I'm new to the forum and hoping for advice/feedback on suspension upgrade for my Ex. Does anyone have experience with the 4-link system from Full-Traction https://www.full-traction.com/detail...&p=3314&n=NULL. It's seems a little spendy, but if it's worth it... my goal is to keep this truck for YEARS, so I want to do it right. If there are other options I should consider, I welcome recommendations. Thanks for the help.

 

You can save a lot of that, and come out with better results doing a 05-07 dana 60 swap using Ford brackets and radius arms. The axle has to come off either way so it's not much more work if any.
On the other end of the spectrum, I went all out on mine, PMF long arm 4 link, true-tac, baja customs track bar, and RCV axle shafts for about what they are asking to keep the stock Dana 50.

 

I guess before anyone can make any recommendations it would be helpful to know what your actual use of the vehicle is expected to be. What are you planning on using it for?

 

First off, Yes I have used full Tractions 4 link kit, in a nut shell, the engineering is top notch and they make quality made parts.

If you go this route for the front I strongly suggest you call Steve the owner and discuss front shocks, I would buy the coilover from him and use his spring rates and custom valving. This is where the magic happens.

that leaves the rear end, doing a sweet linked front with custom tuned shocks but just throwing a lift block in the rear to match your new front ride hight is a waste of money because the rear will now be worse than it was stock. So you need a plan for the rear.

I’d suggest doing a 10” front shock to end up with a 4” increase in ride height over stock. Then you can use a Procomp rear leaf 22514 and remove the factory block.
get Steve to valve a pair of Bilstein 8125 60mm smooth bodies to match the front.
( caveat, you need to call and discuss ride height with steve, i can go into more detail what needs to be confirmed but first i need to know what size tire and lift you are wanting)

have full traction make you the upper shock mount for the rear if they don’t currently offer it. ( i don’t see it on their webpage )

that is option 1 utilizing your current dana 50.


if you decide to do an axle swap to the 05+
F250 dana 60 then you have a few more options however the Full Traction coilover kit for the 05 is bitchen.

what I like about either FT kit.
1. Rebuildable Johnny Joints on the links.
so no clanking as they wear out like heims
And easily rebuilt.
2. They do a nice job on the shock tower.
3. Their sway bar is badass, you will not find a better setup at any price.

That said, personally I would swap out the track bar on either the 99-04 or the 05+

on the 99-04 I would use the PMF Monster Track bar with 1.25” FK heims with F1 fitment

on the 05+ i would use the Baja Customs Trac-inator
https://bajacustoms.com/trac-inator.html


or possibly PMF HD solid mount track bar and associated bracket and pitman arm.
https://www.pmfsuspension.com/2005-1...kbar_p_64.html

Personally, if you swap the front axle axle I would also do the rear, this way you are equal width and don’t need spacers, but even more so you want to take advantage of the 05+ bigger brakes, doesn’t do much good to have big front rotors if the rears are smaller since they will fade first.

The real benefit of the 05+ front 60 is the larger steering gear, unit bearings ball joints, and stronger axles and hubs. These all play nice with the bigger tires you are likely looking at.

just to be clear on 2 points.
the whole reason to switch to 4 link front is better handling because the axle is located by solid links not a leaf spring that bends and lets the axle flop around.

better ride quality is achieved by using a better shock, this is where the coilover comes into play.

 

If you want spendy, check out Kelderman Air Ride.

 

Thank you for the feedback. This is all new to me, so please forgive what may be captain obvious questions born out of ignorance. If I do the front swap, should I do the rear, too? I want to ensure I'm not creating downstream problems and budget busting costs.

Also, and this may not matter, but my intent is to run 37's, and, when towing, it will be an 33' Airstream.

Thanks again.

 

yes it matters, my explanation is in my post above

 

you will need to regear to at least 4.56 maybe 4.88 if a V-10.