I think I am going to go with Kyle at Big brand.... They just did Tony's lightening... Plus I talked him down to $300.00 with alignment. They sold me my wheels and tires...

 

Nice truck. I love the way your truck sits. I've got to get mine down. I got the rear down, but I need more plus I haven't touched the front yet.

 

Thank You!
I am very happy with the way it came out.
I still have a few more mods to do and I wil be done.

 

Got my kit yesterday from Summit... Hopefully the rain will stop so I can get it into the shop!!!

 

Did you get your drop done yet?

 

I got the kit in but I have not got the drop yet.... I hope to have it done by the end of the week....

 

It is on!! Had a few snags - first off, shop did not realize they were going to have to cut off the front hangar brackets for the leaf springs - install price went up $100. Then after they did the drop, they realized that my brake line was touching my dual exhaust, so they had to take it to the muffler shop and have them redo the exhaust from the muffler back (+$145). When I went to pick it up, I realized that they gave me a 5" drop on the rear instead of a 4", which made the rear end lower than the front. PLus, there was a vibration up to 30 mph. Took the truck back and they moved it to a 4" drop and that vibration disappeared.

Here is my question - I now have a roaring noise at around 55-60 mph on hard acceleration. None before that speed, none after, just right in that range. Does anyone else have this problem?? For those of you that dropped the rear, did you use the supplied shim kit?? I just found out that the shop did not use the shims because the directions stated that most Ford trucks do not need to use the shim kit.

Now, I know most of you are probably saying,"Why in the hell did you use this shop??!!!" These are guys I have been dealing with for years and they said they could do the install, even though it is not a rountine service of theirs. I felt more comfortable letting them work out the details than going to some hack shop that I had never been to.

Overall, I am very happy with the install. The look is awesome and the ride quality is not as bad as I thought it would be.

Please give me some input on my question and I will post some pics soon!!

 

I have an '01 crew as well, and lowered mine 2" in the back with belltech shackles, and 1" in the front with SVT springs. Mine were from a Lightning, but I checked with the dealer, and they're the same thing. I picked mine up on ebay relatively cheap. I've really enjoyed how the truck looks - although I might think of going lower some day. I've always loved Lightningcrew's truck, and I'm curious to see the pics.

I found a set of used harley 20's pretty cheap, and I've been thinking about putting on 285/50/20s, like what you have. Did they change your speedo much? What's the ride like? Just curious.

 

Lightningcrew - Let us know when you have pics. Mine had the roar and vibration at 60 when I did my 2" shackle drop. The shim kit made it go away.

01RedCrew - I always wondered if the Harley and Lightning springs were the same. Thanks for the info. When I changed wheels and tires I went from the BFG Long Trails to the 285/50HR20 Eagle GTIIs and the ride is as good if not better than it was. The only problem that I do have is the speedo being off. It's off about 4% but I will fix that when I buy a 1715 Superchips Microtuner.

 

Lightningcrew
I installed the shim that came with my beltech 3/4 drop as instructed removed the factory block that was on the spring, My truck is smooth from zero through 130mph+ no noise no problem. the only thing I had to do was ballence the drive shaft for a slight high speed vibration 100+ no fault of lowering kit ford did not intend truck to go that fast I used the hose clamp method on the driveshaft and it is perfict.

 

I might have a little delay on the pics - new digital camera is going back to the mfg. to be swapped out. Maybe I can get pics this weekend and send the camera on Monday.

OK, I will make sure to get the shim kit installed.

chucks bp - what driveshaft fix are you talking about?? Before the lowering, I had a roaring sound once I exceeded 100mph (not that I do it often, but it was quite annoying). In fact, it is the same noise that I get now at 55mph. If you have a link for this fix, let me know - unless you can easily explain how to do it.

Thanks guys and I will try and get the pics up this weekend.

 

Jack the truck up and level it support the rear axle on jack stands so that the truck is sitting like it would be on the ground. Check the drive shaft front rear and center for excessive runout, should not exceed .035 of an inch. also make shure u joints are ok. If runout is excessive you can re index the rear and see if it helps.
Next remove the rear tires and wheels and reinstall all lug nuts on hubs. Run the truck up to speed where vibration is and see if it is there without tires and wheels on, it probly will be. as this is a high speed vibration. get a marker and mark the rear of the drive shaft in 4 equal parts arund the shaft and number the marks. get 2 gear type hose clamps that fit around the drive shaft. put the head of the clamps together on one of the marks using the heads as weight run up to speed and see if it makes the vibration better or worse if worse chnge the 2 clamps a half turn and try it takes a little time but you can grt it perfict.
when you get the vibration best you can if it isn't perfict try adding a 3rd clamp if it makes it worse try removing one clamp or you can seperate the teo clamp heads to lesten the amount of weight.
Took me about an houre but it was perfict when done. You might feel a slight vibration on the jack stands but you probly won't feel that on the road.

 

Holy crap!!! That is a lot more than what I was expecting. Excuse my ignorance, but what is "runout"??

By the way, camera is still here, so as soon as I get my baby washed up, I will take some pics and get them on here.

Wish someone could find me a 2001+ upper Lightning grille to match my lower one!!!

 

Wow- you mean my Screw can look even better with a 4/2 drop?

Nice...

 

Here is the first pic of my lariat SC, just picked it up from the shop... I will take more pics after work in better light....