My son has a 97 2WD and the ball joints and bushings were all shot so we decided to replace it all. He also wanted a lift so I picked up some 3" spindles, 2" Daystar coil spacers and 3" blocks for the rear.

Replaced the Upper & Lower Control arms, Inner and Outer Tie Rods, and End Links all with Moog.

Right away I could tell something wasn't right because the upper control arm sits way too low and just doesn't look right. In additional the angle is so bad that I can't even put shocks back on. The spring goes almost straight up and down and doesn't give the proper angle to fit the shock.

I'm wondering if something was done wrong installing the Daystar coil spacer. Went the spring came out it had some thin rubber cap on it to make it level. I added the Daystar right on top of that rubber cap. Should I have removed that cap and just put the Daystar right on top of the spring itself? Not sure because I put the stock spindle back on to try to figure this out and the upper control arm angle seemed to go back to looking correct. Problem seems to isolated to the new spindle itself.

The stock spindle seems to sit straight up and down and the new lift spindle seems to angle back some at the top so it's messing up the angle on the upper control arm. Is the problem because I have used the factory bolts for the upper control arms and it's not letting it move enough to fit the new spindle properly?

We have an off-road shop about 2 miles from the house I was going to take it to for an alignment when we are done but I am afraid to drive it like this with no front shocks and knowing something is wrong with the angle. Any advice would be great

 

pics?

 

I would think your off road shop would know the answer to you situation
Good luck.

 

Sounds like you need to get an alignment. The angles technically should be the same whether it's the stock spindle or the lift spindle, they don't change the geometry. As for the spacer, what did the instructions say to do? Did it say place it above or below the spring? If above I'd remove that coil isolater, the rubber thing up top from the factory, and use the spacer in its place.

 

Shoot somebody in the face moment. One thing in the box so you figure who needs instructions. I think the 13th step said if you have the factory cap to take it off since it's not going to be used. Now the punishment is to take everything off and do it again. Still looks like the angle is off more than what that would cause but we'll see. Him and his friends started the project then decided to take a break when the time came to fuss with compressing the spring. They have no regard for our home owner's association so I crawled under there to try to finish it up. Not looking forward to messing with the spring again but no choice now.

 

With the isolater still in place your putting in too much lift with the stock control arms hence the bad angles. Without it, they'll be better but still 2" is the limit before you need to get longer aftermarket control arms to correct the angles.

 

I'd just run spindles and no lift spacer

 

Removing the coil spacer did the trick. Surprisingly my boy has changed his mind about wanting bigger tires. He likes the look of it.....for now. Best part for him is I can't even get my old *** in that thing now without him getting him a good laugh.

 

Haha best dad ever. My dad woulda been like fix that SH*t before mom has a melt down! I did my daystar with some friends it was pretty frustrating I will not lie but hey it made me very happy! And in a few months I have to do it all again. Actual 7.5 lift coming in!

 

I like these so much that just bought a 2003 FX4. In fantastic shape too. It's got 135K but not too bad for 10 or 11 years old. Interior is beautiful and outside still looks great too. Nice bright and shiny red paint.

5 fords in the drive way now.

My 2008 Screw, '03 FX4, '97, '98 Exporer Sport and 2012 Mustang.