All inclusive Do's, Don'ts, Common Lift Questions, etc.
#1
02-20-2013, 01:13 PM
All Inclusive Do's, Don'ts, Common Lift Questions, Reference Pictures, etc.
As some of you may have noticed the old sticky no longer contains the information it used too, so I went through and compiled all the old threads into this one! Hope it helps!
Coil Spring Front Suspension (97-03 & 04 Heritage F150) (2WD)
Torsion Front Suspension (97-03 & 04 Heritage F150) (4x4)
Coil-Over Front Suspension (04+ F150 Both 4x2 & 4x4)
Leaf Spring Front Suspension
Body Lifts
Gears
Airbags
Leaf Spring Rear Suspension
Towing
Thinking of converting to 4x4?
Converting to 4x4 isn't a simple or very cost effective swap, expect to spend about 3k in parts and probably double that in labor if you can't do it yourself. And that's with using junkyard parts, otherwise the sky is the limit price wise. Unless your seriously attached to the truck or your going full show or mud truck and don't care about your base vehicle its more cost effective to just buy another truck to play around in thats 4x4.
The only real options are to do a solid axle swap and then either do a leaf front suspension or a 4-link suspension up front, with leaf being the cheaper route and the linked being the better riding one. If your trying to convert from ifs (independent front suspension) to an ifs 4wd suspension, I'd just forget about that idea. The only real feasible way to do this is to literally just do a body swap if you wanna keep your original truck body. Because of the way are frames are designed and the ifs suspension is you almost really need to swap everything from the frame and below.
However if your dead set on doing this here's a short/incomplete list of things you'll need:
Wheel Spacers:
Special Notes:
Resources:
Thanks to mhockey9090 and 06yz250f for some of the information I pulled from their threads. And thanks to the members on this site for all I have learned to be able to write this!
And of course if you have any questions or anything you think should be in this thread feel free to post in here or pm me anytime!
Coil Spring Front Suspension (97-03 & 04 Heritage F150) (2WD)
You can lift with the use of:
- Coil Spacers (1-3")
- Lift Coils (1-3")
- Spindles (3-3.5")
- Full suspension kit (6-7.5")
- Stock Height - 31"
- 2-6" - 33x12.50"
- 6.5-10.5" - 35x12.50"
- 10.5"+ - 37" to 38"
- All the sizes with the exception of the last are based on a 8" wide wheel with 4.5" backspacing. Wider wheels or less backspacing will alter the size of tire that will fit. OEM wheel's will allow the best fit, but may cause rubbing issues depending on tire width, and some suspension kits don't allow the use of them.
- You can't go over 2" with spacers or coil springs without the use of aftermarket control arms.
- I wouldn't recommend anything over 38's on the ifs front end with the 8.8 rear axle.
You can lift with the use of:
- Cranking the factory torsion keys (1-2.5" depending on how much you crank)
- Full suspension kit (4-6.5")
- Stock Height - 33"
- 4-6.5" - 35x12.50"
- 9"+ - 37" to 38"
- All the sizes with the exception of the last are based on a 8" wide wheel with 4.5" backspacing. Wider wheels or less backspacing will alter the size of tire that will fit. OEM wheel's will allow the best fit, but may cause rubbing issues depending on tire width, and some suspension kits don't allow the use of them.
- Do not buy aftermarket torsion keys, they allow you to go way too far and nothing will be in spec.
- I wouldn't recommend anything over 38's on the ifs front even with the 9.75 rear end, it'll cause problems.
You can lift with the use of:
- Spacer (1-2.5")
- Leveling Struts (1-2.5")
- Full suspension kit (4-12")
- Stock Height - 31" (4x2) & 33" (4x4)
- 2-2.5" - 33" (4x2) & 35" (4x4)
- 4" - 35x12.50" (4x4)
- 6.5" - 35x12.50" (both 4x2 & 4x4)
- 8" - 37-38" (4x4)
- 9.5-11" - 37-38" (4x2)
- 12" - 40" (4x4)
- These sizes are based off of using an OEM wheel, or a wheel with OEM specs, with the exception of kits which call for a different size wheel in which case tire sizes are based off those.
