[Svtjames04]

Currently my truck has a 1/2 ground force drop kit. Rides terrible and bounces all over the road. My truck has a rake to it still and I would like to have it leveled and lowered a bit more.
Can anyone give me some good brands to stick with when it comes to buying suspension kits. I also seen people doing coilover conversions but I don’t know much about it.

 

[Dusten]

There are almost no kits. Belltech. That's it. And there are better options.

Budget?
Desired drop?
Desired ride?

 

[Dusten]

Money no option? Ride most important

Stifflers uppers and lowers with coilovers.

Belltech shackles and hangers with a c notch.
This will easily net a 3/4 drop and look great.
Get some custom Viking rear shocks measured the correct length.

It will ride better than stock.

 

[Dusten]

Handling more important?

Stifflers upper and lower with coil overs.
Hotchkis rears with shackles. Hotchkis sway bars
Viking rear shocks
C notch

 

[Dusten]

Budget?

Djm arms
Shackles and hangers
Stock coils and leaves.
Belltech shocks front and rear

 

[AllCarFan]

To summarize what Dusten has said:

-how low do you want to be?
-street truck? Drag or road racing?
-budget? You could spend $1000 to $10,000

 

[SleviN]

The rough ride is going to be hard to get over once lowered.
One sad thing I've had to come to terms with, is that these are ~20+ year old TRUCKS. Its very costly to make it ride/handle not like a truck.

Hotchkis TVS is probably the best "kit" but it may not be the style you want. We need to know more of your goals to help make a determination.

 

[Dusten]

To summarize what Dusten has said:

-how low do you want to be?
-street truck? Drag or road racing?
-budget? You could spend $1000 to $10,000

Facts.

I have probably 4500+ in my suspension.

 

[GAGT]

Facts.

I have probably 4500+ in my suspension.

I'm sure one day I'll appreciate your dedication when I have to decide

 

[I like fords too]

after fixing a 2/4 ( L 1/3) drop that kinda failed miserably in back I have a new theory as to "best way"
granted I started with a lariet .. so it started 1 inch higher than a lightning

the 4 (3) inch drop in back left about the width of my thumb between the axle and bump stop
7 years of daily pounding cranked the frame all the way up to the top flange on the driver's side
oops
fix is (rear frame and)a set of +500 pound rear springs from rock auto .. I'd presume they are replacements for a 7700 series heavy half ton
I installed them at the same 4 inch drop figuring they would lift the truck some anyway
I haven't hit the rear bump stops in the year since..
the back of my truck lifted back up about an inch
it rides just fine - on factory size sidewalls (275 65 17)

at the front I'd like to replace my front drop springs with a cut set of 7700 series front coils.. though optimal ,and budget willing .. 7700 series coils, bell tec drop knuckles and the drop control arm set to accommodate the taller 7700 series spring..
increasing load capacity translates into making the same daily bumps,slightly smaller

 

[Dusten]

after fixing a 2/4 ( L 1/3) drop that kinda failed miserably in back I have a new theory as to "best way"
granted I started with a lariet .. so it started 1 inch higher than a lightning

the 4 (3) inch drop in back left about the width of my thumb between the axle and bump stop
7 years of daily pounding cranked the frame all the way up to the top flange on the driver's side
oops
fix is (rear frame and)a set of +500 pound rear springs from rock auto .. I'd presume they are replacements for a 7700 series heavy half ton
I installed them at the same 4 inch drop figuring they would lift the truck some anyway
I haven't hit the rear bump stops in the year since..
the back of my truck lifted back up about an inch
it rides just fine - on factory size sidewalls (275 65 17)

at the front I'd like to replace my front drop springs with a cut set of 7700 series front coils.. though optimal ,and budget willing .. 7700 series coils, bell tec drop knuckles and the drop control arm set to accommodate the taller 7700 series spring..
increasing load capacity translates into making the same daily bumps,slightly smaller

The correct fix is a fucking c notch.

 

[AllCarFan]

The correct fix is a fucking c notch.

