Needing tip for lifting an '86-'87 bII

[necessaryevil]

ok so i ordered a 4" lift kit from skyjacker and getting ready to install it in the next few weeks, i know the rear drive shaft needs changed out and im wonder if ford made anything that would bolt up in there, im also wondering if the front or rear pinion angles has to be changed for this lift? any ideas or tips doing this would be helpful

 

[bonedoc]

Have a 4" inch kit in my '85 Bronco II and I'm planning on going to a 6" kit with longer radius arms. No problems with the pinion angles...any manufacturers have that worked into the kit. Go with the skyjacker extreme drop pitman arm, it is for 6-8 inches of lift but will allow a much better alignment and handling. The driveshaft needs to be swapped to a double cardan joint style. My ''85 had this shaft already but I needed to replace it, so I found one on ebay remanufactured for less than 200.00. You could possibly find one in the junkyard and rebuild it if necessary. Make sure you have a good angle grinder to take the rivets out for the factory brackets.

 

[Shran]

If you have the CV style driveshaft you should replace it regardless. Mine was too short with my 6" lift and it was totally worn out anyway.

Usually when you order leaf springs with a kit they come with shims to correct the pinion angle - at least mine did anyway. No need to worry about the front because it's not really adjustable.

 

[necessaryevil]

with the 4" kit can the front be realinged easly or im i going to need a set of camber kits?

 

[Sunk]

You'll want to get the camber bushings. Even if you don't need them, they're good to have in there in case you want to change something.

 

[88BII got it for $250]

In most cases the cam bushings are required.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Some BIIs did come factory with a cardigan (U-joint with a funny double U-joint on one end). I have used one of those on a lifted BII and I have used what is supposed to be a Tom Woods version. I don't think there really is much difference. I got both shafts used, the one that's supposed to be a Tom Woods is in my choptop with about 5" of lift.

 

[bonedoc]

Hey guys..I was just talking with them at James duff because I'm getting a their 5-5.5 inch stage three kit. I was talking to them about steering issues and some of the ways they have been addressed on the forum here. The guy I was talking to at Duff, Thomas, referred me to Stonecrushersteering.com. They just developed a heim jointed steering system for the TTB that James Duff has been testing for a while now. It is a bolt on kit that puts the tie rods in phase with the beams. I contacted them and the kit hasn't been released yet nor is it on their website. If you email them they will send details and info. It looks great and is the next one on my list. I was considering a superlift steering system and modifying it but not any longer. Check it out, it looks great.

 

[4x4junkie]

I've seen the Stonecrusher kit myself. Definitely looks quite promising. Should be much less picky about the pitman arm's drop not exactly matching your lift, as it'll have much less impact on the toe alignment going all crazy unlike with the stock linkage. This I'm thinking should easily allow 6" of lift (using the 4" drop Skyjacker #FA600 arm) even with good flexy coils).

I'd even be open to trying Stonecrusher's kit on mine in spite of already having a modded Superlift kit that works great (well, other than that I've bent the tierods on some rocks already).

 

[Shran]

So anybody have a pic of the Stonecrusher deal or even a drawing? I'm not in the market for a setup like that but I am always interested in cool TTB stuff.

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah, check out this thread (I think the steering pics are on page 2 or 3 IIRC)

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75825

 

[Totalled]

ok so i ordered a 4" lift kit from skyjacker and getting ready to install it in the next few weeks, i know the rear drive shaft needs changed out and im wonder if ford made anything that would bolt up in there, im also wondering if the front or rear pinion angles has to be changed for this lift? any ideas or tips doing this would be helpful

If you have a FM145 or TK5 5 speed, you can take the rear drive shaft and t-case output yoke from a 1985 with a 5 speed. If you have an A4LD, you'll have to have a shaft made.

 

[bonedoc]

Hey guys, especially 4x4junkie...you won't be bending tierods on this setup. If you email him he will send you pics. He says that 90% percent of his buyers aren't even usuing steering stabilizers again, though you can hook them up just need much larger u bolts to go aroung the tierods with the kit. I plan on buying one...it looks very impressive