- I would highly reccomend against using a 3" leveling kit, you will destroy front end components very, very quickly.
- With the use of the Rize Kit such as the 12", it will require modifications including lengthening driveshafts, longer break lines, custom shocks, custom leaf packs, etc.
- If your kit uses a spacer for the lift, then you can use adjustable struts (Such as Bilsteins), and crank them up 2" to get more lift.
- If your kit doesn't use a spacer, then you can stack a spacer (such as Autospring's), to get 2" more lift.
- If your kit already has adjustable coil-overs (such as the Procomp Stage II), then you can crank those up for 2" more lift.
- Some members have reported not getting the full amount of lift from the Rancho Quicklifts.
- Generally 04-05's need 2.5" to level.
- Generally 06-08's need 2" to level.
Do not stack blocks under the front leaf springs, it messes with the steering and create's a stress point which can cause them to crack. Instead consider either lift leaf springs, lift hangars, or mini-leaf packs.
I highly recommend the Performance Accesories body lift in the 3" size if your considering one, due to the fact it comes with bumper relocation brackets and instructions are readily available. If you can't do the install, it's not cheap. It can range 500 (on the really cheap side) all the way up. If the truck is excessively beat on or a lot rust of around the cab mounts on the body, I'd say to probably look at another source of lift. The body lift has the potential to, under extreme, circumstance, to cause the body to crack around the mounts or push through the cab completely.
Regearing the axle can make differences in a couple areas, like better gas mileage (to an extent) or more power off the line for turning those big tires or towing.
Some general things about them are:
Some general things about them are:
- The front axle on 4x4's from 97+ use an 8.8 Reverse Cut.
- The rear ratio will depend on which axle you have back there.
- The front ratio must match the rear ratio for 4x4 to work.
- To figure out your factory gear ratio, look inside the door jamb, and you'll see an axle code number or letter/number, and then the easiest thing to do is google it.
- Regearing can be expensive, so if you don't absolutely need it, then don't worry about it. However 35's are about pushing the limit of what the stock gears want to handle. So for tires bigger than 37's I'd highly recommend regearing.
- 33" - 4.11
- 35" - 4.11 (Highway) or 4.56 (City)
- 37-38" - 4.56 (Highway) or 4.88 (City)
- 40" - 5.29
Don't run the line's near anything that will get hot (exhaust), anything sharp, or anything that will move in the suspension travel and can pinch it. Having a bag blow or deflate is going to make for a bad day.
For the rear suspension you can lift it with the use of:
- Blocks (If at all possible try to stay under 5.5", don't stack blocks and stay away from aluminum blocks)
- Add-A-Leaf (Come in two varietes: long and short. Long rides better but has a harder install, short installs easier but rides rougher. Don't stack these)
- Shackles
- Full Leaf Packs (Don't stack big blocks under big leaf packs, it can cause some serious axle wrap. Companies like Deaver, National, Alcan, and Atlas all make custom leaf packs)
If you tow big amounts or with big tires frequently definitely consider regearing. It'll give you more power for inclines and it'll take some stress off your transmission. Remember just because an Add-A-Leaf adds a little more weight capacity it doesn't mean you csn haul more than truck is rated for. Generally aftermarket leaf packs can decrease your towing capacity because they're softer but you can have them built to maintain the same capacity. Also big blocks and towing can increase chances for axle wrap.
Converting to 4x4 isn't a simple or very cost effective swap, expect to spend about 3k in parts and probably double that in labor if you can't do it yourself. And that's with using junkyard parts, otherwise the sky is the limit price wise. Unless your seriously attached to the truck or your going full show or mud truck and don't care about your base vehicle its more cost effective to just buy another truck to play around in thats 4x4.
The only real options are to do a solid axle swap and then either do a leaf front suspension or a 4-link suspension up front, with leaf being the cheaper route and the linked being the better riding one. If your trying to convert from ifs (independent front suspension) to an ifs 4wd suspension, I'd just forget about that idea. The only real feasible way to do this is to literally just do a body swap if you wanna keep your original truck body. Because of the way are frames are designed and the ifs suspension is you almost really need to swap everything from the frame and below.
