Time for a new set of tires. I am thinking of making some changes before I get them and an alignment. My front axles set less than an inch from the bump stops. I think that the ride has been deteriorating over the last year. I already have front add a leafs. I was thinking of replacing the front springs with some from tuff country, either from their leveling kit or the 2.5 inch lift. Anyone running these? How do they ride? Do you get good tire wear?
Thanks for any replies!
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97 F250 Ext Cab 7.3L E4OD 4x4 4:10, Tymar, Front receiver, Cobra CB, dppi down pipe, 4 position flip chip, Isspro Gauges, 160cc Alliant Injectors
The dealers will tell you that while they had a bad reputation a few years ago, that Tuff Country has "Done a lot of research and greatly improved their kits". That having been said, I had a friend that installed a Tuff Country lift on his Bronco a couple of years ago, and the rear springs are sagging already. He looks like he's carrying 300-400 lbs of stuff in the back end...
My brother used to work for a 4x4 shop, and he said Tuff Country was one of the worst kits made... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]
Sorry to all the loyal 7.3 guys, but I traded my '91 7.3 in on a 2002 F250 Ex cab V10 4x4. SCT Xcalibrator2 with tunes by Powerplay Performance. 285/75/16 Toyo M/T's. Took a long time to get used to the ping-pop of a cooling catalytic converter...LOL.
'85 Bronco swapped up to a 302 4bbl from the 300 I6, NP435 4spd, NP208, 32x11.50x15 Radial RVT's, Soon to be 6.9 turbo powered.
86 F350 Cab&Chassis with a dump bed. 2wd 6.9 and 4 spd tranny. No mods to engine.
Put a set of tuff country spring on the front of my ol ford 4x4 1/2 ton. They should call that company RUFF country. Nothing fit right and it rode like it was on 1 ton springs. plus crappy customer service [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif[/img]
I had their 4in lift on my 96 Bronco and it was all rebadged Superlift stuff.. It was great as far as im concerned.. Cant speak for their customer service though..
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96 250 CC 4wd
4in Exhaust 3-3 1/2in DP
Homemade air filter setup
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Put a set of tuff country spring on the front of my ol ford 4x4 1/2 ton. They should call that company RUFF country. Nothing fit right and it rode like it was on 1 ton springs. plus crappy customer service [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif[/img]
just my .02
Kurt
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There is a company called Rough Country! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]
I have 2.5" tuff country lift, installed a few years ago. TC may have changed the design, but I haven't bothered to check. These comments are based upon the design a few years back.
It made no noticeable difference in the distance from the front axle to the bumpstop, because the front add-a-spring pack was basically about 2" thick. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img] The front spring pack only went from reverse curve to flat. The rest of the kit's front lift was spring thickness.
The ride did change for the better, but I did a polyurethane bushing replacement with the lift. I think most of the improvement came from better bushings.
I still bottom out the front on speed bumps going less than the posted limit.
Alignment is easier, because the axle pivots are better designed than stock IMHO. I used to regularly break the bolts to my stock axle pivots and drop out of alignment. That hasn't happened since the lift kit. Truck only has about 25K since the lift (3 years) and alignment is still solid.
So, ride might be better because of lift, but that's doubtful, clearance at bump stops is not much better, and the alignment is much better.
As for tire wear, I got more than 50K out of my last set of tires, (goodyear GSAs), over half of that on the lift. Almost all of that towing, and after the speed limit went from 55 to 75. That's way more miles than I got out of the prior set of Wrangler ATs. I attribute it to the truck's improved alignment. Doubly so since my front tires had developed the inboard wear pattern common in split front axle Fords. That wear stopped after the lift. I still had tread left when I replaced the tires last week. I had to replace them because of sidewall deterioration from old age, not from wear (they were on the truck for over five years).
Am I satisfied with it? Other than the very modest improvement in axle bump stop clearance, yes. If I had it to do over again, I'd look for a kit with a replacement front spring pack with positive arch rather than the add-a-leaf setup that the TC 2.5" lift was.
