Lift Kit Options and Other Help

[Bisirko]

Hey all, Sorry if this is redundant of other posts, but I've searched other topics and I couldn't find anything specific to what I need to know. I have a 1987 Bronco w/ a 351 windsor in it, no special work done as of yet. I need new tires for it badly so I've decided to lift it beforehand so I don't end up buying new tires 2x over. I'm just curious to know what lift kits people have had good experience with for either a 4 or 6 inch lift. I really don't want to have to buy any extra expensive parts if I don't have to, such as gears or stabilizers. I'm thinking about running a 4 inch lift with 33's, but I just need to know what I'm getting myself into, and what company's lift kits are good for looks and maybe the occasional light offroading. I've heard good things about rough country, fabtech and procomp.

Thanks

 

[Yardape]

A 4 inch lift with 33's is a very good mild combination. One thing you should know is everyone that has asked me what I think they should go with on their bronco I have told them go with a 6 inch lift and 35's. I personally love that look. Most people chose the 4 inch to be conservative and soon as its done they wish they bought the 6 inch. So do some research, find pictures, and decide what you want out of your rig. If you go into my gallery have a look at line, I had a 3 inch body lift and 33's. To me it doesnt look much different from stock. A really good site to get a look at Broncos is superford.org I bet I have looked at every Bronco pic on there. I sat for hours and hours on end picture after picture. Fabtech and procomp are pretty pricey, I'd stick with rough country or superlift, they make very good kits for decent prices.

 

[Justshootme84]

Welcome to Bronco Zone!!! If you're having trouble searching a topic, try using the " marks before and after your search words, like "lift kits". The search function doesn't work on words under 6 letters unless you use the " marks. As for the brands go, I've installed several 4" Rough Country kits on Broncos, as that one seems to be a good value for under $500. Only real problem I've run into is the holes on the axle beam drop brackets are not always drilled perfect, and don't quite line up with the factory holes. Just takes a bit of work to get them lined up with a larger drill bit and bolt. Superlift is a nice kit if you opt for their SuperRunner steereing kit, too. Once you lift the front TTB (Twin Traction Beam), you'll notice that the sttering linkage has alot more anlge to it even with a drop Pitman arm. The SuperRunner kit is the best fix for that, but you can get a regular alignment and be OK with the stock steering. I also debated and searched for a long time before buying a lift kit for the 84 Bronco. I found a sponsor deal from a car show vendor on a Skyjacker Class II 6" lift kit, with 35" Mud Kings. Drove that for a few years until I dropped the F-350 drivetrain under the Bronco. JSM84

 

[Bisirko]

Thank you both for the advice. I'll definitiely do some research between 4 and 6 inch lifts. Are there any problems that I might run into if I lift my truck 6 inches? And if so are they easy fixes? I'm just making sure that I don't end up buying a kit, and find out I need to do something else. Thanks.

 

[Justshootme84]

If you opt for the 6" lift kit, i strongly recommend getting the extended radius arms. Not only d othey help with more wheel travel, but they also make it easier to get the caster correct. While you can't adjust the caster once the lift is installed, it's more of an issue with the shorter stock arms and drop brackets. Other thing to consider is your state regs on lift height if you plan to run on the road, JSM84

 

[Bisirko]

Thank you JSM. Yeah I've read a lot of your posts in other topics and saw that you have advised to go with extended radius arms. I think I found a tough country kit that actually comes with the radius arms and everything else, hopefully no blocks, for around 1,000. If i don't do that I'm either going with ProComp or rough country. I'm going to do a search in the forums for this caster issue, but if you want you could fill me in. Thanks again, you seem to be a big help to a lot of people.

 

[Justshootme84]

Roadkill posted some really good info in this thread on lifting the TTB:

http://broncozone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11092

If you look at the diagram of the side view about caster [castor], you may see that this deals with the alignment of the upper and lower balljoints, pinion angle and steering (return to center). IF you draw a vertical line thru both balljoints, the caster may be 4-6 degrees on a stock frontend. When you lift the suspension with the stock radius arms, they will tend to rotate the axle back and the pinion angle increases along with the caster. Drop brackets for the stock arms help somehwat by lowering the frame mounting points of the radius arms, but you still have alot more angle than before. Some 6" lift kits have a really hard time getting the correct caster with just the drop brackets and stock arms. The extended arms are about 15" longer, so they mount further back on the frame. They also return the caster to very close to stock, making alignment much easier. they also increase the flex of the front axle beams working with the longer coil springs and shocks. Nearly all lift kits still use brackets to drop the axle beam mounting points to the frame, (except for AutoFab), with the extended radius arms being a $400-$450 option. It's money well spent if you plan to do any amount of offroad driving.

 

[Bisirko]

I think I've narrowed it down to either skyjacker or superlift. I'm going with the 6 inch lift, getting the extended radius arms but only doing add a leaf and blocks in the back for now. Once I get off road I'll begin to beef up my axles front and back, get new leafs for the back, and also mess with the stearing and differentials. For now I just want to lift it up and get it looking nice. I found a superlift kit for about 1,200 adding brake lines, but it has no shocks. Does anybody have any suggestions for shocks, I'll look around in the forums regardless. Thanks again.

 

[Justshootme84]

I'm running the Superlift 4" lift shocks on my SAS'd 84 and 78 Bronco's. Not the shiny, new $35 ones but the $9/$10 scratch&dent store versions off ebay. JSM84

 

[Bisirko]

Well I think today is the day I'm going to order this thing. I've been back and forth between websites and I've called some local 4x4 shops. I finally went back to JBG, and saw that they have a superlift 6 inch, with radius arms, TTB drop brackets, completely new rear and front springs and U bolts, no blocks, pitman arm, bushings, and even extended brake lines, all for 1145 plus tax. They also offer a set of 6 optional shocks for $173 for lift kit purchases only. Out of all the places I looked, I couldn't find this setup without the shocks or the brake lines for less than $1,500. Any other suggestions before I drop $1,400?

 

[Justshootme84]

That looks like a good deal, and JBG is a top-notch vendor. One thing I suggest when installing a lift kit is to replace the radius arm and axle pivot bushings at the same time, since most are either the originals or haven't been replaced in years. Consider upgrading to the poly urethane bushings, as they will last a long time and do not stiffen the ride any more than OEm rubber ones. JBG carries a full line of poly's, JSM84