performance suspension upgrade
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Trailering
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 23
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performance suspension upgrade
I have search with not luck but I am looking for best upgrades for suspension. I have a 86' supercab that is Turbo LS swapped so brakes and suspension need some help but especially suspension. Anyone have some guidance on what is best in our trucks?
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,870
Likes: 4,112
From: Angier, NC
Sorry to say unlike the car / truck that LS belongs in, the Ford truck does not have a kit that I know of.
You did not say if 150 or 250 or the big one 4x2 or 4x4 so it gets even harder for us to say what works best.
But as a guess this is a 150 street truck not to haul anything but azz so lets see what we can come up with.
First would be to drop it a little with https://djmsuspension.com/ kit front and rear. No you cant cut or get lowered springs because the beams would move changing camber and depending how much the camber / caster is off you may not be able to get the adjustment shims you would need to get it back in spec.
AFAIK no one makes a lowered spindle for our trucks, the beams move the spindle up lowering the truck.
Out back DJM had different ways to drop the rear.
I believe they sell shocks for there lowering kits depending on how much you lower the truck.
Or you can measure the shock mounts and get custom shocks made like QA1.
But all that I think is for nothing as you would stall have body roll and the only way to fix that is with sway bars front & rear.
I dont know if your truck has any sway bars but I think the 4x4 came with them up front and get the rear from a Bronco.
Or could go after market like ADCO if they still have anything for our trucks. There may be others for sway bars I just dont know of any.
For brakes I think the only player is Wilwood so you would have to see what they have that will work with your spindles.
You may need to go with a larger wheel from the factory 15" to 17" or 18" to fit around the rotor.
But part of the problem with a larger rotor is how to mount the calipers as the factory mount is cast as part of the spindle.
I dont see how they / you could cut the caliper mount and mount a different one unless they are using the dust shield mounting bolt holes?
I dont even know if anyone makes a dual piston caliper other than the 250 trucks use that will bolt up?
Maybe you can find drilled / slotted rotors and better pads for the front and a better shoes for the rear?
Other than that I have not heard of anyone doing kits but I also have not looked.
I think they say the Lighting truck had better brakes but I dont know what was better about them and if they would be any better than what you got as a long bed xten cab truck?
Maybe others know more?
Keep us posted when you find as it can help others
Dave ----
You did not say if 150 or 250 or the big one 4x2 or 4x4 so it gets even harder for us to say what works best.
But as a guess this is a 150 street truck not to haul anything but azz so lets see what we can come up with.
First would be to drop it a little with https://djmsuspension.com/ kit front and rear. No you cant cut or get lowered springs because the beams would move changing camber and depending how much the camber / caster is off you may not be able to get the adjustment shims you would need to get it back in spec.
AFAIK no one makes a lowered spindle for our trucks, the beams move the spindle up lowering the truck.
Out back DJM had different ways to drop the rear.
I believe they sell shocks for there lowering kits depending on how much you lower the truck.
Or you can measure the shock mounts and get custom shocks made like QA1.
But all that I think is for nothing as you would stall have body roll and the only way to fix that is with sway bars front & rear.
I dont know if your truck has any sway bars but I think the 4x4 came with them up front and get the rear from a Bronco.
Or could go after market like ADCO if they still have anything for our trucks. There may be others for sway bars I just dont know of any.
For brakes I think the only player is Wilwood so you would have to see what they have that will work with your spindles.
You may need to go with a larger wheel from the factory 15" to 17" or 18" to fit around the rotor.
But part of the problem with a larger rotor is how to mount the calipers as the factory mount is cast as part of the spindle.
I dont see how they / you could cut the caliper mount and mount a different one unless they are using the dust shield mounting bolt holes?
I dont even know if anyone makes a dual piston caliper other than the 250 trucks use that will bolt up?
Maybe you can find drilled / slotted rotors and better pads for the front and a better shoes for the rear?
Other than that I have not heard of anyone doing kits but I also have not looked.
I think they say the Lighting truck had better brakes but I dont know what was better about them and if they would be any better than what you got as a long bed xten cab truck?
