level done yesterday.

2.5 ReadyLift level kit

2.5 Spacers
Shock extension brackets
Sway bar drop brackets
Bump stop extensions
Brake line drop brackets
ReadyLift track bar bracket
Moog adjustable caster bushings
Total $466

Install and alignment at Ford dealer $500

 

Looks great. Do you have details on the system used? Are you able to measure the final max height at the back of the cab?

 

just added info above.... I'll try to measure ....82 3/8ths to the center of the top of the back of the cab

 

Don't know if you mean these measurements but could you measure height at front wheel well and height at back so we know how level it is.

 

Vincent....great looking truck. And the leveling worked out perfectly. Thanks for posting this. May I ask what did they charge for the install? Did they do an alignment? Like I had mentioned in a prior post, this is exactly what I am going to do. Nice job...........

 

Did you get a chance to measure front and rear wheel wells to see how level it is now?

 

43 1/2 front 44 1/2 back......

Is measuring both wheel wells a determination of true level?

I guess it depends what u want because Achec said his is exactly the same at both wheel wells and even he thinks it slightly looks nose high...mine does look slightly lower still in the front which I don't mind because I do hook up to a trailer for work at times and do haul some weight at times....

Its pretty cool though that through all our info I think people will be able to get the look they truly want with no surprises.

 

Those measurements are exactly what I want to hear! I want a slight rake still and was hoping for ~1"

 

couple questions:

i just recieved the readylift kit.
the bumpstop spacers i received are just machined pieces of aluminum and look nothing like the spacers shown in the instructions.
are these what you guys have received?

i also have the caster bushings that "rutcutter" posted.
stupid question, but i want to make sure: does the "fat" part of the bushing install toward the front of the axle?

thanks

 

[QUOTE=Pvincentt;16864359]Got my level done yesterday.

2.5 ReadyLift level kit

2.5 Spacers
Shock extension brackets
Sway bar drop brackets
Bump stop extensions
Brake line drop brackets
ReadyLift track bar bracket
Moog adjustable caster bushings
Total $466

Install and alignment at Ford dealer $500[/QUOTE

could you do me a huge favor and post pictures of your bump stop extensions and your caster bushings? i would appreciate it, thanks

 

Another way of checking true level would be to put a long level across one of the lower body lines.

 

[QUOTE=kylant;16869081]kylant...See my post with the video on page 2. Go to 21sec. and you can see the bump stop extension in the upper middle of the screen, just to the left of the spacers. Also go to 1:40-1:51 in the video and you will catch some views of it. Keep in mind that the off-white bushing you see on the bump extension is the stock Ford part that gets changed over to the extension.