Whats up everyone...

Im getting the 20" H/D rims put on my '98 4x4 . I'm thinking that they wont look good unless my truck is lowered just a bit. So, I need a 1" - 1.5" in the front and back, is this possible with a 4x4?

also, does anyone have any experience with Harley rims on non-harley f-150's?

thanks

 

Quickor Suspension offered a lowering-handling kit for 4x Expy’s a couple of years ago. It included sway bars and springs if memory serves. www.quickor.com

 

Ok as much as want to scream, It's your truck so here goes. I'm thinking with those rims if you loosen your torsion bars some it might drob appx 1 inch, might really soften the front end up also but its the fastes and cheapest way, and cna be corrected quickly if you don't like. In the rear you can remove a leaf spring ( just one leaf) and get the desired effect, there might also be a small space block that you can remove also instead.

not really my area of expertise just things to look at

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Cranking the torsion bars down 1" won't affect the front spring rate in the least, it will lower the truck, but you'll need to have it re-aligned.

In the rear, do NOT mess with the springs. Pulling a leaf out will lower it, but it will also reduce the load carrying capacity and make the truck understeer very, very badly. The easiest way to drop it is a set of 2" drop shackles. That won't change the spring rate or the handling balance (the truck will handle MUCH better overall with both ends lowered) it will reduce the load carrying capacity somewhat, but not nearly as much as removing leaves. Plus if you don't like it, you can put the stock shackles back and sell the drop ones at a swap meet

 

why again are you lowering a 4x4? It just doesn't make much sense to me...sorry

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1997 Black 4x4 F-150 XLT 4.6L 285/75/16 Bridgestone Dueler A/T's Eagle Alloy Wheels, K&N Airfilter, Flowmaster Exhaust, Dual tips off of one pipe. Nerf Bars, Brush guard, and 2 Ralley lights

sooner or later: a lift and bigger mud terrain tires

 

Maybe he wants to shave a tenth off his 1/4 mile time.

 

Okay guys... the easiest way to lower a 4x4 is to crank down the torsion bars in the front and in the rear all you have to do is take the rear lift block off the rear axle and go and get shorter u bolts and bolt it back togeather without the block. All 4x4s have a 2" block that makes it taller than a 4x2 so removing it will lower it. It should make the truck pretty level too. depending on how much you lower the front. You might not even have to buy new u bolts, some times they are threaded way down so you can just use the same ones, not sure though on these. That way, it won't cost you anything. It would be stupid to lower the rear with lowering shakles because the only reason its taller is becasue of the lift block. Just my .02 cents worth.

[This message has been edited by christrucker (edited 11-20-2000).]

 

I'd rather install shackles in the rear the to get a drop then take out a lift block. Don't know why but a shackle just seems more ' common sense' and safer then removing a block.

 

I'm with "Meek47", Why???

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NEXT: SUPERCHIP!!

 

Why? Because that is the look the man wants. Medestroman, I can see what your going for. That will make a sweet and bad looking ride. I've have thought of that very look many times and I've looked under the truck to see how easy it would be to accomplish. Do what Christrucker said. That is only sencible way of doing it and that is what I found when I crawled under the truck. Pull the block under the leaf spring and crank down the front.
Post a picture. Broaden the horizon of the other 4x4 truckers with their heads stuck in the clouds.
Good Luck!

 

A while ago belltech offered a 4x4 drop kit, don't know if they still do, but that would something to at least look into.

Quicker - I agree with you.

There is nothing wrong with a lowered 4x4. It's all a matter of taste. I'll end up lowering my 4x4 a little cuz thats the look I want also.

 

modestroman,

A year ago we lowered a '99 Expedition (with auto-levelling system) 2" f/r using a Belltech system. We then went one step further and installed an air system to lower it another 5" f/r. We also put 18" Gara wheels on it. We did this because a relative is crippled and needed the truck lower to pull himself up into the drivers seat. He then raises it when driving. He wanted the Expedition because he likes to go off-road AND it was a Ford. The problems we found, after the fact, was that the initial 2" drop combined with the 18" wheels caused the Expd to bottom out and rub when going over un-even slopes...bad enough, in one case, to blow a rear tire and leave him stranded...a dead cell phone didn't help the situation much either. We now can't lift it back up those 2" because the air system was custom designed to operate in the already lowered stance and $$ to modify is too high for right now.
IMHO....If you are planning to go off-road I would think twice about lowering it at all but if it is just for looks with no off-roading then do it.
Just our experiences.
Wayne

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2000 Lariat SuperCab 2WD Flareside 4.6L 3.55LS, Class III Tow, Black/graphite int, Rear Slider, Keyless Entry, Captains Chairs, Fibertech Hard Tonneau, Ford Cab Bars/Steps, Tinted Windows. Pretty stock right now!
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Our Toys

 

I'll trade you my 98 4x2 for That 98 4x4...

 

Contact Roger at the website store, he still has the Belltech kit still available. Good luck! We need pictures to see what the drop looks like when you're done.

 

Hell, I'm looking at doing the same thing, the reason for me is ingress/egress. I looked at both 4x2 and 4x4, and while I ended up with an '01 4x4 I really liked how easy it is for driver/passengers to get in and out of the 4x2. Sounds like the lift block might do it in back, are there any online descriptions of how to adjust the torsion bars in front?