Maybe others know more?
Keep us posted when you find as it can help others
Dave ----
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
daily/cruise truck on nicer days (no winter) maybe the occasional drag strip, occasional work truck
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Sorry to say unlike the car / truck that LS belongs in, the Ford truck does not have a kit that I know of.
You did not say if 150 or 250 or the big one 4x2 or 4x4 so it gets even harder for us to say what works best.
But as a guess this is a 150 street truck not to haul anything but azz so lets see what we can come up with.
First would be to drop it a little with https://djmsuspension.com/ kit front and rear. No you cant cut or get lowered springs because the beams would move changing camber and depending how much the camber / caster is off you may not be able to get the adjustment shims you would need to get it back in spec.
AFAIK no one makes a lowered spindle for our trucks, the beams move the spindle up lowering the truck.
Out back DJM had different ways to drop the rear.
I believe they sell shocks for there lowering kits depending on how much you lower the truck.
Or you can measure the shock mounts and get custom shocks made like QA1.
But all that I think is for nothing as you would stall have body roll and the only way to fix that is with sway bars front & rear.
I dont know if your truck has any sway bars but I think the 4x4 came with them up front and get the rear from a Bronco.
Or could go after market like ADCO if they still have anything for our trucks. There may be others for sway bars I just dont know of any.
For brakes I think the only player is Wilwood so you would have to see what they have that will work with your spindles.
You may need to go with a larger wheel from the factory 15" to 17" or 18" to fit around the rotor.
But part of the problem with a larger rotor is how to mount the calipers as the factory mount is cast as part of the spindle.
I dont see how they / you could cut the caliper mount and mount a different one unless they are using the dust shield mounting bolt holes?
I dont even know if anyone makes a dual piston caliper other than the 250 trucks use that will bolt up?
Maybe you can find drilled / slotted rotors and better pads for the front and a better shoes for the rear?
Other than that I have not heard of anyone doing kits but I also have not looked.
I think they say the Lighting truck had better brakes but I dont know what was better about them and if they would be any better than what you got as a long bed xten cab truck?
Maybe others know more?
Keep us posted when you find as it can help others
Dave ----
You did not say if 150 or 250 or the big one 4x2 or 4x4 so it gets even harder for us to say what works best.
But as a guess this is a 150 street truck not to haul anything but azz so lets see what we can come up with.
First would be to drop it a little with https://djmsuspension.com/ kit front and rear. No you cant cut or get lowered springs because the beams would move changing camber and depending how much the camber / caster is off you may not be able to get the adjustment shims you would need to get it back in spec.
AFAIK no one makes a lowered spindle for our trucks, the beams move the spindle up lowering the truck.
Out back DJM had different ways to drop the rear.
I believe they sell shocks for there lowering kits depending on how much you lower the truck.
Or you can measure the shock mounts and get custom shocks made like QA1.
But all that I think is for nothing as you would stall have body roll and the only way to fix that is with sway bars front & rear.
I dont know if your truck has any sway bars but I think the 4x4 came with them up front and get the rear from a Bronco.
Or could go after market like ADCO if they still have anything for our trucks. There may be others for sway bars I just dont know of any.
For brakes I think the only player is Wilwood so you would have to see what they have that will work with your spindles.
You may need to go with a larger wheel from the factory 15" to 17" or 18" to fit around the rotor.
But part of the problem with a larger rotor is how to mount the calipers as the factory mount is cast as part of the spindle.
I dont see how they / you could cut the caliper mount and mount a different one unless they are using the dust shield mounting bolt holes?
I dont even know if anyone makes a dual piston caliper other than the 250 trucks use that will bolt up?
Maybe you can find drilled / slotted rotors and better pads for the front and a better shoes for the rear?
Other than that I have not heard of anyone doing kits but I also have not looked.
I think they say the Lighting truck had better brakes but I dont know what was better about them and if they would be any better than what you got as a long bed xten cab truck?
Maybe others know more?
