I have searched this entire group in all the forums, but have not come up with an answer to my question ...yet. I have a '97 PSD 7.3 Crew Cab which is really starting to sink in the front end. I have been looking at the various options over the past few months, including having the stock springs re-arched, having a snow plow leaf added, and replacing the entire spring pack with an aftermarket such as Tuff-Country. After reading NUMEROUS posts on this group and other forums, I decided to take my truck in to 3 different off-road shops and get their opinions. Everyone (almost) seems to agree on doing a shackle reversal on the front end. They all say this will improve my ride, give me an additional 3 inches of lift on the front and make my life better in general. Some guys say the kit made by Sky Manufacturing is the way to go, around 330 dollars, black powder coated, while others swear by the kit made by OffRoad Unlimited, about 440 dollars.

I've called both companies and the products appear similar. They both say that in addtion to their kits, I will need to add a drop down pittman arm and extend the torsion arm. They also both say that their kits will work on the stock springs as well as on any aftermarket springs that I might purchase in the future. My question is: WHICH ONE????

Have any of you guys personally seen or tried these kits? Are they "The Answer"???? Should I combine one of these kits with the Tuff Country leaf pack?

I'm not looking to go sky here, just to level the truck and gain a few inches of clearence so that everytime I hit a rock, it doesn't smash the steering damper up into the frame and crush it! I've replaced the damper 3 times now!

All feedback is appreciated!

 

I went with the ORU kit, and am very happy with it. It isn't that I chose the ORU over the Sky unit, I'd never heard of the Sky unit at the time. I chose the ORU unit because it was recommended by a friend.
It raised the front 3" and improved the ride. I stayed with the stock springs, because I didn't want to go any higher than level.

 

Thanks Quad, I guess your base vehicle had the same problem as mine. Did you install it or take it somewhere? The shop here wants 500 dollars to do the labor!

 

I just put a set of warrior shackles on my 02 and raised the front 2 1/2 inches still not level but close. Also the kicker was it cost less than 70.00. WWW.warriorproducts.com

 

I checked the warrior websit for shackle lift for my 97 crew and I guess they don't sell them for my year. Anyone you know that sells them in my year for same price. Thanks, Jeff

 

I don't have the tools to do the job, so I paid a 4X4 shop to do it. I also had a bunch of work done on the front suspension, so I can't recall the labor charge on the installation, but I think it was a little less than the $500 you were quoted.

 

Well, now I don't feel so bad! Actually, the 500 dollar quote was from 4 Wheel Parts, and included installation of the reverse shackle kit, lenghening the track bar, replacing the other bushings not included in the kit, installing the drop down Pittman arm and aligning it all. I guess that's not tooooooo bad!