I'm fairly new to this forum and i am the proud owner of a 99 f150 4x2 x-cab with the 4.6 v8. anyhow, im looking for a little more lift. right now im looking at spindle lift, mainly because it maintains the factory ride and geometry (correct me if im wrong). I know fabtech has a good kit, but what about doetsch? they're a little cheaper, but is this a good brand? does anyone on here have that lift? I am not mechanically inclined, but is the spindle fairly easy to install or should i have a shop do it? o yeah, with either fabtech or doetsch, will i be able to use my stock 16x8 rims? i think id wanna run 285/75r16 BFG AT.
i know these are a lot of questions, but any help would be appreciated.

 

Doetsch has a good reputation. You should be fine with their spindles. The ride will be the same with a spindle lift, but most increase the front track width a couple of inches. In other words, when you install the lift spindles, your front wheels will "stick out" a little farther. I beleive you will be able to use the stock wheels (which are 16x7 by the way) but ask the manufacturer to be sure. 285/75-16's should look and fit fine.

 

Hey Wandell,
I hate to dredge up the old archives, but I was searching to find out if anyone made a spindle lift for the '05 2wd. I haven't found much other than 6" lifts. I really don't want to regear and 33's are big enough for me. What do you think man? Who can I go to to get a 3-4" lift for an '05 2wd. Will any of the 4wd lifts work for my application?

 

No one makes a spindle lift for your truck. Pro Comp and Fabtech both make 6 inch lifts for 4x2's and I suspect any 4x4 suspension lift would work on a 4x2 since the suspensions are the same. I know this is the case with the new HD Chevy's. I would contact Rancho and see if their 4 inch kit will work on a 4x2. I know that Skyjacker's 3 inch lift will work with your truck. You could always install a 2.5 inch leveling kit and a 3 inch body lift.

 

I also plan on gettin the doestch lift spindles. You can find them on ebay for $ 279 with a 2 inch rear block kit! very good deal!

 

Wandell,
Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure about the skyjacker--I've seen a few pictures around here of guys who have the skyjacker coil-lift and their cv boots are pretty well cranked. It looks like a lot more stress than a spindle lift. Any real world experience with bearings burning up? Or is it really not that large of a problem?

Hey Lariat,
I assume that you're going with the 6/3 lift? That is the only spinlde lift I see available on their site. Their 3" lift is a coil spacer and a 1" drop in the back. What size tires are you going to run?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-...34853531QQrdZ1

This is the kit im going with

3 inch fronnt 2 inch rear lift

 

Having a 4x2 you don't need to worry about cv boots. Unless 2wd trucks have changed since the last time I was under one. I don't know about newer trucks, but your front tires should just spin on the spindles.

 

I guess I was talking about the boots on the control arms tearing and F'ing up the bearings, as what happened on my old probe. I had to replace the half axles on that thing becuase I never caught the tear. Yeah, I know what spindles are...the desired outcome is a smaller lift without changing the steering geometry as with a leveling kit. A "spindle-lift" as, I understand, is the only way that I can lift the truck 3-4 inches and relocate the control arms to maintain the same steering geometry. This is an important aspect to my decision. I understand that any lift with cause premature-wear on different parts. But it seems smart to try the least stressful way to lift the truck.

If I go the full suspension lift, my options are strictly 6" lifts. With that in mind I need 35" tires or so. To do this, I will need to regear plus I may have to change out the drive shaft to a lighter weight material such as aluminum or carbon fiber--in order to eliminate drive shaft shutter. All this just to put on bigger tires and look more aggressive just is not worth the full blown suspension lift...IMHO.

 

The control arms don't have bearings. Atleast not the ones I've seen, they use a rubber bushing. I guess I'm confused. If your truck is a 4x4 then yes you can mess up the cv joint or the boot. If your truck is a 2wd then you don't have a cv joint or half axles.