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Thanks
Has anyone with a f250 TTB installed a reverse shackle lift?
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moooboy
21 - 31 of 31 Posts
If I were to use the SD mounts, shackles, and springs with a D60 would it raise or lower my '97? I know you gain some with the D60 swap, would the SD mounts and springs bring it back to stock or close to it? And if I stayed at the height will the pumpkin have enough clearance or would the cross member need to be notched? I saw another post somehwere that a guy had to notch his for clearance. If I have to go up a couple of inches thats fine it would level my truck, but I don't want the front to be higher than the rear.
[ QUOTE ]
Yes ya can...why would ya want to /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Well, I finally got sick of the kidney jarring ride of my '96 F350 CC PSD 4X4. I had a '00 F350 over a couple of weeks ago and I laid up under it for 30 minutes or so. The only difference I could see between the two front ends was the reversed shackles. I have driven jeeps with the front shackles and with the shackles reversed and have experienced the improved ride.
I looked into the ORU kit, but did not want the added 2 inches of height and a few people I know that did the ORU conversion did not like the still semi harsh ride.
What I did...I ordered front spring hangers, leaf springs, shackles, and rear spring mounts from Ford for a '00 F350 PSD. Get two of the stamped steel front spring hangers. Stock, one is stamped steel and one is cast iron.
Took off the old stuff from the '96. Cut off the rear spring mounts. Boxed the frame where the shackles mounted on the front. Bolted and welded the new front spring mounts as far forward as possible on the frame. Measured 53.25 inches from the front spring mount (center of hole) back to the frame. This becomes center of hole for the rear spring mount (as measured off a '00 F350). Cut a hole in the frame a little bigger than the rear spring mount (at first we thought we were going to have to build some offset into the rear mount, but the rear mounts already have offset built into them and they bolted into the hole fine). Mounted the rear spring mounts, bolted up the springs and shackles with all new hardware (BTW, the bolts for the new springs are twice the size of the bolts for the old springs). Mounted the springs to the axle using the existing plates and u-bolts.
Then went for a ride. WOW!! what a difference! This mod alone made me decide to keep this truck instead of getting a new one. I'm going to dual it instead and keep it.
This mod did move the axle back about 1 inch. Ironic because I had spaced my bumper out one inch to compensate for bigger tires. <font color="blue">It also lowered the truck about 1-1.25 inches in the front </font> , which was perfect to match the velvet ride shackles in the rear.
Cost: 2 front spring mounts: BRKT F4541, $46@
2 '00 front shackles, SHKL-960, $10@
1 set '00 front springs, SPG AS 13310, $135@
2 rear spring mounts, $35 @
Total parts: $475 (with bolts and stuff)
Total labor: 14 hours
Total increased ride comfort: priceless!
Yup, it costs more than the ORU kit, but I lowered the ride height and got much nicer riding springs.
Big thanks to my buddy Charlie for doing all the work. He said if he were to do it for someone, probably about $1k with parts and labor.
HTH,
Shannon
------------------
Shannon
'68 Bronco "LOCKMUP"
'96 F350 Crew Cab PowerStroke
[This message has been edited by Shannon (edited 07-15-2000).]
Cary
[/ QUOTE ]
If ya use X code springs then it will stay even.
Cary
Yes ya can...why would ya want to /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Well, I finally got sick of the kidney jarring ride of my '96 F350 CC PSD 4X4. I had a '00 F350 over a couple of weeks ago and I laid up under it for 30 minutes or so. The only difference I could see between the two front ends was the reversed shackles. I have driven jeeps with the front shackles and with the shackles reversed and have experienced the improved ride.
I looked into the ORU kit, but did not want the added 2 inches of height and a few people I know that did the ORU conversion did not like the still semi harsh ride.
What I did...I ordered front spring hangers, leaf springs, shackles, and rear spring mounts from Ford for a '00 F350 PSD. Get two of the stamped steel front spring hangers. Stock, one is stamped steel and one is cast iron.