However if your dead set on doing this here's a short/incomplete list of things you'll need:
- 4x4 transmission
- Transfer case
- Front Axle (might as well do the rear too so you can match lug patterns)
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels (axles will change your lug pattern)
- Transfer case crossmember
- Leafs or a Link setup
- And a lot of custom fabbing
While I don't recommend these, if your deadset on them the smallest size that can be "safely" run is 1.5". This is the smallest size you can get with the studs already pressed in and it'll still require minor trimming of the stock studs.
Some things to note:
Some things to note:
- The only kind that are remotely safe are the ones with studs pressed in.
- Do not get the kind that just slip over your factory studs.
- Make sure they are torque'd to spec and regulary check them when rotating the tires.
- I don't recommend trying to make your wheel have less than 4-4.5" of backspacing, your bearings will hate you.
- Don't cheap out, buy quality ones. You don't want to shear off a stud or worse lose a wheel going down the road.
- After either adding or removing some form of lift you will need an alignment.
- https://www.f150online.com/forums/su...n-04-08-a.html - Thanks to mhockey9090
- https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...2-5-level.html - 04 to 08's Thanks to WHITE04XLT for starting the thread and the members for filling it
- https://www.f150online.com/forums/su...-pictures.html - Thanks to 06yz250f
- https://www.f150online.com/forums/su...t-install.html - Thanks to TXSR8tj
- https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ock-guide.html - Thanks to AJUSA.com
- https://www.f150online.com/forums/su...fted-f150.html - Thanks to FX4F150FX4 for starting the thread and the members for filling it
- https://www.f150online.com/forums/su...nts-lifts.html - My Original Thread
- https://www.f150online.com/forums/su...x4-thread.html - Thanks to coobies5 for starting the thread and the members for filling it
- https://www.f150online.com/forums/su...n-lift-10.html
- All the other show off threads on the site
- Peoples albums
And of course if you have any questions or anything you think should be in this thread feel free to post in here or pm me anytime!
Last edited by pizzaman711; 07-16-2013 at 09:46 AM.
#2
02-20-2013, 01:14 PM
Note: I played no favorites when choosing pictures for the references. I used the new image search on here and choose the first picture each time that was a good viewing angle and had what lift/tires it had listed with it. If you don't want your trucks picture up on here pm me anytime and I'll promptly take it down.
97-03 4x2
Leveled - Courtesy of 1clean42
5" on 33's - Courtesy of GaNole07
6.5" on 35's - Me
8" on 33's - Courtesy of Buxton91
12" on 37's - Courtesy of GATOR CREW
97-03 4x4
Leveled on 35's - Courtesy of woopigsooie
6" on 35's - Courtesy of 03KingRanch03
9" on 38's - Courtesy of JASON'S98S/C4X4 38's
11" on 38's - Courtesy of bigtruck311
These are just reference pictures to give you a general idea of what height your truck could sit with certain wheel/tire combos and lifts. If you want to know more about a certain truck, search for it with the forum search tool.
97-03 4x2
Leveled - Courtesy of 1clean42
5" on 33's - Courtesy of GaNole07
6.5" on 35's - Me
8" on 33's - Courtesy of Buxton91
12" on 37's - Courtesy of GATOR CREW
97-03 4x4
Leveled on 35's - Courtesy of woopigsooie
6" on 35's - Courtesy of 03KingRanch03
9" on 38's - Courtesy of JASON'S98S/C4X4 38's
11" on 38's - Courtesy of bigtruck311
These are just reference pictures to give you a general idea of what height your truck could sit with certain wheel/tire combos and lifts. If you want to know more about a certain truck, search for it with the forum search tool.
Last edited by pizzaman711; 02-22-2013 at 06:35 PM.
