Hello all,
First off I am new to posting on this forum. I have been viewing threads on here for some time though. I have searched a lot and can't seem to find what I am looking for. I am in the market for lifting my 05 XLT. I have decided I am probably going to go with the 6" BDS kit with extended front struts. My question are when I decide to go bigger and get an extended front strut and lifted leaf packs from Atlas what size shocks would I need. I saw on BDS website that they use the same rear shock size for the 6 and 8' kits. For anyone running an 8" lift what size shocks are you running? Ive searched for Fox shocks and only came up with rear shocks with 6" lift. I also looked a bit for Kings but my search came up with no real results. All I know is I do not want to run the coil spacer and keep stock struts. I figure if im going to lift I might as well get new shocks while I am at it. And for those of you who are probably wondering why I don't just get the 8" kit now, its because I can get a set of 35s pretty cheap right now and figure I'll start here with the 6" and 35s then later get the shocks, 37s and regear in the next dump of money. Thanks gents!

 

Your shocks (from the 6" lift, not stocks) in the rear will be fine, I highly doubt you will ever give your suspension a work out where you will have issues with a slightly short shock.

For the front:
Kings, I believe those are a call to order. I've never dealt with them so I can't help.

For bilsteins, part number is listed in this thread.
http://www.f150forum.com/f4/bilstein...-83869/index2/

To get 8" from the bilsteins though, it looks like you need to use a spacer still, unless they have a longer one that I am un aware of.

 

Ok cool, so the rears will be fine even if I go with say an 8" lift leaf with stock blocks to achieve stock rake? Also while I've heard good things about the Bilsteins, I really would like to avoid the spacer if possible. Does Fox or Kings for sure make an 8" over shock? If I can't find one I will just end up throwing my HBS leveling kit on top of the 6" lift and call it good. Just trying to avoid stacking stuff if I can help it.
Thanks

 

Just get the 8" struts from BDS. Also, you would want to run the 8" leafs on the axle alone and not with the stock block unless you want to keep the 2" rake like stock. I have the 8" BDS kit and when I first had it on 35's it didnt look that bad. I have 37's now but I dont think you should worry what it will look like with the 35's. Save the extra 400 bucks and get the 8" now.

 

Yea I don't mind the look leveled but preferably I want a little rake to it for when I load up my quad and firewood. With it leveled now it tends to sit a little bulldogged and I hate that. Also from what I have seen around here it looks a little goofy with 35s on 8" lift. Unless anyone has pictures to prove me wrong.
Thank you

 

Gotcha..well alrighty then. Good luck.

 

Kings, fox, etc are going to be a full replacement adjustable coil over. So plan on spending more money for them over going the new strut + leveling kit.

If you have the money for coil overs, i'd go that route. If not bilstein's + spacer would be my second choice.

For the rear, that's a good plan. full replacement leafs are the way to go over 6"+ of lift blocks.

 

Out of all the coil-overs listed, what one performs the best all around. The truck is by far not a highway queen, but it also doesn't live its life on the trails. I hear the Kings are really expensive, I am partial to Fox just because I have used them on Motocross applications before and LOVE them. Is this just one of those contact Fox and give them my vehicle information, then they make them for me? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to do it right the first time. Thank you

 

They're all good brands, you just need to research and decide which ones you think will suit your needs best.

 

Sounds good, thank you for all your help everyone!