I have a 1995 F-150, 4wheel-drive, reg. cab, long bed, with a straight six. M y question is, my truck sits a little lower in the front than in the rear. I want to add a 3 inch suspension lift, but do I need to get a leveling kit before I lift my truck? I know that Skyjacker sells a kit for my truck that comes with a 4 inch lift for the front, and a 3 inch lift for the rear, but it is way to expensive for the purpose I want it for, which is basically to drive to work, and the ocassional mud hole. Any help would be great...Thanks

 

Most suspension lift kits will level your truck when you install them, so no, you should have to level it first..

 

thanks for the reply

 

generally when you get say a 4 inch lift....it will lift your front 4 inches....and lift the back 2-3 to match

 

Try rough country, lot's cheaper plus shocks and all.

 

Thanks for the help guys...I was kind of leaning towards Rough Country, thanks

 

I've heard a lot of people on here say bad stuff about the Rough Country system..I would do a search and get more info....

don't have any first hand experience though...

 

skyjacker is your best bet. they have been around a while and all the bracketry aligns up perfectly, whereas Superlift, i believe, you have to re-drill some holes. I have done more lifts than I have fingers so this is coming from personal experience.

just my .02 worth

-jason-

 

Hey Guys and Gals
I don't mean to highjack the thread but,
I'm getting more confused each time I read the adds for lifts.

I am going to lift the 96 F150 4X4 4 inches. My 31's worked fine but the 33's rub the bumper on the right side.

Yesterday I called Rocky Mountain and "Robin" said use the Rough Country. Its $455 plus shipping. She said "hey" to all the FTE types.

I called Desert Rat and they said we don't do Rough Country but we will install a Rancho for $880 plus tax and you still have to get the truck aligned.
This morning I call DR to see what a Rancho would be if I did the install and the guy started off at $924. And wanted to seel me some other "needed" parts.

So what were they going to install for $880 if the walkaway was $924?

It appears that a Suspension Lift 101 would be nice to have in the tech article area.
What does a suspension lift entail anyway?

So far:
SkyJackers good but very expensive
Rancho good but expensive
Rough Country good but not so expensive (why?)
I don't know about the rest.

Thanks for the vent
Roland

 

I'll put it this way....with a lift kit you get what you pay for. For a 96 F-150 kit you will get lift coil springs, 2 dropped axle pivot brackets, 2 dropped radius arm brackets, lift blocks, and longer u-bolts. If you get the system it will not include longer u-bolts and lift blocks but instead brand new lifted leaf springs for the rear! You normally (depending on the manufacturer) will not get shocks, brake lines or dropped pitman arm with the kit system. If i was you (and I have done this many many times) call up National Tire and Wheel and order a lift kit for a 80-96 f150 should be like $550.

And why can't you do it? If you have a basic knowledge of hand tools and a drill and a grinder and a jack then you are set! I did my first lift when i was 14 and I have done 20 or so since! the hardest part about is grinding the heads off the rivets (still the hardest part) the rest is just putting bolts through those same holes! If you are gonna spend all that money.....seriously, trailer it over here to GA and I wll do it for free in a few hours! If Ho' is around we could get it done in a couple! I promise you it will be cheaper to bring it to me and I will do it right! You have to promise that we go try it out though Seriously think about it for a weekend project one weekend!

-Jason-

 

Thanks Jason
I thought Tellico sounded familar.
We spent 4 years in Augusta at Fort Gordon.

Roland

 

Superlift you do have to drill holes in the frame if you use extended radius arms like I did, not sure on the drop brackets for stock arms. These kits you are getting prices on for $900 probably don't include shocks, brake lines, extended radius arms, add a leafs or complete rear springs and a drop pitman arm. If I had mine to do over again I would have gotten the full replacement leafs in the rear. I would be willing to bet w/ the way these F series rot out suspension you will need a new leaf in one of the springs if not more. I would also get new radius arm brackets and shock mounts for the front from Ford before you do it. My truck was down 3 weeks because of these pieces being rotted out and Ford not getting me the right item even after showing them on screen what I needed. This is on a truck w/ 67000 miles on it. I would at least spend the extra money for the drop pitman arm, my friend didn't do this w/ his rancho 3" and he replaced them constantly and he also ran 35's.

 

Actually the rough country does come w/ shocks and a dropped pitman arm, plus all the other stuff you mentioned for only 455 bucks.

 

Hey Redneck
Do you have the RC kit or system?

Are the shocks ok?
Is the "Stuff" heavy enough to do fairly light desert wheelin?

Thanks
Roland

 

No, I don't, but I plan on buying it this summer. All around it seems good for the price. The shocks are name brand, maybe helklethorn, can't remember, so don't quote me on that. Check there site they have a 80 through 96 ford f-150 4 in. special.