leveling out a F250 Power Stroke

[Richard]

my brother has a 1997 F250 with a power stroke and the front sits a little low and he wants to level it out , who make a kit for it , sorry for the dumb question , anyhelp would be nice
thanks

[smurfsdad]

Ford has shorter blocks for the rear, other than that try National spring

[D60]

Front add-a-leaf but would probably make for a stiff ride. You could also do ORU's shackle reversal if you enjoy paying way too much for shit:
http://www.offroadunlimited.com/oru_rshacklekit.htm

DOH! That obviously wouldn't work too well w/D50 TTB. Ah hell, get a D60 front anyway!

[road1will]

Originally posted by D60
Front add-a-leaf but would probably make for a stiff ride. You could also do ORU's shackle reversal if you enjoy paying way too much for shit:
http://www.offroadunlimited.com/oru_rshacklekit.htm

DOH! That obviously wouldn't work too well w/D50 TTB. Ah hell, get a D60 front anyway!

not TTB- solid axle. but you could lift it with coil spacers which keep the same spring rate and everything just another however much lift you want. hell if either one of you knows how to weld you could easily make a set. just a certain dia tube in whatever height you want to lift it placed in between the coil pad and the axle. weld it in there and youre good to go.

[D60]

Originally posted by 9-Volt


not TTB- solid axle.

Huh? And as for the coil spacers, we're assuming this is a 2wd then? In which case wouldn't it be TIB, and coil spacers are gonna give you mucho + camber same as the ORU kit would on a 4wd D50 TTB?:rasta:

[road1will]

isnt 1997 the new body style which has a solid axle D50? and disregard my coil spacers comment i was confused with dodge fullsize fronts :rasta:

[saf-t scissors]

Originally posted by 9-Volt
isnt 1997 the new body style which has a solid axle D50? and disregard my coil spacers comment i was confused with dodge fullsize fronts :rasta:

Depends. '97 F250LD is 97+ F150 body style with IFS, torsion front, 7-lug wheels. '97 F250SD is 80-96 style D50 TTB with leaves.

PS Diesel never came in the F250LD, so this is old body style.

Would need a leveling kit with new caster/camber bushings, methinks.

[D60]

Originally posted by 9-Volt
isnt 1997 the new body style which has a solid axle D50? and disregard my coil spacers comment i was confused with dodge fullsize fronts :rasta:

What Shawn said. A '97 Powerstroke is gonna be '80-97 body style. Everyone ass-umes 'cause Ford switched the F150 in '97 all the others followed suit. The SuperDutys w/live D50 front came about in '98 as '99 models. I could swear Skyjacker or someone sells front add-a-leafs for the D50 TTB, but it would definitely require alignment cams (which I'm sure they'd happily provide as a "leveling kit"). Diesel or no, those front leafs are pretty burly, I can't see an add-a-leaf making for a pleasurable driving experience unless you're running a massive cab-over camper or something:eek:

[Kevbo]

97 F-250HD (no diesel in light duty) was square body style. Dana 50 TTB front with reverse arch leaf springs.


Options I know of are:
Convert to D60 off same vintage F-350. It just bolts on but you need to get all steering linkage, trac bar (w/frame bracket), driveshaft, and T-case yoke from doner. Use '350 springs if you want the height, or want to do shackle reversal.

Add lift kit which replaces springs. Superlift or Tuff-Country.

Add-a-leaf (ford did this for 3yr/36Kmile warranty claims)

Add air springs. Air-Lift makes F & R kits for this application.

Which option is best depends a lot on how truck will be used. You asked for advice from a nest of rock crawlers, so expect bias toward the D60 swap...Even with a D60 in front, though, the F-250 has too much wheelbase, engine weight, overhang etc. to be anything more than margional off-road. (I should know, I have one too!)

Go to:
http://www.ford-diesel.com/
and search the 94-97 forum (and the archives of same).
You will find a ton of info on correcting front end sag.

If you are running aftermarket wheels with increased offset, it will make the sag a lot worse, as you are supporting the same weight at the end of a longer lever. Also hard on ball joints, which are not too durable anyway.

The OEM spring, shackle, and axle pivot bushings don't last long, and when they go, they let things sag even more. Energy suspension and daystar make polyureathane replacements.

[tipover]

I have the same truck. I put in a two inch lifted spring, Its level. I did not use the add-a-leaf! I got the alignment kit also. The weight of the engine takes a toll on the springs after a while. yes It is the dana 50 IFS old body style and leaf springs.