Awaiting my '00 f150 std.cab shortbox w/4.6 and 3.55gears e.t.a. 2 weeks.

I need suggestions on lowering my new truck.
Thinking of 2" & 4"
Truck will be a daily driver with some light towing and winter driving in snow
Are 2" dropped spindles available or will coil springs do and keep geometry good?
Are shocks designed for lowered trucks as good as other high quality shocks as far as ride and towing goes?
Any suggestions are appreciated!!!!

 

there are a few different lowering shocks that are the best performing shocks you can buy!!!

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-97 F150 FLARESIDE XLT REG.CAB.4X2 PACIFIC GREEN/GREY INTERIOR
-4.6L AUTO TRANNY 3.55 LS REAR
-MODS-
-ROUSH RACING PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION LOWERED 3 FRONT 3.5 REAR WITH BILSTIEN SHOCKS
-GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES
-4X4 GRILL/BUMPER AND LIGHTS
-PAINT MATCHED SNUG LID BED COVER GREY CARPETED BED KIT
-VENTSHADES
-PAINT MATCHED SLOTTED TAILIGHT ACCENTS CLEAR FRONT CORNERS
-BLUE HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS/BUMPER LIGHTS TOO
-K&N FILTER-WMS AIR TUBE-CUSTOM RAM AIR FROM BUMPER OPENING
-SUPERCHIP(THANX MIKE!!) POWERAID(WHISTLE BOX) ACCELL SUPER STOCK PLUG WIRES BOSCH PLATINUM PLUS 4'S
-VALVOLINE FULL SYNTHETIC 10W30
-FLOWMASTER MUFFLER(to be changed to JARDINE system)
-SPEED GLO DASH& CARBON FIBER GAUGE ACCENT HUSKY LINER FLOOR MATS
-STEREO:
-ECLIPSE HEAD UNIT/SONY ADJUSTIBLE CROSSOVER MOUNTED IN DRIVER DOOR MAP POCKET/BOSTON 6.5 SEPERATES/RUN BY PIONEER AMP/2-12"ORION DVC SUBS POWERED BY ORION HCCA AMP/CUSTOM SUB BOX/1 FARAD CAP/WAY TOO MANY CD'S!!!!
CLIFFORD ALARM&REMOTE START.
"#6 STICKER" GO MARTIN!!

 

Loogan,

There are no drop spindles available for these trucks. To lower the front you need to use coil springs, lower control arms, or a combination. You can lower up to 3 inches with coil springs and this is the most cost effective way. I used Eibach springs to lower mine 3" in front. Also, to correct the caster/camber for the alignment, there is an alignment kit with upper A-arm bolts and shims to allow for propper adjustment.

The rear is a different story. Shackles and hangers combined will lower your truck up to 5". 1 to 2 inches for the shackles and 2 to 3 inches for the hangers with 4" total being the most common. These are relatively inexpensive but not very easy to install as you have to get the rivets out holding your hangers to the frame. A flip kit will lower your truck 6" in the rear and is easier to install than the hangers. The only other alternative is replacing the leaf springs with lowered springs. The Roush kit is the only one I know of that uses these. It is a great kit with bilstein shocks but a little pricey at around $1000 for the entire kit.

There are lots of different brands of kits to lower your truck and there is even the air bag kits if you really want to go in the weeds. Start researching in Truckin' magazine. There are always lots of kits for sale and some nice articles on lowering from time to time also.

Good luck,


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Chris Thomas
<A HREF="http://216.147.104.171/Y2K/members/ChrisT/christ1a.jpg" TARGET=_blank> </A>
1998 F-150XLT Flareside STX Sport Package, 4.6L Auto 3.55 Oxford White/Gray interior, Factory Anti-theft system
Picture: http://216.147.104.171/Y2K/members/ChrisT/christ1a.jpg
Homepage: Chris & Brandi's Universe
Mods: A.R.E. Decklid/Oxford White with gray fabric liner, K&N filter with Airbox Mod (removed silencer), Lowered 3" front/5" rear, Tinted Windows, GTS sloted taillight covers (painted Oxford white to match), Removed STX stickers
Audio: Kenwood Truck speakers with 10" woofers, Rockford Fosgate and Alpine Amps, Ford 10 disk CD changer
Future Mods: 20" rims and tires, True duals with Supertrap tunable mufflers, Superchip, Supercharger, Jacobs Ignition, and whatever else I can think of!!!



[This message has been edited by Chris Thomas (edited 03-31-2000).]