Im fixing to lower my regular cab F140 2004... any tips I need to know before I start?

I'm pretty decent at suspension work, but I figured I'd ask.

I thought I remembers somewhere people having problems with flip kits... somthing about having to saw somthing off?

ALso.. I imaging I'll have to drop the gas tank.. so I'll only leave a couple gallons in it..

ANy help is much appreciated...

BTW: Kit is a GroundForce 2/5 drop.

 

I have no answers to any of the questions you asked but I do have a question for you.
Isn't the difference between front and rear on these trucks 2"? Won't that kit drop that @ss end lower than the front?

 

I did the 2/4 ground force drop and it was pretty strait forward. start with the front, once the truck is on jackstands loosen the 3 top bolts of the strut assembly then take out the lower bolt, remove the tie rod end from the spindle and slide the strut out. The time consuming part on the front is the strut disassembly/assembly. Goes back in same way you take it out. A note if your kit doesnt come with new front struts then this would be a good time to replace them with a good set of bilstiens. My truck had 33,000 miles on it when I dropped it and the factory struts were pathetic at best, I could collapse them with one hand. My new bilstiens are awesome.

The rear is a bit of a PITA. I ran my truck till I had 1/8 of a tank of gas in it before I started all of this. You will need to take the three screws holding the filler neck out, then place a rag or shop towel in the filler neck to keep dirt from getting in, then loosen the hose clamp on the filler tube where it connects to the bed. get your floor jack with a piece of wood on it and center it between the tank straps, take out the rear tank strap bolt then completly remove the tank strap from the frame, then remove the front strap bolt, this will allow you to swing the gas tank towards the passenger side to remove the front driverside spring bolt. When I put mine back together I was able to put the spring bolt in from the outside and there was enough clearance on the tank side for the bolt(will make it easyer if I have to remove it again). Then I believe you will have to swap out rear shackles for your perticular kit. Pull the springs out then raise the rear end up and replace the springs under the axel with the new braketts and install your new shocks.

Other than that the groundforce instructions are very good just read them a couple of times before you start. Figure on about 6 hours or so with the help from a friend. I was able to get my truck aligned with no problems after the drop so you should be good to go.

I had 5 inches between the tire and fender on the front and now it is 3, the rear had 8 inches between the tire and fender and now it is 4 so I still have a litttle rake. With the 2/5 you should sit completely level

Hope this helps

Jack

 

Ya just drop the back with a 2" shackles

 

Already did that a while back. Not low enough.

Thanks Huitt24! I don't knwo if I'll get to it this weekend or not. Depends on how I feel on how the weather is.

Thakns for your tips and instructions... I dont really see installing the kit to be a problem.. Wish I didnt have to drop the tank, but o-well.

 

Part # on those Bilstiens?

Thanks

 

I dont have a part# for the bilstiens because they came with my groundforce kit. I have seen a set of them on e-bay now and then.

 

Who makes the 2" drop shakles?

 

I think the easy way is to use 3" shakles and 2" lowering hangers on the rear and lightning springs on the front or 2" drop spindles. where are the suspension gods when you need them

 

Got the kit put on.. Actually the front sits about an inch higher than the rear.. Im hoping its because the springs ar enew and havent settled any yet.

Problem I have now is, The rear axle is about an inch from the bump stops.... 1" is travel isnt much..lol The bump stops that come with the kit are pretty soft though.. Whats the deal here?

 

So Khendrix, are the pics in your gallery with the drop kit or just a rear shackle? I like the look of your truck.

 

I like this. 2/5 right? Is the rear lower though? What kit did you use?

 

ive got some L springs, and lower control arms in the classifieds

 

Get rid of the step bars now. i dont think you need the extra help to get in the truck. I would think that if your kit came with shorter shackles, to swap them back out, and have a 2" on there, instead of a 3" shackle,

your picture looks more like a 2/6 the way its "scwatting"
-Patrick

 

looking in your gallery, I noticed you had DJM drop shackles on the rear, if you left those on when you did the flip kit that is why you are sitting lower in the back. Ground force actually supplys a lift shackle in the rear after you do the flip kit to give you the clearence for the bump stop. The flip kit drops the truck 6 inches and the left shackle raises it 1 inch to give the total drop 5 inches.