#3
02-20-2013, 01:15 PM
04-08 4x2
Leveled 2.5" - Courtesy of BMWTech
4" - Courtesy of
6" - Courtesy of bhall1222
8" - Courtesy of
04-08 4x4
Leveled - Courtesy of MJG-FX4
4" - Courtesy of
6" on 35's - Courtesy of Pockets
8" on 37's - Courtesy of allrsdup
10" on 39.5's - Courtesy of Mark Mayes
These are just reference pictures to give you a general idea of what height your truck could sit with certain wheel/tire combos and lifts. If you want to know more about a certain truck, search for it with the forum search tool.
Leveled 2.5" - Courtesy of BMWTech
4" - Courtesy of
6" - Courtesy of bhall1222
8" - Courtesy of
04-08 4x4
Leveled - Courtesy of MJG-FX4
4" - Courtesy of
6" on 35's - Courtesy of Pockets
8" on 37's - Courtesy of allrsdup
10" on 39.5's - Courtesy of Mark Mayes
These are just reference pictures to give you a general idea of what height your truck could sit with certain wheel/tire combos and lifts. If you want to know more about a certain truck, search for it with the forum search tool.
Last edited by pizzaman711; 02-20-2013 at 03:04 PM.
#4
02-20-2013, 01:17 PM
09-13 4x2
Leveled - Courtesy of
4" - Courtesy of
6" - Courtesy of
8" - Courtesy of
09-13 4x4
Leveled 2" - Courtesy of 2009KR
4" - Courtesy of Desert Dawg
6" on 35's - Courtesy of TimeLessr1
8" - Courtesy of
10" - Courtesy of fx4 for life 79
These are just reference pictures to give you a general idea of what height your truck could sit with certain wheel/tire combos and lifts. If you want to know more about a certain truck, search for it with the forum search tool.
Leveled - Courtesy of
4" - Courtesy of
6" - Courtesy of
8" - Courtesy of
09-13 4x4
Leveled 2" - Courtesy of 2009KR
4" - Courtesy of Desert Dawg
6" on 35's - Courtesy of TimeLessr1
8" - Courtesy of
10" - Courtesy of fx4 for life 79
These are just reference pictures to give you a general idea of what height your truck could sit with certain wheel/tire combos and lifts. If you want to know more about a certain truck, search for it with the forum search tool.
Last edited by pizzaman711; 02-20-2013 at 02:50 PM.
#6
02-20-2013, 01:44 PM
#7
02-20-2013, 02:21 PM
Trending Topics
#8
02-20-2013, 02:33 PM
#9
02-22-2013, 03:21 AM
Good job man. One thing though, that picture you used of my truck at 8" it was actually on 33's at that time. You might want to edit it to avoid some confusion. If you need a picture of it with 35's on 8" I'll send you one. Fortunately I'm probably one of the few on here that has went through all of the various lift and tire sizes (And taken pictures at that!). haha
#10
02-22-2013, 06:35 PM
Good job man. One thing though, that picture you used of my truck at 8" it was actually on 33's at that time. You might want to edit it to avoid some confusion. If you need a picture of it with 35's on 8" I'll send you one. Fortunately I'm probably one of the few on here that has went through all of the various lift and tire sizes (And taken pictures at that!). haha
#11
03-12-2013, 05:50 PM
Pm will be sent to you shortly peetz. About maybe putting my truck in here with a 13.5'' on 38's. And im very disappointed with some of the pic description's. Why? cause there is no tire size listed in most of them. I know what size they are just by looking at them. But the newbs who are interested wont know and could be a bit frustrating for the little guys (noobs).
I know there is no need for a 13.5'' on 38's pic. Its just an opportunity for me to show off my baby
I know there is no need for a 13.5'' on 38's pic. Its just an opportunity for me to show off my baby
#12
03-13-2013, 02:09 AM
#14
03-13-2013, 03:53 AM
Wow...this post is dang good and very helpful...it obviously took some time and effort...thanks pizzaman...way to represent mechville boys haha....im never really mean or bash on anyone on this site...but lltoolj, come on, your name "tool" is starting to describe you the more and more i read...
#15
03-13-2013, 11:21 AM
Wow...this post is dang good and very helpful...it obviously took some time and effort...thanks pizzaman...way to represent mechville boys haha....im never really mean or bash on anyone on this site...but lltoolj, come on, your name "tool" is starting to describe you the more and more i read...
