After trying to wrap my brain around all this am i correct in assuming that doing a similar "budget" lift on a ranger/bronco 2 would have even more severe consequences because of the narrower wheelbase? Shorter arms mean more angle right?

 

Yes, but it's due more to the narrower track width (side-to-side) than wheelbase (front-to-back).

 

That's what i meant.

 

I like this thread....pretty certain steve knows his stuff. I lifted a S10 ZR5, the bastard child of the 4x4 community, and everything has to be right on....everything you move changes measurements somewhere else, and on the smaller trucks it is more prevalent. Cant wait to start messin with my first ford, haha....steve,expect some PM's

 

I know Steve knows his stuff with Fords, but here is my expirence.

I had a 81 TTB Bronco that I put Rancho 2" Lift springs on. At first the tires looked like this l / then I bought aftermarket adjustable camber bushings, had them installed and then alinged and it was fine. Back to l l .The truck tracked straight and the ride was just a bit stiffer then what it was. I added new shocks when I put the spring on so I tributed the stiffness to the new springs and shocks. I drove the truck like that for 2 years and the tire wear was normal.

I have seen 2" lift kits that have drop brackets for the ttb and Radius arms, but I don't think they are needed for under a 4" lift.

 

OK. lots of good information on lift kit and alignment problems. The alignment specs i have seen are for normal height F-150's, I have a 1993 F-150 4x2 std cab, straight 6. What would the alignment specs should be for a lift kit system is installed? Is it the same as the normal height truck?

 

OK...since I lurk most of the time I'll chime in...

ALL of what I'm about to give you (basically my truck build) I've done 90% of everything on my truck myself. In my driveway/garage with only hand tools. Don't own any air tools.

When my truck had ~ 90-100K miles on it I installed (via a Ford truck site classified ) 4WD 2.5" lift front springs and SkyJacker shocks all round. ( Rear already had 2.5" helper springs it's previous life/owner was a South Georgia highway construction guy). Afterwards truck needed SERIOUS alignment with the largest camber adjustment cams the guys had ( old school shop one of only two places that have ever wrench my truck other than me ).

I think I've been thru maybe two sets of tires since then ( BFG A/T TA KOs and the Firestone Destination LEs ).

I'm now at 274K miles ( the BFGs Frick'n ROCKED ) and just COMPLETED my lift.

Installed a set of front I-Beam drop brackets ( suggested way back then by the old school alignment guy and that I bought like 7years ago..LOL)...completely re-built the front end with all MOOG parts ( ball joints, all steering parts, I-Beam bushings and then after a suburban pathetic alignment ( should have taken pictures of the "front squat" the truck had... but needed basic driveability ) I took then took the truck back to the old school guy. An hour later and new Camber cam on one side. Near perfection.

Ahhhhhhhhhh now that's a smooooth riding truck. Yeah there is still lots of play in the steering wheel ( it's got 275K miles on it ). Still considering new steering gear and Borgenson steering shaft.

So I've been there. I've done it. Was it dangerous, scary, unsafe? Not in my opinion. My mom, wife, daughter, several friends drove it and none crashed it or got killed so it drove...like an older beat up truck ( after wife back down the side of it with her Expedition it's a real truck and not some fancy power everything POS I wouldn't want anyway...it's a REAL TRUCK ) that needed some repairs.

Would it have been better off doing it all at once? Sure, but heck. Even now after the truck hasn't been built for over 14years you still can't buy a decent lift for less than ~$500.00! That's crazy.

I didn't spend that on the front end rebuild, the original lift parts and maybe two tires.

What am I saying?? It's all about what you are willing to put up with, capable of handling. Both in mechanical/driving ability and bank account.

I say go for it... build your truck your way. Only you know your budget. Hopefully you won't bust it up ( the truck or your bank account ) and can say you did it YOUR WAY.

And if you are like me the saying is... I built it. It's not flashy. It doesn't even have power windows. BUT it's paid for. Used as a truck. Has the notches in the paint to prove it. And I'll be drinking out of a can that WAS your fancy pants "metro/suburb" truck while still driving mine.

 

That brought a little tear to my eye haha, but I have decided I'm using coil spacers here soon since it is obviously done all the time, I was lookin at sparkplug's 87.
I don't think there is much left in my ttb to break anyway. I tried to grease the ball joints and steering joints and everything just squirted right back out.
Thanks pre-runner.
P.s I would love to see your truck, front suspension and what not.
I also would like to hear it since you have some exhaust work done to er. I have a thread goin up in the exhaust section about duals on a sixxer.

 

Once again, for what you pay for spacers you can just about buy coils. It really is a no brainer for those of us with common sense.

And if your front end is falling apart I would save that money for a repair that is sure to rear its ugly head soon.

 

I may be trading my truck on a 94 stroker that needs some work here soon anyway.
I bounce new ideas around in my head everyday.

 

so can also

 

So can also?

 

Old thread I know but it seems the most relevant to my query and I hate starting new threads to pursue basically the same information.

What would be included in a "kit"? The Tuff country kit (which appears to be the same as the Rough Country kit) says this on their website:

"•Axle pivot brackets include camber adjustment bolts for a precise alignment"

Will this allow me to get a proper alignment after a lift? I'm just trying to get a little height and fit 33s easily. Will I need any other parts to keep the ride, handling and alignment within specs? Also, the "performance" kit has extended radius arms for the 2.5" kit. Are these really needed for anything? Are there any benefits?

Thanks for the info guys, I'm new to this TTB world.

http://www.tuffcountry.com/suspensio...lift-kits.html

 

Yes that's what you need.
The extended arms help smooth out the ride and allow better flex for offroading.

 

^^ Thanks, I'll go with just the basic kit to fit the tires I have then. I don't plan on any real offroading with this, that's what the Jeep is for, so I'll go sans extended radius arms.