Need to lower truck. - Diesel Forum

X-man · 03-01-2005, 07:49 AM

I just bought a 1999 F350. It looks to have 4" blocks. Is this factory from Ford or a lift kit? It has Rancho shocks also. How do I lower this truck? It will be too high for pulling my fifth wheel trailer. Thanks

smorgan · 03-01-2005, 08:01 AM

You can get F 250 blocks . They are only 2" which will bring your rear down 1 5/8"...

X-man · 03-01-2005, 09:03 AM

Is this a difficult thing to do. Do you do it to the front and the back? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img]

LMJD · 03-01-2005, 10:03 AM

I'm assuming your '99 is the current late body style and if so, Ford issued a TSB about installing the 2" blocks as required by new owners because of the problem you have. There were a lot of complaints such as yours, talk to your friendly Ford service dept. they probably stock the blocks. If I remember right the front stays as it is.

**SmokeyWren** · 03-01-2005, 11:06 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I just bought a 1999 F350. It looks to have 4" blocks. Is this factory from Ford or a lift kit?

[/ QUOTE ]

Factory from Ford on 4x4s. You might call it a "factory lift kit".

[ QUOTE ]
How do I lower this truck? It will be too high for pulling my fifth wheel trailer.

[/ QUOTE ]

Two options.

1) Replace the 4" spacer block with a 2" spacer block. The TSB for that one is still available. Click here.

2) Remove the spacer blocks in the rear suspension. That will lower the rear end about 4". Ford told their techs how to do it in TSB 98-17-2. The TSB included changing out other parts too - shocks and driveshaft spacers, for example. But that TSB is no longer available, so to find it you'll need to find a Ford dealer that kept a copy of all the TSBs back in '98 and '99. Mine probably has it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

The reason the TSB is no longer available is because too many customers that had it done complained about driveline shudder - even with the new driveshaft spacer to try to correct the driveline angle. So Ford gave up and stopped trying to come up with a way to not have any spacers in the rear suspension of 4x4s. The fix for the '99s that had removed spacers but still had driveline shudder was to put the 2" spacers in there - apply TSB 99-14-05 in option 1) above. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

3) And there's a third option - raise the trailer on it's suspension. Some folks call it "flipping the axles" on a trailer with leaf spring suspension, although they don't literally turn over the axle. They move the spring perches on the trailer axles from below the axles to above the axles to raise the trailer about 4". I had that done on my first 5er. Worked great, but the trailer looked sorta funny - like it was wearing "high-water britches". [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

X-man · 03-01-2005, 02:28 PM

I don't really know what TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) means. Does it mean that Ford will pay for it or this just explains what needs to be done at my cost. Thanks GrumryOleMan, it's good information. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

mgraveman · 03-02-2005, 01:13 PM

your cost.

You actually do flip the axle on torsion axles. You then have to swap the brakes end for end.

DENNY · 03-03-2005, 01:08 AM

You don't really flip the axles, just move the springs from under to on top of the axles.

EDIT;; I read the above post again. I was talking about axles with leaf springs, sorry if I messed up the info.

I have lower tow F350 trucks with the 2in blocks it works good. So far no driveshaft problems. If you drop 4 inches to the axle you might have some problems. I picked up my last set of blocks and U-bolts at six states. You might be able to swap with someone on the site also.
DENNY

tsaelens · 03-03-2005, 02:06 AM

[ QUOTE ]
your cost.

You actually do flip the axle on torsion axles. You then have to swap the brakes end for end.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you saying that I can flip the axles on my elnclosed trailer and raise it up? Are all torsion axles like this? Will they still work properly?

Man I could go back to 35's, maybe even 36's [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img].

Trinity

**SmokeyWren** · 03-03-2005, 01:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I don't really know what TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) means. Does it mean that Ford will pay for it or this just explains what needs to be done at my cost.

[/ QUOTE ]

Basically, it's just a "how to" sheet to tell the tech how to do it and which parts are required. It has nothing to do with who pays the bill.

However, if a TSB is required to be done to fix a customer complaint, and if your truck is under the 3/36 warranty, then Ford will do the TSB and the warranty will pay for it. If your truck is out of warranty, then you pay. And right now there are no '99s that are still covered by the 3/36 warranty. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]

dwelch250 · 03-06-2005, 09:36 PM

I'm in the same situation. I just bought the blocks & U bolts from Ford. Cost is $116.00 for the 2" blocks & U bolts. Would you like part numbers?

X-man · 03-07-2005, 01:29 PM

Thanks, but I already have them. I haven't installed them yet. Do you think the truck will look low in the rear?

dwelch250 · 03-07-2005, 04:59 PM

I'm told it will look level. I'm hauling horses Tuesday, Friday. and Sat., on Sunday I'll install my 2" and let you know how it looks.

X-man · 03-08-2005, 09:53 AM

If you would get back to me, I would appreciate it. My parts should be here Friday. I wish we could lower the front end also. I do like the way it looks, but for hauling/towing, it's just not practical. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]