Hey guys,

i finally lifted the rear of my truck. now it is up pretty damn high(from what it used to be atleast) but the front is still what it was at before. i think it is a 4" lifted spring. i will show you some before and after pictures. but my question is, what should i do to make the front level with the back? i was thinking about the 8.5-9" lifted coil springs from jbg. what do you guys think. and before i lifted it i didnt think the tires look small, now they do they are 35x12.50's. so what do you guys think i should do? any help is greatly appreciated! thanx in advance

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...lblackgood.jpg


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...k/100_2436.jpg

 

How much actual rake does it have. It's hard to tell with the angle the truck is setting.
It also looks like that late model bed is riding a little high on the frame, Making the rear look even higher.

Pat

 

pull the blocks out of the rear, that should level it out

-cutts-

 

lol no, i want the front higher too, i am going to run bigger tires. atleast 38's

 

it doesnt look like there is a drop pitman arm on my truck. i am going to need one with 9 inch coil springs, correct? anyways, i got my drivers side fender off today to fix some body work on my door and noticed the pitman arm looks to be stock. what do you guys think. and since i am going to run 9" springs who makes a pitman arm for me?






thanx again

 

I would only change it if your alignment is out of wack, the dropped pitman arm can decrease your turning radius, plus it can put extra leaverage on the steering box, i would go get some dom tubing and cut it to the lenght you need then tap the end for the tie rod ends.

 

oh ok i was just under the assumption that you had to have a drop pitman arm

 

No you don't, in my oponion i think thats one of the mos tcommon mistakes when people are lifting a solid axle ford, for expample when i lifted my 80, i just used the stock ford tie rods and drags links and just played with the adjustment in the link from the pitman arm to the knuckle till i got the steering to where i wanted it, and there was still plenty of adjustment left in it.

 

ok but remmeber on tie rods the more parrallel you get all your steering linakges the stronger they will be and the longer they will live!

that or just use DOM and heims and not worry about it!

-cutts-

 

On the subject of the pitman arm. Yes, that is a factory pitman arm. Yes, you SHOULD replace it.

The drop pitman arms do not decrease turning radius. The angle of the draglink in relation to the tie rod (where the draglink connects to on these trucks) decreases turning radius. Also, with a drop pitman arm, you're correcting for draglink/track bar angle differences (to varying degrees depending on the actual lift amount).

The more angle on the draglink (due to higher lifts), the more effective side-to-side motion you are losing at the tie-rod. Also, your draglink effectively becomes shorter because the attachment point at the frame (steering box) is getting further from where the actual work is being accomplished (at the tie rod). We all took geometry in high school, right?

Here's the proof.
A) Bumpsteer-think about what causes it. The front suspension moves up or down. The steering wheel turns slightly on its own although the truck's tires remain straight ahead.

B) Remember when you (anyone here) first lifted your truck and when you got back into it to test drive it, the steering wheel was off-center to the right to keep the truck driving straight? Then all of a sudden it didn't turn as far to the right........

Good luck.

Cody

 

that thing would drive me nuts working on it, i would have to clean that grease off of everything with my hot water washer.

why not drop the front coil buckets 2 inches??

 

Thanks for correctin me cutts and cleatus

 

I wasn't trying to 'correct' you, mandinga. I was just throwing in my $.02. No harm, no foul.

Cody

 

hey cleatus, is that your truck next to your name? that looks pretty nice. btw thanx for all of the info guys. i would like to drop the coil buckets but i am looking for more than 2 inches. the truck had a decent rake on it before but now i want it sitting level. so i am thinking the 8.5-9" coil springs from jbg. should i just buy my pitman arm from them too?

 

Yeah, that's mine. It's for sale on eBay if you want it.
Auction #4574435207

Cody