leveling again
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
leveling again
i have a 96 f150 2wd w/ 302 that is sitting roughly 4.25 inches lower in the front then the rear, to me this rake looks retarted and i would like the truck to sit level. i was wondering if i put 2" lift springs in the front if this would bring it up to level considering the stock springs probably sagged, or would i need 4" lift springs to level it out and if so would i need to get drop brackets to go with it?
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: Toronto, ON
"to me this rake looks retarted"
LOL!
If you saved up, you could get away with buying a 2.5" lift kit (w/o new radius arms). They're not too expensive ($300 or something at MOST), don't require new brake lines, etc. Lifts for 2wd trucks are designed so that the end result is a pretty level truck (4x4 looking). The other good thing is that this will make sure your camber isn't screwed up by just installing bigger springs. The kit should have i-beam drop brackets and radius arm drop brackets.
I got sick of my 2wd's low front end look, and decided to do a full lift. But for some reason (probably seeing pictures of all those sweet 6" lifted trucks with big tires), I ended up buying a 6" lift instead of just a 2.5". Now I'm having to buy bigger tires, maybe wheels with a more preferable back-spacing, and new rear gears! I will have to save for a few months to recope all my savings i'm spending! It'll be fun driving around in such a commanding vehicle though
LOL!
If you saved up, you could get away with buying a 2.5" lift kit (w/o new radius arms). They're not too expensive ($300 or something at MOST), don't require new brake lines, etc. Lifts for 2wd trucks are designed so that the end result is a pretty level truck (4x4 looking). The other good thing is that this will make sure your camber isn't screwed up by just installing bigger springs. The kit should have i-beam drop brackets and radius arm drop brackets.
I got sick of my 2wd's low front end look, and decided to do a full lift. But for some reason (probably seeing pictures of all those sweet 6" lifted trucks with big tires), I ended up buying a 6" lift instead of just a 2.5". Now I'm having to buy bigger tires, maybe wheels with a more preferable back-spacing, and new rear gears! I will have to save for a few months to recope all my savings i'm spending! It'll be fun driving around in such a commanding vehicle though
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
Roushians nailed it. I would do a 2.5" Rough Country kit. I am no longer a proponent of lift springs/spacers alone since the chances of getting it back in alignment are 50/50 at best. The 2.5 kit drops the radius arms and axle pivots and comes with new springs. You would just not put on the 2" rear blocks that come with the kit so it sits level up front.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,214
Likes: 13
From: New Jersey
A level truck looks nice until you put something in the bed. Then you have reverse rake, and your truck looks like it needs new springs, which makes you look like a cheap monkey.
Here in NJ, if the rear is sagging too much, the state troopers will pull you over if they are bored and need to write some tickets.
I've never been a fan of blocks and spacers. I've seen some pretty freakish things over the years due to blocks and u-bolts. Do it right or don't do it, even if it requires a little bit of a delay to save the money up.
6" lift Roushians? Going to put what... 36" or so?
Here in NJ, if the rear is sagging too much, the state troopers will pull you over if they are bored and need to write some tickets.
I've never been a fan of blocks and spacers. I've seen some pretty freakish things over the years due to blocks and u-bolts. Do it right or don't do it, even if it requires a little bit of a delay to save the money up.
6" lift Roushians? Going to put what... 36" or so?
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: Toronto, ON
35" most likely
If one wanted a level truck but also needed to haul heavy loads in the bed, one could purchase one of those "air-bag sprint support" kits that install on the leaf springs. I'm not sure how much they air, but they can't be too much. In fact, did some old Lincolns or Caddys have rear air bags in them? One could go tear one out of one at a wrecking yard and fab up a custom version
If one wanted a level truck but also needed to haul heavy loads in the bed, one could purchase one of those "air-bag sprint support" kits that install on the leaf springs. I'm not sure how much they air, but they can't be too much. In fact, did some old Lincolns or Caddys have rear air bags in them? One could go tear one out of one at a wrecking yard and fab up a custom version
