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I'm putting on a djm 3/4 kit on my 77 F100 SWB. I've taken the liberty of ordering new king pins, new inner and outer tie rod ends/drag link, and a steering gear box. I figure I might as well get everything as tight and crisp as I can. I've had the truck maybe 3 years and have started going through it only over the last 6 months or so. The radius arm bushings look like relatively recent replacements, maybe a few years before I got it. I know the bearings need repacked/replaced. I haven't gone through the brakes much yet. I swapped in my brake booster and pedals from my 75 F150 to convert from manual to power and I bled the brakes. Is there anything that would be worth checking/replacing while the front end is apart? I'm not made of money, but I want my rig solid and safe... and lower. Thanks.
I would check your shock travel when you have it all installed and see if they bottom out before the bump stops. I would also keep in mind that your brake lines will be less extended and may rub on tires or pinched when on the ground. I ran into these issues when I lowered my 89 ranger years ago.
Where are you getting the "rebuilt" steering box from? Local parts house? Mou might be better off to ck out Red Head. https://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/
Great reputation and well worth the $.
other part to look into replacing is the steering column lower "rag" joint.
Front drop shocks aren't required. Dream beams don't alter the suspension travel... they only change the horizontal position of the spindle center line relative to the i-beam centerline.
I had considered the red head, but I can't afford 300+ for the box, 100 for shipping, and 200 for the core charge right now. Honestly, I plan on running this box from summit for a few years and save my OE box off my rig to r&r by read head. This box from summit was under 120 with no core so I'll eat that for now. I think that'll give me enough time to convince my wife that its worth it lol.
I was told by the owner of the alignment/suspension shop that I go to that I wouldn't need the drop shocks as my travel wouldn't be affected, but I'm still keeping shocks in mind to look at post install on the drop.
I was told by the owner of the alignment/suspension shop that I go to that I wouldn't need the drop shocks as my travel wouldn't be affected, but I'm still keeping shocks in mind to look at post install on the drop.
Yeah, I just wanted to clarify that 'drop shocks' weren't needed and why. I went with Bilstein shocks up front on my '70 F100. The PNs are in my '70's build thread.
The rears, typically yes. But I went with an axle flip (with frame notch) and Fatman Fabrication's shock adapters which move the lower mounting point forward so the shock body doesn't contact the axle tube. They also maintain the stock length. Dimensioned drawings are also in my '70's build thread.
I had considered the red head, but I can't afford 300+ for the box, 100 for shipping, and 200 for the core charge right now. Honestly, I plan on running this box from summit for a few years and save my OE box off my rig to r&r by read head.
I don't mind spending money on the trucks for things they really need, and in fact, the steering gearbox in my 77 does need work as it leaks pretty good right now. And I read great things about the RedHead design, and how it's a great improvement over the factory design. BUT, the factory design has served me well for 40 years! Rather than replace the steering gear, I'm going to replace the seals and hope I get another 40 years out of it!
So I had everything I picked up installed on the truck a couple days ago. DJM beams in front, shackles and hangers in the rear. MOOG tie rod ends, drag link, radius arm bushings, king pin kit. Plain jane reman steering gear. I've never driven something 40 years old that had steering this tight. I like it. I've had two other dents in my life (75 F150 2wd and a 77 F150 4wd) and its nice to finally have a dent that drove very well and moved the wheels as soon as I moved the steering wheel. I really like the ride height on it as well. It rides the same as it did before since I didn't mess with the springs or shocks. I'll have to invest in new shocks though, these are wore out and I need to check the travel on the rear shocks and probably get drop shocks for the rear. The little rods that support the rear of the bed, inside the wheel well, had to be removed due to clearance with the new shackles.
I'm hanging on to all the old suspension stuff that came off in case I have buyers remorse later down the road. lol I doubt it'll happen. I think this will be the truck I do a lot of mods to. The guy I bought it from had about 7-8 dents in his stable. He had one for himself, one for his teenage son, and another 5-6 on his property in various conditions of "good", all swb and this being the only 2wd. I plan on going back at some point and seeing if I can get one of his 4x4's to be my "kept original" dent.
ight you send e list of all that you replaced w/PN #'s?
Hi 75BigBlock,
I recently purchased a 78 F150 C/S 2WD and want to freshen up the steering as it has too much play like yours did.
Can you tell me exactly what it was that you replaced long with PN #'s?
Was your a C/S? I will replace the shocks and believe the C/S used the F250 shocks but other than than, should be the same as the non C/S 2WD? Might someone correct me if I am wrong?
All bushings and stuff in suspension are original so are dry rotted and cracked but this thing drives straight and isn't bad considering it's age.
Thanks!
Victor
Originally Posted by 75BigBlock
So I had everything I picked up installed on the truck a couple days ago. DJM beams in front, shackles and hangers in the rear. MOOG tie rod ends, drag link, radius arm bushings, king pin kit. Plain jane reman steering gear. I've never driven something 40 years old that had steering this tight. I like it. I've had two other dents in my life (75 F150 2wd and a 77 F150 4wd) and its nice to finally have a dent that drove very well and moved the wheels as soon as I moved the steering wheel. I really like the ride height on it as well. It rides the same as it did before since I didn't mess with the springs or shocks. I'll have to invest in new shocks though, these are wore out and I need to check the travel on the rear shocks and probably get drop shocks for the rear. The little rods that support the rear of the bed, inside the wheel well, had to be removed due to clearance with the new shackles.
I'm hanging on to all the old suspension stuff that came off in case I have buyers remorse later down the road. lol I doubt it'll happen. I think this will be the truck I do a lot of mods to. The guy I bought it from had about 7-8 dents in his stable. He had one for himself, one for his teenage son, and another 5-6 on his property in various conditions of "good", all swb and this being the only 2wd. I plan on going back at some point and seeing if I can get one of his 4x4's to be my "kept original" dent.
