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Leveling a Super Duty

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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 08:06 AM
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Question Leveling a Super Duty

I have a 2004 Super duty Super cab 4x4 and every time I look at it parked it looks like it is low in the rear compared to the front. Many other trucks like it look the same way. The truck looks like it is loaded down when it is empty. I tried measuring the wheel well spacing and they appear to be very close but the truck still looks like it is sitting low.

Has anyone done anything to cure this look? I've thought about a lift kit but if I lift it too much it won't fit in my 7 foot high garage door. Maybe I can add an extra leaf spring in the rear or something. Not sure how high it would lift the truck though. How about torsion bars in the front, can they be lowered?

Any leveling kits I have found online all want to lift the front of the truck, not the rear.

Has anyone done this?
Any other ideas?
 
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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 08:15 AM
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How much lift do you need? If it's only an inch or so you could add air bags, like Firestone Ride-Rites, and level it out. Do you tow or carry loads?

Don't stack blocks!
 
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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 08:30 AM
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If you have a 250 you can get the 350 blocks.. I think that will give you 2 inches of rear lift.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 08:42 AM
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Don't need a lift really, just to get the rear up a little.

I do tow a 4500 lbs travel trailer occasionally.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 09:02 AM
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Gentlemen, where are you manners?

Celliot, welcome to FTE.

Installing F-350 blocks will raise (or lift) your rear about 2 inches. If you look between your axle and springs you'll see the factory F-250 lifting block. The F-350 block is just a little bigger. You'll need the F-350 blocks and new U-bolts for the installation. It isn't a hard job at all. If you can find the parts in a wrecking yard it should be real cheap. We also have some site sponsors that will sell you the parts new (such as FTEpartsguy). Even new, this is a very low cost way to raise your rear end a few inches.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 11:03 AM
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I run air bags on all of our trucks, air them up to tow heavy loads, adjust air to level the truck, cost about $300 for the kit and still rides good.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by redford
Gentlemen, where are you manners?

Celliot, welcome to FTE.

Installing F-350 blocks will raise (or lift) your rear about 2 inches. If you look between your axle and springs you'll see the factory F-250 lifting block. The F-350 block is just a little bigger. You'll need the F-350 blocks and new U-bolts for the installation. It isn't a hard job at all. If you can find the parts in a wrecking yard it should be real cheap. We also have some site sponsors that will sell you the parts new (such as FTEpartsguy). Even new, this is a very low cost way to raise your rear end a few inches.
Ditto! Yea, what redford said! I just installed F350 blocks on my 250!
 
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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by celliott
I tried measuring the wheel well spacing and they appear to be very close but the truck still looks like it is sitting low.
The front wheel wells are larger/higher than the rear wheel wells. Try this: Park the truck on level ground and measure the height of both rear wheel wells. Then jack up the truck from the tow hitch until it looks level to you. Then measure the rear wheel well height again. The difference is the height increase you're looking for.

I recommended air bags because you can change the height to suit your needs.

Oh, and a belated Welcome to FTE!!
 
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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 11:50 AM
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Thanks for the welcome guys.

I forgot to mention that my truck has a factory plow package. (which I will likely never use)

Maybe that's why it sits higher in the front.
Does anyone know what the plow package includes? i.e. What do they do extra with the front end?
 
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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 12:17 PM
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The plow package includes heavier front springs, which is why you sit a little high. The F-350 blocks should put you level front to back.
 
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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 08:59 AM
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Thanks for the info.

I measured the wheel well clearance in the garage on the level and the truck is dead level. I just think it would look nicer if it sat just a bit higher in the rear.

Now I just have to wait for the new tires (BF Goodrich LT285) and then see if I have enough clearance under my garage door to go with spacers or air bags.

I did find a 1" Fabtech block kit that would work out good or the firestone air bag are nice as well if I want to spend the extra cash.
 
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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 03:00 PM
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My 2004 sagged noticeable after about 1 year, but I do a fair amount of extra-heavy towing. My last couple of trucks, ('99, '94) I cracked the rear springs on (I think the towing puts odd stress on them or something) so on this one, I put on the add-a-leafs that are aftermarket available, when the truck was about a year old. That raised the rear only a couple inches, but it makes a nice difference. Ride is rougher, tho. But it's an easy job to install and no maintenance!
 
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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 03:35 PM
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celliot, I may not be understanding! You state you found a 1" block kit? Your truck already has a 2" block (more like 1-7/8"). You do not want to STACK blocks! It all depends on how quickly you want to raise the rear. I was not in a hurry, and through a BS conversation with a guy I work with, He said he swapped blocks out on his F350 because it was to high (He put in F250 blocks). He gave me his old blocks the next day!!
 
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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 08:27 PM
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Looks like the blocks replace the original blocks.

Ford F-250 Super Duty Fabtech Blocks - 2000-2006 Ford F-250 Super Duty - Fabtech F37FTSBK1

What is the thickness of the F350 Blocks?
 
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Old Jun 25, 2008 | 06:01 AM
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I believe the 350 blocks were 3-3/4"...... I'll double check tonight when I get home. Unless someone else verifies..........I'm considering airbags also, but the price was right on the blocks and with my TT hooked up, it sits pretty level as it is!
 
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