Took off the old stuff from the '96. Cut off the rear spring mounts. Boxed the frame where the shackles mounted on the front. Bolted and welded the new front spring mounts as far forward as possible on the frame. Measured 53.25 inches from the front spring mount (center of hole) back to the frame. This becomes center of hole for the rear spring mount (as measured off a '00 F350). Cut a hole in the frame a little bigger than the rear spring mount (at first we thought we were going to have to build some offset into the rear mount, but the rear mounts already have offset built into them and they bolted into the hole fine). Mounted the rear spring mounts, bolted up the springs and shackles with all new hardware (BTW, the bolts for the new springs are twice the size of the bolts for the old springs). Mounted the springs to the axle using the existing plates and u-bolts.
Then went for a ride. WOW!! what a difference! This mod alone made me decide to keep this truck instead of getting a new one. I'm going to dual it instead and keep it.
This mod did move the axle back about 1 inch. Ironic because I had spaced my bumper out one inch to compensate for bigger tires. <font color="blue">It also lowered the truck about 1-1.25 inches in the front </font> , which was perfect to match the velvet ride shackles in the rear.
Cost: 2 front spring mounts: BRKT F4541, $46@
2 '00 front shackles, SHKL-960, $10@
1 set '00 front springs, SPG AS 13310, $135@
2 rear spring mounts, $35 @
Total parts: $475 (with bolts and stuff)
Total labor: 14 hours
Total increased ride comfort: priceless!
Yup, it costs more than the ORU kit, but I lowered the ride height and got much nicer riding springs.
Big thanks to my buddy Charlie for doing all the work. He said if he were to do it for someone, probably about $1k with parts and labor.
HTH,
Shannon
------------------
Shannon
'68 Bronco "LOCKMUP"
'96 F350 Crew Cab PowerStroke
[This message has been edited by Shannon (edited 07-15-2000).]
Cary
[/ QUOTE ]
If ya use X code springs then it will stay even.
Cary
Joined
·
10 Posts
i'm thinking about doing this now. my front end is sagging quite a bit now. I like shannon's method but that is for the F350. Stock isn't the 350 taller than the F250? Maybe there the same height and mine is just sagging alot. It says that it lowered the 350 about an inch, would it lower my 250 an inch too?
Brian
Brian
[ QUOTE ]
i'm thinking about doing this now. my front end is sagging quite a bit now. I like shannon's method but that is for the F350. Stock isn't the 350 taller than the F250? Maybe there the same height and mine is just sagging alot. It says that it lowered the 350 about an inch, would it lower my 250 an inch too?
Brian
[/ QUOTE ]
Wait a second, are you talking about doing the SD springs and mounts with the TTB axle?
If so, there is a problem-the spring rate will be way too soft with the SD springs even the x codes I bet. You can do an RSK with the TTB if you use the stock springs and some center pivot brackets but I don't think you will want to do SD springs with the TTB still being in 2 pieces.
I did both, first the RSK with the TTB and built the right length center pivot brackets but used the stock springs gained 4.5" lift.
Now have the SD springs same lift but the TTB is one piece so the leverage is much less and spring rate is perfect.
i'm thinking about doing this now. my front end is sagging quite a bit now. I like shannon's method but that is for the F350. Stock isn't the 350 taller than the F250? Maybe there the same height and mine is just sagging alot. It says that it lowered the 350 about an inch, would it lower my 250 an inch too?
Brian
[/ QUOTE ]
Wait a second, are you talking about doing the SD springs and mounts with the TTB axle?
If so, there is a problem-the spring rate will be way too soft with the SD springs even the x codes I bet. You can do an RSK with the TTB if you use the stock springs and some center pivot brackets but I don't think you will want to do SD springs with the TTB still being in 2 pieces.
I did both, first the RSK with the TTB and built the right length center pivot brackets but used the stock springs gained 4.5" lift.
Now have the SD springs same lift but the TTB is one piece so the leverage is much less and spring rate is perfect.
21 - 31 of 31 Posts
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