Dually leveling kit???
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,234
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From: Upstate NY
Dually leveling kit???
is there one made for our old IDI fords? ive looked but do not see, all I want is 2" added in my front, I want it to give me a little more ground clearence with the plow on, also the truck somewhat looks a bit saggy in the front on level ground
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,528
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From: Peterborough, Ontario
Before you do, check your shackles, pins and bushings for wear. Having a plow hanging off the front, chances are good that there will be some more wear and tear in there, and the shackles especially aren't something that will easily be seen without hunting for it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
The ones that wear are the front upper bushing.
Since it is up inside the frame where the upper bolt is, about all you could do is mark the bottom of the frame on the shackle.
Then jack the truck up by the front bumper or frame till the front tires are off the ground and see if the shackle marks are now below the frame.
If the bushings are good, the shackle should rotate on the upper bolt, not drop down.
If it does drop down, my next move would be new shackles with new upper and lower bolts.
Since it is up inside the frame where the upper bolt is, about all you could do is mark the bottom of the frame on the shackle.
Then jack the truck up by the front bumper or frame till the front tires are off the ground and see if the shackle marks are now below the frame.
If the bushings are good, the shackle should rotate on the upper bolt, not drop down.
If it does drop down, my next move would be new shackles with new upper and lower bolts.
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Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 2
From: Upstate NY
The ones that wear are the front upper bushing.
Since it is up inside the frame where the upper bolt is, about all you could do is mark the bottom of the frame on the shackle.
Then jack the truck up by the front bumper or frame till the front tires are off the ground and see if the shackle marks are now below the frame.
If the bushings are good, the shackle should rotate on the upper bolt, not drop down.
If it does drop down, my next move would be new shackles with new upper and lower bolts.
Since it is up inside the frame where the upper bolt is, about all you could do is mark the bottom of the frame on the shackle.
Then jack the truck up by the front bumper or frame till the front tires are off the ground and see if the shackle marks are now below the frame.
If the bushings are good, the shackle should rotate on the upper bolt, not drop down.
If it does drop down, my next move would be new shackles with new upper and lower bolts.
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I just put a 2.5in lift in the front of my truck yesterday. It is an add-a-leaf from rough country, It cost me $75 and took me 2.5 hours with basic tools. I replaced the bushings in the leaf springs a couple months ago. It SUCKED. if you can find a press it will be your best friend. I did it using a sludge hammer and some 2in pipe, took me a couple hours per side. I have a pic of my truck with the lift under it i just can't figure out how to upload.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,615
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From: Hagerstown, Md
stroker its not that it is hard per say just time consuming if you dont have a vise or a press... if not some spray lube or penetrating oil will help the bushings slide in and out a little easier and you can do it in your driveway if need be, thats where i do most of my work unless i have to run it down to my shop where i have the rest of my tools
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
The bushings I am talking about are in the shackle on the top end.
There was nothing wrong with the spring bushings when I did mine at well over 350,000 miles.
However the top shackle bushing was completely worn out, the upper shackle bolt was worn almost 1/2 way through and the sides of the shackles had notches about 1/2 the diameter of the bolt worn in them.
With that much wear on the shackle side plates, new bushings were not an option.
Just bite the bullet and replace them.
Soak the bolts with PB Blaster every morning and evening for a week or two before you even try to get it apart.
The steel inserts in the bushings rust to the bolts over the years making them a pain to get out.
Impact wrench, air chisel, one side per long evening.
Taking the front bumper off makes getting to the upper bolts easier, which you will probably be happy to have when you are working on them.
There was nothing wrong with the spring bushings when I did mine at well over 350,000 miles.
However the top shackle bushing was completely worn out, the upper shackle bolt was worn almost 1/2 way through and the sides of the shackles had notches about 1/2 the diameter of the bolt worn in them.
With that much wear on the shackle side plates, new bushings were not an option.
Just bite the bullet and replace them.
Soak the bolts with PB Blaster every morning and evening for a week or two before you even try to get it apart.
The steel inserts in the bushings rust to the bolts over the years making them a pain to get out.
Impact wrench, air chisel, one side per long evening.
Taking the front bumper off makes getting to the upper bolts easier, which you will probably be happy to have when you are working on them.
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