I've got a 97 F-150 and I'm thinking of getting a Fabtech lift kit for it. The thing I want to know is if any of you out there have one in you 2wd 150 and how did it change the ride? I like the way the truck rides with the stock suspension, but would like a few more inches of height.

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi Rick and welcome to the forum

Hopefully someone with some experience with a lift like youre thinking about will show up here.
Would a body lift kit work for you? That way the ride wouldnt change at all but it would give you a bit more height.

 

Hi Rick

I have a 99 F 150 sport 4x4 with a Fabtech 6" performance lift. I had the same questions you did. I love mine and the ride it gives me. It drives exsactly the same as stock to include the turn radious. I have had experience with RCD 4" lifts and pro-comp 5" lifts and Fabtech is definately the top of the line.

I made absolutely no modifications except cutting the tie rod ends 1/8 inch on each side. even taking it in for an alignment needed no work done after. (I was lucky on that one. ) I definately think you will be happy with Fabtech. also 4wheel parts wholesalers are the ones you want to talk to, they cut good deals and know what they are talking about.

Eric

 

Hi Eric and welcome aboard

Thanks for the answer.
What kind of shocks does Fabtech use?

 

they are fabtech gas shocks and they come with the kit. I have not had a problem with them yet but they do not come with the shock boots. boots run about $8 per, its probably worth while. I'm just too lazy

 

Thanks for the replies. Now to find a place locally that sells the kit I want for a reasonable price.

 

I have the Fabtech 3.5" lift spindles on my truck and love em' the ride didn't change a whole lot, but as expected with a lifted vehicle the center of gravity is now higher, although only a few inches, but corners are now more interesting than at stock height.

The kit I bought was used and didn't include rear shocks, just 1.5" lift blocks that I later changed over to Superlift 2.5" tapered blocks. I also currently use Superlift shocks that ride well combined with the 2.5" blocks, it rode very harsh with 1.5" blocks.

Also if your 1997 F-series truck was produced from Nov. 95' to March '96 you will have to change your front ABS brake sensor cables (if equipped) to the newer post-March '96 style to fit the new Fabtech spindles.

You can get just the spindles, shocks, and rear blocks, which bolt directly in place of your factory units without replacing or relocating the stock suspension components. There's also a new 7.5" Fabtech lift kit for '97+ 2wd F-150s.

 

My truck only has rear anti-lock brakes. Which I think was a bad move on Ford's part. I've had to stop quick several times on wet roads and the front always want to lock up first. So, it's the manual pump the brake slowly.

I'm looking at the 3.5" spindle kit right now.

 

I just installed Fabtech's 3.5 inch spindle kit with a 2 inch block kit for the rear last weekend. So far, no problems. The shocks are a little stiffer than stock but totally livable. It took me the weekend to install. One day for the front and one day for the rear.

 

Man I am really at odds with my 'new' 2000 F-150 4x2. I was wanting to do suspension lift to clear BFG AT 285/75 R16 KO's - not going to do any real offroading - mostly a highway truck. Anyway, I've had quotes for the Fabtech 3.5" spindle and also the 3.5" performance suspension kits that came in ~$1200-$1500. The rub is that I was advised that my stock wheels (alloys from Lariat) will not fit the spindles and I would have to go aftermarket. Man now we're talking another $600+ and I still don't have tires.

What are the cons to a simple body lift - I'm talking 2-3" to clear 285's. I've seen kits that come with bumper mounts to supposedly adjust for the gap so what else am I missing? If these kits look stupid then I might bag the whole idea cause I just can't justify laying out $2K for a cosmetic change of otherwise functionally sound parts.

 

Fabtech recommends running aftermarket wheels with a certain amount of backspacing, I can't remember the exact size but the factory wheels are just a hair short. I've been running my 16" factory wheels with 265/75 tires for almost a year now with zero problems, a friend of mine in Austin has been running stock wheels with 285/75 mt's for 2+ years without a problem on his Procomp spindle lift. Now I have seen several trucks with tires wider than 14" have bearing problems with the Fabtech spindles, they were also using aftermarket wheels, so who knows...

285/75 is about 33" right? There's several people I know running 33's with just a 3" body lift. It's definitly cheaper but you get more frame-to-ground clearance with a suspension lift. Only downside to body lifting, IMO, is all the work involved in doing it, I think on '97+ you have to remove the seats to get to certain bolts. A Performance Accessories body lift kit runs about $150 and most offroad shops do the install for anywhere around $400 to $700. The kit includes the gas tank extension hose, steering link extension, bumper relocation brackets, and of course all needed body lifting hardware, with grade 8 bolts.

Best advice to avoid the cost: Look used. I bought my Fabtech 3.5" spindles wth 1.5" rear blocks for $300 locally, and I've seen several people selling them on the 'net for $400.

That stiffer ride in the rear is the sole reason I switched to 2.5" blocks over the 1.5" ones included in the Fabtech kit, after the swap my truck looks a little better plus rides just like stock, maybe even a little better.

 

I have the 3.5" spindal lift w/ 2" leveling blocks in rear. I run 285/75/16 on stock wheels, w/ fabtech shocks. The shocks will make the truck not as spongy and bouncy like stock shocks. Fabtech say's you can run up to 295/75/16 on stock wheels w/ 4.75" back spacing. They have a really good web site and you can down load the instalation instructions if you want to do it yourself and save $$$$$$. It's not that hard, I did my 01' and 03'. The good thing about Fabtech is you can get a 3.5 performance lift or 3.5 spindal lift or you can add one or the other to each other and you will get the 7.0" lift. Like I said try their web site lot of good info. and you can pick the kit for you. Hope this helps

 

All great information - thanks very much! I didn't know the body kits were $400-$700 for install - I'll have to rethink the whole thing.

Are suspension leveling kits the same as body lift kits?

I'll also visit the Fabtech site again for instructions on installing suspension lift - did not see it the first time there.

Thanks again!

 

Go to "TECH" at the top of page, after you get to the page with the different kits for your app. and click on "download instructions".

 

Levelling kits basically jack up the front of the truck so that it rides level front to back, almost a 4x4 appearance. The only thing I don't like about levelling kits is they are usually coil spacers or just longer front coil springs, which will produce additional height but they pitch just about everything in the front suspension at an unusual angle which is bad for your ball joints and tires, plus I'm not sure you can get the front end re-aligned after a levelling kit, maybe someone with more experience with em' has some info there.