Lift Kits 101

[Moab Mike]

In the market for a 3 1/2" lift kit. Who makes/sells the best and why do you think so. In my past experience and not knowing any better, I bought JBG's 3/12" kit with 5 pack rear leaf's. It rides like a forklift. I greatly value your opinion.

[Rox Crusher]

I can say that I really like the WH lift on mine.

It's the one you so kindly helped me install which I really appreciate.

To me it is a great compromise between good flexibility on the trail and great road manners.

When we got home from Holy Cross I took Landshark's advice and put some rubber hose in the liftgate latches and now the hard top doesn't rattle at all. The only remaining rattle is from the windows if the doors.

With it being so quiet now, I can really get a better feel for ride quality which I think is near perfect.

The only thing I might caution is to consider 4.5" coils up front as mine has the slightest of front rake to the stance and I don't even have a winch or heavy bumper up front.

[Dirtheadz]

x2 on the 4.5" height, progressive coils are great, thin multiple leaf (11) packs are awesome, but that being said its a 92" wheelbase wheeler. Unless you get some high end suspension it's not going to ride like a duramax with torsion bars (i drive a Dodge 2500, lol). Just my $.02 Hell my Bronco isn't even driving yet (but its oh so close)

[akaFrankCastle]

Mike, what's your overall intent for the Bronco this stuff will be going in to?

[Moab Mike]

Multipurpose, I want a capable rig that I can use as a daily driver if I deem fit. I want 35" tires as a minimum but will most likely run 37". I will eventually be installing FW axles (thanks to Gunnibronco) but for now just the stock D44 and 9". Current axles have 4:11 gears. Drive train will include a stock 302 converted to EFI and a Viperbuilt C4.

[landshark]

Good Shocks really help the ride quality and as mentioned 11 pack leafs are a must. Coils are cheap but some stiffer than others. If I had to rate coils:

JBG's deavers are probably the softest but best riding for a 302 paired with good shocks.

Duffs progressive coils are probably middle of the road seem to work well with my rig but mines a pig and I have been working on my shock valving.

Wild horses and the other vendors are probably a bit stiffer still but honestly I have not had very much exposure to them. I know some offer different options for spring rates.

I vote custom 3.5" rear 4.5" front and piece together the best of each that suits your build and rig. Also, usually the vendors will have specials on leafs and other lift parts near Xmas.

[Moab Mike]

Maybe this.

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/sy ... Shocks_4in

[ZOSO]

I really like the ride on landsharks duff's with his custom valved bilsteins. I will say one thing a lot depends on the shocks. My bronco rides amazing with the WH coils and leafs. I have rs9000's on it.

[ZOSO]

That kit looks good mike but i'd get 3.5" rear leafs. The problem with WH 3.5" lifts is the front coils sag.

[ZOSO]

One other thing I was wanting to do and i still might to the blue bronco is run adjustable upper ciol buckets and a 5.5" spring. The longer springs travel better and the adjustable mount will allow you to dial in the ride height.

[Moab Mike]

So I had Rox Crusher suggest at Holy Cross 4 1/2" coils and 3 1/2" rear leafs. This seems to be the general consensus.

[Justin]

I was extremely happy with my old duffs progressive coils. Bilstein 7100s are spendy, but the ability to custom tune them yourself is nice.

[Rox Crusher]

Sounds like I should consider shocks

[ZOSO]

Yea Jeff, shocks will make a big difference in ride quality.

[Kinder]

I'm with Chris on the Deaver coils, I'm running a set of their linear coils on BSD and love the ride. Of course I've got an extra 350 lbs over the axle.

[Gunnibronco]

+1 on good shocks. A world of improvement, and I haven't even installed the rears.

7100s up front & 5125s in back (soon)

If you are going to long arms, I'd get the adjustable coil buckets. You can easily out flex 3.5" springs with long arms.

[Moab Mike]

So here's the million dollar question.

Buy a lift kit or piece something together using the best parts?

[Kinder]

Kit is the easy way out.

[Justin]

If you're me, you piece it together finding progressively more complicated parts until your truck is on jack stands for a year.

Or you could buy a kit.

[akaFrankCastle]

I like to slowly acquire parts each year at the swap meet and then constantly move them around the garage telling myself I'll get around to installing them one day. So my vote is for piece it together.

[Moab Mike]

So maybe this kit with 4 1/2" Dever springs ($150) from JBG?

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Pr ... teinShocks

[ZOSO]

I like the James duff monster lifts. But at 2300 they are a bit $$$$

I'd piece one together.

WH 4.5 coils/5.5 coils and adjustable upper buckets
WH 3.5 11 leaf
duff radius arms
WH inboard rear shock mount/ duffs long travel rear shock hoop
any front shock hoops
7100's front and rear.

+ all the other things like brake hoses and cables.


On another note I run deavers on my 79 and they ride very nice. Im not sure how they ride on the EB tho. Doing some research you can find all the spring rates of each spring.

[ZOSO]

So maybe this kit with 4 1/2" Dever springs ($150) from JBG?

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Pr ... teinShocks

Not sure about the deavers. reason why everyone says 4.5 coil on the front is the 3.5wh sags with some weight on it. JD, deavers, and others might not sag so you may not need 4.5 deavers.

[BroncoMasochist]

I have the Duff 3.5. It was the soft ride rear leafs, and progressive front coils that sold it for me. Just like the others said. So far I have not been disappointed.

[Justin]

I like the James duff monster lifts. But at 2300 they are a bit $$$$

I'd piece one together.

WH 4.5 coils/5.5 coils and adjustable upper buckets
WH 3.5 11 leaf
duff radius arms
WH inboard rear shock mount/ duffs long travel rear shock hoop
any front shock hoops
7100's front and rear.

+ all the other things like brake hoses and cables.


On another note I run deavers on my 79 and they ride very nice. Im not sure how they ride on the EB tho. Doing some research you can find all the spring rates of each spring.

If I were building a kit this is the list I'd make. The only change would be to go with Bloody Knuckle long arms. Theyre almost identical, but Duff has had a few failures. Jim changed the design a little to spread out the heat from welding.

[ZOSO]

Last I heard the bloody knuckle were hard to get as he doesnt make em very often.

[Kinder]

I love my Duff arms, the travel and handling are worth the price.

[B.O.B.]

I've got the old cage arms and I love those. Definitely adding those made my ride a lot softer and more comfortable.

[ZOSO]

So Mike whats the verdict? Did you decide on parts?

[akaFrankCastle]

He's waiting for Black Friday. I'm certain of it.