Beefing up my suspension.

[KaRanger]

My plan is to build up my suspension in my 08' Sport 4x4 4.0l.

I don't want to spend the the 2000+ for a lift. And i just don't like how body lifts look. So my best bet is to just strengthen up what I have.

I checked and have "B Bars" so I want to upgrade those to #1 Bars. This part number is correct rite?

F67Z#5b326#FA Pass
F67Z#5b326#FB Driver

And can I order these from Ford? one of my buddys is a tech at the local ford dealership.

Now for the Pre-Key Mod. I cant seem to find a part number for the pre 07 keys. If anyone has that id be appreciative.

For the Rear i have Belltech 6400 Shackles in at the momment.

I was planning on putting a pro-comp AAL in to beef up the rear a bit to match the front.

And I figured it i was doing all that Id beef up the shock to a heavy duty type. My question with the shocks are would I need "lifted" shocks? Or is stock size fine?

I was looking into Billsteins Something heavy duty, but theirs a few different types on summit and I'm not to sure which to get. If anyone has any input on which ones they like or which ones worked the best.

Thanks for the help.

 

[KaRanger]

Looks like I'm going to Junk the Shackles was cleaning under my truck today and noticed the leaf springs are damn near flat from them.... Only been in there a few months.

My leafs shouldn't be completely screwed from this should they?

A 2.5 inch block with a AAL will about the same rite?

 

[JohnnyO]

Should be.
An 08 has the shorter rear blocks and torsion bar settings. I wouldn't worry too much about the bars, just get the earlier keys, a junkyard would be fine or find somebody else to look up new ones, crank it 2", and get it aligned. You'll probably still be higher in the rear but you can only crank the bars so much. The #1 bars will be stiffer but won't lift it any more.
For shocks I like Bilsteins if you have the money or Monroe Reflexes.

 

[TwoTrackMind]

Unless your buddy gets a better deal than most, you might plug them numbers (without the #'s) in at TascaParts.com. And when you get them, don't be surprised when they say "A" on the end. So you may not be getting that much more bar than you have now. I agree with bigO - you might just skip the bars. Also you may find the keys at TascaParts. Or just try the twist first to see if you get the 2" you need without them. See last week's thread about this:

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76534

I like Rancho 5000's enough to have 3 sets, 2 of them free replacements. I believe they were standard on the FX4 LevelII.

Cant help you on the shackle problem. Airbags work for me, though I do carry a heavy load (well my truck does).
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[JohnnyO]

I like Rancho 5000's enough to have 3 sets, 2 of them free replacements. I believe they were standard on the FX4 LevelII.

FX4 Level II's had Bilsteins. Full-size FX4 trucks had Ranchos.

 

[legoms013]

Looks like I'm going to Junk the Shackles was cleaning under my truck today and noticed the leaf springs are damn near flat from them.... Only been in there a few months.

My leafs shouldn't be completely screwed from this should they?

A 2.5 inch block with a AAL will about the same rite?

Shackles won't hurt your leafs.

Your stock springs should be flat.

In my opinion a small shackle lift is better than an AAL as an AAL stiffens up the ride. Not to mention AAL's are hard on leafs in general as they create pressure points as they re-arc the leaves into a different arc which in turn causes them to sag early. Your Beltech shackles do none of this, in fact they make for a better ride that what is possible with the stock shackle.

Leaf springs are supposed to be flat. That way they have equal up and down travel. Flat leaf springs also ride better than curved ones (if you throw a AAL under there its gonna ride worse, end of story).

I'd suggest a larger lift block, take the stock one out and put another one that is the height you want. Don't stack em if you can help it. Then order a set of Bilstein 5100's that are the proper length. Somewhere around 1-2" longer than stock depending on how much you lift it.