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'95 250 4x4 SC LWB, E4OD, 4.10LS, tucson bronze, K&N, reman engine @75K but out of warranty, 'new old' TEE5 PCM that no Ford employee will ever be allowed near, 40 gal TF tank, Sony M610 and 10 disk changer. TC 2.5 lift kit
For the MONEY....... Good mod I would give mine a solid 7 out of ten. Been running mine for about 30k with no problems. It does ride rough but I have been in other trucks that ride worse. If you have the means to do the dana 60 go for it. If you are looking for a mild lift that will address the camber problem then I would reccomend this mod. I have about 3" of clearance from the bumpstops with no problems bottoming out. Make sure you take the truck to someone who knows how to align a Dana 50, I was able to get the front back to factory specs it will take new shims to do this and adjusting the drop brackets correctly. Also added a leaf to the rear springs to even out the lift no problems came with the kit. Check suspension connection.com
Andy
__________________ Ford F250 Short Bed Extended Cab/160K/5 speed/BDP Tranny Savers/Redline MTFin tranny/410 gears/open diff./No cat. conv./4" warped speed exhaust w/5" chrome tip/Gutted EBPV/3.5" downpipe/ Tymar open air intake/2.5" Tuff Country Lift/ Factory Manual hubs/HX hose/Ranch Hand Rear bumper/ Fumoto drain valve/Baldwin bypass/Coolant Bypass/Energy Suspension bushings(red)up front/Rancho 5000 shocks/Valeo clutch/31575R16 Mastercraft Courser MTS/K-9 Remote Security System/Trail Boss Tool Box/Trail Boss Brush Guard/Mag Tech Diff. Cover/(ALF 6 Factory Program) TS 6 Position flip chip/Diamond Cut Headlights/203* Thermostat/Autometer Gauges/TSM Rear Disc Conversion
I have the 4" front 3" back all spring lift on my truck. The ride is very rough. I have changed the bushing in all the springs once (poly both times) I went to their main office/warehouse in South Jorden to purchase the bushings/steel inserts. Around here they normally only sell to dealers but since I was down there they sold to me. (1 for customer service) I have not noticed any settling of the springs in the 6 years of having the lift on the truck. (As a note - I have ridden in an other 350 that had a Skyjacker lift, it rode much better.)
Godd luck on your choice.
Keri
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97 F350 Crew Cab 4x4, E4OD(rebuilt), 4R100 torque converter, Magnifine trans filter, Mag-Hytec transmission pan (now holds 24 quarts), Tymar intake(with cold air duct), 1.0 exhaust housing, 3" down pipe, 3 1/2" straight pipe in front of tire,(stock exhaust goes on for emission/safety) Diablo Sport chip (TDE0 extreme program), ATS torque pro 2000 propane, dual tru-cools, Donaldson coolant filter, Warn Premium manual hubs, 4" Tuff Country lift, 16.5 x 9.75 Weld Wheels, 35 x 12.5 BFG All Terrains, dual steering/front shocks, Kodiak Sidewinder steps, Eclipse cd/dvd (wife thinks its too much)and the never ending wants after that....
I've got a 4" Suspension lift from Rancho. Quite happy with it. Alignment is right on, tires are wearing extremely well. The ride is a bit rougher, but nothing more than you would expect out of a 3/4 ton pickup. The front leaf bushings are pretty toast so ill be putting in polurethane bushing next week on all four courners. All in all, im very happy with this lift. I especailly like the front axel bracket that comes with this kit. I have had a couple of friends that were breaking through their superlift brackets constantly. Not sure why, just poor design maybe. If I had the choice to do it again, i can definetely say I would hands down.
SoftRide here. VERY VERY nice kit. 80K on the lift, lost about an inch in the front (read H E A V Y engine [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]). Tires wearing real good, almost 65K on my last set of BFG mudders. The ride is about as good as your going to get w/o doing a shackle reversal. My buddy just had a "Ruff Country" installed on his '02, rides ruffer than my `97...ouch.
Chris
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1997 F-350 CC PSD 4X4/4" Softride/Weld Super Singles/35X12.5 BFG MT's/RS 9000's/Hypermax downtube/300MAX chip/Bean's stage I injectors/4" straight pipe/EBPV guts removed/shimmed/Auto Meter Pro Comp pyro & trany temp guage/exposed K&N cone/52,000 lb. trany cooler/tricumulator springs/sonnax valve/4.10's
"Horsepower is like hamburger, you can buy as MUCH as you want",
"If cool were cheap, everybody would be"
Any lift that I do buy will have new fronts springs due to the fact that my current springs already have add a leaves. I did a seach on softride springs and didn't come up with much. I am assuming that these are made by Skyjacker? Did you get just new springs or a lift kit? I would prefer that the truck sit level but a better ride quality is my main objective. Thanks for all the replies.
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97 F250 Ext Cab 7.3L E4OD 4x4 4:10, Tymar, Front receiver, Cobra CB, dppi down pipe, 4 position flip chip, Isspro Gauges, 160cc Alliant Injectors
4" lift. This was a complete 'system', which I think is the best way to go. I did upgrade the stock shocks to RS 9000's. This is the 3rd truck I've had them on, I can't say enough good things about them. I think any adjustable shock is an improvement, as you can dial in your ride preference.
Not sure if it was a SoftRide by SkyJacker, that was 5 years ago and those brain cells are no longer working [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img].
Chris
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1997 F-350 CC PSD 4X4/4" Softride/Weld Super Singles/35X12.5 BFG MT's/RS 9000's/Hypermax downtube/300MAX chip/Bean's stage I injectors/4" straight pipe/EBPV guts removed/shimmed/Auto Meter Pro Comp pyro & trany temp guage/exposed K&N cone/52,000 lb. trany cooler/tricumulator springs/sonnax valve/4.10's
"Horsepower is like hamburger, you can buy as MUCH as you want",
"If cool were cheap, everybody would be"
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