Keep us posted when you find as it can help others
Dave ----
haha figured id take a little smack for doing a chevy in a ford. Thank you for all the info that is a good place to start! I will look into all of this and go from there! it is a 4x2 F150 also. you helped a lot on the original thread I posted back in 2020 on the build before the swap was in the picture. I am going to write up an update for that thread too
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 774
Likes: 104
From: Elk Grove Village, IL
You'll want to look into a the DJM Drop Beams and a rear suspension lowering kit then. That'll get you started. The rest may be up to your imagination, research and 'garage' engineering.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,870
Likes: 4,112
From: Angier, NC
haha figured id take a little smack for doing a chevy in a ford. Thank you for all the info that is a good place to start! I will look into all of this and go from there! it is a 4x2 F150 also. you helped a lot on the original thread I posted back in 2020 on the build before the swap was in the picture. I am going to write up an update for that thread too
its all good I know you go with what you got laying around or have money for.A 4x2 150 helps you a lot as more is made for it than a 250, I dont know if anyone dose 350 stuff?
But have not really looked for 250 / 350 stuff as I own a 100 and the 150 parts work / fit.
When I was rebuilding my truck I look at the lowering beams as I had to do kingpins but DJM did not sell them for my truck because of size pins back then.
Then again I am happy with the ride and handling, could use sway bars F/R, as it is a truck.
Dave ----
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Tolland, CT
I would think, places like Summit Racing or Jegs may have a catalog, both have great customer service/Tech help if you call them.
I would also think there are any number of places around the country that deal with customizing trucks, you just need to find and contact them. Maybe look in the back of the Truck Magazines. Do they still have them, magazines, that is...?
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...cA5eUwVNPUuHR8
I would also think there are any number of places around the country that deal with customizing trucks, you just need to find and contact them. Maybe look in the back of the Truck Magazines. Do they still have them, magazines, that is...?
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...cA5eUwVNPUuHR8
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,870
Likes: 4,112
From: Angier, NC
I would think, places like Summit Racing or Jegs may have a catalog, both have great customer service/Tech help if you call them.
I would also think there are any number of places around the country that deal with customizing trucks, you just need to find and contact them. Maybe look in the back of the Truck Magazines. Do they still have them, magazines, that is...?
https://www.summitracing.com/search/department/brake-systems?srsltid=AfmBOooC8VMbrTwFTc9cZ7lDhGFGJ73Mbg kgiaJLTKcA5eUwVNPUuHR8
I would also think there are any number of places around the country that deal with customizing trucks, you just need to find and contact them. Maybe look in the back of the Truck Magazines. Do they still have them, magazines, that is...?
https://www.summitracing.com/search/department/brake-systems?srsltid=AfmBOooC8VMbrTwFTc9cZ7lDhGFGJ73Mbg kgiaJLTKcA5eUwVNPUuHR8
You need to call them to see what they have to offer.
Just lowering it will help a lot.
Dave ----
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,971
Likes: 2,731
From: Virginia
On the 1979-dwn trucks yes, very popular. On these trucks I haven't seen but a few on this board, requires ALOT of cutting because these frames are wider. It has been done. I haven't checked lately to see if anyone makes a kit. I would not think they would make a kit if the demand did not get any higher than it is and they would have to keep the price below the dropped beams.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,870
Likes: 4,112
From: Angier, NC
On the 1979-dwn trucks yes, very popular. On these trucks I haven't seen but a few on this board, requires ALOT of cutting because these frames are wider. It has been done. I haven't checked lately to see if anyone makes a kit. I would not think they would make a kit if the demand did not get any higher than it is and they would have to keep the price below the dropped beams.
This is the kit I was thinking of
https://team321.com/cv-kit-page/
This is not it but may help?
https://www.outcastautoworks.com/pro...rol-arm-mounts
That was just a quick Google search think crown vic 80's ford truck
My take on the CV setup is it lowers the truck for better handling,
You get a front sway bar for better handling,
And because it is based on the Ford Fox Body there are all kinds of upgrades that can be done.
CV might be the best way to go for a suspension & brake upgrade.
Dave ----
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