Problems with 2-4 drop??
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Rock and a Hardspot
Problems with 2-4 drop??
I have a 98 F150 STX. I am going to drop it 2-4. I have heard that the rear shackles could pose some diffculty removing them. There is some drilling and grinding work to be done. Has anyone had to do this? I dropped a 93 ford with shackles with work like that needing to be done.
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 10
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From: Renton WA USA
The shackles are a snap. Its the forward rear spring mounts that are the bugger to get the rivets out of. If you have the facility I recommend removing the box. If you have a forklift or a few muscular friends its not that big of a job. If not get a die grinder and lots of disks and go to it. grinding them down and then xing the end then taking an air chisel to them works for me!
have fun!
have fun!
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Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 343
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From: Jacksonville, FL USA
98STXV8,
I have the same truck and I installed a drop kit with coils, shackles, hangers, and shocks. Took the better part of a day to install. My father-in-law helped and he also had all the necessary tools.
The only hard part is the front hangers on the rear springs. They were a pain to do and took probably 80% of the time. I pre-drilled a hole in the rivets holding them on and then air chiseled them off. A die grinder would probably be much faster, but all we had was a hand sander with some heavy duty sanding disks. Anyway after the heads of the rivets were chiseled off, I sanded even with the hangers and knocked the hanger off with a hammer. Then had to get the remainder of the rivets off of the frame. Again I chiseled the remainder of the rivets off, sanded them even with the frame and then puched the rivets out with a punch and hammer.
It was worth the results, my kit was adjustable in the rear thus I was able to go 5 inches on the rear with the shackles and hangers for a 3/5 total drop. (I removed the STX stickers so that is why you don't see them in the pics)
[This message has been edited by Chris Thomas (edited 08-02-2000).]
I have the same truck and I installed a drop kit with coils, shackles, hangers, and shocks. Took the better part of a day to install. My father-in-law helped and he also had all the necessary tools.
The only hard part is the front hangers on the rear springs. They were a pain to do and took probably 80% of the time. I pre-drilled a hole in the rivets holding them on and then air chiseled them off. A die grinder would probably be much faster, but all we had was a hand sander with some heavy duty sanding disks. Anyway after the heads of the rivets were chiseled off, I sanded even with the hangers and knocked the hanger off with a hammer. Then had to get the remainder of the rivets off of the frame. Again I chiseled the remainder of the rivets off, sanded them even with the frame and then puched the rivets out with a punch and hammer.
It was worth the results, my kit was adjustable in the rear thus I was able to go 5 inches on the rear with the shackles and hangers for a 3/5 total drop. (I removed the STX stickers so that is why you don't see them in the pics)
[This message has been edited by Chris Thomas (edited 08-02-2000).]
Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 68
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From: Mission Viejo ( So Cal )
STXV8
You replace thr rivets with bolts that are supplied with the kit.
On your second question...the only way blocks would work is if you had already flipped the axle to the TOP of the springs. Your truck (97-01)has the axle on the BOTTOM of the springs, so all a block would do is RAISE you truck.
Hope that helps....
Later...Bigmike
------------------
Tan 97 F150, 2wd, Supercab, Tinted windows, Piaa's, 4.2/auto, Pwr everything 4/5 drop. Billet grill, Clear corners, Leather steering wheel cover, Pioneer CD head unit w/steering wheel remote, Alpine amp, Clifford alarm, custom box with a 10” Kicker pro comp sub.
Future mods: Thinking hard about 4-link rear & air on all corners, Shaved emblems, Rear roll pan
You replace thr rivets with bolts that are supplied with the kit.
On your second question...the only way blocks would work is if you had already flipped the axle to the TOP of the springs. Your truck (97-01)has the axle on the BOTTOM of the springs, so all a block would do is RAISE you truck.
Hope that helps....
Later...Bigmike
------------------
Tan 97 F150, 2wd, Supercab, Tinted windows, Piaa's, 4.2/auto, Pwr everything 4/5 drop. Billet grill, Clear corners, Leather steering wheel cover, Pioneer CD head unit w/steering wheel remote, Alpine amp, Clifford alarm, custom box with a 10” Kicker pro comp sub.
Future mods: Thinking hard about 4-link rear & air on all corners, Shaved emblems, Rear roll pan
