[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Jul-02 AT 03:43 AM (EST)]Its a 02 F250 crew, shrt bed,4x4. I want 40 Hawgs on it and I've looked at 9 diferent lift kits. Most of the 8" kits fit 38's but they look like 40's will fit in rear no prob. Do I just have to get a 2" leveling kit for front? I've seen 2", 2 1/2", and 3" front leveling kits. Some are shackles and some are shackle relocation kits. I'd prefer an all spring 8" kit w/ a nice front end shackle relo' kit.(I'd like some feedback on lift brands for 8" kits) I can always put a block in the rear if the front goes up too much w/ the front shackle mod. It's going to need around a 6 degree shim anyway. This is my first posting on this forum. I hope I chose the right folder to list in. Anyone have any recomendations?!?!?

Glad to be a part of you're forum... Thanx
Drew
AutotechFL

 

Welcome....The reason you are only seeing 8" kits is because anything over that you will have to go with cross-over steering. Are you going to wheel your truck or just cruise on the pavement?? You might want to go with an 8" kit, 3" body lift, and some cut out flares. Some of the other "BIG BOYS" will be along shortly (Chadrock and Abendx)listen to them. I think Abendx is getting ready to go to 40" or bigger.

 

You can run the shackle kit with an 8" lift and as long as you use a wider (14") wheel the Hawgs will fit. If you plan to run a 12" wheel and you don't want to hit at all, even when severly crossed up, use a 3" body lift also. The crossover steering is not absolutely neccessary with any lift over 8". One of my friends has the 4" shackle kit and a 8" spring kit. His steering is still set up in the stock location and is just fine. If body line integrity is not an issue to you, do like I did. 8" and Bushwacker cutouts with 44s on 12" wide wheels.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Jul-02 AT 03:57 PM (EST)]>Its a 02 F250 crew, shrt bed,4x4. I want 40 Hawgs on it
>and I've looked at 9 diferent lift kits. Most of the 8"
>kits fit 38's but they look like 40's will fit in rear no
>prob. Do I just have to get a 2" leveling kit for front?
>I've seen 2", 2 1/2", and 3" front leveling kits. Some
>are shackles and some are shackle relocation kits. I'd
>prefer an all spring 8" kit w/ a nice front end shackle
>relo' kit.(I'd like some feedback on lift brands for 8"
>kits) I can always put a block in the rear if the front
>goes up too much w/ the front shackle mod. It's going to
>need around a 6 degree shim anyway. This is my first posting
>on this forum. I hope I chose the right folder to list in.
>Anyone have any recomendations?!?!?

An 8" kit would most likely fit 40" Hawgs in the rear, but it would stuff them in there. They wouldn't fit up front though, like you seem to know. I would recommend a 11"-12" lift to clear those tires. You could do a setup like mine (8" Fabtech lift with a Fabtech 3.5" Hanger Kit for the front). I originally had 39/18/16.5 Mickeys on 16.5x14 Weld Wheels and had no rubbing issues at all. If you want the back to be the same hight as the front, you will need a larger blocks or additional springs (blocks are easier and cheaper). Also, if you go above an 8" suspension kit, you will need to have your rear driveline lengthened (if you do an 8" suspension kit with a body lift, you won't need to do the rear driveline).

Concerning what CBSUPERDUTY said about the cross-over steering... it is a nice thing to have (kind of expensive), but in my opinion, its not a must if you aren't going to go higher than a 12" suspension lift (this is also what I've been told by a few shops in Vegas. There are those who sware by it if you go above an 8" kit and it will take alot of load off the steering components if you do have it (and will probably lengthen the life of the steering parts). I don't do any extreame off roading, my truck sees 99% of its time on the street, and I usually don't keep vehicles more than a few years, so I don't feel that the extra money for the cross over steering is nessesary. Hope this info helps.

 

Chadrock...
When you say an 11" lift, do you mean an 8" kit + 3" shackle mod, and additional rear blocks or is there 11" fabtech,or any brand, springs available?
Thanx for the info on the x-over steering. I've looked into it, but, you're right, it's pricy. Maybe in a couple months, if i decide it's necessary, but i doubt it. Also, any concerns about turning your 39.5's w/ the 4.30:1 gears? Thanx, Drew



Anyone.....
Pros and cons about different lift brands?
any feed back from superduty owners w/ 6 or 8" lifts would be greatly accepted. Thanx, Drew

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Jul-02 AT 11:40 PM (EST)]i have to disagree with some of these guys and chime in on the side of chris and the x-over steering for over 8" of suspension.

as chad and paul say, you can probably get away with it, is probably true, but i side on the side of safety and would go with the x-over setup.... i'd hate to be going down teh road and lose my steering and kill myself, my loved ones, or anyone else because i was being to frugal and wouldn't/didn't pitch teh grand for an x-over setup.

i like my fabtech 8" springs and would recommend them, although most of the lifts out there are fairly close in thier ride and quality.

i am leaning and about 90% ready to buy some new springs, so if your interested in a slightly used 8" fabtech lift and 38" tires and rims...

 

Brad,

I wasn't being frugal by not getting the cross over steering. I didn't even know about it when I bought my lift and none of the lift shops I went to said anything about it. If I did know about it, I would have bought it (money wasn't an issue, it was being uninformed). The first time I heard about it was a few months ago when we had the discussion about it. I have the money to do it, but from what alot of people have told me, it isn't an absolute must on my truck. I would do it now, but like I said, I'm not keeping it much longer so I think it would be a waste of money to do it now.

To answer an above post, when I say an 11" lift, I was meaning an 8" lift with a 3" hanger and larger rear blocks. Fabtech doesn't make a 11" (all spring) front and rear lift. You could also do what Abendx did, an 8" Fabtech lift with a 3" body lift. The 4:30s do fine with my 39.5" tires, but if I was to do it again, I would have not paid the extra money for the 4:30 gear option, got the 3.73s and changed them out to 4:56s.

 

i remember our conversation chad.... that frugal comment surely wasn't meant to be directed to you, max duty, or anyone in paticular.... just was using a strong word to get an important point across. when my lift was done they were trying to talk me into the hangers and didn't make any mention of x-over steering (so i would have been in the same boat as you)... silly me thought eight would be enough?!?!?!?

stupid me!!! now i am looking at 15" so i can get a set of 44's on :X10

so... what will you be replacing your truck with... not a chebby i hope :-X23