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I just did a makeover on my 04 6.0 2WD Ex. I added the 2" leveling blocks under the front coil springs. Now after extensive alignment, the steering is sloppy and the alignment castor and camber are way out of wack, The ride is extremely hard, I believe the blocks are too aggressive. Does anyone have any advice on how to get a 2" lift with a near stock ride on the front without using the leveling blocks?
i had a 2000 econoline 350 7.3 diesel i added 1 3/4 inch lift with dual rate coil springs and alignment. it rode better than stock. also extended shocks
the hard ride is not normal and likely a shock issue, the camber alignment is typical, you need different camber adjustment bushings. if the alignment settings keep changing it is likely worn ball joints.
i always tell RWD guys the easy and cheap way to level a vehicle is to lower the rear not raise the front.
to properly raise the front is EXpensive.
the best way to raise the front is new radius arm brackets, modified radius arms, longer springs ect.
nobody makes a legit leveling “ kit”
Thank everybody for the input, I would be totally open to taller springs, but wouldn't i still have the same Castor/Camber issue or no?
By extensive alignment attempts, I mean that the Camber Bushings have already been changed and still we can not get it100% into spec.
I'm still right on the outside of the desired camber castor spec.
Does anyone have a link for a business where I can find the Axel Pivot Drop Brackets for the I beams, or have a link for taller Springs that will carry the weight of the 6.0?
I have added a pic of the computer screen for the alignment.
your camber is acceptable but +2.67 caster is not enough for my liking. but then again I am not that well versed in the RWD alignment setup.
how does it drive ? does it hold a nice straight line on the highway? probably very responsive on a twisty road, does the steering wheel return to center ?
In the begining it did not return to center at all, but after they put the settings where it is now it does but not like it did before doing the upgraded wheels, tires, and leveling blocks under the coil springs.
I honestly do not like the drive at all.
I dont feel safe.
Another thing I have recently found out is, my Ex does not have a rear sway bar at all. I intend to have a Hellwig 7643 bar installed in the rear and upgrade the front as well.
Back to the steering issue, I hope someone can direct me to the drop axel pivot brackets to bring the alignment back close enough to adjust without removing the leveling blocks.
I have attached a pic of the Ex after the upgrades. I only hope I can keep the stance as is.
but not like it did before doing the upgraded wheels, tires, and leveling blocks under the coil springs.
Back to the steering issue, I hope someone can direct me to the drop axel pivot brackets
this is a tricky post to reply to on the internet and one i would feel much better doing in person after having inspecting the vehicle and driving it.
”steering issues”
most likely the problem is caster.
while the alignment shop is going to tell you that +2.6* is technically within “factory spec” I find the Ex needs more caster to be comfortable to drive.
on the 4x ex i find +5* + 6* of caster to be what I prefer. however I have not done a altered RWD is so long I do not have a preferred setup to recommend other then it likely needs at least 4* of caster before you are going to feel comfortable driving it. fyi. +4* is also within factory spec.
Upgrade ?
not sure where you got the idea that you were “upgrading” at least as far as performance is concerned, sure it looks neat but you have altered the parameters and settings that have been engineered to give a certain level of performance and unfortunately for you, you have taken the setup the wrong direction to actually upgrade any actual performance gain.
drop brackets.
Nobody makes an off the shelf 2” bracket setup that I am aware of.
procomp and fabtech do make a 6”
2” would be a custom fabricated situation.
there are other solutions as well but all require custom fabrication from a knowledgeable specialist.
fwiw,
a rear sway bar will take you further away from the ride comfort zone.
it will help reduce understeer a little but honestly that is not worth the jarring ride it produces and should not be an issue that needs addressing unless you are trying to drive the vehicle hard on twisty canyon roads or doing autocross time trials.
final thought.
Sweet looking Ex, I dig the street fighter look.
i always tell RWD guys the easy and cheaper way to level a vehicle is to lower the rear not raise the front.
To properly raise the front is EXpensive.
just to reiterate the solution I would pursue if it was mine. and keep in mind I can and have built custom brackets and radius arms.
i would leave the front stock ride height and lower the rear to get the desired level look.
now the problem that needs to be addressed is not a very complex steering and suspension geometry issue but a rather simple reduction in rear travel and possibly a bit of tire to body clearance issue. both easy to solve compared to the front geometry issues you are facing.
Sounds like you are very versed with the Ex, and I do understand what u mean about the internet.
I'm just at a point where I would go back and start over if I could get a solution to maintain the same front height with a close to factory ride when its done.
I have looked high and low for a 2" lift kit with nothing to be found for the 04 2WD Ex. 💆🏾♂️
Any suggestions from starting over would be welcome.
before you do anything drastic lets verify a crucial detail.
being very specific can you tell me what alignment bushing the shop used to set your camber/caster ?
if you don't have the part number or specs call them and get it. they may have just used the biggest one they had access to or where comfortable using without doing some
work that most shops would consider outside the normal practice.
with some further searching you should find a few guys who have successfully lifted the front 2" and seem happy with
the results. I think you will find that anybody who has done the 2" lift has used the max size camber/caster bushing available and then had to do a bit of clearance grinding
or they have just been willing to deal with sub par handling and premature tire wear. at any rate even with a max degree bushing expect shorter ball joint life.
they just dont last as long when operating at the extremes of their range.
after we get the current bushing issue hashed out we can move onto lower the rear to suit your goals.
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