This was originally a reply to this post, but I thought I'd create a new thread for it since leveling kits and add-a-leafs seem to be so popular.

The post was a response to a member w/ a ProComp lift, but the same goes for trucks with other lift brands and stock trucks too. In fact, the stock shocks surely have less travel than the ones used in the example, so the numbers would be even worse for people adding lift with stock shocks.

Also, I don't know the travel specifications for the factory front shocks, but I know for sure they're less than the rear shocks. I would be surprised if a truck with a 2" front leveling kit even has 1.5" of downward suspension travel.

 

I should clarify. This isn't "exactly" the same theory that applies to front leveling kits.

Here's the difference. On a 2004+ F-150, there are no bump stops on the front suspension... the shock is what brings the front suspension to a stop if/when it bottoms out. Also, there is nothing on the front suspension to limit the downward travel of the suspension except the shock travel.

Now, when you add a leveling kit to the front the whole game changes. When the truck is stock, the suspension can reach full droop and no parts hit eachother. Now when you have a leveling kit installed, instead of the shock travel limiting the downward travel... you now have the upper control arm crashing into the coil spring limiting the downward travel and it happens before it droops 2".

The JD Fabrication "Long Travel" suspension kit uses 10" travel King reservoir coilovers. I think it's safe to assume that the stock shocks have less than 10"... let's assume 8" (4" up & 4" down). So when the truck is stock, the suspension stops drooping just before the UCA hits the coil spring. Now add a 2.5" leveling kit on top of the factory front spring. You've just made the suspension cycle down 2.5" of it's 4" which leaves you with about 1.5" before the UCA hits the coil spring.

Again... leveling kits make the truck look cool, but that's about where the positive ends.

 

I'm pretty sure there are bump stops on the front suspension cuz I melted em.

 

I've never seen them. Where are they?

Besides, if you put a 2" thick spacer on the top of the spring you're going to be making the bump stop 2" farther from whatever it's going to hit. The shock will bottom out before it can travel that extra 2".

LOL, I just noticed your signature. If you add in all that text below your 500x100 picture you've exceeded the 500x100. Just a little irony I guess.

 

melted bump stop... I think---->https://www.f150online.com/galleries...710&anum=14118

I thought the 500-100 thing was for img's not text. Oh well.

 

Baja

What length(s) shocks would I need in the rear with 10" of lift?

 

Oh no... you're right. The bump stop is built into the shock. I did a bad job of explaining that. I just meant that our 2004+ trucks don't have a frame to LCA bump stop system like I believe the Pre-2004 style and Rangers have.

 

Well 27.5" is for a 3" rear lift so add 7" of lift to that and I'd say at at least 34.5" extended shock length.

I'm guessing that a 10" rear lift is going to invlolve new rear leaf springs, so I don't know exactly what your maximum collapsed length will need to be. I would shoot for about 22.5" collapsed length.

 

I'm planning on running a 8" leaf pack with the factory 2" block.

 

Thump,

If you would like to go with the 5150's the shocks i stated a couple post above this should be fine. I had planned on 9"-10" of front lift but settled on 8".

 

Well, I already have 5150s in the rear. I'm trying to find out which ones I need and which ones I have right now.

 

Which ones do you have?

 

Thumper,

Are you using the Bilstein setup that comes in the RCD kit with your Rize lift? Did you add a spacer to the top of them?

I'm looking for replacement shocks for my 6" lift and I'm kind of **** about having the same brand front and rear. I considered buying the Bilsteins that come in the RCD kit, but I wasn't sure if you could buy them separate. Right now I was thinking ProComp coilovers and ProComp reservoir MX6's in the rear.

 

Nope the 5100s are for the stock set-up since Rize uses a spacer up front.

Kings are in order but when the money allows. Just bought a SeaDoo so its going to be a while.

 

Hey could you reply to your PM's about the rear shocks.