And start with an actual lightning instead of trial/error random parts and cutting.

 

[Dusten]

And start with an actual lightning instead of trial/error random parts and cutting.

I disagree there. Other than ride height and spring rate his suspension is no different.

 

[AllCarFan]

I disagree there. Other than ride height and spring rate his suspension is no different.

Thats all well and good until you start swapping parts, cutting, etc.

 

[Dusten]

after fixing a 2/4 ( L 1/3) drop that kinda failed miserably in back I have a new theory as to "best way"
granted I started with a lariet .. so it started 1 inch higher than a lightning

the 4 (3) inch drop in back left about the width of my thumb between the axle and bump stop
7 years of daily pounding cranked the frame all the way up to the top flange on the driver's side
oops
fix is (rear frame and)a set of +500 pound rear springs from rock auto .. I'd presume they are replacements for a 7700 series heavy half ton
I installed them at the same 4 inch drop figuring they would lift the truck some anyway
I haven't hit the rear bump stops in the year since..
the back of my truck lifted back up about an inch
it rides just fine - on factory size sidewalls (275 65 17)

at the front I'd like to replace my front drop springs with a cut set of 7700 series front coils.. though optimal ,and budget willing .. 7700 series coils, bell tec drop knuckles and the drop control arm set to accommodate the taller 7700 series spring..
increasing load capacity translates into making the same daily bumps,slightly smaller

Belltech drop spindles are a fucking terrible choice.

 

[I like fords too]

agreed the c notch is the way if ya gotta have that 4 inch drop

lightning springs might have saved some trouble ..granted too

I could live with the reduced turning radius with the bell tec spindles ..they are what they are but they give back a couple of inches of travel while preserving my "lowering job"
it's been over ten years and I'm kinda tired of riding the front bumpstops
budget ain't gonna cover arms.& spindles & springs this year but a hacked set of 7700 ones just hold me over till then ..yeah it's not my preferred method

it's got ground force / ford racing springs currently

 

[Dusten]

It's more than turning radius

Pretty sure the spindles require an 18" wheel

 

[Svtjames04]

Money no option? Ride most important

Stifflers uppers and lowers with coilovers.

Belltech shackles and hangers with a c notch.
This will easily net a 3/4 drop and look great.
Get some custom Viking rear shocks measured the correct length.

It will ride better than stock.

its just a street truck. im looking for better handling at the moment. im not sure how much of a drop i would need but i would like to have the truck leveled in the back without doing any type of cnotch. my budget would be probably be around $3k

To summarize what Dusten has said:

-how low do you want to be?
-street truck? Drag or road racing?
-budget? You could spend $1000 to $10,000

as low as i can go without doing a c notch. its a street truck i wanna make it handle better and more enjoyable driving around the streets. i wouldn't want to speed more than $3k

 

[Dusten]

Honestly invest in the Hotchkis tvs.

1999 – 2004 Ford Lightning, 1997-2003 Ford F150 TVS Suspension System, 2WD Truck

1997-2003 Ford F150 / XLT /Lightning / Std Cab Hotchkis TVS (Total Vehicle Suspension System). The Hotchkis TVS is a all inclusive kit that has been designed and tested as a system for your Ford Lightning / Std Cab.

www.hotchkis.net

A c notch is needed at the 4" mark. I have the TV's and shackles and am borderline needing a c notch. I have basically a 3/4 drop.

To level it I'd need a cnotch and I have other projects so it's staying as is.

I have a Hotchkis tvs.
Stifflers upper and lower arms with isolators in place.
Belltech shackles

Thats it for drop.

I also have belltech shocks extenders
Hotchkis 2.1 shocks
Stifflers long bars
A panhard bar

 

[Svtjames04]

Honestly invest in the Hotchkis tvs.

A c notch is needed at the 4" mark. I have the TV's and shackles and am borderline needing a c notch. I have basically a 3/4 drop.

To level it I'd need a cnotch and I have other projects so it's staying as is.

your truck is literally goals... perfect drop and the bbk with the wildwoods... lets trade