Yea I know everyone is wondering why I would want to do such a thing, but high hp scares me, esp when it comes to riding up high. Belltech makes torsion keys to drop it 1"-3", and was wondering if anyone has them. The shackles I'm not worried about, but was wondering about the keys. Thanks for the input and bashing that will prob. happen.

 

I think you would be wasting money. You can remove your OEM 2 inch rear lift block for free and back off the torsion bar preload with the OEM adjustment keys. The only cost you would have is getting an alignment when you are done. Depending on how much drop you get up front you may then want to go with lowering shackles.

 

yea just drop the block and turn ur bars down

 

I have to swap them from one vehicle currently in, to my 97 F150.
My truck is a 4wd also, I pulled the rear blocks, installed rear shackles and I just got a set of rear leaf springs off a 04 Lightning (going in soon). My springs look like crap, and one is messed up making the truck sit unlevel.
As for the front, you may need the lowering keys depending on how much lower you want the truck. With luck you can lower about 2" max. out of the stock keys. Obviously I'm lowering more and need to use the keys.
When lowering the front will become softer.To compensate I have huge antisway bars, and I'm using Gabriel MaxControl shocks. I hated Gabriel and Monroe for years working at a parts store,total soft failing junk. These are actually quite good shocks. They are just like KYB Gas-A-Just also a high pressure monotube. You cant beat the price at $100. for all 4 on Ebay.

Lowflyingbird

 

I was looking at the belltech keys because I like my ride quality, and didn't want to back the bars off comp. I'll prolly just pull the rear blocks, but am thinking of the keys up front, thanks for the info. You got any pics of the 4x4 dropped?

 

No pics as of now.
If your only going to remove the rear blocks, dont waste your money on the keys. They will make ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE. Simply unscrew the bolts on the ones that you have. Changing them will not make your ride quality any different either. I'm dead serious about this , spend your money elsewhere!!
Like measure your front antisway bar with a caliper. Many F150's have a pathetically small diameter hollow bar. Go to a local dismantle yard and find an Expedition 97-02 5.4 4wd. That bar will fit your F150 and be MUCH larger. It will probably cost you $25. and save you $150. vs. buying an aftermarket replacement. Then definitly get firmer shocks.
Once again, keys dont change ride quality. it's the torsion bar itself. With the bar set to normal hight the ride is somewhat firm, crank them to get the truck higher the bar is under more load and the ride harder. Unscrew the bolts in the keys lower than stock and the ride gets softer because of less twisting of the bar. Lowering keys are only usable when you desire a height lower than possible with stock keys with the bolts all the way out.
I speak from experience. If you can lower your truck to the height you want with stock keys, then the lowering ones are of no benefit . Take like $50-$100 out of your wallet and burn it, same result.

 

Yep, decreasing the preload on the torsion bars is decreasing the preload. It doesn't matter if you use the oem keys or the aftermarket keys. It's the same thing. The only difference is one cost more.